-(( Template ))-

Young Asa Mercer

A young Asa Shin Mercer

Asa Mercer Middle School is named after an important guy to the Northwest. He brought women to the Northwest for men to marry. Asa Shin Mercer was his name. He was born on June 6, 1939 near County, Illinois. He was the youngest of 14 children. By Age 10, Asa's parents were dead, but his father (Aaron Dickerson) had left sufficient funds for him to finish his education. He graduated from Franklin collage of new Athens, Ohio in 1860. At 13 his two brothers left with their families to the Oregon County. In October of 1852 his brother (Thomas) obtained a donation land claim near the settlement of Seattle. In the summer of 1861, Asa went to visit Thomas in Seattle. By this time, Seattle was in the process of clearing land for the Territorial University. While here, Asa helped Thomas and other men to clear trees and stumps. After this was done the chairman (Daniel Bagley) chose Asa, the only collage graduate, as the sole teacher and first president of the new Territorial University. He was only paid two hundred dollars for the five month term. During this time the people of Seattle realized that there weren't very many women in their town. There was a ratio of 9:1 men to women in the town. As a young single man, Asa also noticed that they had a big shortage of "refined" women. So, Asa took it upon himself to talk to the governor, Governor Pickering and the other people of the territorial legislature. Asa had a plan to go to the New England states to bring back some single women. Due to the war, there were a lot of single women available for marriage. Asa felt that he could convince these young ladies to come back to the Washington territory where they could work as teachers, dressmakers, and milliners. The group funds were low, so private fund were acquired from the Seattle citizens to help him on his way. In early spring of 1864, Asa was on his way to the New England states. He was successful in bringing back eleven single women who were quickly excepted to the community. Most of these ladies were married within two years. The people of Seattle were pleased with Mercer's success and promptly elected him to the Territorial Legislative Assembly.

Elder Asa Mercer
Asa Mercer in his later years

His second trip proved to be unsuccessful because of his financial difficulties. For this he called upon the help of Abraham Lincoln. (a long time friend of Asa's family) Abraham was in New York at this time so Asa had to go to New York to get the money. As Asa arrived in New York he found out that Abraham was killed. Vice President Johnson Would not lend him the money even though Lincoln had everything arranged. After overcoming some obstacles he received some money from General Ulysses Grant to make a voyage to the east once again. They readied Asa's Ship to go to the west. Asa left New York on Jan.6,1866 with about 200 young ladies. On July 15,1866 Asa married one of the young ladies he brought back from his second expedition. Her name was miss Anne Elizabeth Stephens. In 1867 Asa and his wife left Seattle to go to Astoria, Oregon. From there they moved to Texas. In Texas Asa owned and published a newspaper before finally settling down in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There he was editor and publisher of "Northwest Livestock Journal." In 1895 Asa and Family moved to Paintrock Valley in North Wyoming. There he developed a farm and cattle ranch in Big Horn Basin.

Asa Shin Mercer died on August 10, 1917 in Buffalo, Wyoming. The ranch still exists in the Family till this day. 1895-1998

Mercer School Dedication
Depiction of Mercer Girls on their way to Washington.
To the Opening of Mercer's Dedication as a New School.

Photo permission granted by the Museum of History and Industry 1999.


	Mercer Home Mission Forms History Calendar Newsletters	Staff Staff Administration	Students Responsibility Recognition Student Work Ports Project	Resources Seattle Schools Google Dictionary World Maps


A young Asa Shin Mercer Asa Mercer Middle School is named after an important guy to the Northwest. He brought women to the Northwest for men to marry. Asa Shin Mercer was his name. He was born on June 6, 1939 near County, Illinois. He was the youngest of 14 children. By Age 10, Asa's parents were dead, but his father (Aaron Dickerson) had left sufficient funds for him to finish his education. He graduated from Franklin collage of new Athens, Ohio in 1860. At 13 his two brothers left with their families to the Oregon County. In October of 1852 his brother (Thomas) obtained a donation land claim near the settlement of Seattle. In the summer of 1861, Asa went to visit Thomas in Seattle. By this time, Seattle was in the process of clearing land for the Territorial University. While here, Asa helped Thomas and other men to clear trees and stumps. After this was done the chairman (Daniel Bagley) chose Asa, the only collage graduate, as the sole teacher and first president of the new Territorial University. He was only paid two hundred dollars for the five month term. During this time the people of Seattle realized that there weren't very many women in their town. There was a ratio of 9:1 men to women in the town. As a young single man, Asa also noticed that they had a big shortage of "refined" women. So, Asa took it upon himself to talk to the governor, Governor Pickering and the other people of the territorial legislature. Asa had a plan to go to the New England states to bring back some single women. Due to the war, there were a lot of single women available for marriage. Asa felt that he could convince these young ladies to come back to the Washington territory where they could work as teachers, dressmakers, and milliners. The group funds were low, so private fund were acquired from the Seattle citizens to help him on his way. In early spring of 1864, Asa was on his way to the New England states. He was successful in bringing back eleven single women who were quickly excepted to the community. Most of these ladies were married within two years. The people of Seattle were pleased with Mercer's success and promptly elected him to the Territorial Legislative Assembly. Asa Mercer in his later years His second trip proved to be unsuccessful because of his financial difficulties. For this he called upon the help of Abraham Lincoln. (a long time friend of Asa's family) Abraham was in New York at this time so Asa had to go to New York to get the money. As Asa arrived in New York he found out that Abraham was killed. Vice President Johnson Would not lend him the money even though Lincoln had everything arranged. After overcoming some obstacles he received some money from General Ulysses Grant to make a voyage to the east once again. They readied Asa's Ship to go to the west. Asa left New York on Jan.6,1866 with about 200 young ladies. On July 15,1866 Asa married one of the young ladies he brought back from his second expedition. Her name was miss Anne Elizabeth Stephens. In 1867 Asa and his wife left Seattle to go to Astoria, Oregon. From there they moved to Texas. In Texas Asa owned and published a newspaper before finally settling down in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There he was editor and publisher of "Northwest Livestock Journal." In 1895 Asa and Family moved to Paintrock Valley in North Wyoming. There he developed a farm and cattle ranch in Big Horn Basin. Asa Shin Mercer died on August 10, 1917 in Buffalo, Wyoming. The ranch still exists in the Family till this day. 1895-1998 Depiction of Mercer Girls on their way to Washington. To the Opening of Mercer's Dedication as a New School. Photo permission granted by the Museum of History and Industry 1999.