Makley Family History & Genealogy

THE ORIGIN OF THE MAKLEY SURNAME

While doing research into the family history, I was lucky enough to contact some distant relatives that had already done extensive research into the MAKLEY name. These "cousins" had certain advantages over me. They both could speak the German language and both had also visited Germany previously to do research in the home land of the patriarch of the Makley family here in America.

These cousins were then willing to share with me this wealth of information that they worked so hard to collect. In the following pages I will try to take this information and tie it together, giving the most accurate history of the Makley family as I possibly can. I will also try to give some idea of what was happening at certain periods in time that may have influenced decisions of past relatives. There will, no doubt, be updates and corrections that will follow as more information becomes available.

When I first started researching the Makley name, I was advised by my uncle (Clarence "Snuffy" Makley) that the original spelling of our name was "Moeglich". Which is how I found it spelled when I looked up the death record of George W. Makley, the first Makley to settle in St. Marys, Ohio between 1840 and 1850. This record was found in the Auglaize County Court House, volume 4, page 165. (Feb. 4, 1904)

I found the name spelled in many ways while searching old county records in Dayton and St. Marys but the two that I found most often were "Moeglich" and "Moglich". As I worked my way into the 1900's, I found the name spelled "Makley" more often.

As it turns out, the original spelling was "Moglich". The two dots over the "O" give it the "A" sound in German. I have also found this word in the German dictionary and "Moglich", in German means; (adj.) possible, feasible.

At the time of this writing, the "Moglich" family has been traced back as far as the early 1700's to a Johann Sebastion Moglich. It is thought that he was born in or near Fulda in Lower Saxony. He migrated south to Kappelrodeck in the Grand Dutchy of Baden (see map) where he taught school and was the town organist. He was united in marriage to Katherina Lamm and from this union, Stephan Moglich was born on 12-24-1726.

Stephan Moglich migrated to Oppenau in Baden and married Maria F. Burck on 2-11-1749. From this union, Franz Josef Moglich was born on 4-28-1757.

Franz Moglich migrated to Stadelhofen in Baden, which is located just across the Rhine river from the French city of Strassburg and just north of the German town of Offenburg. Franz Married Anna Maria Seger on 6-11-1781 and to this union, Johann Georg Moglich was born on 1-12-1790.

On 2-05-1811, Johann married Maria Juliana Walz, daughter of Franz Josef and Katherina Barb (Zeller) Walz. This couple would have eight children as follows; Eleanora (born 6-30-1813), Franziska (born 3-10-1815), Ludovica (born 5-24-1818-died 7-09-1832), Josef Anton (born 8-06-1820), Franz Karl (born 1-10-1823), Juliana (born 2-12-1825), Georg (born 7-17-1827) and Barbara (born 6-12-1830). The family belonged to the St. Mauritius Catholic Church in Stadelhofen and the following page is a copy of the "Katholische Kirche Stadelhofen, Familien-register, 1793-1885. FHL #996,197". This is the parish register, listing Johann and his family as well as there birth dates and the fact that they emigrated to North America.

In 1790, the area around Stadelhofen was in control of the French. There were constant struggles for control of this area between the French and factions in the Baden area. In 1803, the French yielded the territory east of the Rhine river to the State of Baden.

In the early 1800's, Napoleon gained control of the German States. During this time many changes occurred in these States, some were grouped together and State governments were reorganized. Then in 1814-1815 the combined forces of Prussia and several other European powers defeated Napoleon. More changes were made, drastically changing the map of Europe.

With all the turmoil that was effecting this area of southern Europe and the threat of an approaching revolution, (which occurred in 1848) these must have been very difficult times to raise a family. It was in 1830 that grief would fall on the family with the death of Johann's wife, Maria. Then again in 1831 with the death of his mother and twice in 1832 when his father and daughter (14 year old Ludovica) would pass away.

