Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed., Kenton Co. JOHN H. MERSMAN, dealer in builders' furnishing material and general hardware, at 31 Pike Street, Covington, Kenton Co., Ky., is a native of Oldenburg, Germany, and was born October 15, 1833, a son of John H. and Elizabeth (Shroder) Mersman, natives of the same State in Germany, who immigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1835. The father of our subject was a general farmer by occupation. John H. Mersman was reared on the farm, and received a common English education in the private schools. He removed to Covington in 1868, from Cincinnati, where he engaged in the same business as now. Previous to embarking in the mercantile business he learned and worked at the locksmith's trade for twenty years. He now has a fine hardware business, and carries about $10,000 worth of stock. In 1861 he married Miss Mary Strothman, of Cincinnati, who has borne him five children, viz: Mary Ann, Elizabeth, John, Catherine and Agnes. Mr. Mersman is a member of the Catholic Church. Mersman Shroder Strothman = OH Germany http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/kenton/mersman.jh.txt