Christian & Henriette (Kable) Markle, Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Convoy, Van Wert County, Ohio (2023 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Christian and Henriette (Kable) Merkle, located in row 18 of Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Convoy, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
MERKLE
Henriette
1871-1946
Psalm 90: v10
Christian
1864-1947
Acts 4: v12
Christian [aka Christ] Merkle was born in Baden, Germany, 29 February 1864, the son of Carl Merkle (1836-1911), name of mother unknown, per Christian’s death certificate. [1] According to Christian Merkle’s German baptismal record his mother’s name was Justine Schaefer (1837-1894). [2]
The Carl Merkle family immigrated to America on the ship P Caland, arriving at New York on 7 August 1880: Carl Merkle, 43, Male, laborer; Justine Merkle, 42, F; Carl Merkle, 18, M; Christian Merkle, 16, M; Wilhelm Merkle, 9, M; and Justine Merkle, 4, F. [3]
The Carl Merkle family just missed being enumerated in the 1880 census by a couple months but later censuses indicate the family members immigrated in 1880. Census records also indicate some members of this family resided near each other in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. Carl and Justine Merkle had another child, Henry, born in 1881.
Christian Merkle married Henriette Kable in Mercer County on 23 November 1890, married by Rev. Carl Moeller. [4]
Henriette [aka Nettie] Kable was born in Mercer County, Ohio, 11 July 1871, the daughter of Ferdinand (1827-1912) and Catharine (Bollenbacher) (1832-1922) Kable.
The Ferdinand Kable family in 1880: Ferdinand, 54; Catharine, 45; Adam, 17; Caroline, 16; Louisa, 13; Katherine, 12; and Nettie, 8. Their father Ferdinand was a farmer. [5]
After their 1890 marriage, Christian and Henriette Merkle set up housekeeping in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. In 1900 they had three children: Christian Merkle, 35; Henriette Merkle, 28; Louis W Merkle, 7, son; Freda Merkle, 4, daughter; and Herbert Merkle, 2 months. This census indicates that Christian and Henriette Merkle had been married 9 years, had 3 living children, that Christian was a farmer, born in Germany, and who immigrated in 1880. Living next to Christian and Henriette were Charles Merkle, 63, widow, and Charles Merkle, 37, both born in Germany and both immigrated in 1880. These two men were very likely Christian’s father and brother. [6]
The Christian Merkle family in 1910: Christian, 46; Henriette, 39; Louis W, 18; Freda L, 15; Herbert E [sic], 10; Clara C, 7. [7]
The Christian Merkle family in 1920, living in Section 22 of Pleasant Township: Christian Markle, 55, head; Henriette, 48, wife; Herbert, 19, son; and Clara, 17, daughter. Christian’s occupation was dairyman. Also living in Section 22 next to or with them was their son Lewis Markle, 27, and wife Bertha, 27. Christian owned his property but Lewis was a renter. This enumeration indicates that Christian was a dairyman, immigrated in 1881, and was naturalized 1886. [8]
After Henriette’s mother Catherine (Bollenbacher) Kable died in June 1922, two of Henriette’s sisters, Louisa Kable and Katherine C. Kable, moved to Pleasant Township and resided with Henriette and Christian.
Henriette’s sister Louisa Kable, 63, died at Christian and Henriette’s home in Pleasant Township in February 1930. She died before the 1930 census was taken but later that year Katherine Kable was enumerated in the Christian Merkle household: Christian Merkle, 66, head; Henriette Merkle, 58, wife; Katherine C Kable, 61, single, sister-in-law. [9]
Sometime between 1935 and 1940 Katherine Kable, 72, moved back to Mercer County and resided in Chattanooga. [10]
Christian and Henriette Merkle in 1940, living in Pleasant Township: Christian, 76, and Mary, 73. [11]
About a year later Christian and Henriette Merkle moved to Van Wert and resided at 220 W. Maple Street there.
Henriette (Kable) Merkle, 75, died of heart trouble at their Van Wert home on 11 October 1946. She was buried 13 October. [12]
Obituary:
Mrs. Christ Merkle
Van Wert, Oct 12—Mrs. Christ Merkle, 75, died Friday at her home in this city after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Gamble-Alspach funeral home and at 2:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed church in Harrison-tp. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Merkle, a native of Mercer-co, moved from Pleasant-tp to this city five years ago. Surviving are her husband; three children, Mrs. Floyd Agler, Willshire-tp, Herbert D., Ohio City and Lewis W., Rockford., and a brother and sister, Adam Kable and Miss Catherine Kable, both of Mercer Co. [13]
Widower and retired dairy farmer Christian Merkle, 82, died of heart disease at the Van Wert Hospital on 28 January 1947. He was buried on 30 January. [1]
Obituary:
Christian Merkle
Van Wert, Jan. 29. Christian Merkle, 82, retired Willshire-tp farmer died Tuesday at Van Wert-co hospital after a long illness. He was a native of Baden, Germany, and came to this county 68 years ago.
Surviving are three children, Mrs. Floyd Agler, Willshire-tp. Herbert D, Liberty-tp. And Lewis W., Rockford; a sister, Christina Merkle, Gladwin, Mich., and two brothers, William, Van Wert, and Henry, Gladwin.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 1 :30 p.m. at the Gamble-Alspach funeral home and at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed church in Harrison-tp. Burial will be made in the church cemetery. [14]
Christian and Henriette (Kable) Merkle had the following children:
Lewis William Merkle (1891-1964), married Bertha Ludlow Parker
Herbert Deabolt Merkle 1900-1985), married Paulena Katherine Allmandinger
Freda L Merkle (1894-1939), married Albert Furrell
Clara (1902-1985), married Floyd E. Agler
[1] “Ohio, county Death Records, 1840-2001,” Van Wert, Pleasant Township, Christian Merkle, 28 Jan 1947; FamilySearch.org.
[2] Baden and Hesse Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1502-1985, Weiler Parish, Preussen, Baden, Christian Merckle [sic], born 29 Feb 1864, baptized 6 Mar 1864; Ancestry.com.
[3] New York, U.S., Arriving Passenber and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957, Ship P Caland, 7 Aug 1880, Carl Merkle family; Ancestry.com.
[4] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Mercer County 1887-1904, p.236, Christian Merkle & Henrietta Kable, 23 Nov 1890; Ancestry.com.
[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 188, dwelling, 51, family 54, p.474C, Ferdinand [sic] Kable; Ancestry.com.
[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 86, p.10, dwelling 189, family 193, Christ Markle [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 96, p.9A, dwelling & family 180, Christ Merkle; Ancestry.com.
[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 128, p.5B, dwelling 114, family 119, Christ Merkle; Ancestry.com.
[9] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 12, p.7A, Dwelling & Family 167, Christian Merkle; Ancestry.com.
[10] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 54-22, p15B, household 315, Catherine Kable [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[11] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 81-16, p.7B, household 142, Chrest Mockle [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[12] “Ohio, county Death Records, 1840-2001,” Van Wert, Pleasant, Henrietta Merkle, 11 Oct 1946; FamilySearch.org.
[13] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 13 October 1946, p.2, Mrs. Christ Merkle obituary; Ancestry.com.
[14] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 29 Jan 1947, p.2, Christ Merkle obituary; Ancestry.com.
