Jackson County MO Archives Biographies.....Mercer, Joseph Wayne February 25, 1845 - 
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Source: A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY AND JACKSON COUNTY, MO.
Author: Lewis Publishing Co.

HON. JOSEPH WAYNE MERCER.

Biographical history teaches us that a great many men have lived to whom obstacles
seemed to be a help rather than a hindrance. The greater the barriers, the stronger
their resolutions and the more earnestly they struggle on to success. Just such men
live now and the lesson of their lives cannot be put too early or too prominently
before the world. Unforeseen emergencies have developed their character, tested
their pluck, inventive resources and judicious endurance. The accounts of the
careers of such men grace the annals of every state. The subject of this sketch is a
conspicuous example of this class. He has built for himself—built nobly and broadly.
A native son of Missouri, he has always been deeply interested in the progress and
upbuilding of his state and belongs to that class who while advancing their
individual prosperity have aided in the material welfare of the community.

Mr. Mercer, whose home is now in Independence, was born in Platte City, Missouri,
February 25, 1845, and is a son of Thomas W. Mercer, a native of Washington county,
Tennessee, who in that state married Miss Henrietta Dukes, a native of Washington
county, Virginia. By occupation he was a contractor and builder. In 1838 he came
with his family to Missouri, locating near Lees Summit, Jackson county, where he
followed farming and contracting. His last days were spent in Independence, where he
passed away in 1876. In December,1883, his wife departed this life, at the home of
her daughter, Mrs. L. N. Brunswig, of Fort Worth, Texas.

Mr. Mercer of this review was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, early
becoming familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and
acquiring his preliminary education in the ordinary schools of Prairie township,
Jackson county. Desiring a more advanced education, however, in 1858 he entered the
college at Chapel Hill, La Fayette county, Missouri, and pursued a regular course
until the breaking out of the civil war. He then enlisted in Colonel Elliott’s
battalion of the state guards, and participated in the battle of Lexington, when
Colonel Mulligan of the United States forces surrendered to Major General Price. In
this engagement he was wounded in the leg and was incapacitated for active service
for several months. Recovering from the effects of his wound he rejoined his
battalion and was made first sergeant of his company. He saw active duty in Arkansas
and Tennessee, and while at Memphis was taken so seriously ill that he was detained
there for a considerable time. Regaining his health he joined company G, tenth
Missouri cavalry, as a private, and in the battle that occurred at Pine Bluff,
October 25, 1863, he was placed in the front as a sharpshooter, and while gallantly
engaging the enemy was very severely wounded, in consequence of which he was obliged
to submit to the amputation of his right arm. A vigorous constitution and a resolute
will soon restored him to his wonted health, but he was physically disabled for
further active service in the field. His gallantrly was recognized by the government
and he was placed in the commissary department with the rank of captain, which
position he held until the war closed.

In 1865 Captain Mercer returned to Independence. Being then but twenty years of age
he reviewed his studies, under Professor George S. Brant, and became a student in
Jones’ Commercial College, of St. Louis, where he completed the regular course and
was graduated. For a short time he taught in a public school near Independence, and
at the same time instructed an evening class in bookkeeping and commercial law.
During his short experience as a teacher he acquired an excellent reputation as well
as making a financial success, for within one year he saved $600, which formed the
nucleus of his present comfortable fortune. His next venture was in the real-estate
and insurance business, and prosperity again attended his efforts. He made judicious
investments in real estate, and his sound judgment and foresight enabled him to
place his capital so as to yield good returns.

Mr. Mercer probably did not take his business cue in life from Brutus, but it is
safe to say that he possessed so keen and intuitive sense of the ebb and flow of
life’s currents that he took them “at the flood.” So, in the full power and bright
zenith of self-reliant manhood, he occupies to-day a proud place among the eminent
and popular business men of Missouri.

His real-estate speculations were continued with success, and in 1876 he became one
of the banking firm of Anderson, Hughes & Company. Early in 1878, however, he
disposed of his interests, and about two years later became a member of the
wholesale grocery house of Kansas City, conducted under the name of Beckham, Mercer
& Company, in which concern he is still a partner. In 1891, when the First National
Bank of Independence was organized, he was elected its vice-president, and is also
largely interested in real estate, not only in Independence and Kansas City, but
also is the owner of several fine farms in Jackson county.

On the 18th of May, 1870, Mr. Mercer was united in marriage with Miss Laura,
daughter of Beal and Corrinne (Ratcliffe) Greene, natives of Kentucky, who became
residents of Jackson county in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer have had six children, four
of whom are living: Annie, now the wife of B. A. Bartlett, the present assistant
prosecuting attorney; Etta V.; Mary H.; Katie L., and Alice R.; Corrinne is
deceased.

Mr. Mercer has, always been connected with the democratic party, but is not strictly
partisan, and has been honored with various political offices. In the summer of 1872
he was a member of the Independence city council, and in November of the same year
was elected county treasurer. In 1873 he became a candidate for the democratic
nomination for state treasurer. He made a thorough canvass of the state, and had to
contend against several recognized leaders of his party. He labored under more than
one disadvantage. He was living on the western border of Missouri and had been
little known as a political aspirant in the state; was not thirty years old; had
held no position of prominence except that of treasurer of his county, and not being
a public speaker had not attended state political conventions. Yet with all these
difficulties he successfully contended, and was nominated and elected by the
democratic party to the office of state treasurer, being the youngest man who ever
held that position in Missouri. He, however, discharged his duties with fidelity and
success for two years, and during that period the bonds of the state advanced from
ninety-five to one hundred and seven. He won the approval of members of his own and
the opposing parties by his able management of affairs, and retired from the office
with an honorable record. He then devoted his energies alone to the pursuits of
private life until 1892, when he was chosen mayor of Independence and acceptably
served in that position for two years. In all the relations of life he has proven
himself faithful to the trusts reposed in him, and no taint of dishonor shadows his
record. He now resides at his beautiful estate, surrounded by an interesting family
and the refinements of an elegant home, enjoying the confidence of his fellow
citizens to a marked degree.

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF KANSAS CITY AND JACKSON COUNTY, MO.
CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1896


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