THOMAS JEFFERSON MERCER

The following bio was taken from page 306 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Thomas Jefferson Mercer was converted to the Baptist faith, at Danville, Texas, at sixteen.  It was difficult for him to attend parties and dances, thus making it almost impossible to win the girl he loved.

 After Thomas’s mother and father died, he courted his neighbor, Mary Frances Crews.  She was ten years younger than Thomas and had many admirers.  However, Thomas won her approval and they were married in 1871.  Her older sister married George Meadows, so it was a double wedding, with Justice of the Peace Buck Kilgore performing the ceremony.  The city of Kilgore was named for Buck Kilgore when it was founded about 1872.

 Thomas Jefferson Mercer and Mary’s brother, George “Bud” Crews, bargained for the Spears farm for .50 an acre. Crews then moved into the log home on Fredonia Road.  Thomas and his new bride moved to Granbury, Hood County, Texas to be near her relatives and “ to get rich” raising cotton.

 Thomas and Mary Francis remained in Granbury ten years.  Four children were born there: Lula Ellen – 1872, George Eurastus – 1874, Jacob Charles - 1877, and Palina Lee – 1880.  In 1881 the family returned to Rusk County and the farm they were buying.  After returning to Rusk County, the couple lost one child at birth.  Jessie Culver Mercer was born in 1887 and William Jefferson, in 1891.

 Thomas and his sons resumed growing cotton, potatoes, and corn, as well as making syrup.  The Mercer sons also owned saw mills and shingle mills.

 Mary Francis had been converted from the Christian Church to the Baptist Church.  She and Thomas, along with her, Nancy, and George were attending the Baptist Church in Bellview (Pirtle).  Deciding this was too great a distance to travel, they were instrumental in organizing the Forest Home Church, of which they were charter members.  They also played an active role in organizing the school.  All the Mercer children attended Danville and Forest Home schools.

 Uncle Tommy and Aunt Babe, as they were lovingly called, were God-fearing folks and reared their children accordingly.

 Lula Ellen married Frank Leach.  Eurastus (Ras) married Bryan Chandler. Jacob married Ola Houston, niece of Sam Houston.  Palina (Birdie) married Charles Meadows. Jessie married Joe Wood, and William Jefferson married Annie Mae Black of LaGrone’s Chapel, in Harrison County.

 Thomas lived until 1916.  Joe and Jessie Mercer Wood lived with “Babe” at the old log home until 1917.  At that time the log house was torn down and a new square bungalow, with porches completely around the house, was constructed.

 “Babe” Mercer was well-known in the community and had many acquaintances and friends.  They all respected her word as just about “law and order,” in the schools and church.  Although she had the reputation of expressing her thoughts exactly ad she felt, she was loved by all.  She lived to be ninety years of age, and when death came, she was buried beside Thomas Jefferson Mercer at the Danville Cemetery.

 Submitted by Talmadge Mercer