GEORGE A. MARKERT
Page 681

GEORGE A. MARKERT. Bath Township, Mason County, is a rich agricultural center, and the men who conduct its farming interests are enterprising, self-reliant and shrewd. Among these the subject of this sketch occupies no unimportant place, being the possessor of three hundred and seventy acres of fine land. His is a native of the kingdom of Bavaria and was born February 23, 1831. Jacob Markert, the father of our subject, was likewise a native of the above place, his birth occurring August 12, 1800. He was married in 1825 to Miss Eve Funch and made his home in the village of Hafenlohr, where he was engaged in buying and selling oak trees. He spent his entire life in that place, his death occurring in 1889. Grandfather Thomas Funch was a farmer by occupation and died at a good old age in 1844. George A. was one in a family of eight children and came to America in 1850. Having learned the cooper's trade in his native land he followed it for six years prior to crossing the Atlantic, and for seven years worked at his trade in Newark, N. J., and while there was married, August 13, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Knabb. They continued to reside in that city until 1857, when they came to Illinois, and Mr. Markert found employment in making barrels for the Havana Packing House. After being thus engaged to a short time he rented land and turned his attention to farm pursuits. A few years later, however, in April, 1865, he purchased ninety acres of the land comprised in his present estate, to which he later added one hundred and sixty acres, and in 1893 increased it to three hundred and seventy acres. The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Markert are, Frank, Rosina C. and Catherine. The wife and mother departed this life February 24, 1876, firm in the faith of the Lutheran Church. Our subject makes his home at present with his son Frank, who was married October 2, 1877, to Miss Augusta Henrietta Caroline Bohl, whose birth occurred March 4, 1860, in Germany. They are the parents of five children, Elizabeth S., George F., Bertha M., August J. C. and William C. A. Augusta Bohl was a native of the Island of Bergen and the daughter of Frederick and Sophia M. Bohl, both of Germany. Her parents came to America in 1869, locating near Havana, where they are at present living. Mrs. Markert is devoted member of the German Lutheran Church. The well tilled acres included in our subject's estate are devoted to raising mixed crops and the ordinary amount of stock, both grains and animals being of good quality. A home like dwelling and various our buildings, together with a well kept orchard and neat fences, indicate to the passer-by that the land is owned by a gentleman of enterprise and good judgment. Mr. Markert takes no active part in political matters except to deposit his vote, which is a Democratic one.

1894 Biography Index

Home