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Casper “Gaspard” Markle

Birth
Trappe, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
15 Sep 1819 (aged 88–89)
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial
Burial Details Unknown Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Gaspard was born in Berks County in 1730, and married Elizabeth Grim, and in 1770 removed to Westmoreland County. Shortly afterwards his wife died, and he returned to Berks County, where he married Mary Roadarmel, whom he brought to his home in this county. His residence here was the post of refuge to which the settlers fled for succor and safety. He and Judge Jacob Painter entered large tracts of land that extended several miles up and down Sewickley Creek.
Gaspard Markle in 1772 erected a grist-mill on Sewickley, which traverses his ancient homestead. Here was made some of the first flour manufactured west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was transported in flat-boats by Jacob Yoder, a citizen of Reading, to New Orleans. All the salt used was transported by the Markles (Gaspard's sons) from Eastern cities on pack-horses, the intervening country being an almost unbroken forest and impassable with wagons. Of course taverns and habitations, if any, were few and far between, and the caravans of packers were compelled to carry with them from home the necessary provender for the whole journey. But often the weary packer was turned out to graze on the mountains, or in the rich valleys which diversified and divided them, while the rider himself reposed under the shadows of the overhanging forest. His son, Gen. Joseph Markle, was born Feb. 15, 1777, and was the most daring of all the packers over the mountains.
Gaspard was born in Berks County in 1730, and married Elizabeth Grim, and in 1770 removed to Westmoreland County. Shortly afterwards his wife died, and he returned to Berks County, where he married Mary Roadarmel, whom he brought to his home in this county. His residence here was the post of refuge to which the settlers fled for succor and safety. He and Judge Jacob Painter entered large tracts of land that extended several miles up and down Sewickley Creek.
Gaspard Markle in 1772 erected a grist-mill on Sewickley, which traverses his ancient homestead. Here was made some of the first flour manufactured west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was transported in flat-boats by Jacob Yoder, a citizen of Reading, to New Orleans. All the salt used was transported by the Markles (Gaspard's sons) from Eastern cities on pack-horses, the intervening country being an almost unbroken forest and impassable with wagons. Of course taverns and habitations, if any, were few and far between, and the caravans of packers were compelled to carry with them from home the necessary provender for the whole journey. But often the weary packer was turned out to graze on the mountains, or in the rich valleys which diversified and divided them, while the rider himself reposed under the shadows of the overhanging forest. His son, Gen. Joseph Markle, was born Feb. 15, 1777, and was the most daring of all the packers over the mountains.

Gravesite Details

He married in Berks (est. 1752), but was born in Trappe, PA



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