Jefferson County Historical Society

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Edwin Mercer, traveling engineer for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain &
Southern Railroad, was born in Dover, N. H., January 22, 1841 and is a
son of Josiah Mercer.  Mr. Mercer settled in St. Louis in 1859, where
he resided until the fall of 1883 when he removed and located in 
De Soto.  He received a common school education, and has been in the
employ of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad for many
years.  He was first engaged as a brakeman on freight trains, then 
wiped engines, subsequently fired, and still later was employed as an
engineer for eight or ten years.  In 1873 he was promoted to his present 
position, that of traveling engineer on the Missouri Division.
October 28, 1876 he married Elizabeth Annie Wilson, daughter of John
Wilson, a machinist of South St. Louis.  Mrs. Mercer was born in 
England, and is a member of the Episcopal Church.  Mr. Mercer is a 
member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Odd Fellows and 
the Legion of Honor.