SCHUYLKILL CO. BLUE BOOK
Allied Families
MERKLES
The name Merkle is variously spelled, Merclen, Marklen, Merklen, Merckle, Markling,
Markle, Merkie, Merkel, Merchen, Merckel, Markheim, according to the orthography of the
country from which the newcomer last hailed from. The first form is the most generally
accepted, although the “e” should have the sound of “ah.” The Merkles
were Huguenots and settled in Alsace, France. On the revocation of the edict of Nantes
many of them retired to Amsterdam, Holland, their descen- dants subsequently settling in
America.1 One of the first among them was a George Merkle, who settled in Pennsyl- vania,
Lancaster, afterward Berks County, 1729, and became a naturalized citizen, 1729-’30.
The records of the church at the Trappe, Montgomery County; the Moselem church, Windsor
Township, Berks County, and Trinity Lutheran church, Reading, contain hundreds of the
names of this family but the genealogists have encount- ered difficulties that were
insurmountable in the way of connecting one branch with another. The three brother theory,
of that number of immigrants coming into Pennsylvania (ridiculed by many historical
savants and branded as improb- able,) and settling at different points, had its
advantageous features in follow- ing the lines, but the early Merkles show no such
connection. The author has not attempted to follow the intricacies of these lines outside
of one branch and its allies, but presents the various authorities and references where
those in- clined to delve deeper for information may, perhaps, discover the fountain
head.2 TRAPPE CHURCH RECORDS 1745-Jacob Merclin. 1765-Elizabeth, da. of Abraham Mercklin.
1772-Barbara, da. of Abraham Mercklin. 1767-Phillip, son; and Hamia, da. of Jacob Merclin.
1772-d., aged 25 years, Isaac Merclin. (Note-They were members of Pastor Muhlenberg’s
church at New Provi- dence and are on the records as having subscribed, ten, fifteen, and
ten pounds respectively; yearly, the highest amount of any subscriber being fifteen
pounds.)
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, READING October 14, 1759, George
Merckle and wife were sponsors, at baptism, for child of Jacob and Mary Magdalena
Shumacher, Richmond Township. February 21, 1793, d., Margaret Englehart, nee Merclin, a
widow, b. February 11, 1724, at Muel- hausen, on road to Strasburg, Lower Alsace, France.
Parents, Nicholas Merclin and wife Magdelena; sponsors, Huns Schweyer and Anna Magdelene
Eber. In 1750 she came to America with her parents. 1751 she was married to George
Englehardt, a blacksmith. They had twelve children, five sons and seven daughters; three
sons and one daughter d. She was a widow twelve years. January 31, 1797, died, John
Maerkel, b. December, 1730, nine miles from Phila- delphia. Married, 1773, Mary Basserman.
Had four children. December 13, 1803, d., Julianna Gerst, wf. of Christian2 Merkle; b.
March 2, 1734, in Oley Township, Berks Co. January 29, 1811, Coxtown, Fleetwood cemetery,
Anna Maria Merkle, wf. of Benjamin Park. 1759, September 29, bap.; b. September 25, John,
son of John George Engle- hardt and wf. Margaret Mercklen. Sponsors, Lorenze Fix and
Nickol Merklin grand- parents. MARRIAGES By Rev. J. A. Krug: 1767, January 27, John
Michael Merchen, second son of John Merchen, of Read- ing, to Anna Maria Kopp, daughter of
Joseph Kopp, d., of Heidelberg Township. 1789, June 11, Mary Merckel, da. of Christian
Merckel, of Reading, to Isaac Hahn. Rev. C. F. Wildbahn. 1789, June 23, Elizabeth, da. of
Christian Merckel, at the home, to John Schaeffer. The above were two sisters, married by
the same clergyman eleven days apart. By the above. 1789, December 20, Jacob Merckel,
second son of Christian, to Catharine, daughter of Anthony Fricker. By the same. 1794,
October 14, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Benjamin Merckel, to Ludwig, eldest son of
Daniel Leinzenbeugler, both of New Hanover Township, Montgomery County. 1753, b. February
25, bap., May 4, George, son of Adam and Dorothea Merckle. (St. Michael’s and Zion,
C. R., Phila.) 1798, bap. March 18, Edwina, da. of Martin Merkel. (Hopewell church, York
County, organized 1761, from Blymer’s.) (John Merclin, of Reading, 1756, was a Ranger
from Berks County on the Indian frontier and was paid for his services by the Colonial
Government.-Penna. Archives, 3rd Series, p 355.) (John Michael Merkel, second son of John
Merclin, is shown as a taxable, 1788, in Northampton County, which was formed from
part of Lancaster and Berks, 1752.- Penna. Archives, 3rd series, Vol. XIX, p.318.) (From
Penna. Archives, Vol. 8, p. 649:) 1773, January 1, Solomon Merckle and Rosina Dollman.
