Leopold was born in  Langenbrand, Germany on the 20 of Feb. 1816. He was the 1st child of Valentine Merkel and Maria Anna Gertsner.

Leopold left Germany on the 9th of Nov. 1851 with his wife and family on the ship called the "Splendid".  Also on the ship were his parents and the rest of his brothers and sisters. They arrived in New York 10 Dec. 1851.