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C. O. Mercer, a successful auctioneer and farmer residing in Perry township, was born near Bladensburg, Knox county, Ohio, October 10, 1807, his parents being Levi and Jane (Houck) Mercer. The grandfather, Levi Mercer, who was a cabinetmaker by trade, journeyed from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Knox county, Ohio, being among the early settlers there. He spent the remainder of his life in that county and carried on agricultural pursuits as a life work. Levi Mercer, the father of C. O. Mercer, was born in Knox county and there resided until the year 1875, when he removed to Licking county where he made his home until called to his final rest in 1898. He was a graduate of Kenyon College and a classmate of President Hayes. In connection with auctioneering, in which line of activity he was very successful, he also carried on farming and blacksmithing. Politically, he was a democrat, fraternally a Mason and in religious faith was a Methodist. He was moreover a public-spirited citizen and his aid and influence could always be counted upon to further any movement or measure instituted for the general welfare. His wife, a native of Bladensburg, Knox county, was there reared and married and still survives, now making her home in Licking county. Unto this worthy couple were born nine children, namely: Wilmette, deceased; Luna, the wife of G. F Van Winkle, a farmer of Knox county; Evalina, the deceased wife of Robert Gardner, Josephine, the wife of W. O. Bickem, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits near Bladensburg, Knox county; Daisy, the wife of W. O. Wright of Coshocton county; Clarence, who has passed away; C. O., of this review; John, who is also deceased, and George, who is manager of the Des Moines branch of the Negal Clothing Company. C. O. Merer was educated in the district schools of his native county and started to cry sales when only fourteen years of age, having since been successfullyconnected with the auctioneering business. He has sold more goods than any other auctioneer in the state of Ohio and has also done work along this line in the adjoining states. Though he has confined his operations primarily to Ohio and Pennsylvania, he has also done some work in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. He owns one hundred acres of valuable and well improved land in Perry township and in his farming operations has also gained a gratifying measure of prosperity, the fields annually returning golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them. In 1889 Mr. Mercer was united in marriage to Miss Ella Rine, a daughter of J. C. Rine, who resides near New Guilford, Coshocton county. They now have three children, Harry, Lewis and Forrest, all at home. In politics Mr. Mercer is a democrat and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias lodge at New Guilford, in which he has passed through all the chairs. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county.
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