Mercers Bottom, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mercers Bottom, West Virginia
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 Mercers Bottom, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Mercers Bottom, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Mason |
| Elevation | 584 ft (178 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1552054 |
Mercers Bottom is a small place in Mason County, West Virginia, USA. It's not a city with its own government, but a community where people live. You can find it on the east side of the Ohio River, right along West Virginia Route 2. It's about 13.5 miles (21.7 km) south of a town called Point Pleasant.
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Where is Mercers Bottom?
The name "Mercer's Bottom" used to mean a much bigger area than it does today. On maps now, it's usually a two-mile stretch of Route 2. This area is located between Apple Grove to the north and Ashton to the south.
A Look at History
Mercers Bottom got its name from a famous soldier, General Hugh Mercer (1726–1777). He was a hero in the Revolutionary War. After he passed away, his family received a very large piece of land here as a reward for his service. This land was about 16,000 acres! George Washington himself ordered the land to be measured for General Mercer's family.
Early Settlers and Land Grants
According to an old book from 1883 called Hardesty's West Virginia Counties, a big part of the land along the Ohio River was given to General Mercer's family. He was killed in the battle of Princeton in New Jersey on January 3, 1777, fighting alongside George Washington. This is why the area is called Mercers Bottom.
Later, General Mercer's grandson, Charles Fenton Mercer, sold off pieces of this land. The first person to actually settle here was Thomas Hannan in 1790. His name is still remembered in the area. Before him, two hunters named Andrew Fleming and a Mr. Mercer had built a small cabin on the land. Thomas Hannan lived in that cabin until he could build a better home.
Soon after, other settlers arrived. Jesse George bought land at the mouth of Flatfoot Creek. Then came John Hereford, Robert Hereford, Thomas Powell, Edward S. Menager, and John Morris. John Morris was important because he found the first salt water on the Kanawha River. Other early settlers included George Withers, Robert Cremeans, and James George.
Revolutionary War Heroes in Mercers Bottom
Close by, you can find the graves of some of these early settlers who were also soldiers. These include Adjutant John Hereford and Ensign John Wilson. Both of them fought in Washington's Revolutionary Army.
John Hereford was an adjutant (a type of military assistant) in a Virginia Regiment led by Colonel John Alexander. He fought alongside Lafayette at the Battle of Yorktown, which was a very important battle in the war. John Hereford was born in Fairfax County, Virginia in 1758. He moved to Mercers Bottom in 1808. He served as a magistrate (a local judge) and sheriff (a law enforcement officer) in the community. He lived there until he passed away in 1846.
