MERCER COUNTY, situated on the north boundary of Missouri. Area, ----------- square miles. Seat of justice, Princeton. Pop. in 1850, 2,691. (Fanning's, 1853)
MERCER, a county in the N. part of Missouri, bordering on Iowa, has an area of 600 square miles. It is drained by Weldon river, Crooked fork of Grand river, Medicine and Muddy creeks, all of which flow nearly southward. Indian corn, wheat, oats, hay, and butter are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 149,555 bushels of corn; 7311 of wheat; 26,500 of oats; 875 tons of hay and 33,906 pounds of butter. It contained 7 churches, and 100 pupils attending public schools. Capital, Princeton. Population 2691 ; of whom 2677 were free, and 14, slaves. (Baldwin & Thomas, A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States ... 1854)
MERCER COUNTY. This county is situated on the Iowa State line, about midway between the two great rivers that wash either shore of the northern part of the State, and is bounded on the east by Dodge and Sullivan, south by Grundy, and on the west by Harrison.
The first settlements were made in 1837, by Allen M. England and Thomas Witten. The county has an area of 500 square miles; had 5603 inhabitants in 1856; and 9310 in 1860.
Physical Features.—The surface of the country is level and undulating, the soil generally fertile, with about an equal division of prairie and timber, which consists of white oak, bur oak, walnut, hard maple, white maple, linden, etc. It is drained by Weldon River, crooked fork of Grand River, Medicine and Muddy Creeks.
Soil and Productions.—The soil is generally fertile, and produces an abundant yield of most kinds of agricultural products, to wit: of hemp, 1000 pounds to the acre; tobacco, 1000; flax, 300 pounds; corn, 100 bushels; wheat, 33 bushels; rye, 40; oats, 50; buckwheat, 40; while the yield of vegetables will compare favorably with almost any section. Of Hungarian grass, as high as 7 tons, and of timothy, 5 tons, are said to have been cut per acre. These farm statistics are somewhat above the average yield. Good unimproved land is worth from $3 to $7 per acre; and improved, from $10 to $15.
Natural Advantages.—This county has an abundance of excellent timber and building stone, very fertile soils, abundance of water, healthy climate, and good demand for all kinds of produce.
Minerals.—Coal and iron ore have recently been discovered by Mr. Williams, an old miner, and it is thought both these valuable minerals will be found in extensive beds. A large deposit of copper is said to have been discovered near Ravenna. Farmers and mechanics will do well to examine this county.
Churches and Schools.—There are in Princeton 1 Methodist church, 40 members; Baptist, 60 members; and the Christian church, 50. There are 65 district schools in the county.
PRINCETON, the county-seat, is a thrifty town of 500 inhabitants, with a good newspaper, "Princeton Reporter," Jas. A. Scarbaugh, Editor; also a good representation of business houses. It was first settled by John R. Davis, and incorporated March 4, 1855.
Ravenna has 200 population; Middleburgh, 100; Somerset, 50; Madisonville, 50. (Parker's Missouri as it is in 1867..., 1867)