Bio of MEARKLE, Erastus F. (b.1849), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol II, pg 69-70
ERASTUS F. MEARKLE
Most firm was the hold which Erastus F. Mearkle had upon the affection and
regard of his fellow citizens. He was a prosperous business man, but more than
that, he ever displayed the keenest interest in and helpfulness toward his
fellow travelers on the journey of life. Constantly he was extending assistance
in a material way or through even more valuable advice, and Hamline University
had no more substantial friend than he, his support being manifest in his many
years of service as treasurer of the institution-a service that was rendered
gratuitously.
Erastus F. Mearkle was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of
September, 1849, his parents being George and Ann Mearkle. In the pursuit of his
education he attended the State Normal School at Millersville, Pennsylvania, and
afterward was graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he
made the notable record of pursuing both full academic and law courses at the
same time and winning his degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws as a
member of the class of 1877. Before pursuing his university course he had for
two years engaged in teaching in Hightstown, New Jersey. In 1878 he removed to
Minneapolis, where he entered upon the practice of law and soon afterward joined
the State Bar Association. He was not long in gaining a good clientele and had
an extensive office practice. His analytical mind enabled him to find ready
solution for intricate and involved legal problems and his advancement as a
representative of the bar was continuous
Not long after he had established his home in Minneapolis, Hamline University
was removed from Red Wing to the twin cities and he became professor of
mathematics and political science in the school. During his connection therewith
as an instructor Samuel F. Kerfoot, now president of the university, was one of
his pupils. For ten years he continued to teach, but his increasing business
made greater and greater demands upon his time until he was forced to put aside
his work as an educator, although he remained a stanch supporter and friend of
the school throughout the remainder of his life. He accepted the treasurership
of the university while professor and to within five years of his demise
continued to serve as treasurer without remuneration. In this connection he
performed a great service for the school, entailing a large amount of labor, and
President Kerfoot said in this connection: "His thirty years of service, keeping
the financial records and buying the securities of Hamline University, could not
have been bought with one hundred thousand dollars." In the meantime Mr. Mearkle
had become heavily interested in the Security Bank, of which T. A. Harrison, the
president, was his close friend. He was elected one of the directors and vice
president of the bank and continued to serve on the directorate when it became
the Security National Bank. He was also director of the First National Bank when
the Security was merged with it in 1915. He was afterward, in connection with F.
A. Chamberlain and Perry Harrison, named executor of the estate of his former
friend, T. A. Harrison, and the work in connection therewith occupied about ten
years of his time. His name was ever a most honored one in financial circles, as
he was a man of thoroughly sound judgment, of keen sagacity and of
irreproachable integrity and honor.
In 1877 Mr. Mearkle was married to Miss Annie L. Smith, a daughter of Augustus
M. and Mary (Howe) Smith. Her mother was the compiler of the Guyot geographies
and a very distinguished woman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were natives of the
state of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Mearkle was born a daughter, Edith, now Mrs.
William J. Cleary of St. Paul. The family circle was broken by the hand of death
when on the 2d of February, 1922, Erastus Fletcher Mearkle was called to his
final rest. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, loyal to the beneficent
teachings and purposes of the craft, held membership in the University Club,
finding his most pleasant associations with the men of intellectual worth in the
city, and he was equally loyal as a communicant of the Hennepin Avenue Methodist
church. He found his greatest pleasure in life in doing good to others and it is
said that he was wonderfully helpful in advising women in legal matters and at
all times was most conscientious and considerate toward anyone who came to him
for counsel. His acts seemed to be determined by the opportunity afforded him
for helpfulness rather than by any thought of pecuniary reward and he found his
remuneration in the consciousness of duty well performed. He left the indelible
impress of an upright life upon the hearts of those who knew him and his example
has been an inspiring force to many with whom he was associated.