Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Mersinger, Philip 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 7, 2008, 3:17 am

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

Philip Mersinger, who conducted the largest sewing machine business in Joliet 
and in the state outside of Chicago, was also the oldest merchant in this line 
in Will county. He was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1840, 
and died in December, 1906. The record of the Mersinger family can be traced 
back to a remote period in the history of the province of Wurtemberg, Germany. 
His father, John Mersinger, was born and reared in that country and there 
carried on merchandising. Accompanied by his wife, who bore the maiden name of 
Janette Whiteman and was a native of Ruchheim, Germany, he came to the new 
world, bringing also their two children. They made their way to Pennsylvania 
and Mr. Mersinger opened a store at Perm's Valley, Center county, where he 
resided up to the time of his death. Unto him and his wife were born seven 
children, five of whom attained adult age, while three are still living. 
Philip Mersinger was a mere lad when he became self-supporting. From early 
youth he displayed a spirit of industry and enterprise which won recognition 
and secured him important business positions. For a number of years he managed 
some of the largest farms in Center and Union counties, Pennsylvania, and 
gained an excellent reputation for ability as a manager ad financier. In 1869 
he became connected with the sale of sewing machines near Center Hall, 
Pennsylvania, and there made his home for some years. In 1878 he came to the 
middle west and after traveling ior some time, visiting various sections of 
Kansas and Illinois, he established his home in Joliet, which at that time was 
a city of only eleven thousand population. He witnessed its subsequent, growth 
until today it has fifty thousand inhabitants and he aided in the development 
of its business interests. He became the owner of one of the largest sewing 
machine, piano and organ business enterprises in the state outside of Chicago 
and built up an extensive trade which is not limited to his home town but 
extends throughout this portion of Illinois and is now carried on by his 
widow. The location of his first store in Joliet was at No. 109 South Ottawa 
street, where he remained for a period of twenty-six years, when in 1904 he 
removed to the premises at No. 117 North Ottawa street, where may be found on 
sale the New Home, Standard, White and Domestic machines. He also built up a 
large trade in pianos and organs and handled all kinds of musical merchandise. 
In point of years of continuous business activity he was the oldest merchant 
in the machine trade in Joliet. In his work Mr. Mersinger was efficiently 
assisted by his wife, who is a lady of superior ability and now has entire 
charge of the business. She bore the maiden name of Sarah E. McCormick and is 
a daughter of William and Margaret McCormick, of Scotch-Irish and German 
parentage. She was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, where her girlhood 
days were passed and her marriage was celebrated. Brooking no obstacles that 
could be overcome by determined, earnest and honorable purpose, Mr. Mersinger 
steadily worked his way upward in the business life and was a valued 
representative of commercial interests in Joliet, where he was known for his 
thorough reliability and his close adherence to a high standard of business 
ethics. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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