12. John Peter Markley⁴ (Merkle) (Johann George³ Merkle, George Matthaus², Jorg (George)¹)⁽²⁾ (#387) was born Wurtemburg, Germany 27 Nov 1724. John died 07 Oct 1796 Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, at 71 years of age. His body was interred West Salisbury, Pennsylvania, Markley Farm.

He married Eve ? Germany, 1746. (Eve ? is #388.) Eve was born Germany 1727. Eve died 01 May 1813 Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, at 85 years of age. At 21 years of age Eve became the mother of Jacob Markley Germany, 1748. At 25 years of age Eve became the mother of Joseph (Merkle) Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, 1752. Eve became the mother of Mathias (Merkle) Glade, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA, Abt 1757. At 40 years of age Eve became the mother of Margaret (Merkle) Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, 1767. At 48 years of age Eve became the mother of Catherine (Merkle) Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, 1775. At 51 years of age Eve became the mother of Susannah (Merkle) Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, 1778. At 58 years of age Eve became the mother of Peter (Merkle) 1785. Believed of jewish descent.

At 23 years of age John became the father of Jacob Markley Germany, 1748. John immigrated, 1749. Destination: destination unknown. At 27 years of age John became the father of Joseph (Merkle) Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, 1752. John became the father of Mathias (Merkle) Glade, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA, Abt 1757. At 42 years of age John became the father of Margaret (Merkle) Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, 1767. At 50 years of age John became the father of Catherine (Merkle) Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, 1775. At 53 years of age John became the father of Susannah (Merkle) Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA, 1778. At 60 years of age John became the father of Peter (Merkle) 1785. Hans John, his wife, with two babies, together with two of John's brothers, immigrated to America in 1749.

At the Court house at Philiadelpia, Wed. 30th, 1749. Present: The Honorourable, James Hamilton, Esquire, Gov. Joshua Maddox, Esquire.

The foreigners whose names are underwritten, imported in the Ship, Crown, Michael James, Master, from Rotterdam and last from the Cowes in England, did this day take the usual qualifications to the Governor: Hans Jacob Markley Hans George Markley Hans John Markley

The three brothers parted company, Where Jacob settled is unknown to us today. George went to Virginia and then settled at Ashland, Ohio.

The region west of the Allegheny Mountains was not open for settlement until 1768, but a number of settlers were penetrating into this region of Indian Lands. The Indians brought this to the attention of governor John Penn, by issuing their complaint. Governor Penn, then issued a proclamation, warning the settlers of their trespassing. The reports of this commision, headed by the Rev. John Steele of Carlisle, name a number of early settlers which they contacted, but the name of John Markley would have been omited, as he would not have been contacted. The families named on the report were about Redstone and Turkeyfoot and " they contacted a few families living near the Little Youghigheny Crossing, refered to is where the National Pike crosses this stream, the Markley tracts were six miles from this place.

The County of Bedford was started in the year of 1771, so surveying the land was started. The first assessment of Brothers Valley Township was made in 1772, here is found the name of John Markley with 200 acres of land, ten acres of which was cleared. He also was assessed with four Horses and five Cows.

Other tracts of land surveyed to John Markley: 355 Acres called grassy Run on a warrent granted in 1774. 175 Acres called Flog Hill surveyed at about the same time. 460 Acres called Mount Joy on Mar. 28 1785. 242 Acres called John's Fancy on April 25, 1786. 300 Acres surveyed in 1785 which Eve Markley, John's wife claimed for herself.

The entire holdings of real estate of John and Eve Markley on Castleman's River was in the neighborhood of 1500 acres. All of this land was adjacent to each other on the west bank of the river, except for "John's Fancy", the tract of land that John admired most and was the homestead tract, was on the East bank of the river. Also it is noted that his sons, Jacob and Mathais lived on farms on the west side of Castleman's River as well as his daughter Margaret Hendrickson, another daughter lived in the region, but not on land adjoining.

The tract of land called "Flog Hill", comes from a story handed down about Grandfather John.

John and a man named Judy both had a claim to the land. There was considerable dispute over the matter and no headway at settlement could be reached. Finally, one day, they agreed with their fists, the winner would take claim to the land with no further interference from the other. The fight terminated in favor of Markley, who subsequently patented the land. This property was mostly on the side of a steep and rocky hill, so the name of "Flog Hill", was born.

As the years pass for John and Eve, he disposes of their property by selling "Grassy Run", to his daughter and son-in-law, Susannah and Jacob Keagey. One of the tracts, consisting of 133 acres sold to Jacob Keagey was later sold by him to Peter Markley, another son of John and Eve. The deed has not yet been found as to the disposition of the settlement on the Flog Hill tract. In 1788 he sold the homestead tract of John's Fancy to their son, Joseph. On this tract of land, John and Eve continued to live out their days here with his son. It was here, on this same tract of land that in 1796 Joseph platted the village of West Salisbury. The county of somerset was established here in 1795 which is where this place stands today, Elk Lick Township, West Salisbury, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

On October 7, 1796, John was laid to rest on the Markley Farm. His will was admitted to probate on Oct. 11, 1796. His oldest son, Jacob, was named as executer. The estate left does not appear to be very large, as his landholdings were distibuted among the children during his years of retirement.

Eve Markley lived untill the year of 1813. She is laid to rest beside her husband on the Markley Farm. Her will, admitted to probate, says her estate shall be divided into seven shares, which proves the seven children we have named consisted of the family of John and Eve.

The stone marking their grave stands yet today. It says: John Markley Born 1725 in Germany Died Oct. 7, 1796 Eve his wife born 1727 in Germany Died 1813. First white settlers in the area.

The town of West Salisbury at one time had a population of 200 persons, it had a grocery, garage, foundry, blacksmith shop and a flour mill, also a general store. It is located about three miles from the border line of Mayland.

Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Strassburger, Vol. 1, Page 391.

John Peter Markley (Merkle) and Eve ? had the following children:

+ 15 i. Jacob⁵ Markley was born 1748.

16 ii. Joseph (Merkle) (#414) was born Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA 1752. Joseph died 1831 at 79 years of age. family history from Harriet Foor says he died 1845 He married Susanna Wagerline WFT Est 1781-1811. (Susanna Wagerline is #415.) Susanna was the daughter of Philip Wagerline. Migrated to Ashland, Ohio and died there in 1845. He is mentioned in the history as platting the village of West Salibury in 1796.

17 iii. Mathias (Merkle) (#410) was born Glade, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA Abt 1757. Mathias died 1831 Holmes, Ohio, USA, at 74 years of age. He married Catherine Arnold WFT Est 1774-1808. (Catherine Arnold is #411.)

+ 18 iv. Margaret (Merkle) was born 1767.

19 v. Catherine (Merkle) (#416) was born Elk Lick Twp., Sumerset, Pennsylvania, USA 1775. Catherine died WFT Est 1776-1869. She married Jerimiah Miller. (Jerimiah Miller is #417.)

+ 20 vi. Susannah (Merkle) was born 1778.

21 vii. Peter (Merkle) (#421) was born 1785. Peter died WFT Est 1786-1875. His body was interred Harrison Co., Ohio. He married Mary Meose. (Mary Meose is #1143.)

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