Nelson Merkley Jr. was Asher's father.
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Photo from the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak.
Photo cropped from a larger image. |
Based on these documents, the following dates apply:
BIRTH: 24 Mar 1857- Carson Valley, Nevada
DEATH: 18 Apr 1924- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
He was 67 years old when he died of pneumonia.
Newspaper obituary:
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| SOURCE: Deseret News 1924, Apr 22, p.7 |
Obituary transcribed:
Patriarch Nelson Merkley Is Laid at Final Rest
VERNAL, April 22 (Special)-- Patriarch Nelson Merkley died at his home here Friday after a week's illness with pneumonia. He was believed to be recovering when death suddenly came.
Funeral services were held in the Uintah stake tabernacle Sunday afternoon.
*Spelling corrected wherein I was aware.
Local newspaper obituary:
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| SOURCE: Vernal Express 1924, Apr 25, p.1-1 |
Obituary transcribed:
Nelson Merkley Pioneer of 1879 Buried Sunday
AMBITION OF A LIFE TIME WAS BEAUTIFUL HOME BUILT ON ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD MADE 45 YEARS AGO AND ON WHICH NO MORTGAGE HAD EVER BEEN PLACED.
At 12:30 a.m. Friday morning there passed from this life the spirit of Patriarch Nelson Merkley, peaceful and quiet as the life he had lived. He was conscious to the very last moment fully realizing his time had come for his departing from this life and his loved ones. His house was truly in order at the time of his departure. His counsel and presence will be sorely missed by his family and many friends, for few indeed ever found fault with this just and Godly man, whose life has been an inspiration to all who came in touch with him. The cause of death was pneumonia and the eight time to have the disease.
Nelson Merkley, the oldest son of Nelson and Sarah Jane Sanders Merkley, way born March 24, 1857, at Carson Valley, Nevada. His parents were Utah pioneers of 1848 and had 13 children, seven only who are now living. Mr. Merkley was the third to pass away in the last three months. John Merkley of Tridell died in January and Mrs. G.F. Britt April 7. Those who survive are George D., Vernal; Mrs. W.P. Coltharp, Vernal; C.E., Duchesne, Utah; Charles, Vernal; Mrs. Elizabeth Hall, Wellington, Utah, and only one not in attendance at funeral; Henry, Gusher, Utah; William S., Vernal. His mother, in her 83rd year, still survives and lives at his home. His father died 22 years ago.
In July 1879, he and his chum, James Hacking, came to the Ashley valley built cabins on their present homesteads and returned for their families and a company of others, arriving here in October and spent the hard winter when nearly all were starved when their provisions ran out.
On June 9, 1884, he was married to Miss Keturah Peterson, who was also one of the pioneers of the same company and who survives him. To them were born 9 children, three of whom died in infancy, and one 6 years ago. Ellis, Ezra who died in 1919 of flu; Mrs. Helen Colton, Gusher, Utah; Milton and Sarah, who died in infancy; Mrs. Mary E. Sander, Asher, and Miss Margaret Merkley and Kate who died in infancy.
Of the original homestead he gave 40 acres to his father as did also his brother George D. that their father could give each of the younger brothers 20 acres of land. On the remaining 120 acres the deceased has made one of the finest farms in the country. He has never placed a mortgage on the land or sold an acre of the ground. Never from the first crop in 1880 has he been out of hay for his stock or wheat for the family.
When a young man his one ambition was to own a farm and build a home. He never passed by a good home with stacks of hay, he did not declare to himself he would have the same. How well he accomplished his mission his family and neighbors can testify. On his homestead a deep ravine ran diagonally across and was the drain of the entire section. This he filled up and the land is now watered directly across it. Most of this was accomplished within the first few years of his residence.
In the spring of 1880 his horses were so poor it was only possible to plow a round or so a day and then turn them out to pick the green grass. From then on he never allowed stock to suffer on his farm. When the Reservation was first opened he had considerable hay which sold at a high market price. Of the many who came to his place for hay and grain he never charged them for their horse feed or meals at the home where they always ate as many as seven in a single night.
At one time they were requested to store wheat which he did, many thousands of bushels. When the time came to dispose of it when the country was without in place of charging a high price he gave the wheat away to those in need. He built the first brick house in the Ashley valley. His one object in life being the making of a real home. He left no great accumulated wealth but rather a legacy rich in good deeds with his family in a comfortable home.
He plowed the furrow for the Ashley Central Canal, unsurveyed, directly in front of his land, and when told the water would not run that way said that it had to as he needed the water. He built good roads and maintained them around his farm to keep teamsters from being stuck in the mud and swearing. The trees planted around the farm were secured at the Green River. He was water master of the Central canal and worked all day to 4 o'clock to fix a break, on the day of his marriage.
He was second counselor to Bishop George Freestone, was made a Patriarch in 1894 and also served as high counselor. He gave 403 patriarchal blessings, the first Feb. 10, 1896, and the last Dec. 30, 1923. At the time of his death he was president of the High Priest quorum.
The funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the Uintah stake tabernacle with Bishop Hyrum B. Calder of Vernal First ward presiding. An extremely large crowd from every ward in the Uintah stake and practically all of the towns of the Basin were present to pay their last respects to the beloved Patriarch and pioneer, their friend, and to so many a counselor as well.
The flowers covered the casket and for the time of year were profuse. The decoration of potted plants including Easter lillies gave a serene setting for the last rites, peaceful as were his closing hours. The pall bearers were of the High Priests quorum. County Assessor James M. Shaffer, County Road Agent John L. McConkie, M.M. Batty, bishop of Glines ward; George E. Wilkins, bishop of Vernal Second ward; Andrew Dudley, Jr., of Jensen, and Charles A. Hardy of the High council.
A special double quartet composed of Miss Mima Davis, Miss Gus Davis, Miss Alice Olson, Mrs. Hallor Witbeck, Byron Goodrich, Warren Jones, Fernando Ellingford and H. Walter Woolley, with Miss Pearl Shimmin at the organ, sang "Come Come Ye Saints", "Oh My Father", "Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire" and "Though Deepening Trials".
President A.G. Goodrich offered the opening prayer and Patriarch Harmon Sowards pronounced the benediction.
James Hacking, a lifetime chum of the departed from boyhood days, was the first speaker. Choking with emotion and grief only controlled by the greatest effort the speaker told of the life of his chum and friend for 56 years, having known the departed since 11 years of age. The tribute paid by him only bore the impression of those who came in contact with the deceased in this life. Among other things he stated that he never in his life heard an oath uttered by him, no matter what the provocation never heard him speak an unclean word or speak evil of any person.
Forty-five years ago they came to the Ashley valley together, suffered together with their companions during the hard winter of 1879-80 and never heard a word of complaint from his friend. He lived like he died with a full trust in the Lord and His goodness.
Alfred H. Powell was the next speaker and told of his associations with the deceased for the past 40 years and of the upright character of his friend.
President Wallace Calder with words of consolation to the bereaved family spoke of the faithfulness of Patriarch Merkley. He stated that at any appointment made whether in ward or stake affairs, that it was always known if his seat was vacant that sickness or some unavoidable accident had kept him away, is it was said of him that he was always at his post of duty.
Bishop Hyrum B. Calder spoke a short time. Mr. Merkley had always been found doing his duty and was loved by all which was testified by the immense throng, many who had come from long distances to pay their love and respect to their friend.
Interment was made in the Vernal cemetery with President Ernest Eaton dedicating the grave.
*Punctuation and spelling adjusted wherein I was aware.
Death certificate:
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