My Genealogy Hound

Thomas E. Mercer, an enterprising merchant of Toone and member of the firm of Mercer & McGlathery, is a native of Madison County, Tenn., born February 5, 1844, the fourth of eight children, four now living, born to Thomas B. and Catharine (Crisum) Mercer. The parents were married in Madison County about the year 1830 and in 1843 came to Hardeman County, where they have since lived. The father was born in Currituck County, N. C., in December, 1816, is a farmer, a Democrat, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. The mother is a member of the same church, born in Middle Tennessee in 1818. Our subject’s education at seventeen was interrupted by the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-third Tennessee Regiment Infantry; was received in Cheatham’s division and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Ky., Murfreesboro and of Chickamauga. At the latter place he received a severe wound which caused him much suffering. After a partial recovery he returned to the service but was officially placed on the retired list at Greensboro, Ga., in July, 1864. Mr. Mercer then returned to Tennessee and re-entered school, and after completing his education he was engaged as clerk in different mercantile houses for five years. In 1869 he formed a partnership with a brother, W. A. Mercer, and James Little and opened a grocery store in Toone which he continued with some changes in the firm for seven years. In 1876 he and brother opened a store of general merchandise, but in 1883 the brother sold his interest to F. M. McGlathery, now one of the firm. Mr. Mercer also owns 300 acres of land in Fayette, Madison and Hardeman Counties. September 6, 1870, he married Miss Lizzie Cartwright, a lady of Fayette County, born in 1843, and to them have been born eight children, six now living. Mr. Mercer is a Democrat and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mrs. Mercer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.