It was most likely this year, 1832, that Johann made application for immigration to North America. Following you will see an extract from the archives of Oberkirch (a small town near Baden-Baden).

The translation of this document reads: "Concerning Georg Moglich in Stadelhofen, who wants to emigrate to North America, he is to appear on Monday 30th April at 8:00 AM in city hall..."

Johann left his birth country behind and crossed the Atlantic Ocean with the rest of his family around 1832. At this time, I have no idea where they entered the U. S. but I do know that they ended up in Dayton, Ohio were they settled down in the Franklin Street Neighborhood. Here they would begin a new life. Johann Georg Moglich, born January 12, 1790 in Stadelhofen in the German State of Baden, would be the patriarch of the Makley family, establishing our roots in America.

THE MAKLEY FAMILY IN AMERICA

The Franklin Street neighborhood in Dayton during the 1830's was made up primarily of German speaking people. Religion being a very important aspect of every day life for these German immigrants, the founding of a church was a high priority. At first, masses were held in nearby homes when a traveling priest was in town. In 1837, Emmanuel Catholic Church was founded on Franklin Street thanks to the efforts of Father Emmanuel Thienpont who was also appointed Emmanuels first pastor. Johann Georg Moglich and his family were among the first parishioners of Emmanuel Church (the first Catholic Church in Dayton). The only record that I have found so far as to a residence for this family is that Johann had owned the lot at the corner of Franklin and Perry around 1859. His sons, Josef Anton and Franz Karl are also listed as lot owners on Franklin Street at this time. Their lots were located right across the street from Emmanuel Church, were Chaminade High School now stands.

It wasn't long after their arrival in Dayton that their names became Americanized. Josef Anton was known as Anthony, Franz Karl became Charles and Johann Georg was then known as George. Their last name also went through some changes. In the German language, the letter "o" with " above it is pronounced as a long "A." Then the letter "G" sometimes sounds like a "K." While the "lich" in Moglich sounds like "ly" or "ley." In America, they would spell names the way they sounded when pronounced. So Moglich soon became "Makley." In the old records it is found spelled many different ways, such as Moglich, Moeglich and Meglich. The most common spelling found in these records, and the one that stuck, was "Makley."

A few years after their arrival in America, George (Johann) remarried to an Abalonia Smith and together they had one Daughter which they named Mary.

Most of Johann's family stayed in the Dayton area. In the 1850 Odell's Dayton Directory (page 75) there is a George (Johann) "Makely" listed as a laborer on the corner of Seventh and Perry. Anthony "Makely" is listed on this same page as a blacksmith at Seventh between Wilkinson and Perry. In the 1862-63 Dayton City directory, Anthony is listed as "City Horse Shoeing Shop" at 86 Jefferson with a home address of 36 Franklin St., while Charles Makley is listed as a "blacksmith" at 38 Franklin and a "horse shoer" at 28 Jefferson.

Johann was almost sixty nine years old when he passed away on the ninth day of April, 1859. He was first buried at St. Henry’s cemetery that was located where the Montgomery County Fair grounds now stands. His remains were removed from this location around 1899 and reburied in his son Charles plot at Calvary cemetery in Dayton. It is in this plot were you can find this “Makley” monument.

There were two children who left the Dayton area and headed north to the small town of St. Marys, Ohio. Barbara Moglich would marry a George Wise (Edwardum Weiss) in 1849 at Emmanuel Church. They then moved up to St. Marys to take advantage of the canal boom that had just reached that area. George Wise set up a blacksmith shop and Barbara's brother George Wilhelm (a teenager at the time) moved in with them to work as an apprentice in his brother in-law's shop.

George W. Moglich would soon marry Caroline Martz, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Backup) Martz. A family from the Stark County area of Ohio that had set up farming near Fort Loramie, Ohio. He soon set up his own blacksmith shop on West Spring Street in St. Marys, not far from the canal.

