Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-08-22
WA. HrNRY HARRrsoy MERCER.
A Union Soldier; the First Settler in Bur
leigh County-Its First Commissioner.

A Union Soldier; the First Settler in Bur-
leigh Oounty-Its First Commissioners.
William H. H. Mercer, who has resided
at Painted Woods twenty-one years, was
born in Center county, Pennsylvania, in
1876. His great grandfather settled in
Penn valley in 1900, and the MERGERS be-
came one Of the largest families in the
state. Williams father and mother died,
leaving four girls and three boys, all very
young. The relatives and friends gave the
orphans a home, education and found them
suitable employment. William went to
the Aaronsburg school for several years,
bnt at the breaking out of the war
he, being sixteen and swayed by the war
feeling then prevailing, left school and
enlisted in company G, Captain A. Boyd
Hutchinson, August 81, 1861. This COM
pany was assigned to the Forty-ninth regi-
ment Pennsylvania infantry, organized at
Harrisburg and commanded by Colonel
Erwin. They were ordered to Virginia,
opposite Washington city, in September,
1861, and there the "Hancock brigade" was
was formed of the Forty-ninth Pennsyl-
vania, thetSixth Maine, the Fifth Wlscon-
sin and the Forty-third New York. This
brigade, under thes "superb Hancock
became. famous in the army of the Poto-
mat and throughout the country. VIM.
Mercer served with this brigade from Sep
TENDER, 1861, to October, 1864, and partici-
pated in and witnessed many of the en-
gagements of the army of the Potomac
during that time. His first experience was
at the battle of Balrs Bluff, where Col Ed
Baker fell; then the Peninsula campaign
under "Little Mac;;" at Williamsburg,
where Hancock distinguished himself for
dash and bravery, this brigade turned the
1852, the army of the Potomac had
reached Williamsburg and the forces under
Lee had halted and %entrenched, deter
mined to resist the advancing forces under
Mcclellan. Hancock advanced on the X
treme right, crossed a dam II took pos
session of some deserted earthWOrks. Late
in the afternoon the enemy moved against
retired slowly. The enemy were misled
by this movement; they thought it a re-
treat, and on they rushed. At this time
Hancock lined his artillery along the brow
of a hill and Immediately under cover Of
the hill he formed his brigade of infantry
and awaited the charge. On they came to
within forty yards of his line. Then he
a charge, and his brigade made a rush
down the hill and the panic-stricken
forces fled. The position was captured
and Williamsburg entered. VIM. Mer-
Ger was in this charge down the
hills and was near Hancock when the
command of "Charge" was given, and
Hancock followed with the men, urging
them On. 1t was one Of the most daring
movements Of the war. They were in the
battle at Gaines Mills, Cold Harbor, the
Seven Days battle, Antietam, under Burn
sides at Fredericksburg and also under
| Hooker at the second attack on Freder-
icksburg. They followed Lee into Penn
syIvania. They We're with the Sixth corps
at the battle of Gettysburg, protecting both
Baltimore and Philadelphia from a flank
attack. They returned to The Rappahan-
mock; served under both Sheridan and
Grant; were in the battle of the Wilder
ness, and at Sp0ttsylvania, where the For
t%y-ninth lost 274 men out of 4SO. They
were at the bal,le of Petersburg; also de-
Sheridan at Winchester, where William
was Winded by a cannon ball and reported
dead. On October "a, 1864, having served
over three years, he was hOnOrably dis
charged: He was then. only 10 years of
age. He returned to Center county, Pa,
where he worked on the farm and in the
oil regions until 1865. He Their came west,
City. While at Sioux City in 1858 he voted
for us. Grant electors-his first vote for
a presidential candidate. In 1869 he moved
up theM Missouri river to Painted Woods,
where he located. The first garden in
Burleigh county was made by Charles
Reeder Oh the Mercer claim in 1870. Reeder
was afterward killed by John Knapp, who
sent to prison for II year and fined 500
by Judge Bookings. The first plow used
in the county was yot at Fort Stevenson
and taken to Bismarck by Joe Dietrich.
The Mercer ranch at Painted Woods was
known by all river men and hunters, also
by the army officers and Indians. 1t was
a great treat for travellers to reach Mer-
GERS on their trip up or down the river.
General Hazen, General Miles and Orvijle
Grant (brother to General Grant) have
stopped there. One night he furnished
shelter and food for fifty two, and they
were from many different directions.
He supplied the boats with wood
1872. j. A. Eminons, John F. Dunn and VIM.
Mercer were appointed the county board
and Burleigh county was organized. He
served two terms as county commissioner
He has taught school two terms in his dis
trict. He was married in 1881, and has a
family of five children. He has had lis
share, of experience in the "wild and woolly
west" He saw the rise and the fall of the
boom. In 1883, he plated a city and lived
to see it go back to good pasture land. He
has faith in stock raising, and says: This
is naturally a stock country, and is not a
safe grain country. Sheep, cattle and
horses all do we'll here. Instead of asso-
Citations to q money on real estate, why
don't they organize companies to loan
stock on shares? The hay crop is more
valuable to us than the grain crop. Hay g
a natural, sure crop; grain is a costly I'M
reliable crop. II those who have capital
to lend will either invest it in sheep, cattle
or horses, and let them out on shares to
actual land owners and settlers, Burleigh
county will become a wealthy county,
Surveyor General Williams recognized the
services of Mr.. Mercer to the country and
county by appointing him messenger at his
office. %E- J.F. W. s