1860 lived in Princeton, Bureau, Illinois
William Mercer 46
Polly Mercer 37
Joseph Mercer 15
Jane Mercer 14
Thomas D Mercer 13
Rachel Mercer 11
Christiana Olsten 19

Dr. William Mercer died at his residence on High street last Friday, January 4. He was born August 1, 1814, at Georgetown, Harrison county, Ohio, and was the second child of a family of fourteen. The first born of the family, Thomas Mercer, still lives, at Seattle, Washington.

In 1833, when a boy of nineteen, he started for Illinois with his father, Aaron Mercer. They went down the Ohio to St. Louis where they found the cholera raging, and Aaron took it. The boy, William, was both his nurse and doctor, the only doctor he had, and when the parent had recovered he bought a horse, and alternately walking and riding by turn they made their way to Mercer county, from whence they returned to Ohio. In the spring of 1834 Aaron and his son, Thomas, came to Princeton by way of the Ohio and the Illinois, leaving the boat at Hennepin. They were so pleased with the country that Thomas returned to Ohio after the family while his father remained to erect a cabin, which was built on the ground where now stands the old Albrecht brewery building.

Thomas and his mother, with the young children, started for Princeton by boat, while William and his brother, Baruch, took the trail overland with the household goods in a big wagon drawn by six horses.

Dr. William and Miss Polly Knox were married Oct. 15, 1840, at Knox's Grove, in Lee county. The newly wedded couple settled on a farm, near where the red school house stands, at what is known as the Dover crossing. In 1849 his practice had grown upon him so that he gave up the farm and moved into Princeton, buying the property on which he died, though at that time his house stood away out in the prairie, and there were only two or three families near enough to be call neighbors.

Along through the fifties and midway of the sixties Dr. Billy Mercer, as he was called, had an extended practice reaching across the prairies in every direction, and he enjoyed a great reputation for his effective treatment of spotted fever, now known as scarlet fever, and putrid sore throat, which in later years became diphtheria. During his residence of 45 years in Princeton he was twice elected president of the town council on the anti-license ticket.

Six children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Mercer, of whom three are living; Joseph of Peoria; Mrs. Jane Beede, of Mendota, and Mrs. Rachel Hamlin, of Princeton. His remains were buried in Oakland cemetery.

Source: Bureau County Tribune (Princeton, Illinois)
~11 Jan 1895 page 4 column 4