GEORGE MERTZ, Mayor of Mound City, was born in New Berlin, Union County,
Penn., March 20, 1815, his father, Hon. Isaac Mertz, was a native of
Pennsylvania, where he died. His occupation was that of a farmer, and was
well worthy of the confidence of his fellow-men who elected him to many of
the offices, as Coroner, Justice of the Peace, Sheriff, and Representative
of his district in the Legislature. His wife, Susan (Stahlnecker) Mertz, was
also, a native of Pennsylvania, and was of German descent, and the mother of
eight children.
George Mertz was educated in the subscription
schools of Pennsylvania, common in his day and when a young man served an
apprenticeship at the carpenter and cabinet-maker's trades, and afterward
worked at the same for a few years, and gave up his trade to engage as
contractor for public works, at which he was engaged for several years. In
about 1835, he was given the position of conductor on the Old Pennsylvania
R. R., which at that time was under the superintendency of the State; was
also on the Pioneer line for about two years, and afterward engaged as
contractor for the Cumberland Valley R. R., for a period of two years. He
then entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Company as contractor
and superintendent of bridge building for three years. In 1842, he made a
general tour through the West; returning East the same year he located at
Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in the foundry business, continuing in the
same until 1856, when he came to Illinois and located in Mound City, and in
company with Mr. James Goodlove erected a foundry and ran it successfully
until 1861, when the United States Government took possession of the
building, using it for a depository of supplies. In 1861, he was appointed
Postmaster, and still fills the same position, to the satisfaction of all
Previous to the close of the war, he was express agent at Mound City, a
position which at that time was of considerable importance. He has been
engaged in the mercantile business for about twenty years, first carrying on
a drug store, and at the present time a grocery and general provision store.
Mr. Mertz has been Police Magistrate for about fifteen years, and is now
Mayor of Mound City, and also County Commissioner.
He was married in
Clear Spring, Md., to Miss Mary A. West, a native of the same State, born
April 17, 1817; she is a daughter of the late Rev. John West, and is the
mother of the following children: Hemy C., who was born July 1, 1843; he was
educated in Cincinnati Ohio, and is engaged in mercantile pursuits at
Carbondale, Ill.; he was County Clerk of Pulaski County from 1865 to 1869;
he married Maria E. Boren, a native of Pulaski County, Ill., born December
15, 1847; she is a daughter of Hiram and Maria L. (Chapman) Boren, and is
the mother of Dora L., George W. and Bertie B.
George E. Mertz was
born August 1, 1845, and was educated in Mound City, and married Susan E.,
daughter of Robert J. Hawley. This union has been blessed with the following
children: Ida, Willie and Jesse. He is now in the employ of the United
States Mail Service on the Illinois Central R. R.
Charles W. Mertz
was born January 8, 1852, and arriving at his majority engaged in the
grocery business at Mound City in partnership with Mr. Carrico, who was
bought out by George E. Mertz, and he subsequently succeeded by George
Mertz, our subject. Charles W. Mertz was united in matrimony to Miss Alice,
daughter of George W. and Martha (Lusk) Streeter; she was born March 17,
1853, and is the mother of three children, viz.: Albert C., born April 18,
1874; Josiah S., born April 26, 1876; Alice B., born March 18, 1881.
Extracted 02 Nov 2014 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V - Biographical Sketches, pages 272-273.
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Massac McCracken KY |
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