JoAnn Merck Meyers initially contacted me about one year ago to find out if our families were connected. JoAnn was originally from Illinois. Her greatgrandfather and his brother emigrated from Schoenenbourg, Alsace, to Freeport, Illinois in the early 1870s. They left Alsace just after the Franco-German War which ended in 1871 causing Alsace to be ceded to the newly formed German Empire. Edmond had been a soldier in the French army during that conflict, and it is likely that his brother Edward was also involved.
It was this war, provoked by Otto von Bismarck (the Prussian chancellor), which led to the creation of a unified German Empire. The French desire for revenge after this defeat guided their policy for the next half-century. Other aftereffects were among the links that led to World War I.
In Freeport, Illinois, one of the new Merck immigrants operated a butcher shop and the other operated a saloon. After becoming a widower in Alsace, their father Francola Joseph Merck also became a resident of Freeport where he died and was buried in 1886.
No common ancestor has yet been found to link our families. However, it is highly likely that we are related because the village of Schoenenbourg, Alsace, is a small community. Ancestors of both Merck families resided there. JoAnn is recording the family history of her family, and I have been working on ours. It is only a matter of time until we find records that document our common ancestors. Both of us would welcome any input that would help us reach that goal.
