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Below is a family biography included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published by Weakley, Harraman & Co. in 1885. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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HENRY MERHOFF, farmer, York Township, born in Germany in 1823, is a son of Clouse and Margarita (Lostermann) Merhoff, also natives of Germany. His father died in 1832; his mother in 1829. Mr. Merhoff grew to manhood on the farm in Germany. He was reared by his cousin, whose husband’s name was Frederick Offerbach; he lived in Germany till 1859, when he immigrated to America with his wife and two children. They came direct to Switzerland County and located in York Township, where they have since resided. They now have six children: Henry W., Lizzie, Caroline, Anna, John, Minnie (Lizzie, wife of Charles Baats; Caroline, wife of Frederick Schroeder). Two eldest were born in Germany. Mrs. Merhoff was Anna Clayford, and was born in Germany. In 1868 Mr. Merhoff bought his present farm of fifty-five acres, and this he has since been cultivating. He has done considerable hard work and is a good farmer; he went in debt considerably when he bought his farm, but his friends aided him and he has succeeded in paying up. The family is connected with the German Lutheran Church.
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This family biography is one of 215 biographies included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published in 1885 by Weakley, Harraman & Co. For the complete description, click here: Switzerland County, Indiana History and Genealogy
View additional Switzerland County, Indiana family biographies here: Switzerland County, Indiana Biographies
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