1775, June 6, Sabina Merkel and John Ganger, widower. (St. Michael’s and Zion,
Philadelphia.) 1767, April 19, Anna Regina Mercklin and Michael Lutz. 1774, January 11,
Hannah Mercklin and ___ Brotzman. (Lutheran C. R., New Hanover, Pa.) 1804, November 18,
Jonah Markley and Maria Frede. 1800, May 20-Maria Markley and David Gilbert. 1795, April
7-Isaac Merckle and Maria Kerper. 1801, January 20-Dolly Merkel and Matthew Cooper.
(German Reformed church, Phila.) John Christian Merklen, b. 1678, came to Pennsylvania,
1732, d. 1766; settling in the Maxatawny Valley, Lancaster County (Berks), near Moselem
Springs. The Merclins were from Lower Alsace, near Strasburg, France, and fled to
Amsterdam, after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. His son Gaspard became a trans-
Allegheny pioneer, 1771, and settled in Westmoreland County, erecting the first mill and a
stockade fort on the frontier. General Joseph Markle (Merclin), b. 1777, d. 1868. He was
prominent in bus- iness in Western Pennsylvania. In 1844 he was the Whig candidate for
Governor, but was defeated by Francis R. Shunk by a small plurality. (Note-Alsace, a
province bordering on the Rhine, included in Charlemagne’s empire. It was connected
with Germany till 1648, when a portion was ceded to France-Louis XIV seized Strasburg in
1681. This city with the province was se- cured to France by treaty, 1697, and formed Haut
and Bas Rhine until 1871, when it was ceded to Prussia.-(Encyclopedia Britannica.)
(Note-Alsatia, a name formerly given to a precinct of Whitefriars in London, England. It
being a colony for lawless and abandoned people during the 17th cen- tury. John Christman
Merclen was an Alsacian, not an Alsatian.) Christian Merclin (Markling) took the oath of
allegiance to Great Britian, April 10, 1742. His will was written April 25, 1749, but was
not daughters, Mary Anna. Maria and Anna Lena, they married___ Rugh, probated until the
year of his death, 1766. It names five sons and three ___ Hill. (Note-“Keim, and
Allied Families, published by DeB. Randolph Keim, of Reading, has four references to the
Merkles or Merclins, mainly contributed by C. F. Hill, of Hazleton, Pa., a descendant of
the Hill who married the daughter of Christian Merkle.) Christian’s sons were: Peter,
George, Christian and Caspar (Gaspard). (Note-Abstract of Wills, Genealogical Society,
Penna. Historical Society, Phila., Vol. 2, p. 8.) RICHMOND TOWNSHIP The taxable Merkles,
1759, in this township were: (1750) George, Christian, Peter, Caspar (the four latter,
sons of Christian), and George, Jr. 1762, June 23, George and Margaretta Merkle bap.
a son John George, 1767, May 7, Margaretta Merclin was appointed executor of George
Merclin, d., of Greenwich Town- ship. (Will Book, 2-29, and Book 11, Berks County C. H.
and Abstracts, Phila. Historical Society.) The will states there were no children. This
George Merkle was doubtless the first George (1729). 1790, the Lutheran and Reformed
church was built. Among the members, 1808, were: Peter2 and Jacob Merkle. This Jacob was a
member of Capt. John Fulmer’s Company (R. W.). Jacob Merklin took out a license for
marriage to Christina Antes, January 9, 1776. (Penna. Archives.)
