My Genealogy Hound

LAWRENCE MERGELE was born in Germany on the 10th of August, 1826, and was reared and educated in that country. In 1845, at the age of nineteen, he bade adieu to friends and Fatherland and sailed for the New World. He landed in New York and worked for some time in that city in order to acquire the necessary funds to bring him to the west. He then made his way to Illinois, locating near Glasgow, where he afterward married Miss Mary Brown.

The young couple began their domestic life upon an unbroken farm. The entire county was in its primitive condition, and the work of progress and civilization seemed scarcely begun. All was wild and unimproved, and deer and wolves were numerous. The family experienced all the hardships and trials of frontier life,but the efforts of Mr. Mergele were ably seconded by his wife, who proved to him a faithful helpmate. She was born in Germany in 1832, and when only a year old was brought to this country by her parents, who settled in St. Louis, where she acquired her education in the common schools. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mergele were born six children, but only four are now living. The eldest, Theresa, died in 1889, and the youngest, Lizzie, died at the age of ten years. Those still living are Caroline, Kate, Frank and Bernard. Kate was born in 1857, near Glasgow, and under the parental roof grew to womanhood. She attended a convent in Waterloo one winter, but made her home with her parents until twenty-five years of age, when she became the wife of George Leibach, and removed to Glasgow, where her husband worked as a saddler. Two years later they came to Burksville, where Mr. Leibach followed the same business for a time. Later they went to Denver, Colo., where he carried on a grocery store until going to New Mexico. His death there occurred on the 30th of November, 1892. Mrs. Leibach still survives her husband and is living upon the home farm in this county. She had three children, one of whom, Frank is deceased. Celia and George are still with their mother. Bernard Mergele, the youngest member of the famity, was born December 15, 1872, in this county, and now operates the old homestead. He is a wide-awake and enterprising agriculturist, and the neat appearance of the farm indicates his enterprise. He holds membership with the Catholic Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Mergele traveled life’s journey together for fifty-five years, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. They were separated by death in 1887, when the wife and mother was called to the home beyond. Her remains were interred in Tipton. With the Catholic Church she held membership, and she was a most highly respected woman. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Mergele removed to Burksville, and thence to a farm close by. He was afterward again married, his second union being with Mrs. La Forge, who is still living.

While residing in Burksville, Mr. Mergele carried on milling for some time. In early life he served in the Mexican War, and as a result of his service his health was always somewhat impaired. By the Government he was given a pension, which proved of benefit to him in his declining years. After about a year’s illness his death occurred, May 17, 1890, and his remains were interred in Tipton Cemetery. He, too, was a member of the Catholic Church. By his industry and economy he had accumulated several hundred acres of land, and thus left his family in comfortable circumstances. His life was well and worthily passed, and by an honorable, upright career, he won the high regard of all.