Merle liked to provide for his family, but his plans didn't always meet his family's approval. He quit school in his junior year after a fight with his father, and Merle moved to Chicago on his own for a year. He returned home with a brand new radio and a promise to finish high school. Merle went to work at a local department store in Lima. The next thing he brought home was a Model T Ford. Until then, the family's transportation had been horse and buggy. Merle decided to teach his father how to drive, so they took the Ford out into a pasture and let the fun begin. The first driving lesson ended with one of the front wheels wedged in the ground cellar entrance.
Merle graduated high school in 1924. He gave his Model T to his father and bought a new 1925 Buick with custom equipment. He had a generous nature, and bought his family several items before moving away. Merle settled in Wyandotte, Michigan, with a vivacious young woman named Sylvia Violet. Merle was working at a variety store and made enough money to entertain her, but when they married, the money for social frivolities went to paying the bills, and Merle could no longer provide the high-life Sylvia enjoyed. After their divorce, Merle returned to Chicago. He worked at Goldblatt's department store, Ruby Five and Dime store, and the Rand McNally Chicago store. He made $100 a week, and his family thought he was rich.
Merle met Alice Kempe in Chicago, and in June of 1939 they were married. He helped pay off her father's mortgage and they moved to Mayville, Wisconsin, where Merle set up his own supply warehouse for various area stores. He called the business L&B Wholesale, named after his daughters Lollie and Bonnie. He and Alice ran the business out of their basement, and Merle bought a supply truck to service the route.
In the mid 1950's, after his daughter Laurie was born, Merle developed glomerulonephritis, a complication of scarlet fever. At the time treatment was not available and Merle succumbed to kidney disease, perishing at his home in 1956. A few years later in 1960 dialysis treatment was in use.
After his death, his mother Lillie, who took his death very hard, revealed that Merle was the one who bought her a beautiful new dining room set, and kept it a secret between them. No one could figure out where it came from or how Lillie could afford it.
Merle's wholesale business continued to support his family after his death. Alice remarried widower James Will and they carried on L&B until their retirement in the 1970's.
Merle graduated high school in 1924. He gave his Model T to his father and bought a new 1925 Buick with custom equipment. He had a generous nature, and bought his family several items before moving away. Merle settled in Wyandotte, Michigan, with a vivacious young woman named Sylvia Violet. Merle was working at a variety store and made enough money to entertain her, but when they married, the money for social frivolities went to paying the bills, and Merle could no longer provide the high-life Sylvia enjoyed. After their divorce, Merle returned to Chicago. He worked at Goldblatt's department store, Ruby Five and Dime store, and the Rand McNally Chicago store. He made $100 a week, and his family thought he was rich.
Merle met Alice Kempe in Chicago, and in June of 1939 they were married. He helped pay off her father's mortgage and they moved to Mayville, Wisconsin, where Merle set up his own supply warehouse for various area stores. He called the business L&B Wholesale, named after his daughters Lollie and Bonnie. He and Alice ran the business out of their basement, and Merle bought a supply truck to service the route.
In the mid 1950's, after his daughter Laurie was born, Merle developed glomerulonephritis, a complication of scarlet fever. At the time treatment was not available and Merle succumbed to kidney disease, perishing at his home in 1956. A few years later in 1960 dialysis treatment was in use.
After his death, his mother Lillie, who took his death very hard, revealed that Merle was the one who bought her a beautiful new dining room set, and kept it a secret between them. No one could figure out where it came from or how Lillie could afford it.
Merle's wholesale business continued to support his family after his death. Alice remarried widower James Will and they carried on L&B until their retirement in the 1970's.
Merle liked to provide for his family, but his plans didn't always meet his family's approval. He quit school in his junior year after a fight with his father, and Merle moved to Chicago on his own for a year. He returned home with a brand new radio and a promise to finish high school. Merle went to work at a local department store in Lima. The next thing he brought home was a Model T Ford. Until then, the family's transportation had been horse and buggy. Merle decided to teach his father how to drive, so they took the Ford out into a pasture and let the fun begin. The first driving lesson ended with one of the front wheels wedged in the ground cellar entrance.
Merle graduated high school in 1924. He gave his Model T to his father and bought a new 1925 Buick with custom equipment. He had a generous nature, and bought his family several items before moving away. Merle settled in Wyandotte, Michigan, with a vivacious young woman named Sylvia Violet. Merle was working at a variety store and made enough money to entertain her, but when they married, the money for social frivolities went to paying the bills, and Merle could no longer provide the high-life Sylvia enjoyed. After their divorce, Merle returned to Chicago. He worked at Goldblatt's department store, Ruby Five and Dime store, and the Rand McNally Chicago store. He made $100 a week, and his family thought he was rich.
Merle met Alice Kempe in Chicago, and in June of 1939 they were married. He helped pay off her father's mortgage and they moved to Mayville, Wisconsin, where Merle set up his own supply warehouse for various area stores. He called the business L&B Wholesale, named after his daughters Lollie and Bonnie. He and Alice ran the business out of their basement, and Merle bought a supply truck to service the route.
In the mid 1950's, after his daughter Laurie was born, Merle developed glomerulonephritis, a complication of scarlet fever. At the time treatment was not available and Merle succumbed to kidney disease, perishing at his home in 1956. A few years later in 1960 dialysis treatment was in use.
After his death, his mother Lillie, who took his death very hard, revealed that Merle was the one who bought her a beautiful new dining room set, and kept it a secret between them. No one could figure out where it came from or how Lillie could afford it.
Merle's wholesale business continued to support his family after his death. Alice remarried widower James Will and they carried on L&B until their retirement in the 1970's.
Merle graduated high school in 1924. He gave his Model T to his father and bought a new 1925 Buick with custom equipment. He had a generous nature, and bought his family several items before moving away. Merle settled in Wyandotte, Michigan, with a vivacious young woman named Sylvia Violet. Merle was working at a variety store and made enough money to entertain her, but when they married, the money for social frivolities went to paying the bills, and Merle could no longer provide the high-life Sylvia enjoyed. After their divorce, Merle returned to Chicago. He worked at Goldblatt's department store, Ruby Five and Dime store, and the Rand McNally Chicago store. He made $100 a week, and his family thought he was rich.
Merle met Alice Kempe in Chicago, and in June of 1939 they were married. He helped pay off her father's mortgage and they moved to Mayville, Wisconsin, where Merle set up his own supply warehouse for various area stores. He called the business L&B Wholesale, named after his daughters Lollie and Bonnie. He and Alice ran the business out of their basement, and Merle bought a supply truck to service the route.
In the mid 1950's, after his daughter Laurie was born, Merle developed glomerulonephritis, a complication of scarlet fever. At the time treatment was not available and Merle succumbed to kidney disease, perishing at his home in 1956. A few years later in 1960 dialysis treatment was in use.
After his death, his mother Lillie, who took his death very hard, revealed that Merle was the one who bought her a beautiful new dining room set, and kept it a secret between them. No one could figure out where it came from or how Lillie could afford it.
Merle's wholesale business continued to support his family after his death. Alice remarried widower James Will and they carried on L&B until their retirement in the 1970's.
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