ALBANY TOWNSHIP Dietrich Markle was a taxable in Albany Township, 1754, and a David Merkle
too, Dietrich was a tavern keeper as is his great grandson, David, of the present gen-
eration. The Merkheims (as they spell it) are Mennonites, or German Tunkers and their
churches in Albany Township have preserved no early records. The Merk- heims are numerous
in this township, they are mainly farmers and are all well-to- do. The name as first
spelled in the tax lists stamps them as belonging to the original Berks County lines.
Conrad Merkle (Merkheim) lived near Lehigh Gap, 1754. A daughter of Conrad Merkle married
Frederick Boyer1. BAPTISMAL AND OTHER RECORDS 1777, October 16, bap. George, son of Caspar
and Blandina Merckle, (Moselem c. r. from 1741 to 1804.) Found on the fly leaf of an old
German book: 1826, Den 31ten Juli, is Sarlina Seitel geboren und gedauft den 4ten
November. Die dauf zeigen sind Jacob Merckle und seine frau ‘lisabet. 1816, April 23,
Reading Adler: John George Merckle, of Richmond Town- ship, died suddenly several weeks
ago. William Merkel, of Windsor Furnace, near Hamburg, was a prominent citizen and has a
line of descendants. Of this branch some settled in Hecla, Schuylkill County. The old St.
Paul’s church, near Hamburg, gives some, but the early records are very imperfect.
Inscription on tombstone in Zion’s church cemetery, Hecla: Solomon Merkle, b. May 8,
1782, d. March 10, 1819. (Note-J. I. Yost, merchant miller, of Hecla, furnished the above
and is author- ity for the statement that tradition says, there was an early Phillip and
George Merkle in the same locality about 1800.
A Henry Merckle stood sponsor at Zion’s church, McKeansburg, 1809. An old record
describes this church as, Schumacher’s Kirche, an der Nordkill weder dem Blau Berg,
in Brunswig.
EARLY TAXABLES 1808, (before Schuylkill County was
organized): Jacob Merkel, Brunswick Township. Michael Merkle, Manheim Township. George
Merkle, Norwegian Township. Caspar Merkle, Norwegian Township. (The above Jacob Merkle was
the eldest brother of Solomon Merkle.) Christian 2Merkel (John Christian1), b. 1726, m.
Julianna Gerst. Christian Merkel, county commissioner in Berks, from 1767 to 1770. 1772, a
Christian Merkle was a grand juror from Heidelberg Township in the court of oyer and
terminer. One Christian Merkle, in Captain Joseph Baldy’s company, R. W., froze to
death, 1777-‘8, in Heinrich Haffner’s (Henry Heffner) arms while confined as
prisoner in a church. (Montgomery’s History.) George Merkle, on Moselem Creek, took
out a warrant for a tract of land con- taining 1,300 acres. He built a large stone grist
mill and a family mansion, 1768, part of which is still standing. He married Christina___,
1767. His will is re- corded, 1814, (in Abstract of Wills, Gen. Soc., Phila.) but the
heirs are not mentioned. (D. 113, 5, 312) Another George, in whose will no heirs are
mentioned by name, was probated in 1779. George Merkle bought land in Brunswick Township,
1775, and sold the same to Martin Dreibelbis, 1779.1 John De Keim, founder of the old
White store, Reading, married Maria Merkle (Markle) as his first wife, and Martin
Dreibelbeis, whose da. Christina m. Ben- jamin Pott, of Pottsville, m. Catharine Markle,
daughter of the above George, of Moselem Springs, Berks County. Caspar Merclin (Gaspard)
was twice married. He had eight children with his first wife and ten with his second wife.
Gen. Joseph Markle (Merclin), b. 1777, d. 1868, was the first son of the second wife.
(History on previous page.) John2 Peter Merkle (John Christian1), b. 1721, d. 1785; buried
in Moselem Church cemetery, Berks County. His brothers were: Caspar, George and Christian.
