Jacob Merkel

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My Great Grandfather

Born: 27 July 1848
Iffezheim, Germany

Died: 30 Dec.1916
Rochester, NY

Wife:
Elizabeth Ruff
21 March 1852 - 3 June 1949

Married: 15 Nov. 1870
Rochester, NY

The Merkel line finally makes it to Rochester.
My Great Grandfather was my ancestor who left Germany and came to America. In 1867, apparently via the Atlantic harbor Le Harve, Jacob emigrated to America and eventually Rochester, NY.

For information on Jacob's wife, visit the The Ruff Page - Information on the Ruf Family including Elizabeth and her father Balthasar

		Here is a link to the Pedigree Chart for Jacob Merkel.

Residence:
1869	4 Andrews St.
1870	26 Wilder St. by himself. No other family.
1871	Holland St.
1873	31 Champlain St.
1874	126 Champlain St.
1875	126 Champlain St. in 8th ward. This is area south of the old Rochester General Hospital on West Main Street, Rochester, NY. Living with wife Elisabeth.
1883	126 Champlain St.
1884	118 Champlain St. According to Dick Halsey, only the house numbers changed. They did not move to a different house.
1900	living at 118 Champlain St., Rochester,NY . Jacob & Elisabeth with 4 Children: Lillian, Gustave, Anna & Edwin.
1884 to 1912	Jacob's address is listed as 118 Champlain
1912	until his death in 1916 he is listed as living at 292 Champlain St. It is possible the house number changed again but Dick Halsey couldn't be sure.

Occupation:
1870	working in printing shop.
1872 to 1875	N. Water Street near RR
1875 to 1878	135 N. Water St. *** The 2 above may be the same place. The business at 135 N. Street was John G. Schmidt and Sons, manufacturers of faucets.
1878	working at 111+ N. Water Street.
1879 to 1882	worked on Brown's Race
1883 to 1884	working at 3 Aqueduct Street.
1885	working at 7 Hill Street.
1886	working at 13 Canal Street.
1890	working at 205 N. Water Street.
1893 to 1898	worked at 3 Graves Street which was Bortle & Lazier Turning.
1898 to 1910	worked at 10 Graves Street which was the George P.Bortle Turning Company.( Mr. Lazier either died or sold out).
1900	working as " Wood Turner". No address given.
1910 to 1912	working at 32 Silver Street which again was the George Bortle Turning Company.

Death and Burial:

Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, of Rochester, NY. Section 3 South, lot 47. There are 3 small stones in a row with just names and years: Jacob. Eliz. & Lillian. The stones are identical and of a rather unusual design. Directly behind Lillian's in the next row was another of the same design, Marian Lotze 1920 1921. Marian Lotze is the daughter of Anna Mary Merkel & Carl Henry Lotze.

Citizenship:

Became a citizen of the US on 17 Sept. 1875 in Rochester, NY.
SOURCE: Petitions film roll: 0982830. Witnesses were John G. Schmidt and Balthasar Ruff. In 1875 Jacob worked for John G. Schmidt and Sons, manufacturers of faucets.