The Children of Merle and Minnie (Larson) Merkley

The children of Merle and Minnie (Larson) Merkley *all events take place in Iowa except when noted as out-of-state

Personal Note: I underlined the locations where the children were sharing a residence, it appears to me that the oldest daughter, Elaine became the chief overseer of the siblings. It also appears to me that the Larson family provided the means for them to receive college educations. I think it’s an amazing story and I’m proud of them and happy to share the story –they were survivors, most continued to be challenged by loss of loved ones, earlier than the ‘norm’ –most remained close together and supported each other through the storms of life.

Merle, son of Edgar and Matilda (Wiley) Merkley; and, brother of my Great Grandfather, Loren Merkley. Merle and Minnie died in 1931. Minnie, July 27, and Merle, October 19, by his own hand. They left behind nine children: Everil., 22, Elaine, 21, (Evelyn) Ferne, 18, Dora Bell, 16, Alta, 12, Robert, 8, Jean Ellen, 7, Margaret Ann (Peg), 2, Mary Louise, 1. They first went to live with their Aunt Dora Larson, Minnie’s sister. Dora never married, she had always lived with her parents, except (possibly) when she attended college. Dora was an elementary school teacher in Sac City. Dora’s father, Ole Tokle Larson, born in Norway, 1856, immigrated in 1872, his parents remained in Norway. Dora’s mother, Ellen Marie Colby, born in Norway, 1860, her family immigrated together. Ole and Ellen married in 1881, in Cherokee (possibly where Ellen’s family settled), four children were born to the couple: Lloyd, Minnie, Dora, Raymond.

1880 Census, Cook, Sac Co., Ole’s Occupation: Farm Laborer. 1885 Iowa Census, Cook, Sac Co. 1900 Iowa Census shows the couple (Ole, age 44) in Douglas, Sac Co. Ole’s father died in 1888, the settlement of his estate may have provided Ole with the money to purchase land. The 1920 Census shows his home as owned/debt-free (he is 63), Occupation: Stock Farmer. His wife, Ellen, dies in 1928. The 1930 Iowa Census shows Ole (71) retired and moved to 903 Audubon Street, Sac City –he owns this house/debt-free. Dora (30) lives with him, Occupation: Teacher; Esther Quimby (30), also a teacher, is listed as a boarder.

The 1930 Census shows the Merle Merkley children all living in (rural) Douglas, Sac Co. (except Mary Louise because she wasn’t born until after the census was taken). Everil (21), the oldest son, is listed as employed. Elaine (19), the oldest daughter, is listed as employed –most likely she had attended college after graduating high school and was a teacher.  Ferne (18), is also listed as employed –she had to have been a recent high school graduate. However, Dora Bell (16), Alta (12) and Robert t (7) are also listed as employed –I’m not sure if this is an accidental mistake or if they actually performed (farm) labor or had other employment (e.g. store clerk or newspaper delivery, etc) that resulted in income. Also listed in the census, Edward Preston (47), Occupation: Hired Hand.

   In between the 1930 and 1940 census I found the following ‘Residence’ information via City Directories and Public Records.

 1932, Ferne (20) College Yearbook, Cedar Rapids.

 1934. Everil (24) Graduation, Kansas State University –Veterinary Medicine.

 1934, Everil (25) marries, Mildred Rhodes in Minnehaha, S.D

 Dora Bell (20) is in College, Iowa City.  

   1936, grandfather, Ole Larson dies, he most likely willed his home, 903 Audubon Street to his daughter, Doris, she is listed as Head of House in the 1940 Census.

   The 1940 Census includes information for a 1935 Census.

  Everil (31), in 1935 has moved to Lake Wilson, Murray, MN; in 1940 he’s living in Jasper, Pipestone, MN; Owns home, Occupation: Veterinarian.

   Elaine (29), in 1935 has moved to Rural, Cherokee  –teacher, according to the census she married at 27, she is listed as Elaine Bandholtz (her grandparents, Ole and Ellen Larson, married in Cherokee –there may be a link here); in 1940 she’s living in Sac City at 903 Audubon Street, Occupation: elementary teacher.

    Ferne (27), in 1935 lives in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, where she is attending Drake University (3 yrs); in 1940 she’s living in Sac City  at 903 Audubon Street, Occupation: trained nurse.

    Dora Bell (21) 1935, Summer break from College; Canoe Accident Newspaper; 1936 and 1937 Iowa City Directory lists her as a (college) student; in 1940 (26) she’s living in Sac City at 903 Audubon Street, Occupation: elementary teacher (completed 3 yrs of college).

    Alta, living in Sac City  at 903 Audubon Street, 1935 (17) probably a high school Senior; 1940 (21) college student, Cedar Falls, (completed 2 yrs).

    The remaining children are still in school, all living in Sac City  at 903 Audubon Street: Robert (17) 1940 census is a high school Senior. Jean (15), Margaret (12), Mary Louise (10), completed 3^rd grade.

   Ruby Friesner (39), Occupation: Servant, both the 1935 and 1940 Census show her living at 903 Audubon Street, Sac City –she was probably hired to help care for the children when they came to live with Dora after the death of their parents in 1931. In the 1940 Census (April 1), Dora, is listed as temporarily absent –she dies May 2, 1940.   

   There are no more Census listings; I found the following ‘Residence’ information via City Directories and Newspaper Clippings.

    1942, Ferne (30), married Dowd Mulcahy and moves to Winona, MN.

   1943, Alta (24), Mason City News. Nine New Teachers... Hampton Schools. Replacement for Kindergarten teacher, Alta Merkley, who has joined the WAVES (1943 -1945); 1949 on her application for WWII (service) Bonus she signs Alta Hill –I can find no record of her marriage. 

    1942, Robert (20), Ames, Iowa State University; U.S. Army, 5/16/1943 - 8/30/1944 –Robert graduates –Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; September, 19, 1944, Robert married Betty Robinson. Newspaper Clipping: Dr. Robert Merle to practice veterinary medicine in Centerville, SD. The couple both attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

    Dora Bell married Gayle Domino –I can find no record of their marriage; 1946, son , Michael is born. 1948, death of twin boys, one day apart.

    1943, 1944, 1946 City Directory of Des Moines shows Elaine (33/34/35) teaching and living on campus, Jean (19) is listed as a student (not listed in 1944 or 1945) Margaret (15/16/17) and Mary Louise (13/14/15) are living in Des Moines -possibly living with Elaine –I find no other Merkley relatives with known ties to their family (Sam and Dorothy Merkley are there but I find no family ties).

   1947 Des Moines City Directory, Elaine (37) at 3927 Apt B, teacher at the college; Jean (23), living with Elaine, Occupation: Secretary; Margaret (19) Jackonville, IL –college student; Mary Louise (17), high school Senior –probably living with Elaine.

  1949 Des Moines City Directory, Elaine (39) at 3927 Apt B, teacher at the college; students at the college sharing an apartment:  Jean (24), Margaret (21), Mary Louise (19) 3927 Apt 5.

   1948, Everil (39), Mankato, MN, Veterinarian.

    1948 Death of Everil (44), 1953, Minnehaha, S.D.; buried in Sac City, IA

  1951, Margaret (23) marries Phillip (Jack) Osmundson. The couple goes to Germany (1953-55), Phillip, Military service. In 1955 they settle in Rochester, MN where Dr. Phillip Osmundson is employed, as a physician, by the Mayo Clinic

   1954 and 1955 Des Moines City Directory, Elaine (44), 410 60^th Street, Assistant Director at the college; Jean (30), living with Elaine –(Jean) Engaged to Capt. Serpento, Air Force, Tucson, Arizona –see Newspaper (Jean is not listed in 1955) –I can find no record of Jean’s marriage to anyone.

   1960, Death of Dora Bell Domino (46), Faribault, MN, buried in Sac City, IA.

 Newspaper clippings for Elaine: 1960, interviewing Cedar Rapids, college seniors for Elementary Teacher positions. 1964, Assistant Administrator, Elementary Education.

 1967, Heart Attack leads to Death of Dowd Mulcahy (54), Winona, MN –Ferne is 55.

Siblings who move to Ames Co., Story:

  Elaine dies in 1985 (75)

   Robert dies in 1995 (72) –the first listing for Robert is 1990

    Jean dies in 2004 (80) –the first listing for Jean is 1993

Siblings who move to Cincinnati, Ohio: Alta and Mary Louise show up in 1985

    Alta dies in 2003 (80),

   Mary Louise (Cramer) was the only surviving sibling listed in Margaret’s 2010 Obituary –she shows up in listings in 1985, 1993, 1996.

    Margaret dies in 2010 (82), Rochester, MN.

 Laid to Rest –Cemetery Listing

 Everil Dwain Merkley: died, 8/15/1953, Minnehaha, South Dakota, returned to birth state, Iowa, buried, Oakland Cemetery, Sac City –Larson Family –his parents: Merle and Minnie (Larson) Merkley, also buried there; Ole and Ellen (Colby) Larson, Dora Emily Larson.

 Elaine M (Merkley) Bandholtz: died, 1985, Ames, IA, buried ?

Ferne (Evelyn) (Merkley) Mulcahy: died, 1994, buried, Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Winona, MN

 Dora Bell (Merkley) Domino: died, 1960, buried, Oakland Cemetery, Sac City, IA, m: Gayle Domino (family cemetery). Also buried there: infant twins, Peter and Thomas, died 1948.

Alta Lucille (Merkley) Hill: died, 2003, buried, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Montgomery, OH
Added: 8/23/2015, Everil's Obituary: husband of Alta, Charles Hill. Residence in 1953, Chicago. 

Robert Merle Merkley: died 1995, buried, m: Betty Jean Robinson, both buried at Linwood Park Cemetery, Boone, Boone County, IA

Jean Ellen Merkley: died 1995, Ames, IA, buried ? 
Added: 8/23/2015, Everil's Obituary. Residence in 1953, Tuscon, Arizona.

Margaret  Ann (Merkley) Osmundson: died 2010, Rochester, MN

Mary Louise (Merkley) Cramer (?): last known Residence –Cincinnati, OH (see, Alta)
Added: 8/23/2015, Everil's Obituary: husband of Mary Louise, Dean Cramer. Residence in 1953, Indianapolis. 


Added: 8/23/2015

Veterinarian at Garretson Dies

Garretson, Aug. 15, 1953- Dr. Everil D. Merkley, Garretson veterinarian, died at his home here this morning.

  Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson, with the Rev. Marcus Svaren Sherman, officiating. Committal rites will be held at the Oakland Cemetery, Sac City, IA. The body will lie in state at the Banton-Sorenson Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, until Tuesday morning.

  Dr. Merkley had been in practice here for a year and a half. He spent most of his professional years in Southwest Minnesota.

  He was born in Schaller, IA, March 5, 1909. He attended high school in Sac City and was graduated from Kansas State College in 1933 with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree. He was married to Mildred Rhodes April 20, 1934, in Sioux Falls.

  Dr. Merkley practiced in Lake Wilson, MN, after his graduation from college, moving to Jasper, MN in 1939 and to Mankato, MN in 1945. From 1950 to 1953 he was employed by the federal government in Mexico City.

  He is survived by his widow; three daughters, Sharon Kay, St. Paul, and Nancy Jo and Barbara Jean both of Garretson; a brother, Dr. Robert, Dell Rapids; and seven sisters, Elaine Merkley, Des Moines; Mrs. David (Ferne) Mulcahy, Fairfield, IA; Mrs. Gayle (Dora Belle) Domino, Sac City; Mrs. Charles (Alta) Hill, Chicago; Jean Merkley, Tucson, Ariz; Mrs. Jack (Margaret) Osmondson, Kansas City, MO; Mrs. Dean (Mary Louise) Cramer, Indianapolis. He was preceded in death by a sister. Personal Note: I have no record of another sister

Alta (held by Elaine), Elaine, ?, Everil, ?, Ferne, ?, Hester Zach, Dora Belle, ?

Picture from Joanne Adams-Gray, Hester is her mother.

Elaine, ?, Ferne, ?, Hester Zach, Dora Belle, ?, Demps

Picture from Joanne Adams-Gray, Hester is her mother.

Children of Merle and Minnie Merkley with Dora Emily Larson.

Standing (left to right): Mary Louise, Dora Emily, Robert Merle, Jean Ellen, Margaret Ann.

Seated (left to right): Alta Lucille, Evelyn Ferne, Everil Dwain, Dora Belle, Elaine Marie.

These pictures came from David Merkley, son of Robert Merle, grandson of Merle.

Ole and Ellen (Colby) Larons Family Portrait.

Standing (left to right): Lloyd Theodore, Raymond Chester, Dora Emily.

Seated (left to right):, Minnie Belle, Ole Tokle larson, Ellen Marie (Colby)

These pictures came from David Merkley, son of Robert Merle, grandson of Merle.

Added pictures, 2/21/2020. Since I (Jody Gray) have been in contact with David Merkley, who grew up knowing the Children and Grandchildren of Merle and Minnie, I have learned a lot! I will be updating this story.