Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Merkle, Simon C.
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Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003


SIMON C. MERKLE, a prominent and promising young farmer of 
Bedford County, Pennsylvania, was born in Monroe township on 
the ancestral homestead, which he now occupies, January 10, 
1868, a son of Henry and Julia A. (Karns) Merkle.  His 
paternal grandfather, Henry Merkle, Sr., was the first of 
the Merkle family to settle in this township, to which he 
came when a young man as a pioneer, and by his sturdy 
industry did much to develop and improve the place.
  Henry Merkle, the second of the name, now a venerable man 
of seventy-eight years, has been a lifelong resident of 
Monroe, and during his years of activity was an important 
factor in the development of its agricultural resources.  He 
was well educated for his time, and being endowed with much 
musical talent he put this natural gift to good use as a 
teacher of music in his younger days.  He is a sound 
Republican in his political views, and as a loyal, 
public-spirited citizen has always taken a deep interest in 
the welfare and progress of the community in which he 
resides.  He is a member and at present a trustee of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, with which both he and his wife, 
now deceased, united many years ago.  Mrs. Merkle was a 
woman of superior qualities and a most worthy helpmeet.  Mr. 
Henry Merkle has eleven children now living.
  Simon C. Merkle obtained in the public schools of his 
native town the rudiments of his education, which was 
completed at the Shenandoah Institute in Dayton, Va.  He 
afterward taught music several years, having inherited in 
large degree the musical ability of his father, but more 
recently he has turned his attention to agriculture.  He has 
a good farm of one hundred acres, which he is managing with 
most satisfactory results.  He takes an active part in 
politics, being an earnest supporter of the Republican 
party, and is now serving his first term on the township 
Board of School Directors, of which he has been secretary 
and is now the treasurer.  He is a member and a trustee of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, a position also held by his 
father.  Fraternally, he belongs to Washington Camp, No. 
424, P.O.S. of A., of the village of Mattie, in East 
Providence township, and is now serving as its treasurer.
  Mr. Merkle married Miss Estella B. Boor, daughter of 
Thaddeus S. Boor, of East Providence, Pa.  They have one 
son, Walter C., who was born July 21, 1897.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa