Mershon, James Roe

MERSHON, GILKISON, ATWATER, PARCELLS, CHAPMAN, MANFULL, KONCHINE, BALDWIN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/13/2009 at 13:13:56

James Roe Mershon, who for many years was a prominent Congregational minister, and later for more than a quarter of a century was one of the most prominent businessmen of Newton, was born in Fleming County, Ky., April 19, 1815. The first record we have of the Mershon family is one Henry Mershon and son by the same name, who fled from Paris, France, to the United States during the persecution of Louis XIV. They settled in New York, where the senior Henry, being heir to a large estate in France, left his son, then a lad of thirteen years, and started on the return trip to his native land in order to settle up the estate; on the voyage the ship was wrecked and no more was ever heard of him or the estate.

The lad who was left in New York grew to manhood in that city, married and located on Long Island, where he was engaged in farming. Prior to that he had followed his trade of a weaver. Subsequently he removed to New Jersey, but nothing further is known concerning his history. He had five sons and five daughters, one of the former was married in New Jersey, and in that state Cornelius, the father of J. R., was born. He was a child of four years when the family moved to Fleming County, Ky., where Grandfather Mershon passed away.

A man of liberal education and a well-known planter of the Blue Grass State, Cornelius Mershon traded in slaves, which he purchased in the more southern states and disposed of further north. This venture proving unprofitable, he abandoned it, and about 1844 came to Iowa, where he afterwards resided. He was the father of sixteen children, of whom all except two grew to manhood and womanhood, J. R. being the sixth in order of birth. At this writing four are living, namely: J.R.; C. H., a retired merchant residing in Des Moines; Dr. Elias, for years a prominent physician, but now leading a retired life on his farm near Newton; and Eliza, who married C. P. Gilkison, a successful merchant of Cedar Rapids, where he died; she is now a resident of Chicago.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood years on his father's farm, and at the age of six-teen entered the Urbana (Ohio) Academy, of which two years later he was chosen Principal, serving in that capacity for two years. For some time he taught in the Cincinnati College, and while there formed the acquaintance of Doctor and Harriet Beecher Stowe, who took a great interest in him. Through their advice and influence he determined to enter Yale College to prepare for the ministry, and accordingly, in 1840, we find him a student in that great institution of learning, from which he was graduated in 1844. Afterward he spent three years in theological study at Andover and New Haven, and at the expiration of that time he was ordained to the ministry and installed as pastor of the Congregational Church at Durham, Conn.

In 1852 Rev. Mr. Mershon removed from Connecticut to Marion, Iowa, having accepted the pastorate of the Congregational Church at that place. After filling that pulpit for one year, his health failed and he resigned the charge. In 1854 he came to Newton and joined his brother in mercantile pursuits. Two years later he was instrumental in organizing the first Congregational Church in this city, and later he succeeded in securing George Beecher, son of Dr. Ed ward Beecher, to fill the pulpit. From the organization of the church to the present time, he has been one of its foremost members, and has contributed liberally of his means and time to the promotion of its enterprises.

Since 1854 Mr. Mershon has been actively engaged in business pursuits, in which he has acquired a competency. He built, and for many years operated, the Newton Roller Mills. With the Pennsylvania Railway Company back of him, he projected a railroad through the state, toward which he had secured about $1,300,000 in subsidy and had already commenced to work on the grade. While in the east making the final arrangements, the panic of 1873 struck the country and he was unable to execute his plans. Much of his time in late years has been spent in travel, and he has not only visited the points of interest in our own country, but has also made several trips abroad. He has contributed liberally of his large means to aid education, charity and every laudable enterprise. The first marriage of Mr. Mershon occurred in 1845, when he was united with Susan M. Atwater, of New Haven, Conn. They had four children, only one of whom survives, Anna Louisa, who was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1847, and received her education in Auburn, N, Y. She is the wife of C. B. Parcells, formerly of Newton, but now of Oakland, Cal. Mrs. Susan Mershon died in 1853, and two years later our subject married Mrs. Elizabeth Chapman, widow of George Chapman, the founder and editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel; this lady died in March 1862, leaving no children.

In June 1863, Mr. Mershon was united in marriage with Miss Margaret A. Manfull, a cousin of Emma Willard, of Troy Female Seminary. Their union resulted in the birth of two children. James Edward, who was born September 10, 1864, is a graduate of the Iowa State University and is now a practicing attorney of Des Moines. Emma Willard, who was born February 9, 1867, received her primary education in the schools of Newton and was graduated from Snell Seminary, Oakland, Cal. Early in life she developed a wonderful musical talent, and in this in her girlhood days she gained quite a local reputation. In 1887, she was sent to Paris, where she studied vocal music, and later in London, in 1888, she became a pupil of the celebrated Francisca Lamperte, at Milan, Italy. In 1889, she made a most brilliant debut in high opera, and in the spring of the following year married Nicholas Konchine, an artist of the same school and a resident of Moscow, Russia, being a Russian nobleman of fine musical talent and great wealth. Their winters have been spent in Rome, but their permanent home is in Moscow. Of his talented daughter our subject is justly proud. While she was being educated abroad he spent about two years with her, and during that time traveled extensively through the Old World. The mother of these children died August 20, 1868.

September 30, 1872, Mr. Mershon married Mrs. Jennette E. Baldwin, of Meriden, Conn. They are living quietly, but in perfect contentment, in their elegant home in Newton, surrounded by all the luxuries that enhance the pleasures of life. While he is nearing four-score years, he is still as active as in days gone by, and as ever, is a thoughtful student. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 467.