MORLOCK FAMILY

Daniel and Elizabeth Morlock came to America about 1842 from Baden, Germany.  We know that by 1850 they were living in Mascoutah, St. Clair, IL. On the 1850 census Daniel a farmer and his wife Elizabeth had four sons: Jacob, Louis, Charles and August. In 1856 Daniel bought a tract of land from the Methodist Church. This lot was fifty feet by one hundred feet and he paid $200.00 for it. This was a considerable amount for land back then.  Daniel became a citizen in April of 1857.  After the 1860 census we find no more records for Daniel and Elizabeth.

Jacob Morlock born May 1, 1828 married Christine Diez on June 2, 1851 at the Lutheran Church in Belleville, IL.  This church is now known as the St. Paul's United Church of Christ. (In the future I will have a copy of their marriage license.  The state of Illinois has an excellent program for receiving records but you can only submit two names at a time)  So we have three children born to Jacob and Christine: Mathilda, Louis Daniel and Charles Frederick. Jacob died Dec 5, 1908 while visiting his daughter in San Francisco, CA.  He and Christine are buried in a cemetery in Salem, OR.

Louis Morlock born 1834 married Anna Guetwin on June 12, 1856 at St. John's Untied Church of Christ in Mascoutah, St. Clair, IL.  This family has been welled sourced due to finding records of St. John's Church.  Louis and Christine would have the following children: Bertha, Charles, Louise, Anna, Louis, Gustav, and Frederick.  So far we have found that Charles, Gustav, and Anna moved to St. Louis, MO.  Charles and Gustav owned a grocery store on Grand Ave.  in the city of St. Louis.  Charles lived above the store and Gustav lived a few blocks away according to the 1900 city directory.  I have received some obituaries from the St. Louis Public Library,  which I am attempting to trace to these families.

Charles Morlock born 1837 married Lizette Eidmann on Feb 19, 1863.  I do have a copy of their marriage license.  The couple moved to Carlyle, Clinton, IL in 1873 where Charles bought 160 acres of land.  On this land he and his sons would have an apple orchard.  I have an article about the orchard and Charles granddaughter who lived there at the time the article was written.  According to the article they had 7 children but I have found records for only five.  Those five are Louis Frederick Emil,  Emma, Frieda, Hilda, and Charles Hugo.

August Morlock was my great grandfather.  He was born Dec 24, 1841 in Germany.  He married Valentine Kern in 1867.  So far I have no record of their marriage in Illinois but I am continuing to look.  Valentine came to America in 1860 on the ship Lemuel Dryer. She traveled with her mother and two brothers.  The ship docked in New Orleans.  I am not sure if her father and older brother were already here or if they had passed away before the voyage.   August and Valentine would travel from St. Clair County, IL to Moniteau County, MO.  Here they would settle on 160 acres of land and start their family.  They were one of the first settlers of the area.  When I was small we would visit Grandma and Grandpa at the farm.  I never realized then that years before a Morlock had come from Illinois to settle on that farm.  When my grandfather retired from farming in 1968 the land was sold to my Grandma's nephew.  The farm next to the original farm was owned by August, Jr.  His daughter Viola Morlock Meyer still lives there in the house that August, Jr. built.  August and Valentine would have 6 children. The 1900 census states 10 with 6 living and the 1910 census states 6 with 5 living.  I have found records for only 6.  They are August, Jr., Josephine, Robert, Adolph, Annie , and Olga.

A Morlock Family Gathering on the farm in Tipton, Missouri

The Mertle Family

Joseph Mertel came to America with his wife Catherine Czeriney from Austria-Hungary.  Joseph and Catherine made their way across the land and settled in Gasconade County, MO.  Catherine had two sisters that lived in Gasconade County.  When Joseph and Catherine first arrived in the county they lived with Catherine's sister Mary Wilcheck. The first land purchase we found was in 1867 near the town of Tea in Gasconade County.   They would four children: Frances, Maria, Anton, and Joseph. The name Mertel has changed to Mertle, Mertl, and Myrtle over the years.

Joseph Frank Mertle born March 20, 1868 in Tea, Gasconade, MO married Mary Rose Fisher on Nov. 11, 1895.  Joseph and Mary would own the first tavern in Gerald, Franklin, MO.  The tavern opened in 1901. Joseph and Mary would have 8 children five, which died as infants, Louis who died at the age of 1, Joseph Louis, and Eva.  Joseph died Feb 7, 1946 and Mary would live until March 11, 1963.  They are both buried at the New Catholic Cemetery in Owensville, Gasconade, MO.

Joseph Louis Mertle born Dec. 16, 1902 married Frances Agnes Reed on Oct. 7, 1928. Frances was a school teacher recceiving her degree from Southeast Missouri State. Joseph worked for McDonnell Douglas.  At one time Joseph and his four children all worked at McDonnell Douglas.  Frances passed away  March 17, 1957. Joseph would marry Arlene in April 1958.  Arlene passed away Oct 1958 and Joseph married Pauline Poitter Feb 9, 1959. Four children were born to Joseph and Frances: James, Patricia, Helen, and Rosemary. Joseph died Aug. 23, 1979.  He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis with his wife Frances.

  Joseph and Frances Mertle's children
        Jim, Pat, Helen, and  Rosemary