JESSE "BUD" THORNTON MERCER (1854-1910)

    Jesse "Bud" Thornton Mercer was born 2 April 1854, Ruddles Mill, Ky., the son of William Leroy and Sarah Elizabeth (Current) Mercer.

    In 1864, as a youth, he came with his parents from Kentucky to Iowa and located on a farm three-fourths mile from where Elliott now is. His mother Sarah died in 1860 and his father remarried Lydia Layson in 1864 in Kentucky. He attended schools in Kentucky and Iowa in the winter and helping his father farm the remainder of the year.

    "Bud" Mercer married Mary Elizabeth DeWitt who was born 20 May 1855 in Colesburg, Iowa, the daughter of Dr. George Seabury and Sarah Eliza (Stanclift) DeWitt on 15 Dec. 1875 at Elliott, Iowa. They lived and farmed in the vicinity of Elliott all their married life except for two years at Rush Center, Kansas and about three years at Cumberland, Iowa. They were members of the Methodist Church in Pilot Grove and Elliott. Mr. Mercer was a member of the Live Oaks Camp Modern Woodmen of America No. 1917 of which he remained a member until his death.

    The children of Jesse "Bud" and Mary (DeWitt) Mercer were William Leroy, George Elliott (first male child born in Elliott), Lancelot John, Charles Clifford, Frank Hubert and Jessie Elizabeth (Mrs. Ray "Biffie" Smith).

    Jesse T. Mercer died 25 Febr. 1910 and his wife Mary E. (DeWitt) Mercer died 18 May 1923. Both died in Elliott and are interred in Hillside Cemetery, Elliott, Iowa.