Carl Charles Mervard

   General Notes:

He was sent away as a young boy in Germany to live with and learn the trade of a butcher. The man was very mean to him and for that he would never have anything to do with his family back home, or would talk about them. After his parents died, he was sent a box containing things from his parents, and he sent it back without ever opening it. He came over to the States when he was 30 years old.
He first worked in a saloon in south Omaha and later in a butcher shop. Dad said he would put his thumb on the scale to overcharge people so he could save money to buy his own shop. (from Dwayne Blackman)
Around 1917, they moved to Council Bluffs. They later moved near Pacific Junction and farmed for 25 years. Charles Mervard married Antonetti in 1906 and were together until he died in 1942, at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA. He died of a coronary.
He is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery next to Antonetti and George Lyman Blackman.
He was a member of the Glenwood I.O.O.F. lodge and died just before his 71st birthday.
Everyone that knew him loved him as he was a very nice person. My Dad (Dwayne) worked on the farm for him from the summer of 1937 to the spring of 1938 after Charles broke his leg and couldn't work. Dad spend a lot of time with him and was the only one that could understand him very well as he spoke with an strong accent.
The following is from the Omaha City Directory:
1903 Mervard Chas saloon r 1102 s 13th
1904 Mervard Chas butcher r 1035 s 20th
1909 Mervard Chas cutter r 1035 s 20th
Up to now, everyone I have talked to and every thing I have read showed his name as Charles, Charlie, or Chas. Today (20Jul2000) I received a copy of his marriage certificate, and on it his name shows and is signed as Carl Mervard. It also has the name of his Father & Mother, except he did not know her maiden name. It also shows Germany as where he came from, and not Austria as it was said and listed. (Jeff Blackman)

   Events:

1. Emigration; 1901; Refused To Have Contact With His Family Members.

2. Occupation; 1900; Learned Butcher Shop Trade.

3. Occupation; 1903; Saloon Omaha, Nebraska.

4. Occupation; 1904; Butcher Omaha, Nebraska.

5. Occupation; 1909; Cutter Omaha, Nebraska.

6. Residence; 1903; 1102 S 13Th Omaha, Nebraska.

7. Residence; 1904; 1035 S 20Th Omaha, Nebraska.

8. Residence; 1909; 1035 S 20Th Omaha, Nebraska.

9. Residence; 1917; Council Bluffs, Iowa.

10. Lodge; Ioof Lodge Glenwood, Iowa.

   Marriage Information:

Carl married Antonetti Houver, daughter of William Mckendry Houver and Elizabeth Walker, on 6 Sep 1906 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. (Antonetti Houver was born on 20 May 1860 in Chillicothe, Wapello County, Iowa and died on 22 Jan 1959 in Glenwood, Mills County, Iowa.)

   Marriage Notes:

On the Marriage Certificate (District Court of Pottawattamie County, Iowa #16201), her age was listed as 35 and upwards. On the Register of Marriages, it is listed as 34 years on next birthday. Very interesting, women also lied about their ages way back then. They were married by Rev. Henry DeLong.