By C. Kihm Richardson Walking from Strykersville ... - Fulton History

PAGE 103 APRIL 1978
A Historical Sketch of the Merle Family (continued)
a gold miner, probably about 1850. He never came
back, but died there, the result of an accident.
After living a number of years in Illinois, Uncle
Werner returned to the State of New York. He
bought the farm in 1853 now owned by August
Richert and William Eastman. My father
William -- also returned with Uncle Werner.
The following year, probably in the fall of 1854,
grandfather sold his farm in Illinois and returned
to the town of Attica, where he bought in 1855 the
north end of the farm, then owned by Uncle Werner
-- now in possession of William Eastman, whose
wife is a granddaughter of grandfather Merle.
Grandfather owned a valuable team of horses on
his farm in Illinois, that he would not part with,
so Uncle John drove the team from Illinois to Attica,
a distance of over 600 miles. The home that
grandfather bought on his return from the west,
became the "Old Homestead" for his children and
grandchildren. Here he died on the 24th of March
in 1863 at the age of 63 years 11 months and 12
days. At this home, grandmother Merle continued
to live with her three younger sons for a number of
years. Here her children and grandchildren came
for their oft-repeated visits to see "grandma."
Some of us still remember those visits to see
grandma. We shall always remember grandmother's
"Kuchen" and the fine cut "noodles" she
used to make.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861 Uncle
George enlisted and served three years in defense
of his country, and the Preservation of the Union
of States.
After the three younger sons were married,
grandmother made her home with Uncle Jacob at
whose home she died on December 14th, 1879 at
the age of 80 years 8 months and 23 days. Here I
would mention that the date of her death on her
tombstone is incorrect. She died in 1879 and not in
1880, the date on her tombstone.
Of the first generation Aunt Barbara is the only
one left, who is with us today. We are glad that
she is with us at this reunion. While Aunt Barbara
is the oldest, and only remaining member representing
the first generation, Mary Louise Flagler
of Buffalo is the youngest member of the fourth
generation present at this reunion.
Had it been possible for all to be present at our
reunion today, the attendance would have been
over 200.
This historical sketch would not be complete
unless we would answer the oft-repeated question,
"Why do some give their family name as Marley,
and others as Merle?" Who changed the name
from Merle to Marley, and which is correct? It is
both embarrassing and unfortunate that we have
two ways of writing our family name. Before attempting
to answer these questions, I shall give
the rule for transferring family names from one
language to another. The rule is that family names
are not translated, but transferred, retaining the
same letters are were used in the original name,
that is, the spelling of the name should remain
unchanged. For example, the family name "Zimmerman"
should not be written Carpenter when
transferred from the German to the English
language. A man by the name of Koch does not
become an English Cook when he comes to America.
The rule is to write family names in any
language with the same letters that were used in
the language of the country in which they originated.
The original spelling of our family name was
"Merle." Grandfather always wrote his name
Merle. In the baptismal certificate that father
brought from Germany the name is written Merle.
Uncle Walter, the eldest of the family, always
wrote his name Merle. So we ask again, who
changed the name from Merle to Marley? The
change came about in this way: the three younger
sons -- George, Jacob and August, were of school
age, and attended the Public School. Mr. Carmi
Lindsay was their school teacher. He apparently
was ignorant pertaining to the rule governing
family names when transferred to another language.
Mr. Lindsay changed the name from Merle to
Marley. He changed the German e to an English a
and added a y to make two syllables in the name.
We shall forgive him, for we believe he did it
ignorantly and "without malice aforethought," but
it was a most unfortunate occurrance. Everyone
fell in line and began to write their name Marley,
except Uncle Walter. This continued until about 40
years ago, when a large number changek their
names from Marley to Merle. In so doing they
simply corrected an error that had been made in
the spelling of our name.
The change was made and started by cousin
Henry and myself at the time we entered the ministry
of the Evangelical Church in 1886. Today the
majority have gone back to the original spelling of
the name.
It is also a fact worthy of notice that on every
tombstone, marking the last resting place of our
departed relatives you will find the name Merle.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Rev. Wm. J. Merle, eldest
son of Wm. Merle who prepared the historical
sketch of the family, which you have just read,
entered the ministry of the Evangelical Church
in 1886 and continued in this work until his death
in 1930, at which time he was serving the Tonawanda,
N.Y. Church.
EXCERPT FROM JULIA TARBELL MERRILL'S "OLD TIME
CUSTOMS" IN RUSHFORD CENTENNIAL, (1908), pages 36-40:
Concert for Wolves - "A young man by the name of WiIson
living at Caneadea came to Rushford to see a Freeman girl
whom he afterwards married. He was a fiddler and often ployed
for dances. Going home one night after a dance he was chased
by wolves; he took refuge in a deserted old hut and the wolves
followed. Wilson began playing, and was obliged to play until
daylight, when the wolves slunk away."