Columbia County PA Archives Biographies.....MERCER, James H. 1810 - living in 1899
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 3, 2005, 5:11 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  JAMES H. MERCER, postmaster and proprietor of the leading drug-store of
  Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pa., and one of the representative citizens of that
  town, was born at Mt. Vernon, Otis township, Knox County, Ohio, June 20, 1858,
  and is a son of William and Nancy (Honey) Mercer.
  
    William Mercer is a son of Levi Mercer and is a native of the state of
  Pennsylvania. Tie lived the most of his life in Knox County, where he was
  engaged in tilling the soil on the old homestead; he was also local preacher in
  the Baptist Church of his town for many years. He was joined in marriage to
  Nancy Honey, and the following children were born to them: Alban R.; James H.,
  the subject, of this sketch; Frank T.; Carrie E., deceased; Clement L.; William
  C.; George S.; Susan M.; and Lee D.
  
    James H. Mercer attended the public schools and remained under the parental
  roof until he was eighteen years of age and then began clerking in a store at
  Utica, Ohio. Later he entered the College of Pharmacy at Philadelphia and was
  graduated from that institution in 1881; he immediately went to Mt. Holly, N.
  J., where he was employed as a clerk in a drug-store. In 1884 he removed to
  Bloomsburg and purchased the drug-store of J. H. Kinport, which he enlarged, and
  today he conducts one of the best patronized drug-stores in Bloomsburg. On
  February 8, 1893, our subject was appointed postmaster of Bloomsburg, which
  position he still holds and fills to the satisfaction of the public and Post
  Office Department.
  
    Our subject was joined in the bonds of matrimony to Annie Mary Brugler, a
  daughter of Peter Brugler, a granddaughter of John Brugler and
  great-granddaughter of Peter Brugler. Peter Brugler, Sr., was a native of
  Limestone, Montour County, Pa., and about 1790 he moved to Jerseytown, Columbia
  County, Pa., and later to Hemlock township, Columbia County, where he purchased
  200 acres of uncultivated land. He cleared part of his farm and engaged in
  farming, ana was one of the pioneer settlers of that district. He passed from
  this life aged ninety-four years; his wife died at the age of seventy years.
  They reared one son, John, who married Mary A. King of New Jersey; they resided
  upon the old homestead, and he purchased a tract of 160 acres which adjoined the
  original homestead. He retired to the town of Bloomsburg, where he died, aged
  sixty years; his wife died aged fifty-nine years. They were the parents of three
  sons and two daughters: Peter; James R.; Elisha; Martha, wife of Layton Runyon
  of Blooms-burg, and Mary, widow of Rev. Edward Wardin, formerly of Bloomsburg,
  who died in Carthage, Mo., in 1897. Peter and Elisha carried on agricultural
  pursuits until 1872, when Peter Brugler moved to Bloomsburg and retired from
  active life, with the exception of looking after his estate. He erected on the
  corner of Third and Jefferson streets a handsome residence and spent the
  remainder of his life there, living in happiness and comfort. He entered the
  world of rest January 7, 1888. He was wedded July 16, 1862, to Sue Billig, a
  daughter of Daniel and Martha (Talbert) Billig, and they reared five children,
  namely: Anna May, the wife of our subject; Lizzie J., deceased; John, deceased;
  Elmer, a druggist residing- in Philadelphia; and Martha, a school teacher
  residing in Bloomsburg. Mrs. Brugler survives her husband and resides with our
  subject in Bloomsburg. Peter Brugler, the father of our subject's wife, was born
  in Hemlock township, Columbia County, October 7, 1824, and was one of the
  foremost agriculturists of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer have been blessed
  by the following children: James Clyde, born September 20, 1887; Irene B., born
  January 4, 1889; one, who died in infancy; and Robert Honey, born in May, 1896.
  
    Since Mr. Mercer's arrival in the town he has been prominently identified with
  its interests and is considered one of its most valued citizens. He does all in
  his power to assist in the building up of the community and is considered one of
  its mainstays. He is an esteemed citizen, carrying on his business in a quiet
  and unostentatious manner, and is honorable and upright in his transactions.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
  
  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
  Published by 
  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
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