Samuel Markel, who is numbered among the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Lancaster Township, owns and occupies about 192 acres of land on section 9, of which he took possession in the spring of 1875. He is well posted in all matters pertaining to agriculture, and devotes the greater portion of his land to the raising of grain and stock. The main points in a life-history which, although perhaps has not been the subject of any very thrilling events, are still of interest, we give briefly as follows:

Mr. Markel was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Jan. 19, 1853. His father, Samuel Markel, Sr., was a farmer by occupation, and spent his entire life in Lancaster County, his death taking place Oct. 15, 1854. He came of substantial German ancestry, his father, Daniel Markel, having emigrated from the Fatherland directly after his marriage. The maiden name of the grandmother was Catherine Shirk. They were people greatly respected in their locality and numbered among its prosperous and well-to-do citizens. They raised a fine family of sons and daughters, their son Samuel, the father of our subject, possessing in a marked degree the traits of character which constituted him a Christian gentleman and a desirable citizen. He was reared in his native county in Pennsylvania, and after reaching manhood was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Miller, a native of Berks County, who was also of German ancestry by her paternal grandfather. The parents of our subject settled down in Lancaster County, where, after the birth of six children, the father passed away, leaving the mother with large responsibilities and the entire care of the family. There was a comfortable property and the mother wisely kept her children under the home roof until they were capable of starting out in the world for themselves. She lived to see them all comfortably settled in life and five are yet living. The mother is now living with her daughter; Mrs. Kurtz, in Davis, this county. The offspring of Samuel and Mary Markel are recorded as follows: Catherine became the wife of M. W. Kurtz, and is now a resident of Davis, Ill.; Daniel S. married Miss Isabel Yarger, and is living on a farm in Lancaster Township, this county; Henry G. married Miss Mary Glasser, and is living at Davis, Ill.; Levi B. married Miss Mollie Hill, and is carrying on general merchandising at Ridott; Samuel, Jr., of our sketch, is the youngest of the family living; John M. died when eighteen years of age, in Lancaster County, Pa.

The early life of our subject was spent under the home roof, and after the death of his father he continued with his mother until twenty-two years of age. He came to Illinois in 1870, accompanied by his mother, and settled in Lancaster Township, where there had already preceded him some of the older members of the family. Our subject, in 1875, took possession of the land now included in his present homestead, which he has brought to a good state of cultivation, and which, with its buildings and other appurtenances, bears fair comparison with the property of his neighbors. He has kept himself well posted upon current events and uniformly votes the Republican ticket.

Mr. Markel was married in Rock Run Township, March 8, 1877, to Miss Elnora Motter, who was born in Freeport, Ill., Aug. 23, 1850. Her parents, Jonathan and Lydia (Mese) Motter, were natives of Pennsylvania, and are now residents of Davis, this county. Mrs. Markel was educated in the district schools of her native county and remained with her parents until marriage. She is a member of the Evangelical Church and a lady held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Of her marriage with our subject there have been born four children, viz: Daisy B., Irena S., Ralph M. and Clayton M., which constitute a fine family group, and still remain with their parents.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 377