In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1909) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909), Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897)
BREDERICK C. MERKLE, president of the Staniland, Merkle & Staniland company of Dayton, was born in Wapakoneta, Auglaize county, Ohio, April 24, 1851, a son of Charles and Anna Eve (Kitzenberger) Merkle, the former of whom is deceased and the latter a resident of Findlay, Ohio. Both parents were born in Germany, the mother in Bayern, whence she was brought to America when but two years of age. The father, who was born in Wittenberg, was twenty-two years old when he came to the United States. For some years he followed his trade of wagonmaking, but for the twenty years immediately preceding his death was the proprietor of the Union house in Wapakoneta. Their children were eight in number, as follows: William, now deceased; John, a police officer of Dayton; Frederick C.; Charles, a contractor of Dayton; Mary, deceased; Joseph C., chief engineer of water works at Dayton; Rosa and Adam, deceased.
Frederick C. Merkle attended the public schools of Wapakoneta until sixteen years of age, and then entered the employ of J. H. Weller, assistant superintendent of the Dayton & Michigan railroad, with whom he remained three years, taking in the meantime a course of study in the Wilts Commercial college. He then began railroad work proper, commencing as brakeman on a freight train and reaching the position of freight conductor, remaining on the road for four years. In 1873 he went to Tippecanoe, Ohio, and opened a harness store, which he conducted for four years, and while in that city he married, March 24, 1874, Miss Elizabeth Pohlkotte. In 1880 Mr. Merkle came to Dayton and engaged as traveling salesman for the marble firm, which, through his indefatigable devotion to his duties, has reached its present large proportions. The plant was established in 1863 and is the oldest of its kind in Ohio, and when Mr. Merkle became connected with it occupied a small lot, 40x200 feet. In 1890 he became a member of the firm, which then assumed the style of Staniland, Merkle & Staniland, and in 1892 the concern was incorporated, when he became its secretary and treasurer. It manufactures granite and marble monuments, mausoleums, etc., and all kinds.of marble furniture and plumbers’ accessories. The plant is on Washington street near the railroad, covers two acres of land, and employs from thirty to seventy-five men. It is the best equipped plant in the west, being fitted with complete steam apparatus, traveling derricks and cranes, and all other modern improvements. The output of the company is disposed of throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and parts of Illinois and Pennsylvania, and nine salesmen are kept constantly on the road. The capital stock of the company is $35,000, and its present officers are Frederick C. Merkle, president; C. A. Bonner, vice-president; J. Henry Merkle, secretary and treasurer.
To Mr. Merkle too much praise cannot be given for the skill and energy with which he has managed the affairs of his present firm, and indeed, for the successful manner in which he has conducted all his undertakings. He was but sixteen years of age when he started at the bottom of the ladder, and he now stands among the solid business men of Dayton. In politics he is a republican. Fraternally, he is a memberof Tippecanoe lodge, No. 257, F. & A. M.; Buckeye lodge, No. 4 7, I. O. O. F., and he is also a Royal Arch Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Merkle have had four children, viz: J. Henry, who is secretary and treasurer of the Staniland, Merkle & Staniland company; George R., deceased; Anna and Edith. The family have their pleasant home at No. 26 High street, and are consistent members of the German Lutheran church.
As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
FREDERICK CHARLES MERKLE.
Frederick Charles Merkle is the senior partner of the firm of F. C. Merkle & Company, manufacturers and importers of granite monuments, in which connection he has won an enviable reputation. His business is now second to none in this part of the state and in fact his fame has spread abroad, bringing him an extensive patronage from many cities of Ohio. He was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, April 24, 1851, and there lived to the age of fifteen years. The family is of German origin and the grandfather, John Merkle, was born in Wittenburg in 1790. Coming to America in 1855, he located in Wapakoneta, where he resided until his death in 1869, during which period he engaged in buying and selling hides and produce. His father, Maximillian Merkle, had lived and died in Wittenburg. The father, Charles Merkle, was born in Wittenburg, Germany, in 1816 and came to America in 1837, locating in Wapakoneta, Ohio, where for many years he made his home. In 1866, he removed to Dayton, where the succeeding twenty-seven years were passed and death then claimed him in 1893. He was married in Wapakoneta, in 1845, to Miss Anna E. Ketzenberger and unto them were born eight children, of whom four died in infancy, while an equal number reached years of maturity. These were as follows: John, who served on the police force of Dayton for thirty years, wearing badge No. 1, passed away in this city in 1906 at the age of fifty-eight years. He left a widow and four children: Edward J„ Bertha, Henry and Albert. The other children of
Charles Merkle who reached maturity are: Frederick C., of this review; Charles F., a resident of Seattle, Washington; and Joseph C., of Dayton. The mother of these children passed away in 1897 at the age of seventy-five years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Charles Merkle enjoyed in large measure the friendship and kindly regard of those who knew them, for they were people of the highest respectability.
Frederick Charles Merkle was a youth of fifteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal from his native town to Davton and here he completed his education, supplementing his public-school course by study in the Miami Commercial College, from which he was graduated in 1870. He entered business life as an employe of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad Company in the office of the freight department in this city, where he remained for about four years. He then went to Waverly, Missouri, where he began trading in stock, his time being thus occupied for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Dayton and soon afterward entered the employ of Thomas Staniland, a marble dealer, with whom he remained from 1883 until 1895, during which period he became thoroughly familiar with the trade and at the end of that time felt that his long experience, as well as the capital which he had saved from his earnings, justified him in engaging in business on his own account. He therefore organized the firm of F. C. Merkle & Company and is now engaged in the manufacture and importation of granite monuments and general cemetery work.
In 1907, he also organized the Georgetown (Ohio) Marble Company, of which he is a director. The prominent position which he occupies in his line is indicated in the extensive patronage which is accorded him. Many of the finest monuments in Dayton cemeteries have been put up by him and he has placed probably an equal number in the Cincinnati cemeteries, also in Miamisburg, Springfield, Middletown, Franklin and Georgetown, Ohio; Winchester, Maysville, Mount Sterling, Paris and Mayslick, Kentucky; Huntington, Richmond and Knightstown, Indiana; and Champaign City, Illinois. In various other Ohio towns are seen the evidences of his handiwork and the output of his establishment is always tasteful, artistic and executed in the finest possible manner. He erected one monument in Calvary cemetery at a cost of ten thousand dollars and at Newport, Kentucky, erected the monument for the James Shaw estate, which is the second largest individual spire monument in the world.
On the 24th of March, 1874, Mr. Merkle was married in Dayton to Miss Eliza M. Pohlkotte, a daughter of George R. Pohlkotte, and unto this marriage have been born three children who are now1 living: John Henry; Anna M., the wife of Harry E. Albert; and Edith Adell Merkle. Mr. Merkle has attained high rank in Masonry, having taken the degree of the Consistory and also of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to Buckeye Lodge, No. 47, I. O. O. F., and to the German Lutheran church, while his political support is given to the republican party and in matters of citizenship, he manifests a progressive and helpful spirit, being interested in all that pertains to the progress and upbuilding of the city in which he has long made his home. He is a man of democratic spirit, easily approachable, recognizing the good qualities in others, and his many substantial and commendable characteristics have gained him a firm hold on the warm regard of those with whom he comes in contact.
As printed in History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.