Jeff Merkley
official U.S. Senate photo of Jeff Merkley, c. 2017
Birth Name: Jeffrey/Jeffery Alan Merkley
Place of Birth: Myrtle Creek, Oregon, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 24, 1956
Ethnicity: English, German, Dutch, Irish, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, distant French Huguenot and Cornish, possibly other
Jeff Merkley is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been a U.S. Senator from Oregon, since January 3, 2009. He was previously the 64th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, from January 3, 2007 to January 2, 2009.
Jeff is the son of Betty Lou (Collins) and Darrell Philip Merkley. He is married to Mary Sorteberg, with whom he has two children.
He is descended from LDS pioneers.
Jeff’s patrilineal line can be traced to his great-great-great-great-grandfather, Jacob Johann Merkley, who was born, c. 1747, in Durlach, Karlsruhe, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, and to Jacob’s wife, Maria Shaver/Schaeffer.
Jeff’s paternal grandfather was Lavern Mathias Merkley (the son of Christopher Amos Merkley and Lydia/Lidia Lavette Allred). Lavern was born in Idaho. Christopher was the son of Christopher Merkley, who was born in Dundas, Williamsburg, Stormont, Ontario, Canada, and of Xarissa Fairbanks. Lydia was the daughter of William Moore Allred and Orissa Angela Bates.
Jeff’s paternal grandmother was Daisy Annie Hurley (the daughter of John William Hurley and Mary Ann Hougham). Daisy was born in Caliope, Queensland, Australia. John was the son of William Hurley. Jeff’s great-grandmother Mary Ann was English, and was the daughter of Henry Hougham and Ann Phillis Knight, from Thanet District, Kent, England.
Jeff’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Monroe Collins (the son of Thomas David Collins and Lovie Jane Stamper). Jeff’s grandfather Thomas was born in Missouri. Jeff’s great-grandfather Thomas was the son of James Thomas Collins and Louisa Jane Harris. Lovie was the daughter of William Monroe Stamper and Rebecca Elizabeth Pearson.
Jeff’s maternal grandmother was Leona Malinda Cullison (the daughter of Ransom Reynaldo “Rhine” Cullison and Rosa Jane Showalter). Leona was born in Kansas. Ransom was the son of Isaac Cullison and Louisa Smith. Rosa was the daughter of Aaron David Showalter and Rebecca Jane Hutson.
Sources: Genealogies of Jeff Merkley (focusing on his father’s side) – http://freepages.rootsweb.com
https://www.geni.com
Jeff’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Monroe Collins (the son of Thomas David Collins and Lovie Jane Stamper). Jeff’s grandfather Thomas was born in Missouri. Jeff’s great-grandfather Thomas was the son of James Thomas Collins and Louisa Jane Harris. Lovie was the daughter of William Monroe Stamper and Rebecca Elizabeth Pearson.
Jeff’s maternal grandmother was Leona Malinda Cullison (the daughter of Ransom Reynaldo “Rhine” Cullison and Rosa Jane Showalter). Leona was born in Kansas. Ransom was the son of Isaac Cullison and Louisa Smith. Rosa was the daughter of Aaron David Showalter and Rebecca Jane Hutson.