Mercer, William Wilson

MERCER, PURCELL

Posted By: Lorelei Rusco (email)
Date: 1/8/2012 at 13:49:32

Mercer, William Wilson -
William Wilson Mercer, youngest son of the late John Cochran Mercer and Mary Ann Murfin and brother of Mrs. Mary Leekliter of Lenox, passed away at Mercy hospital, Denver, Colo., Saturday morning, Jan. 26, 1935 of pneumonia. He had been in declining health for several years and becoming seriously ill two weeks ago. He was born Oct 10, 1876, at Chariton, Lucas county Iowa. At the age of 4½ years, and after the death of his mother in 1880, he went with his father to Highland county, Ohio, to visit his grand parents, where he remained for 8 years. Many pleasing stories and anecdotes he has often told of his life spent there at an impressionable age.

After the death of his grandfather Jeremiah Mercer, in 1886—of whom he had become a great favorite—he came back to Iowa, joining his parents in Adams county, where they had moved from Lucas county in 1882. Here he resided until 1896, then followed his brother, D. N. Mercer, to Cripple Creek, Colo., both being among the pioneers in this famous gold mining camp. Success attended them for a few years, then came the decline and the rush to leave. Will and D. N. decided to try their luck at ranch life, both having been reared on farms. They purchased land and settled in Routt county, Colo. Will remained 2 years, going from there to Denver where he resided until his
death.

He was united in marriage, Dec. 24, 1910, to Miss Stella Purcell of Detroit, Mich. who survives him.

He united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Prescott la., in 1894, under the pastorate of the late Charles L. Baxter, continuing in this faith.

Accompanying the widow to Corning were D. N. Mercer and sisters, Mrs. Horace R. Carpenter and Mrs. Chas. A. Baker, all of Colorado; Mr. and Mrs
Brightwell of Omaha. Other sisters are Mrs. Mary M. Leckliter of Lenox, Mrs. Fred C. Stranad of Alhambra, Calif., and Mrs. Jno. L. McCarty of Culver City, California.

Brief services were held from the Olinger Mortuary at Denver Sunday afternoon by the Reverends Schlessman and Hart, friends of the deceased whose quotations and prayer exemplified his fine character.

Final services were held from the Hilliard funeral home at Corning Tuesday afternoon conducted by the Rev. Shepherd of Lenox whose meditations were highly comforting. His favorite hymns "Face to Face", The Old Rugged Cross" and "Have Thine Own Way Lord" were beautifully sung by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lewis of Lenox.

Pall bearers were schoolmates and old friends Thurman and Charles Chapman, George and Frank McGregor all of Prescott Charles Darrah and Dudly Gaddis of Corning. Interment was made in the Mercer Family Plot in Walnut Grove cemetery Corning, Iowa.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Thursday January 31, 1935