Herbert & Paulena (Allmandinger) Merkle, Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2023 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Herbert D. and Paulena K. (Allmandinger) Merkle, located in Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Convoy, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
MERKLE
Paulena K.
1898-1988
Herbert D.
1900-1985
It is interesting to note that Herbert and Paulena both had a Mercer County, Ohio, connection.
Herbert Deabolt Merkle was born in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, on 1 February 1900, the son of Christian (1864-1947) and Henriette (Kable) (1871-1946) Merkle. Herbert’s father Christian Merkle was born in Germany and his mother Henriette Kable was born and raised in Liberty Township, Mercer County. Herbert’s mother was the daughter of Ferdinand (1827-1912) and Catharine (Bollenbacher) (1832-1922) Kable.
Herbert Merkle, age 2 months, was enumerated in the 1900 census, living with his parents and siblings Louis, 7, and Freda, 4, in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. [1]
By 1910 Herbert had another sister, Clara, who was born in 1902. His father Christian was a farmer and dairyman in Pleasant Township. [2]
Herbert Merkle married Paulena Allmandinger at her family’s home in Van Wert County on 26 January 1928, married by Rev. R.O. Bienert, minister at Zion Lutheran, Schumm. Their marriage is recorded at Zion Schumm and indicates that Herbert was a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church near Ohio City and that Paulena was a member of Zion Schumm. Witnesses to their marriage were Karl Allmandinger and Lula Scaer.
Paulena Katharine Allmandinger was born 11 August 1898 in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, the second child of Frederick (1869-1953) and Anna Katharine (Kallenberger) (1875-1944) Allmandinger. Paulena’s mother, Anna Katharine (Kallenberger), was born and raised in Mercer County. The Friedrich Allmandinger family lived in Blackcreek Township and attended Zion Lutheran Church at Chatt for the first few years of their marriage. Paulena Allmandinger was baptized at Zion Chatt on 28 August 1898 and her parents were her baptismal sponsors. Several of Paulena’s siblings were also baptized at Zion Chatt.
In 1911 the Frederick Allmandinger family moved to Liberty Township, Van Wert County, and joined Zion Lutheran Church at Schumm.
The Frederick Allmandinger family, in 1920, living in Van Wert County: Fred, 56; Anna, 46; George, 24; Paulena, 21; Rudolf, 16; Carl, 14; Elizabeth, 12; and Matilda, 9. [3]
In 1930, two years after their marriage, Herbert and Paulena lived on Decatur Road in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. Herbert farmed and they had no children. [4]
Sometime between 1935 and 1940 Herbert and Paulena moved to Liberty Township, Mercer County, and was enumerated there in the 1940 census. Herbert’s occupation was farming. [5] Herbert’s WWII Draft Registration card, dated 16 February 1942, indicates that his address was RR1, Celina, and they had a Wabash telephone.
By 1950 Herbert and Paulena had moved back to Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, and Paulena’s brother George Allmandinger, age 54, resided with them. Herbert farmed but George was unable to work due to a long-term disability. [6] George Allmandinger died at the Herbert Merkle home on 31 May 1961 and is buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery.
Herbert Merkle, age 85, died 14 December 1985 at Community Care Center, Decatur, Indiana, as a result of heart and other problems. He was a farmer and owner/operator of a grain farm in Pleasant Township. He was buried on 17 December. [7]
Herbert D. Merkle
Van Wert-Herbert D. Merkle, 85, of here, died at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Community Care Center, Decatur, Ind.
He was born March 22, 1900, in Van Wert county, the son of Christian and Henrietta Kable Merkle. On Jan. 25, 1928, he married Pauline Aldmandinger [sic], who survives.
Mr. Merkel was a retired farmer and a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Cowan and Son Funeral Home, Rev. Ron D. Fruth officiating. Burial will be in Evangelical-Protestant Cemetery, near Van Wert.
Friends may call after 3 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church. [8]
Paulena (Allmandinger) Merkle, age 89, died 13 June 1988 at Community Care Center, Decatur, Indiana, as a result of septicemia from blood clots in her lower legs. She was buried on 16 June. [9]
Herbert and Paulena had no children.
[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 86, p.10, dwelling 189, family 193, Christ Markle [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 96, p.9A, dwelling & family 180, Christ Merkle; Ancestry.com.
[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 127, p.2A, dwelling 5, family 6, Fred Allmandurgh [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[4] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 12, p.7A, dwelling & family 168, Herbert D. Merkle; Ancestry.com.
[5] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 54-22, p.9A, household 171, Herbert D. Merkle; Ancestry.com.
[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 81-25, sheet 776, Herbert Merkle; Ancestry.com.
[7] Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, IN. Death Certificates, 1985, roll 15, Herbert Merkle, 14 Dec 1858; Ancestry.com.
[8] Herbert D. Merkle obituary, The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 16 Dec 1985, p.A4; Newspapers.com.
[9] Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, IN. Death Certificates, 1988, roll 54, Paulena Merkle, 13 Jun 1988; Ancestry.com.
