Biography of Abraham Mercer

Abraham Mercer
Company A
1842-1917


Abraham Mercer was born October 3, 1842 in Highland County, Ohio to David Mercer and Susanna Grabill. He was the youngest child of five children, having three brothers (William, Levi, and Henry) and one sister (Harriett). William was born in 1828 and died when he was only two years old. The other two sons were Levi who was born in 1831 and Henry in 1833. His only sister, Harriett, was born in 1836.

All three sons served in the Civil War. Abraham's older brother, Henry, was the first son in the family to enlist and he mustered into Company A of the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a Private. Just under one year later, when Abraham was around 19 or 20 years old, he also decided to enlist in the Civil War. On August 14, 1862, Abraham enlisted for an unexpired term of regiment and mustered into the same Company A, also as a Private. Both Abraham and his brother, Henry, fought at Cross Keys and Harper's Ferry. Unfortunately, the Company was obliged to surrender at Harper's Ferry due to overwhelming numbers. The men were paroled and mustered out November 10, 1862. The last of the three brothers, Levi, was 32 years old when he enlisted as a Private on August 16, 1864. He mustered into Company A of the 2nd Battalion Cavalry, Ohio National Guard and mustered out on October 15, 1864.

After being paroled, Abraham, like many of the other men from his Company, re-enlisted in another regiment. On June 15, 1863, he re-enlisted as a Private in the 24th Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artillery and mustered in August 4, 1863. He performed guard duty of the Rebel prisoners at Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bar, Lake Erie, Ohio until August 6, 1864 and also at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois until June 10, 1865. He mustered out on June 24, 1865, the same year that President Lincoln was assassinated.

After being discharged from the Service, Abraham resumed his living as a farmer in Highland County, Ohio and on February 9, 1871, he married Eliza Montgomery. There were four children born to this union: Charles B. in 1871; Minnie L. in 1874, Maggie M. in 1875, and Levi E. in 1878.

Abraham died February 4, 1917, the same year the United States entered World War I. He was 74 years old. He was buried in Gilboa Cemetery in New Petersburg, Highland County, Ohio.


A special thanks to Marianna Morgan for contributing this information. Abraham Mercer was her great grandfather.




This page belongs to
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~volker
Created:  29 Oct 2001
Modified:  
Copyright © 2001-2003, Jennifer Volker



Dreamcatcher Graphics