He was for sixteen years an elder of this church. Married Catharine Grim, 1748. Trinity
church records, Reading, Pa.-1805, August 2, Caterina Merkel, widow of Peter Merkel, nee
Grim, b. May 31, 1730; d. July 31, ---. Peter Merkle came to that part of Berks
County, now Schuylkill, about 1754. He retained his membership in the Moselem church where
some of his children were baptized. He bought of Nicholas Miller and wf., Eva Catharine,
one hundred acres of land, April 17, 1765, upon which land he and his wife Catherine lived
until April 4, 1778, when he retired to Moselem, where he died2. Peter Merkle took the
oath of allegiance to the Colonial government, April 4, 1778. As before stated, the taking
of this oath was equivalent to serving in the Pennsylvania militia in the Revolutionary
War. Casper Markle’s children, first wife, were: Anna Roslina, b. February 7, 1756,
m. Boston Burget; Catherine Eliza, b. August 20, 1757, m. Jacob Whitesell; George, b.
about 1761; Magdalena, b. April 20, 1764, m. John Neyman; Esther, b. September 13, 1766,
m. George Auman; Abraham, b. February 20, 1769, m. Rachel Blackburn; Daniel, b. August 14,
1771; Elizabeth, b. ___, m. David Camp. Casper Markle’s c. by his second wife were:
Joseph, b, February 15, 1777, died 1819; Solomon died young; Susanna m. Chas. J. Scholl;
John m. Elizabeth Jack; Hannah, m.; Jacob m. Katy Painter; Sarah Salome m. Samuel Oliver;
Mary m. William Miller; Gasper m. Polly Lobinger; David m. Maria Cowan; Leah m. Andrew
Findlay Thompson. There were three other children. John Christian Markle had nine
children: Peter Merkle m. Catharine Brietener Grim, April 13, or November 16, 1750; George
Merkle m. Christina Hill, April 18, 1750; Christian Merkle; Casper Merkle m. Elizabeth
Grim, April 1, 1753, daughter of Egedius Grim; Frankiema Merkle m. Michael Rugh or Ruch;
Mary Merkle m. John Jacob Hill; Anna Maria Merkle m. Frederick Kramer, 1745; Magdalene
Merkel m. Peter Biehl in 1750.
MERKLES IN WARS Abraham Marckle, Independent troop of horse, 1756, (with Adam Sontag and
George Peter Zerbe.) Michael Marckle, Capt. of the Light Dragoon, came from France with
Lafayette. Christian Merkle, 3d Co., Berks County militia, first batallion. Capt. Adam
Beard, g. g. f. of Capt. Samuel B. Graeff, of same, 3d Co., 3d Bat- talion Beck’s
Militia, (Part 1.)
MERKLE WILLS AND RECORDS The will of Peter Merkle gives the names of three sons and five
daughters, Christian, his brother, executor. Charistian had his share, Gideon and Bernard
each 500 pounds; Catharine, m. John Rothermel; Elizabeth, m. Jacob Zoll; Sophia, m. Daniel
Staudt; Maria and Esther, single. There were other children, of whom no men- tion is made.
Peter Merkle is said to have first settled (1754) on tract of land on the brow of the hill
adjoining the tract owned by John George Zerbe. No trace has yet been found of the record
of this tract. Daniel Bartolet said,
Peter Merkle lived in the log house which was attached to the brick house built by him
(Daniel Bartolet).” Another tradition is that, this house was the home of John
George Zerbe, which was located on the brow of the hill on the Long Run Valley road
(between Schuylkill Haven and Cressona.)
Michael Merkle was born on the tract near Spring Garden. After his marriage he settled on
the Fischer farm, in the Panther Valley (Bender Thal), on which or next to it afterward
lived George Zerbe, wf. Magdalena Merkle. Tradition says the Merkles and Zerbes lived
adjoining each other, but it is not clear whether both generations were neighbors, or only
the latter. Michael may have lived for a short time in the home of John George Zerbe,
after his death, as he owned part of the farm along the lower Cressona road, on which were
several houses at the time of his wife’s death that belonged to her estate and also
four houses erected on the tract in Spring Garden, which first contained a large double
house and four acres of land. Michael3 Merkle (Peter2, Christian1), b. January 8, 1771, d.
