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John Picket Mercer, who died in Calvert, Tex., on August 24, 1916, was born November 12, 1842, near Lumberton, Robeson County, N. C. When the war came on between the States, he enlisted in a company that became a part of the 1st North Carolina Infantry. After serving twelve months, he reenlisted in Company D, 51st North Carolina Infantry, H. McEthan, colonel, Clingman's Brigade, Hoke's Division. He was with General Beauregard in the defense of Charleston, S. C., and in Battert Wagner on July 18, 1863, when the Union forces used every effort to take it by storm and left their dead scattered thickly over about four acres. Early in 1864 Beauregard's army was transferred to Petersburg and then to James River, Va.; and on May 18, when General Beauregard fought the battle of Drury's Bluff, Comrade Mercer's command took quite a prominsent part in it. The latter part of May his command joined General Lee's army in time to take part in the first day's battle at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. In this battle he was wounded in the right leg and captured and taken first to Point Lookout, then to Emira, N. Y., where he was kept until the close of the war. When released he returned to his home in North Carolina, and for several years engaged in business.

Finding that he could not get along with the Reconstruction authorities in North Carolina, he went to Texas and at last located in the southern part of Robertson County and engaged in farming and contracting until the early nineties, when he went into business in Calvert. He was married to Miss Pauline Jeanne Bibbs in 1900.

John Mercer came of a good old English family of colonial days which gave many eminent men to the colonies and to North Carolina. He was a forceful character, kind and generous, and of great native ability.