BIO: Levi Merkel, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER XXXIX. 

                        BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

424  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  LEVI MERKEL (deceased) founder of the First National Bank, 
Mechanicsburg, is deserving of more than a passing notice in this work, 
as a man of noble principles, one who stood high in the estimation of 
all, a good neighbor and friend, and an upright, honest business man 
and Christian gentleman.  He held many important trusts during life, 
and was the financial counselor of the widow and orphan.  The 
inexperienced sought his advice, for he was kind-hearted and true, and 
had the entire confidence and respect of all.  Upon the organization of 
the common school system he became its warm friend, and held the 
position of school director for many years.  In the constitutional 
convention of 1838 he voted against the use of the word "white" in the 
constitution, for which he was much censured at the time, but lived to 
see the signature of the President of the United States appended to the 
emancipation proclamation.  In the same convention the resolution 
restraining the power of the banks was fought step by step by the 
adherents and tools of the United States Bank, which had become a 
Pennsylvania State institution, and they left no stone unturned to 
secure its defeat or postponement.  It passed by the deciding vote of 
Mr. Merkel, who voted against his own political partisans - principle 
with him was everything, policy nothing.  The wisdom of this vote was 
soon demonstrated in the 

425  BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

history of the bank.  Among his effects is a book containing the 
signatures of every member of the convention, with marginal notes, 
showing the age and birthplace of each, his business or occupation, 
etc.  His prominent characteristic was his rigid adherence to principle 
and to his convictions of what was right.  On this ground he judged 
men, on it he made his friends.  Deception was not in his nature, in 
business he was exact; in judgment clear and sound, in language always 
chaste, in habits frugal, in affection strong but undemonstrative, in 
religion firm in faith in an all-ruling Providence.  He wrote 
frequently for publication in religious papers, and his articles were 
full of strong argument and beautiful thoughts.  He was born near 
Ephrata, Lancaster Co., Penn., May 2, 1803, the only child of Jacob and 
Mary (Carpenter) Merkel, natives of Lancaster County, Penn., 
descendants of two of the oldest families of that county, and died at 
Carlisle; Penn., on September 20, 1876.  He was but four years of age 
when the family moved to what is now Lower Allen Township, where he 
remained on the farm, attending school and teaching until his marriage, 
on November 27, 1828, with Miss Susanna Martin, who was born on October 
13, 1810, on her father's farm near Shiremanstown (which adjoined that 
of her husband's father).  She was the daughter of David and Barbara 
(Hessin) Martin.  They remained on the farm until the spring of 1858, 
when they moved to Mechanicsburg.  To this union were born five sons 
and four daughters, of whom five children are living:  David R., a 
professor of music (at present engaged in farming on the old homestead 
farm in Lower Allen Township), married to Miss Sarah Eberly; Mary C., 
wife of C. B. Niesley, a producer and grain merchant, Mechanicsburg; 
Barbara H., wife of John B. Landis, Esq., at Carlisle; Naomi S., who 
resides at the home of her mother; James Weir, a banker, married to 
Miss Lilla A. Irvine, of Elmira, N. Y.  The daughters are all members 
of the Presbyterian Church.