Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1929-12-12

one Of the county's most prominent
and best known citizens, passed
away at his home here Sunday ev-
ening, at 4:42 O'Clock With him
when the end came We're the mem
bers of his immediate family. For
some months Judge Mercer had
not been in the best of health, and
on Nov. l he suffered severe at
tack of acute Indigestion from which
he never recovered, and Nov. IL he
sis, and never rail- ed growing
steadily worse until the end.
Judge Mercer was born at Ches.
terhiil April 8, 1870. He was
son of the late Frederic L. Mercer,
Il Civil war soldier, and Emily Pat
terson Mercer. He attended grade
school at Chesterhill. At II years
of age he passed the teachers ex-
animation and taught his first term
of school at Mountv.lle. Later he
taught at West Union, Marion town
ship; Wise school in Homer town.
ship, and Big Bottom in Windsor
township. He also learned the print
ing trade, and for time was with
the Valley Register in Malta. In
1892 he began the study of law
with the firm of Barry and Weber,
Judge l.. j. Weber being his pre-
ceptor. In October. 1894, he was
admitted to the senior class of the
Cincinnati Law School from which
he graduated the following June.
He returned to Chesterhill to ac-
cept the principalship Of the high
school, and continued in that ca
pacity until 1900. He then served
as clerk in the census bureau at
Washington, d. c., until 1902, when
hill. In 1903 he was elected pros
ecuting attorney of Morgan county,
and moved to McConnelsville. He
was reelected in 1906 and retired
in 1909.
He served as clerk OF the county
election board, and for number Of
years was a member of the local
board Of education; was on the
board, and it's secretary, when the
schools of the two towns were
united and the present high school
building was erected. Having been
a successful teacher he was a val
liable member, and was careful,
and eXacting in his
duties as clerk, which during the
of the two districts
and the erecting of the new build
ing took much of his time, which
he freely gave, accepting practically
no remuneration for his valuable
services.
He was elected probate judge of
Morgan county in the year 1920,
and reelected in 1924. In writing
of Judge Mercer, in history of the
Morgan County Bar, published in
the McConnelsville Herald, Judge l..
J. Weber, lifelong friend, says:
ney, and as probate judge he was
careful and painstaking. Versed in
the common law, he studied the
statutes closely and adhered to them
in his rulings and requirements in
he practice before him. Few of his
decisions, if any, met with reversal
in reviewing courts. He was a con-
'cientious and just Judge. What
finer tribute could anyone desire?"
On Feb. 8, 1929, following the
eight years as probate Judge, he OPP
ened law office in Morris block,
and was enjoying pleasant, sue
,essful practice, until stricken with
what proved to be his last illness.
In fraternal life, Judge Mercer
was affiliated with the following Or
He was a member and
Past Master of Mt. Olive, No. 148,
2. &c A. NJ, at Chesterhill; of Nc
Connelsville Chapter, No. 1872, R. A.
W., having served as it's High
Priest; of McConnelsville Council,
No. 1906, r. & S. NJ, and during the
year 1928, was t. H. M. He was
'2nd degree Mason, being member
If Scottish Rite Scioto Consistory,
Columbus. He held membership in
he l. o. O. F. and M. w. of A; al
20 in Morgan grange and the county
Pomona grange. He was a faithful
member of the McConnelsville M. e.
,hurch; and for a number of years |
vas teacher of the Richmond Bible |
lass; he had also served on the !
official board of the church. He !
vas splendidly versed in the Bible. |
n politics, he was an ardent Re-
publican, adhering always to the
enets of his party.
Judge MERGERS entire life-home,
official, professional, his everyday |
walk, was cleanly, honorably and |
tudiously spent. His intellect was
Keen; he was an original thinker |
md had the faculty in presenting a
subject, of going outside the beaten
)ath to bring out new and hidden |
points. He was blessed with a re-
memory, and for num-
,er of years had held the distinc
ion of being the leading historian
# the county. This sketch would |