WILLIAM LEROY MERCER (1827-1899)

    William Leroy Mercer, was born 6 July 1827, Morgantown, Virginia, son of Jesse Thornton and Rachel (Bouslog) Mercer. He married (1) 17 March 1853 Ruddles Mill, Ky., Sarah Elizabeth Current born 12 Dec. 1833, Ruddles Mill, Ky. daughter of Jesse and Inghabor (Masoner) Current. She died in 1860. Only one child, Jesse "Bud" Thornton lived to maturity. Wm. L. Mercer married 21 April 1864 at Ruddles Mill his second wife Lydia Ann Layson daughter of John and Susan (Current) Layson.  She was born 6 April 1831 in Ky.  William Leroy and Lydia Mercer joined his parents, brothers and sisters in their journey from West Virginia to Iowa in 1864. They lived in Pottawattamie Co., Cass Co. and later in Montgomery Co. just north of Elliott, Iowa. He was as innkeeper in Kentucky, farmed both in Ky. and Iowa.

    The children of Wm. Leroy and Lydia Ann (Layson) Mercer were Thomas Jefferson, Lee Anna, Mary Kate, Emma Frank, Carrie Marie, Sarah Inghabor, Robert Martin, Effie Mae and Grover Cleveland.

    Wm. Leroy Mercer died 25 Feb. 1899, his wife Lydia died 26 Oct. 1913 in Elliott, Ia. and both are buried in Mewhirter Cemetery.