March 5, 1829; wf., Elizabeth Ebert, da. of George and Magdalena Ebert, a born Henrich
(en). Text, Isaiah, 55 Chap., 8 v. Both are buried in St. Peter’s church yard, one
mile from Cressona. The inscription on the latter’s tombstone reads: “Hier rehet
die gebeine Von Elizabeth Merkle, egotten von Michael Merkle, geborn Ebert, Wittemburg,
Principality, Germany, b. April 21, 1774, d. May 7, 1851, In the same cemetery her mother
lies buried. Tombstone inscription: Magdalena, wf. of George Ebert, b. February 27, 1754;
d. November 30, 1812.1 Michael Merkle is on the New Jerusalem C. R. as having been a
contributor, October 12, 1828, Daniel Zerbe, deacon. Children of Michael and Elizabeth
Merkle: 1794, July 21, Phillip; 1796 September 29, Magdalena, m. George Zerbe
(Zerbe’s History.) 1798, September 8, Catherina, bap. Oct. 14; sponsors, Yost Ebert
and Caterina Kerschner. 1803, February 8, Elizabeth; 1805, May 8, Susanna; 1807, July 7,
Sarah, bap. October 11, Summer Berg; 1809, ___, Henry, bap. September 6, Summer Berg;
1812, October 11, Hannah, bap. December 9; George and Magdalena Ebert grand- parents,
sponsors; 1814, July 7, John George; 1816, February 8, William, (Mexican War, Part
1), bap. April 4, 1817, St. John’s Friedensburg. (From Merkle family bible, in
possession of Miss Mina Bertolet, Cressona.) (Note-George Ebert was sponsor for Yost Ebert
and Elizabeth’s son, George, b. October 18, 1808; bap. July 22, 1811. On the same
date Magdalena, of the same, was bap., born April 15, 1809.) They also bap. a daughter
Christina, March 11, 1799, (Summer Berg C. R.). Michael and Elizabeth Merkle were sponsors
for George, son of George and Mag- dalena Zerbe, bap. July 11, 1812. (Summer Berg C.)
Phillip Merkle, wf. ___; sons, Michael and Henry. Henry Merkle, his sons were, Curtis, m.,
da. June, m., Frank, d., was a physician, m. ___ Fessler; three children, two sons and one
da.; and Charles. There were three daughters, one Mrs. Minnie Paine. Elizabeth Merkle
(Michael), m. Samuel Yost. They lived south of Orwigsburg, on a fine farm, the family
homestead. Their children were: Samuel, Frank and Lewis; das.: Kitty, m. Charles Ludwig;
Phoebe, m. Wm. Nagle; Eliza, m. Henry Gerhart, lives on a farm near Landingville, both
octogenarians; Mary, single, lives with them; Susan, m. Wm. Leiser; Caroline, m. John
Shutt; Emma, m. Dennis Leibig; Sarah, m. ___ Bretz. Susanna, m. Bernard Schartle.1 Hannah,
m. David Scholl, Bloomingdale, Ind. (Amos Bartolet, cousin, says, “their son Lewis
was a soldier in the Confederate army during the Civil War.”) George Merkle, m.
Elizabeth, only child of Daniel and Hannah Hummel Zerbe, (Zerbe History). Their children
were: Henry George, b. September 28, 1835, bap. February 21, 1836; William Henry, b.
December 8, 1836, bap. May 19, 1837. Both living, 1912. William H. Merkle and wife, d.,
lived in the Daniel Zerbe homestead on the outskirts of Cressona.2 (Note-Catharine and
Sarah, see Bartolet.) Michael Merckle, is in the Orphan’s Court book, Schuylkill
County, on file, as having died intestate, 1829, but could not be found. His wife
Elizabeth is on record in the same, 1851. Letters of administration were granted Bernhard
Schartle, for Michael, 1830. Their heirs of Elizabeth Merkle were: Phillip, Sarah, wf. of
Dan. Bartolet; Magdalena, wf. of George Zerbe; Elizabeth, wf. of Samuel Yost; Hannah, wf.
of David Scholl; the children of George Merkle, d., (William and Henry), c. of Catharine,
m. to Dan. Bartolet, being his first wf., and the children Susanna, m. to Bernard
Schartle, (John, Leah and Rebecca Schartle.) Daniel Bartolet (Bertolet) was of the
original Berks County stock of that name. It is not recorded when he came over the Blue
Mountains to settle, but he lived on part of the tract formerly owned by John George Zerbe
on the brow of the hill above Cressona. He kept horses and employed men to drive the teams
and fell the timber then used in the construction of the boats, bridges and early
railways. That he was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, his well kept business
accounts, and re- cords, in two family bibles, all in his own handwriting, shows.
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