My Genealogy Hound

J. H. Mershon, ex-Deputy United States Marshal, and dealer in real estate at Fort Smith, Ark., is a Kentuckian, was born in 1838, and grew to manhood in London, the county seat of Laurel County. He is of French descent, and a son of William and Nancy Mershon, the former being born in Kentucky in 1801. He was the proprietor of a large tan-yard in London, and was a leading politician of Southeast Kentucky, but during the early settlement of Kansas moved westward, and located in that State, where he remained two years. From there he went to Northwest Texas, and there died during the war, in 1863. His wife died in 1870. His father, Titus Mershon, was also a Kentuckian, a Whig in politics, and was one of the leading politicians of the day. J. H. Mershon and his youngest brother served in the Federal army in the late war, being a member of the Second Kansas Cavalry, and was promoted as follows: Corporal, commissary-sergeant, first duty sergeant, orderly-sergeant and first lieutenant. He received his discharge at Lawrence, Kas., August 11, 1865, and went directly to St. Joseph, Mo., where he was married on the 3d of September, 1865, to Ellen M. Roberts, a relative of Gov. Silas Woodson, and removed to Wise County, Tex., where their first child was born and died. On account of the ill health of his wife he returned to Labette County, Kas., where he spent one year, thence to Jasper County, Mo., where he purchased a farm and began tilling the soil. Here another child was born, but only lived a very short time. Shortly after he took his wife to Troy, Kas., where she died of consumption, at the home of her mother. Mr. Mershon then sold out all his property in Missouri and came to Fort Smith, Ark., with the intention of soon joining his brothers in Texas, but, liking the town, engaged in the grocery business, which he followed about a year. About this time he met Miss Minnie Simmons, a school-teacher, and they were afterward married. Their union has been blessed in the birth of four children, only two of whom are living: Maggie and Arthur. Willie W. died at the age of five and a half years, being very delicate from his birth. After his marriage Mr. Mershon resided on a farm for about two years, and then came to Fort Smith, and became Deputy United States Marshal, serving twelve years, a longer period than any of his successors have served. He was instrumental in bringing many notorious characters to justice, prominent among whom was Bully Joseph. He retired from office in 1887, and has since been engaged in the mercantile and real estate business. He is a Republican, and has been a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of H. for the past ten years. He rode Lexington, a Kentucky horse, at the great post stake, at New Orleans, when he beat Lacompe, Highlander and Arrow. His brother F. L. Mershon, served in the Confederate army three years during the late war, and then returned to Wise County, Tex., where he has served two terms as county treasurer, and polled more votes than any other man who has ever run for office in the county. His brother, William H., served in the Twenty-fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, as first sergeant, and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. He returned to Wise County, Tex., after the war, and has been county school commissioner several terms.