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Permanent LinkRepresentative James Mercer View All Years
HON. JAMES MERCER.
MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of the Hon. James Mercer of Pocahontas County, member of the House of Representatives in the Twenty-third and Thirty-second General Assemblies, beg leave to submit the following memorial:
James Mercer was born at Gault, Ontario, Canada, April 26, 1847, of Scotch parentage and died at his home near Fonda, Iowa, July 21, 1918. In 1855 he moved with his parents to Cascade, Dubuque County, Iowa, where he remained until twenty years of age.
After attending the public schools he spent two years in the Academy. On October 24, 1864, he became a member of Co. M, Sixth Iowa Cavalry. After his return from the army he found employment in the furniture business. In the spring of 1875 he moved to a farm in Cedar Township, Pocahontas County, Iowa.
He served as township clerk from 1879 to 1883 and from 1887 to 1889. He was secretary of the school board for a number of years and was a member of the board of supervisors from 1883 to 1886. In 1899 he was elected representative on the republican tickets to the Twenty-third General Assembly of Iowa from the Seventy-seventh district, composed of Clay and Pocahontas Counties, and again elected in 1896. In 1890 he helped to organize the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Pocahontas County, and with which he was connected until the time of his death. Of his family Mrs. Mercer and seven children survive.
Mr. Mercer was one of the first settlers of Pocahontas County and shared in all the hardships incident to a new country. He was interested in everything that was for the advancement of his chosen calling and for the public good. He was the owner of one of the finest farms in the county, the result of his own labor and management. He will be remembered by all that knew him as an enterprising citizen, as a true and loyal friend and a faithful and consistent member of the Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder.
To the honor of his memory, it is therefore
Resolved, That the House of Representatives take this occasion to express its appreciation of his character and public service and at this time extend to his widow, Mrs. James Mercer and the surviving children, its sincere sympathy in their sorrow, and,
Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of the resolutions be spread upon the journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be instructed to send an engrossed copy to the widow of the deceased.
C. L. GUNDERSON,
THOS. PARSONS,
G. A. JUSTICE,
Committee.