Dr. A.E.H. Maerker

For fifty years Dr. A.E.H. Maerker served Napoleon as teacher, physician, banker, and civic leader. Alfred Ernest Herman Maerker was born on May 25, 1857 at Posen, Germany. He was the son of Gotthilf and Alfrede (Brethschneider) Maerker. His father was the provincial tax secretary for the Province of Posen and his maternal grandfather, Adolph Brethschneider, also served in the tax department of that province. Not wanting her son to be conscripted into the army during the Franco-Prussian war, Alfrede Maerker sent her son to America in the fall of 1873. Alfred Maerker left from Hamburg, Germany on the steamer Holsatia and he arrived a short while later at New York. He had come to America with his mother's brother, Herman Hintz. They then traveled to Niles, Michigan where Alfred Maerker completed his education and clerked in a store for two years.

In 1876 Alfred Maerker came to Napoleon to fill the position in the German Department of the Napoleon Union School. He continued as an instructor in the school for five years and during the last four years of this time he devoted every opportunity that was offered to the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. E.B. Harrison. In 1882 Alfred Maerker graduated from the medical department of Western Reserve University at Cleveland with the degree of Doctor of Medicine and he immediately established himself in practice at Napoleon. For the next years he was actively engaged in the practice of his profession and he was met with gratifying success. Again in 1890 he felt a need for more extensive study and so he took a full course at the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. His office for many years was located over Leist's drug store on Perry street. This drug store was run by his brother-in-law Isa Leist. Later Dr. Maerker's office was located above the First National Bank building at the corner of Perry and Washington streets. Dr. Maerker was one of the organizers and was the first secretary of the Henry County Medical Society and he later served as its president. The Doctor was a member of the Northwest Ohio and State Medical societies and the Toledo Academy of Medicine. He was also a member of the National Union and the Royal Arcanum and he served as examining physician for a number of insurance companies. In 1907 Dr. Maerker purchased his first automobile, a Ford run-about, in which he made his country calls. His early experience with his automobile were not without mishaps, including being forced into a ditch after meeting with a frightened horse and nearly driving through Shondel's garage when the throttle stuck.

Dr. A.E.H. Maerker

Mary Ellen (King) Maerker

A disastrous fire in December 1921 that destroyed his library and medical instruments, promoted Dr. Maerker to retire from medical practice and accept the presidency of the Commercial State Bank in January, 1922. This was not the Doctor's first involvement in the financial affairs of Napoleon. Many years earlier he served as a director of the First National Bank of Napoleon and in 1908 Dr. Maerker was one of the organizers and served as vice president of the Napoleon State Bank. When the Commercial State Bank began in 1913, Dr. Maerker served as one of its incorporators of that banking institution, Dr. Maerker continued to serve as president of the Commercial State Bank until early 1927 when he again felt the urge to resume his medical practice. After taking a reviewing course at Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, he reopened his doctor's office in Napoleon and actively practiced until his death on October 21, 1927.

Dr. Maerker was also very active in the religious and civic affairs of Napoleon. He was a member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir, taught a class of boys in the sunday school, and served as church trustee: For many years the Doctor was active in various musical groups in Napoleon.

At the turn of the century, Dr. Maerker served one term as clerk of the school board and at one time was a candidate for auditor on the Democratic ticket. He was president of the Kiwanis club in the early 1920's. Dr. Maerker also was past master of Napoleon Lodge No. 256 F.&A.M., past high priest of Haly Chapter No. 136 R.A.M., a member of Defiance Cornmandry Knights Templar, and he was past worthy patron of Napoleon Chapter Order of Eastern Star.

While teaching at the Napoleon Union School he met his future wife, Miss Mary Ellen King, who was a teacher in the intermediate department. They were married at his residence in Napoleon on March 6, 1879.

Mary Ellen Maerker, a daughter of John A. and Rosannah (Beatty) King, was born on May 13, 1853 at Beaver County, Pa. Her parents, natives of Stark County, Ohio, came to Henry County in 1860 and her grandfather John M. King was an early settler of Washington Township, coming there in 1850-51. John A. King was an attorney at Napoleon for many years.

In 1875 Mary Ellen and her sister, Hattie King were among the first graduates of the Napoleon High School. Mary Ellen Maerker taught eight years in the intermediate department and then retired from teaching to raise a family. She was active in the organizations of St. Paul's M.E. Church and she was a member of the Violet Club. Mrs. Maerker also served as worthy matron of the Napoleon Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star and she was one of its charter members.

Dr. and Mrs. Maerker lived on West Washington street for many years and in 1901 they built a beautiful new residence on the corner of West Washington and Roman streets. This house continued to serve four generations until it was sold by the family in 1942. Mary Ellen Maerker died at her residence at Napoleon on April 20, 1935. Dr. and Mrs. Maerker are buried in Glenwood Cemetery.

The Maerker's were the parents of two children: Grace Elfrieda Maerker was born at Napoleon on March 25, 1884 and she was a graduate of Napoleon H.S. and a 1906 graduate of Ohio State University where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She then taught history and english at Napoleon High School and in the summer of 1907 she took a course at Harvard University. In 1909 Grace Maerker married Ray E. Morey, a prominent Napoleon businessman of the firm of Morey & Meyer. They had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Grace Morey died at Fenton, Michigan on Dec. 5, 1963.

Karl Roland Maerker, the only son of Dr. Maerker, was born at Napoleon on October 3, 1887. He was a graduate of Napoleon H.S., attended Oberlin College and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1910. Karl Maerker then began the study of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia but later gave up the medical studies as they were not to his liking. He then engaged employment with the telephone company in Pennsylvania and for many years he lived at Pittsburgh. On november 27, 1913 at Philadelphia, Karl married Miss Olive L. Bogart. They were the parents of one daughter, Barbara Jane Maerker, before Olive Maerker died at Pittsburgh on Oct. 29, 1926. She was buried at Glenwood Cemetery at Napoleon. Barbara Maerker then came to stay at Napoleon with her aunt Grace Morey until her father married Madeline McCaffrey in 1929. By this marriage Karl had one son Karl R. "Bud" Maerker. Karl Maerker died at Pittsburgh on Sept. 6, 1949.

Submitted by: Robert Barnes