Mourer, William

Born: 1807-XX-XX West Virginia

Died: 1867-06-10 Springfield, Illinois

Flourished: Springfield, Illinois

William Mourer was a carpenter, contractor, builder, businessman, and farmer. Born in what would become Berkley County, West Virginia, he emigrated from his native state to Muskingum County, Ohio. In 1823 or 1824, Mourer moved to Washington County, Maryland, where he married Jane I. Ensminger in December 1833. The couple would have one child while living in Maryland. In 1836, Mourer moved his family to Springfield, Illinois, where Jane I. Mourer had four more children. Forming a partnership with Benjamin Ferguson, Mourer opened a building and construction business. Mourer and Ferguson built the American House, and they also contracted to build portions of the Illinois State Capitol. In 1850, Mourer owned real property valued at $600. After Ferguson died, Mourer continued to operate the construction business. In 1853, he purchased a farm and moved his family to Woodside Township. In 1860, Mourer was farming and owned real property valued at $8,000 and a personal estate of $1,000. He died after contracting pneumonia.

John Carroll Power and S. A. Power, History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois (Springfield, IL: Edwin A. Wilson, 1876), 536-37; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Springfield, Sangamon County, IL, 113; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Sangamon County, IL, 31; Gravestone, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL.