Levi Markley b. 1842, Canada

Noteworthy (Jody Gray): I’m going to reference ‘Merkley’ because that’s the spelling used by Loren Merkley who married our GGM Linda Zach. There are many different spellings; beginning in Germany, Felix Merckel b. 1645. Frederick Markel b. 1669 our 7th GGF immigrant to America in 1709. Wilhelmus Merckel b. 1772, Ulster Co, NY. Frederick Markle b. 1756 immigrant to Canada after the Revolutionary War; a Loyalist who joined Butler’s Rangers along with 3 of his brothers. Michael Frederick Markley b. 1808 immigrant to the US (daughter, Lucy b. 1858, Iowa). William Ira Merkley b. 1833, remained in Canada. Edgar Cephrenus Merkley, arrived in US (Iowa) in 1883. His uncle, Levi Markley b. 1842 (daughter, Nancy Elizabeth b. 1876, Iowa).

  Brother Mark, remembers hearing that the different spelling of the Merkley surname in Iowa was due to a family feud.

  Of our bloodline, 4th GGF, Michael Frederick Markley is the first to return to the United States. Records show that he married Nancy Casselman in 1831 in Canada. The 1860 US Census has him (age 52) in Ludlow, Allamakee, Iowa. Our 3rd GGF William Ira Merkley remained in Canada; William’s son, our 2nd GGF Edgar Cephrenus Merkley arrived (age 22) in 1883; he returned to marry Matilda Valerie Wiley in 1886; they settled in Sac County, Iowa. His biographical sketch was included in the History of Sac County as pioneer settler, prosperous farmer. They both died in 1939; our mother (b. 1931) remembers them both.

  In this Blog Post, I want to focus on Michael’s uncle (our 4th great-uncle), Levi Markley (primarily, his children). Levi appears to have arrived before the 1876 birth of his daughter, Nancy Elizabeth.

  In 1871 he’s listed in the Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada and his first children are born in Canada. Levi Markley 1st mentioned in 1880 Eureka, Sac Co, Iowa Census (age 38); interesting, his father’s birthplace is listed as Schwarzberg (Germany), his mother’s Saxony (Germany). Occupation, Farmer.

  Note: our Merkley ancestors appear to have settled and lived in Sac County, Iowa.

http://history.rays-place.com/ia/sac-eureka.htm History of Eureka Township, Sac County, IA by William H. Hart, pub. 1914

  Eureka Township (signifying “I have found it” ) was organized as a separate subdivision of Sac County in 1875. In 1880 the township had a population of 360 (which would include the family of Levi Merkley). Close-by, the town of Schaller (where Edgar Merkley lived); bounded on the east by Eden township (where other ancestors lived)... no wonder that the pioneers who settled here named it “Eureka,” excellent domain of fertile, even, all good land, which at that day was bought very cheap, from four dollars to about ten dollars… The population is a mixture of German and American of the higher, more intelligent class of both nationalities…

Town of Schaller. This is one of Sac county’s enterprising towns with its well kept streets… first class business houses, with churches and schools, all bespeak a high type of citizenship.

  The town was named in ‘honor of that most popular and well known pioneer German character, Phil Schaller… having been an Iowa soldier during the great Civil War… Schaller was platted in Oct. 1882…

  Having a population of over 250, in the month of Mar. 1883, Schaller citizens petitioned the court to be legally incorporated as a town… of the petitioners were J.S. and I. C. Hudson, H. J. Herman, and T. H. Hahne, R. D. Murray, F. Chandler, F. G. Butler… Mayors; J.S. Hudson, J. F. Butler…

Business Interests in 1914 Clothing, G. W. Murray and Son. Cement Block, Aden Merkly, Opera House, J. I. Murray…

daughter, Etta Augusta Markley b. 1/14/1869, Canada d. 11/4/1943, Los Angeles, CA. 1885 Census (age 17), Eureka Twp, Sac Co, IA. 1900 Census (age 31), Eureka Twp, Sac Co, IA. (parents born in Canada) married, Lewis O Rose b. 1860, Indiana. 1910 Census (age 42), Eureka Twp, Sac Co, IA. (immigration 1875 or 1876). 1920 Census (age 52 -widow), Buffalo Ward 23, Erie, NY; Household Servant, Housekeeper, Mabel A Lafrance (age 37). 1930 Census (age 61 -widow), Monrovia, Los Angeles, CA. living with her sister, Nellie married Gilbert Mill. 1940 Census (age 72), Monrovia, Los Angeles, CA. living with her sister, Nellie married Gilbert Mill. Marriage (12/25/1894, Schaller, Sac Co, IA): Lewis A Rose, son of Isaac Rose and Catherine Dondore; Etta Merkley, daughter of Levi Merkley and Rosaline Lessehaun (Casselman). Children of Etta and Lewis aka Louis Rose, Bernice; Kelberg; Irving; Orville; Nora; Francis.

son, Michael Markley b. abt 1870, Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Canada d. 1885, Eureka, Sac Co, IA (age 15, nothing else is known about him).

son, Aden Markley b. abt 1871 d. after 1930 (last Census found for him). Various 'Arrival' years are given in US Censuses: 1874 (1930); 1875 (1910); 1878 (1900); 1880 (1920). Most likely he arrived with his father before the 1880 Census (age 9). 1900 Census (age 29), Eureka, Sac Co, IA. 1910 Census (age 39), Eureka, Sac Co, IA. Occupation, Manufacturer, Industry, Private Family Pack; Employer. Owns Home, Mortgage-Free. 1920 Census (age 49), Eureka, Sac Co, IA. Occupation, Manufacturer, Industry, tile factory; Employer. Home Owned, Mortgage-Free. 1930 Census (age 59), Schaller, Sac Co, IA. Occupation, Contractor; Industry, Building; Employer. Owns Home, value $6,000. Widowed. Marriage: 8/1/1895, Early, IA. Grace Goldia Gilbert. Children of Aden and Grace; Calvin b. 1896, Melburn aka Freddie b. 1899, Hazel C b. 1901, Errol L b. 1902

daughter, Nancy Elizabeth 'Libby' Markley b. 8/22/1875, Iowa d. 12/2/1955, Tulare Co, CA. 1880 Census (age 4), Eureka, Sac Co, IA. 1900 Census (age 24), Eureka, Sac Co, IA. 1910 Census (age 34), Enid Ward 1, Garfield, OK; his occupation, Real Estate, Industry, Butter, self-employed. Own Home, Mortgage-Free. 1920 Census (age 44), Wichita Ward 3, Sedgewick, KS; his occupation, Real Estate, Industry, Projecty, self-emploed. 1930 Census (age 54), Pasadena, Los Angesles, CA; Own Home, value $8,500. 1940 Census (age 63), Alila, Tulare Co, CA; widow, Occupation, Camp Operator. Lives with her daughter, Dorothy and husband Thomas Cook. Marriage: 2/13/1894, Schaller, Sac Co, IA William Alexander Mill. Children of Nancy and William Mill; Claud b. 1896, Dorothy b. 1898.

daughter, Mary Ellen 'Nellie' Merkley b. 5/28/1878, Iowa d. 6/19/1957, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co, CA. 1900 Census (age 22), Morrill, Morrison, MN. 1910 Census (age 32), Enid Ward 1, Garfield, OK; his occupation, Carpenter, Industry, house. Own home, mortgaged. 1920 Census (age 42), Thain, Grant, ND; his occupation, Farmer, general. Employer. Own home, mortgaged. 1930 Census (age 52), Monrovia, Los Angeles, CA; his occupation, Carpenter, Industry, Building trades. Owns home, value $3,500. 1940 Census (age 61), Monrovia, Los Angeles, CA; Owns home, value $5,000. Marriage: 12/30/1896, Schaller, IA; Gilbert Mill, b. 1863, Canada. Children of Nellie and Gilbert; Naomi b. 1898, Florence b. 1910.

daughter, Cora May abt 1879, Iowa d. ? 1900 Census (age 21) and her sister, Florence (age 19), Wahkonsa, Webster, IA, both Servants. 1905 Census (age 24), Cerro Gordo, IA. 1910 Census (age 30), Enid Ward 1, Garfield, OK, living with her sister, Nancy and brother-in-law, William Mill; husband's occupation, Retail, Industry, Maker. 1915 City Directory, Sioux City, IA; husband's occupation, Salesman. 1920 Census (age 42), Enid Ward 1, Garfield, OK, widow. 1930 City Directory, Oklahoma City, OK, Secretary. Note: I don't find a 1940 Census listing for her. Marriage: 10/29/1904, Woodbury, IA. Carlton D Ely abt 1878, Dakota Territory. 1880 Census (age 2), Custer, Custer, Dakota Territory. Father b. Ohio Mother b. Michigan. Children of Cora and Carlton Ely; Foster Dwight Ely b. 1907.

daughter, Florence Viola Markley b. 1881 d. 1964, Enid, Garfield Co, OK. Find A Grave. 1900 Census (age 19), Wahkonsa, Webster, IA; Florence and her sister Cora (age 21) both servants. 1905 Census (age 23), South Dakota, single. 1920 Census (age 34), Enid Ward 1, Garfield, OK; husband's occupation, Traveling Salesman, Industry, Cigar. Owns Home, Mortgaged; her widowed sister, Cora and son Foster are living with them. 1921, 1923, 1926, 1931, City Directory, Enid, OK. Marriage: 6/17/1912, Garfield, OK, Claude W Findly b. 1888, Kansas. He remarries, Agnes b. 1894. His WWII Draft Registration shows him living in Enid, OK. Children of Florence and Claude; Foster Dwight b. 1907

daughter, Maude Alice Markley b. 8/20/1883 d. Nov. 1975, Lewistown, Mifflin, PA. Buried, Enid, Garfield Co, OK. Find A Grave. 1900 Census (age 17), Eureka, Sac, IA; living with her sister, Nancy and brother-in-law Will Mill. 1910 Census (age 27), Covington, Dakota, NE; Occupation, Stenographer, Industry, Hardware. 1920 Census (age 37), Covington, Dakota. 1924, City Directory, Sioux City, IA. 1930 Census (age 47), Oklahoma City, OK; widow, Occupation, Health, Industry, Lystens; Employer. Owns Home, Value $7,000. 1936, 1941, City Directory, Oklahoma City, OK. 1940 Census (age 56), Oklahoma City, OK; widow; Occupation, Owner Manager, Industry, Retail Mineral Foods. Owns Home, Value $5,000. Marriage: Lorenzo Valentine, 6/28/1905, Woodbury, IA. He was b. 1879 d. 1928 (age 49). Children of Maude and Lorenzo; Dorothy b. 1914, Richard b. 1919.

son, Claude Delos Markley b. 1886. nothing else is known about him. There is another Deloss Markley, 1920 Census, Kerton, Fulton, Illinois; parents born in Illinois.

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