George and Caroline would raise a large family of fifteen children, four daughters and eleven sons as follows; George A. (born 8-02-1855), Charles Francis (born 6-23-1857), Caroline (born 4-14-1859), William Joseph (born 4-27-1861), John Andrew (born 12-24-1862), Henry Edward (born 2-05-1865), Leopold Albert (1-20-1867), Thomas (born 12-26-1868), John (born 3-23-1871), Louis Herman (born 11-14-1873), Mary Elizabeth (born 4-08-1875), Fredrich Aloysious (born 9-09-1876), Katherine (born 11-14-1877), Henry Fredrich (born 4-27-1880) and Barbara Mary Margaret (born 8-15-1882). It is said that George and Caroline also raised four adopted children. Even with all this responsibility, George and Caroline would find time to be active in the community. Assisting in the founding of the first Catholic church in St. Marys. George also found time to follow the direction of William Kimpel as he dirrected “The St. Marys Brass Band”. George W. Moglich passed away early on the morning of February the 4th 1904 at the age of 77. (see death notice next page) Caroline would live to be 97 years old. Long enough to see many of her great grand children born.

George A. Makley was born to George and Caroline on 8-2-1855. He was an adventuresome individual who, along with a friend, set out on horse back in the 1870's to explore the wild west. A grandson, Clarence (Snuffy) Makley, remembers tales of his adventures.

It was while he was out west that he would meet and marry Elmina Unthank. They were married on 7-01-1879 in Colorado. Elmina was the daughter of Mordecai and Eliza Jane (Stanley) Unthank and was born in Chester, Iowa on 9-15-1858. After their marriage, they returned to St. Marys where George set up a blacksmith shop, located at the corner of South and Front Streets. Here they began their family. Losing two children to illness at an early age, they would raise four boys to maturity. Herbert (born 6-23-1884) married Dora Koehn, William F. (born 9-21-1884) married Katheryn Wilmes, Arther F. (born 9-21-1886) married Hulda Gershner and Frederick (born 7-11-1889) married Antoinette Fellows. Pearl Anthony was born 4-12-1893 and Mary Lorreta was born on 2-05-1897 but both died at an early age.

George A. Makley’s carriage shop was well known in Auglaize County as supplying reliable metal and farrier work along with some fine carriages. A description of his business can be found in the “homecoming Book” that was published in 1907 on businesses in St. Marys.

William Francis Makley was born to George A. and Elmina on 6-23-1884. In 1911 George would retire and turn his blacksmith shop over to William and his brother Herbert. William married Katheryn Wilmes (daughter of Jacob and Julie (Huffman) Wilmes of Upper Sandusky Ohio). They raised a family of seven, five boys and two girls. Clarence, (born 9-25-1911) George, (born 11-16-1912) William, (born 7-17-1914) Wilma, (born 5-22-1917) Carl, (born 8-24-1920) Rosemary, (born 10-21-1922) and Andrew, (born 10-6-1924).

Clarence can remember helping both his father, William, and his grandfather, George A., in the shop on Front and South Streets when he was just a boy. He was given the job of putting the nuts on the wheels of the carriages and other odd jobs around the shop. Clarence also remembers standing outside the shop with his grandfather, watching the first automobiles travel the streets of St. Marys. His grandfather predicted that “they will never replace the horse.”

It was around this time (1931-1932) the Clarence helped his father start the shop along side the family home at. Starting in the garage, the business would prosper. Soon, St. Marys again being served by yet another Makley blacksmith/welding shop. This business would grow into William Makley & Sons welding with all the sons working in the shop. The business would last for over fifty years until the retirement of Clarence, Carl and Andrew in 1989 when the shop was sold.
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Information contained in this family history was researched through birth and death records, wills, property records and other documents found in the court houses in Dayton-Montgomery County, Auglaize, Mercer and Shelby Counties. Information was also found in the extensive books and documents kept in the Genealogy sections of the public libraries of Dayton, St. Marys and Troy, Ohio as well as the Troy-Haner Cultural Center.