Levi Merkel and Susanna Martin

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Husband Levi Merkel ¹

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           Born: 2 May 1803 - near Ephrata, Lancaster Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 Sep 1876 - Carlisle, Cumberland Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Jacob Merkel (      -      ) 2
         Mother: Mary Carpenter (      -      ) 2

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       Marriage: 27 Nov 1828 2

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Wife Susanna Martin ²

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            AKA: Susan Martin 3
           Born: 13 Oct 1810 - near Shiremanstown, Cumberland Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: David Martin (      -      ) 2
         Mother: Barbara Hessin (      -      ) 2

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Children

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1 M David R. Merkel ⁴

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           Born: 1835 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Sarah J. Eberly (      -      ) 4
           Marr: 1857 5

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2 F Mary C. Merkel ⁷

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            AKA: Mary Markle 6
           Born:  - Lower Allen Twp, Cumberland Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Christian B. Niesley (1834-      ) 3
           Marr: 12 Nov 1861 - Cumberland Co, PA 3

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3 F Barbara H. Merkel ⁸

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John B. Landis, Esq. (1841-      ) 8
           Marr: 9 Jun 1870 9

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4 F Naomi S. Merkel ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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5 M James Weir Merkel ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Lilla A. Irvine (      -      ) 2

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General Notes: Husband - Levi Merkel

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He was one of the first bankers in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and organized what later became the First National Bank.

He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and was but four years of age when the family moved to what is now Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, where he remained on the farm, attending school and teaching until his marriage. They remained on the farm until the spring of 1858, when they moved to Mechanicsburg.
He and his wife were the parents of five sons and four daughters, of whom five children were living in 1886.

The "founder of the First National Bank, Mechanicsburg, he was 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 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." [HCC 1886, 424]

1 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 424, 428.

2 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 425.

3 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 428.

4 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 425, 457.

5 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 457.

6 Alex. Harris, A Biographical History of Lancaster County (Lancaster, PA: Elias Barr & Co., 1872), Pg 429.

7 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 425, 428.

8 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 382, 425.

9 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 382.