The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-13
Ms. IHDMAS MERc[RD[AD.
son TaLRTY-NINE YEARS SHE HAD
LIVED IN SEATTLE.
rs wife Of JsdEe Thomas Mercer,
We, ~ the Age Of 81 Years,
survives HeF-Esarly Experiences
~ n Pioneer Here snd In Oregoa.

.,orniux at go o'clock a. Sc Sixth ave-
re nort;1, from heart trouble. In her
Aesfh the city loscs one who has been 4
rcnssant resident for thirty-nine years.
erer loyal and firm In the belief that she
rould I'VE 10 see the time when q big city
you'd occupy the ground given up 10 the
monarch OF the forests at the time she
"a her husband selected spot on Queen
Anus bill for their home.
Mrs.. Mercer has been an invalid for
vears. but through all she maintained q
rAeeYfulness that made her dearer than
words can tell 10 those who occupied q
mace In the family circle. Fer eleven days
: ussor 10 her death she was confined to her
I'D
ur. Mercer a. the age OF "a years, sur
wives his wife. He ia still quite vigorous
ard frequently visits the business portion
81 the city. Although Mr.. and Mrs. Mercer
had no children Mr.. Mercer'z four daugh-
ter By mis- first wife always called her
e,other. They all married in Seattle. The
eadest, Mary. married Henry Parsons. who
ives near Olympia. Elizabeth married
Wslter Graham. She died many years ago.
mi her husband Still resides in Se-
att,e. Susie and her husband. David Ora
San, i've near the old homestead on Mer-
ce. street. The fayorite daughter. Alice.
md her husband. G.. II. Bagley, live on
Queen Anne hill near the old farmhouse,
Tksch 10 now the oides, house I'm the coun-
IL Mrs. Mercer leaves two saif-brothers.
d. r. Ward. OF Seattle. and Kirk Ward,
a San Francisco. XIX Ward was pro-
n.aetor OF the Star, a weekly publication
tat fourished in 1855.
The funeral services will be held Sunday
spoYuing a. II o'clock at the Methodist
Protestant church. Each Of the pali-bear-
xra has lived In Seattle over forty years.
The liss lie as follows: Dexter Horton, r.
D. Hisckley, u. T. Denny. David Kellogg.
Edgar Bryan, Hans Nelson.
Mrs. MERGERS Life.
There II something In the life of this
ctoneer woman that makes lasting I'm
usesxson upon the minds Of those who
consider it. Mrs. MERGERS general
NE differed somewhat from the lives
OF many Of the pioneer women Of
the early days on Puget sound. In
that she was always pioneer
woman. Hundreds of them gave up an
existence In the thickly settled portions
u The East 10 accept the dismal. burden
some, half-ciyilized life OF the West. They
). rad 1t least once known the joys Of CIV
iI.satIon II was not 80 with Mrs. Mercer.
ehe was pioneer from the time she was
ushered into the world.
she was born In Kentucky. Go back 70
years IN the life OF that state and you get
something OF its early history. Those who
lived there that long ago were pioneers.
Nrs Mercer's father was Jesse Ward, her
mother Elizabeth Ward. They were of
that staunch, sturdy. people that strug-
sied to accumulate a home and little
fortune IN the southern country. Her
father at the age of IS Joined a regiment
y Kentucky volunteers which went down
"a ~ ssna .1,t ~ Tar Skf
st the defense OF New Orleans In 1914.
Mrs Mercer was born In Hartford.
which Ii the county seat Of Ohio county.
Kentucky. She was but a little tot when
shsr mother died. Her father married
again and children. issues OF the second
marriage had been born before Mr.. Ward
and his family said good bye 10 old Ken
lucky. or In reality. young Kentucky. and
moved 10 Arkansas. That was In 1875.
There they lived until 1853 and Mrs Mer-
Ger had 4 chance OF proving her trus
wonanhood. The family had settled near
Rasesvilie. Independence county. At that
time the country had much virgin soil and
u vas not hard matter to figure up the
population OF the state. Mrs. Mercer
seemed TO he the head OF the family.
While the male members of the family
were at work clearing LAND and establish
'ns what they thought would be a per-
fnsnent homo she busted herself making
clothes for herself and for the others of
ne family And what task II was in
thsse DAYS 10 make clothes. Crude ma
sh'nery In the settled states OF the East
turned out with wha. was considered TO
wonderful rapidity cloth fer garments.
But these common people OF the West
Knew nothing Of the details OF such iuxu-
res Mrs. Mercer took the wool from the
safsp cleaned II, wove II. dyed the cloth.
eHl U, and made II into clothing for her
2ner and her brothers. When she wanted
vown sha could have IT, that is. after she
RAD gone into the fields. picked the naces-
safy cotton. developed II into dress goods
fad turned the dress goods into a gar
msht. Nj. n. r. Ward. OF this city,
s@h brother cs Mrs Mercer. has In his
,assess'on Pieces Of the goods out OF which
80 Mercer, made her gowns when a girl
There are IN the Mercer household two
3asn.eads tina. were woven by Mrs, Mer-
Ger,
Across the rTains.
ny Na Mr.. Ward. having heard so much
&c great opportunities that were Of
70 The pioneer who would accept life
:. ~ ssc extreme West. started with his fam
~ ana a PARTY of other pioneers scross
20 great Western plains. Stories without
-. -. could be told OF the adventures and
~sss'snss the resul: OF that long tourney
Az 'r were rtne children OF Mr. Ward In
,e parry The start was made March =
60 asc on september 80 Waldo Hills near
a M or were reached The Indians. Of
80 inquired In the life Of the Wards
~ sasy were crossing the plains lust as
- seemed "a come into the life OF every
e.. isfts OF pioneers that undertook the
sss- when about eight miles. by the
NJ - ~ route, east ~ the North Platte
wards party encountered /. HE hama
isnahess. Every member was A war
ssa.,,s thsy were In tull war regalia and
y nom their belts were dozens
-. aes' They hai h~nn IN battle with
80. enemies the Ei8ckrees and Snake
'aalehs the cav before Victory had
tAcu their work on the battlefield ara
~ ~ on Their way home 10 celebrate
ra., sTu party nai been resting In the
s,4.- ana were shoGt breaking eaynn
,ss,." eehtneiag their tourney when ,he
fMs,, graves made their arnearauc.
ssss.. 'sstsled that they were friendly sut
r. .hes hsd been IN camp ten minutes
rs.ns,esi oeVit I'm the blood Of the rs.s
n 80 MANIFESTED itself They >rowses
x,x,s. aooe' the Wagons. wanted this ana
As~sau sast ana finally became lsnnuSer.
wsse their requests vsrs t.,,.t -.s
nv pSrsy had an oil huslar v,tte -,
sons,hsa paced his lips 10 the huxl.
sfen, az which horderef oa music came
ss.. a. instrument. While the Indian.
---------- . .-lelr presence known the old
<r.~xH.