I have been attempting to research my ggg-grandfather, William H. Eakle, who was born on October 1, 1811, in Maryland. His parents were William Eakle (born August 11, 1786 and died June 12, 1851 in Funkstown, Maryland) and Elizabeth Colliflower (born August 19, 1787 and died April 21, 1850 in Funkstown, Maryland.)
I have been able to trace the Colliflower line back to 1610 to Jean deGorenflo; however, I have been unable to trace the Eakle line any further back than William, Sr. I would like to trace this line further back.
From family letters dated May 15, 1841, I can surmise William, Sr., had a brother named Joseph who married Polly as it speaks of Uncle Joseph Eakle and Aunt Polling living in Illinois—they had moved one month prior. The letter refers to something that looks like “Harbasgeâ€, so I don’t know if this is a town or a name (because of the condition of the letter.)
From a series of 1840’s letters, I have concluded William H.’s siblings were:
1. Washington S. Eakle, born about 1821 in Hagerstown, Maryland. He was living in Landcaster Bay and had only one living child in a letter dated September 17, 1848. Another child had died from the croup 8 months previous at the age of 10 months. Washington married Rae Ruth Foyer/Fogler
2. Elizabeth Eakle, who was the primary author of the family letters, written from Hagerstown. She was born in 1809 in Hagerstown and died in 1886. She married John R. Smeary.
3. George Colliflower Eakle, born 1810 and died November 15, 1896. He married Susan Dunbar and a Van Zaant (and possibly Rose Kuster). In a letter dated 1842-1843 George is living in the west with his family.
4. Leah Eakle, born February 23, 1816 in Maryland and died March 3, 1848 from child birth. I have a very sad letter written to William H. to by sister Elizabeth informing him of Leah’s death while visiting the family. Leah married Alexander Shafer.
5. Hiram P. Eakle, who married Marth Ann Ball. Hiram was living in Baltimore in 1848.
6. John P. Eakle, who married Ann Cornelia Wheritt. An 1857 letters from John to William was sent from Palmyra, Missouri.
7. Catherine Eakle who married John Cox and moved to Ogle County, Illinois.
8. Isabelle Eakle, who appears to be the youngest.
Most of these letters were written from Funkstown & Hagerstown, Frederick County, Maryland.
William married Eliza J. Pennell on December 21, 1841, in Shelby County, Missouri. In 1840, William H. was living alone in Shelby County. Letters to Eliza and William H. from Eliza’s family are written from Sharpsburg, Washington County, Maryland.
Any information to take this further back in my Eakle ancestry would be very much appreciated.