History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 924, Vermont Township
J. & H. Mershon, dealers in dry-goods, Vermont. Among the
mercantile houses of Vermont undoubtedly the most extensive is that of
Joab and Henry Mershon; their goods are selected with great care, are
all in style and durable. As early as 1842 the senior partner of this
firm began mercantile business in this place on Main street, and steady
prosperity so attended him that he has enlarged and improved his
building from time to time, keeping fully up with the demands of the
community. He also carries on a banking business, where his integrity
and business qualifications have been demonstrated to the satisfaction
of the public.
History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its
Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil,
Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and
Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 924, Vermont Township
Joab Mershon, banker and merchant, is one of the leading
business men of Fulton Co., a position he has obtained purely by merit.
Years ago he commenced in Vermont with no capital but that of the mind
and heart, which, however, was considerable. An abiding faith in the
future prosperity of this township and county, joined with industry,
mental capacity and honesty has enabled him to-day to rank among the
highest in this section of the country.
History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its
Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil,
Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and
Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 924, Vermont Township
Henry Mershon, one of the leading merchants of the county, of
the firm of J. & H. Mershon, the senior being his father. Henry is
a native of this county, has been reared amid pioneer associations, and
has by his integrity of character and capacity won a high place in the
esteem of his fellow citizens. Their stock of goods is always selected
with great care, so that in the quality of their goods as well as in
low price, etc., they are not surpassed.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 410 & 413-414; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Henry Mershon. This name will be at once recognized as that of a
leading business man of Fulton County, who is probably better known
than any other banker or merchant within its bounds. The dry-goods
establishment over which he presides is large, well-fitted, and
supplied with a complete line of carefully chosen goods suited to the
growing needs of the people of the section over which his trade
extends, unsurpassed in quality and reasonable in price. The proprietor
is following worthily in the footsteps of his respected father, who for
nearly half a century was one of the most prominent business men in the
county.
Mr. Mershon was born in the village where he now resides,
Vermont, September 5, 1843, received his early education in the village
schools and further advanced his knowledge by attendance at Lombard
University, Galesburg. He began his mercantile experience as a clerk in
his father's store and at the age of twenty-one established a general
store in Bushnell. After carrying it on two years he sold out, returned
to his boyhood's home and became a partner with his father, the
connection between the two continuing until the death of the parent. In
1880 the firm established a dry-goods house in Denver with our subject
in charge. Three years were spent by him in that great western mart
after which he was engaged in business in Chicago for about a
twelvemonth. We next find him established in Peoria for a period of
three years, then, on account of his father's failing health, returning
to Vermont to take charge of the business which has become one of the
landmarks of this section of the State.
January 17, 1877, an interesting event transpired, it being no
less than the marriage of Mr. Mershon to Ella, daughter of James and
Caroline Stevens. Mrs. Mershon was born in Vermont, this county, and is
well known in the best social circles for her dignity and pleasing
manners. Mr. Mershon has always given his vote and influence to the
Republican party. His personal character is one of such integrity and
his capacity for financial affairs so decided that he has won a high
place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens and has become known to an
extended circle of social and business acquaintances.
The subject of this sketch is one of a genealogical tree which
has extended its branches into many of the States of the Union since
the first representative of the name in America came hither from France
during the last decade of the seventeenth century. This gentleman
located on Long Island and leaving his son there started to return to
his native land. He was never again heard from, but from his son sprang
the family which, extending into New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
is now represented in many parts of the Union. Joab Mershon, the father
of our subject, was born in Chester County, Pa., January 26, 1812, and
having in boyhood been fairly well drilled in the rudimentary branches
of knowledge subsequently enlarged his store by personal efforts. He
learned the trade of a shoemaker, following it in Philadelphia,
Pittsburg and St. Louis for a few years.
Ill health led Mr. Mershon to abandon his trade and become a
drover. He bought cattle in Maryland and drove them to his native
State, finding the out-of-door live beneficial to his health and
sufficiently remunerative to satisfy him for a time. He finally
determined to see something of the country, paying his way by his
trade, and at length landed in Louisville, Ky., with but $2.50 in his
pocket. Repairing to the Gault House he registered with all the
assurance of a millionaire and after dining started out in search of a
job. In a short time he was at work but ere long started on his travels
again. In 1838 we find him in this county, his capital on landing here
being his clothes and fifty cents in money, together with the natural
abilities which his after career proved to be by no means limited.
Vermont was scarcely more than a hamlet at that time, having but one
shoemaker whom Mr. Mershon bought out a short time after his arrival.
Between two and three years later he became a general merchant and in
mercantile pursuits was interested until the day of his death.
Mr. Mershon was one of those men whose energy and talents will
allow of their engaging in various branches of business with success.
For many years he was a pork packer, during some seasons putting up as
high as three thousand hogs. He also dealt largely in wheat and for
some years was engaged in the manufacture of flour. In 1869, in
connection with C. B. Cox, Jr., he started a private bank and after the
death of his partner continued the institution under the firm name of
J. Mershon & Co. This banking establishment became a popular
institution and has had an exceptionally prosperous career, no
financial panic having ever shaken its firmness in the least. Farming,
cattle raising and cattle feeding also proved a source of prosperity to
Mr. Mershon, who, after giving his children considerable land, held
nine hundred acres in his own name during the later years of his life.
Mr. Mershon was a very liberal-minded man, supporting all worthy
enterprises, among them the various religious denominations, although
he was not a member of any. He dealt fairly with everyone, lived a life
of the strictest integrity, and gained not only the respect, but the
high esteem of a very wide circle of acquaintances. His remarkable
success in worldly affairs had no doubt for its corner stone the
economical habits with which he began life. Prudence, judicious
management, industry and the honesty which he ever found to be the best
policy were the stones with which the rich structure was completed. His
life affords a lesson which younger men may well study with advantage.
The wife of Joab Mershon and mother of the subject of this
sketch, was known in her maidenhood as Sarah E. Dilworth. She was a
daughter of Rhodes and Rebecca (Edgerton) Dilworth, both of whom died
in Vermont, the mother at the age of fifty-five years and the father
when almost ninety. The latter had outlived all of his children. He was
an ardent temperance man, never used spirituous liquors in any form nor
indulged in tobacco. He was a member of the Society of Friends and a
strong Abolitionist, having in slavery times assisted many a fugitive
on his way to freedom. He is numbered among the pioneers of Vermont,
where he located in 1840, building the first flouring mill in the
county. To this establishment people came from many miles, even as far
as Knox County, the distance which they traveled often compelling them
to remain over night. His son-in-law, Mr. Mershon, became his partner
in the mill which they eventually sold, building a warehouse at Vermont
Landing, on the Illinois River, where they were for some time engaged
in buying and shipping grain and doing a general warehouse business.
Mr. Dilworth next bought an interest at Browning's Landing, built a
large warehouse and did an extensive business there. After the death of
his wife he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mershon, and when she
was called hence still remained under her husband's roof.
Mrs. Joab Mershon was a native of the Buckeye State, domestic in
her tastes, devoted to the interests of her husband and children, and
during her entire life manifested her ability as a helpmate, her
considerateness as a parent and her value as a friend. Of the ten
children born to her the following are now living: Henry, the subject
of this biographical notice; Rebecca, wife of William F. Durell of
Vermont; Damaris, wife of A. D. Bailey of this county; Rhodes D., a
livery man in Vermont, and Milton S., merchant in Vermont. All are
engaged at a present time by mutual agreement in conducting the
interests of the estate as it was before the death of the parents, in
each and every branch.
