Auguste Mercier, senior member of the firm of Mercier & Denizet, proprietors of livery and food stable, Perryville, Mo., was born in France in 1834. He is a son of Augustine Mercier who came to America in 1854 with her two sons, Auguste and Max. She settled near Perryville, Mo., where she died in 1857. After coming to Perry County, Auguste engaged in farming.

In March 1862, he enlisted in the Federal army, joining the Twelfth Missouri State Militia, with which he served until February 2, 1863, when the regiment was broken up and his company was attached to the Fifth Missouri State Militia as Company L. He served three years, the most of the time in Missouri.

In 1864 he married Mary Brantley who was born in Batesville, Ark., in 1844. She died on January 30, 1886, leaving two children: Alice and Gussie.

After the war Mr. Mercier was engaged in teaming for about eight years, running the daily hack line between Perryville and St. Mary�s for six months. In 1874 he and D. Callier established a livery and feed stable in Perryville, which they managed until the latter�s death in November 1876.

Soon after Jules Denizet became a partner and the firm has since been known as Mercier & Denizet. They keep one of the best livery stables in Southeast Missouri are very accommodating gentlemen and thoroughly understand the needs of the traveling public.

On October 3 1886, Mr. Mercier married Mrs. Louise Chappius, nee Panier, a daughter of Joseph Pannier. She was born in Perry County, Mo., in 1858, and has two children by her first marriage: Edward and Amelia.

Politically Mr. Mercier is a stanch Republican and is a charter member of the G. A. R. post of Perryville. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.