The Sidney herald., 1957-04-04

Andrew j. Mercer

Andrew j. Mercer was born
at Maryville, Nodaway County,
Missouri, April 30, 1870, the
second of ten children born to
Washington and Clarinda Wilson
Mercer. His father was born in
Kentucky and settled with his
parents in Missouri in 1855. His
mother was born in eastern IL
linois, moving to Missouri with
her parents in 1865. They went
through Springfield, ILL.,, the day
Abraham Lincoln was buried.
Owing to the unsettled condi-
tons of the Civil War, Washing
ton Mercer and four brothers
spent 1852 and 1863 in Virginia
City, Montana, returning to Mary
vile, Mo-, in 1865. Washington
married Clarinda Wilson in 1867.
Andy grew up and attended
school in Nodaway county and in
1891, at the age of 81, made his
first trip to Montana, spending a
short time in Butte, going from
there to Spokane, Wn., where he
worked on a farm. Spring of 1882
found him working on the Mis-
sissippi river boats, going from
there to Marshall, Mimi, where
he did farm work. He went home
in 1894 when his sister, Rosetta
passed away. 1t was an extremely
dry year so he decided to "go
west, settling at Hulett, Wyo-
ming, where he homesteaded and
stayed until 1901.
Dave Dorset helped him drive
a small herd of cattle and horses
as far as Smith Creek, located
across the river south of Sidney,
in the fall of 1901, where he
settled for a time before making
further plans. In 1904 he attend
ed the Worlds Fair in st. Louis,
Mo. All the Mercer children then
living wer home at this time.
Back to Montana, he sold his
cattle in 1905 and the following
year went to Kalispell and White
fish, Mont, where he worked
for the Great Northern Railroad.
Returning to Sidney he home
steaded on the present Mercer
ranch. The following year he
and William Grimes started in
business in Sidney. His brother,
Ben and family came in 1908.
Ben helped with the business
until 1915 when he became city
treasurer of the town of Sidney.
Andy started another herd of
cattle in 1908 and built some
necessary buildings on the ranch.
On June 26, 1913 he was united
in marriage to Florence Gardner
from Croydon, England, whom he
met on one of his trips to Chi
cago, selling cattle. Mrs. Mer-
eel was a trained nurse who
travelled extensively in her ca
pacity as nurse for various we'll
to-do families. She was in San
Francisco during the earthquake
and fire of 1906. They built and
lived in the home that now
houses the Sidney Library. He
was associated with the John
son brothers for a time in the
Johnson-Mercer Hardware, event.
ually selling his interest. He was
always interested in local and
national politics, and also pro-
NOTED interest in wrestling in
Sidney.
In 1915 a son Russell was born.
One month later, Mrs. Mercer
passed away from kidney trouble
which she had had for some time.
Andy soon moved to the ranch
south of Sidney where he con-
tinued to reside until shortly be-
fore his death March 20, 1857.
During that time he was active
IN building a cooperative telephone
line to the Gossett community,
was on the local school board
Tor years and acted as director
IN the Farmers Elevator Board
Sidney, director of Sidney Wa
,er Users Assn, member of the
Sidney Moose Lodge and the
Chamber of Commerce,
md through the years contribut-
ID generously to any worthy
,ause.
He has had a full life and
numberless friends thru
he years.
In July of 1856 Andy entered
he Community Memorial hos I
'ital and after a prolonged ill
less passed away March 20, 1857.
He leaves to mourn his pass !
ng his son, Russell, and wife, !
grandchildren, James, Mary Anne,
Karen, Kathy and John;
wo brothers, Fisher and family /
f Maryville, Mo-, Ben and fami- ]
Y of Sidney; two sisters, Kate {
Iercer and Leon (Mrs. Louie) t
Vhited of Sidney, several nieces !
nd nephews, many other rela-
ives, and a host of friends. {
Funeral services were held
rom the Peoples Congregational t
.urch at 2 o'clock Tuesday aft
rnoon with Rev. Bernard Nc \
ain officiating and burial was j
the Sidney cemetery.
During the service Mrs. Phyllis t
dington sang abide With Me-,
nd Lead Kindly Light. Mrs: {
alph Osborn was her organ ac- r
,mpanist. 2
Pallbearers wer Claude CO. @
arly, Ben Simonson, Pat Nc +
rady, Les Williams, Guy Sever d
N and Harry Clark. il
Honorary pallbearers included d
ny Hoyt, Carl Meeks, Bill Hen v
IN. Jake OberRfell. George AL 6