Mercer County

by Twyla Holmes, Stephanie Braucht

Overview

Mercer County's location on the east bank of the Mississippi River has made it an attractive site for habitation for thousands of years. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, Native Americans of the Sauk (Sac) tribe were drawn here because of the abundance of fish and wild game. The formal organization of Mercer County began when the Northwest Territory was created in 1787. Then, in 1812, the area was included in the Military Tract, designated by Congress as bounty land to be given as payment to soldiers who served in the War of 1812. The first settlers arrived in the 1820s via the Mississippi River or covered wagon, and Mercer County was established in 1835. Primarily an agricultural area, it has also been home to business and commerce. A variety of interesting individuals have lived in or influenced the county, including an oil baron, a baseball Hall of Famer, a country music star, and a young surveyor who one day became president.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467110938
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	12/02/2013
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Twyla Holmes and Stephanie Braucht are both lifelong residents of Mercer County and members of the board of directors of the Mercer County Historical Society and the Essley-Noble Museum. Holmes's family roots run deep in the county, and she has a true love of local history and genealogy. Braucht's genealogical link to Mercer County is through her husband, whose family has also been here for numerous generations. She is a retired teacher and school counselor who loves conducting research, especially in history and genealogy.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Introduction 7

1 The Very Early Years 9

2 The River 17

3 Agriculture 27

4 Interesting People 43

5 Transportation 51

6 Schools and Churches 63

7 Businesses 81

8 Buildings 97

9 Fun and Entertainment 111