McDonough ILGenWeb

MERSHON, Stephen, a worthy resident of McDonough County, Ill., who is farming with good results in Eldorado Township, was born in the town of Vermont, Ill., on April 16, 1857, a son of James and Sarah (Perry) Mershon, who were natives of the State of Pennsylvania. Henry Mershon and Jesse Perry, the grandfathers on each side, were also natives of the Keystone State. James Mershon brought his family from Pennsylvania to Illinois where they were among the early settlers of Fulton County. There they remained until 1865, when they moved to McDonough County, and James Mershon purchased a farm in Eldorado Township. This he cultivated until his death in 1872. His widow survived him until 1897, when she too passed away. James Mershon was twice married, his first wife bearing two children, a boy and a girl.

Stephen Mershon is the fourth of nine children who were the offspring of his father's marriage to his second wife, Sarah Perry. He remained under the paternal roof until the time of his marriage, helping in the work of the farm and utilizing the opportunities afforded by the district schools in his neighborhood. After his marriage he occupied farms, which he rented from various owners, until 1900. At that period he bought a farm of seventy-six acres in Section 3, Eldorado Township, to which he moved and on which he has since been engaged in general farming. He is a careful and methodical husbandman and is meeting with deserved success.

On March 3, 1886, Mr. Mershon was united in marriage with Sadie F. Harrington, who was born in Schuyler County, Ill., where, in youthful days, she was a pupil in the common school of her neighborhood. Religiously, the subject of this sketch joins in worship with the membership of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In political campaigns, his vote is cast for the candidates of the Republican party.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 958, extracted 12 Sep 2019 by Norma Hass.