Maria (Köhler) Keeler (1850 - 1926)

Born 15 Aug 1850 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA [uncertain]

Wife of Johann Friederich Megerth — married 29 Oct 1874 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Descendants

Died 19 Feb 1926 at age 75 in Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rick Heiser [send private message]

Biography

At birth she was named "Maria Köhler" but it was later written "Mary Keeler". Most available records say she was born on 15 August 1850, probably at Cleveland, Ohio

The 1850 census at Cleveland, Ohio (which started in June, 1850) says Mary was 7 years old and born in Germany. But that contradicts the records showing her bith was in August, 1850!

Probably this family included an earlier child named Maria, born in Alsace-Lorraine about 1843, who migrated with her parents to the United States and lived a Cleveland. That child was alive when the census was taken in June 1850; but died before August, 1850, when another child was born and given the same name! Is that what actually happened? We can only guess...

Records variously show the surname written Köhler, Kohler, Koehler, Kuler, Keeler, Kullen, Kulen. In other words, there is considerable confusion about names and dates in this family.

They migrated to the United States before 1850, from Alsace-Lorraine, which was a German-speaking region in northeastern France; seized by Germany in the Franco-Prussian war of 1871.

Some later records show Mary had a middle initial B., which was absent from early records. No indication if the B. actually stood for anything, or just the silly custom of adopting a meaningless initial for decoration!

She married Johan Friedrich ("Fred") Megerth and they had three children. She died in 1926, age 75, and was buried at Lakeview Cemetery, near Cleveland. Address at death was 1362 West Clifton Boulevard, Lakeview. The cemetery record shows "Mary K Megerth".

Sources

• www.familysearch.org

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74417755/mary-megerth

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Rick Heiser for starting this profile.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Rick and others.