The Journey

This script was originally written as the 3rd in the series of St. George Maronite Catholic Church presentations, Roots and Blossoms authored by Richard J. Karam in 1996. Updates and revisions compiled in 2025 by Ann Daly Karam. The information contained here is based on written records and oral accounts of the descendants of Emjayel, Yousef, and Hanna Merhe.

ROOTS OF THE

EMJAYEL (MICHAEL) MERHE (MERY)

YOUSEF (JOSEPH) MERHE (MERY)

HANNA (JOHN) MERHE (MERY)

FAMILIES

The patriarchs of San Antonio’s “Mery-Karam” family, the largest among the St. George Maronite Church community and the Lebanese community of San Antonio, originate from a small mountain village in the Aley district of Lebanon, known as Kfar Omai (Alt. Sp.: Kfar Amay or Kfarmai.)  This village is located approximately 15 miles east of Beirut high in the Shouf Mountains. 

Jadune El-Fahil was born in Aley in approximately 1792; he sired a son whom he named “Merhe Jadune”, from whence the family name “Mery” is derived. (Alt. sp.: Mehre.)

Merhe had three sons, Yousef (Joseph), Emjayel (Michael), and Hanna (John), all born and raised in Kfar Omai, in the 1840’s or 1850’s, approximately 170 years ago. These three sons of Merhe never left Lebanon, but their descendants planted the seeds of the Mery family dynasty in San Antonio, Texas. It was Merhe’s grandchildren who left Lebanon for America in the early 1900’s, to settle first in Mexico and then later in the state of Texas. 

Upon their entry into Mexico, the family name was changed from “Merhe” to Mery. As we will see, several Karam families were also from Kfar Omai, and the intermarriage of the Mery’s with the Karams was more than coincidental, since at least three of the Mery brothers married Karam girls. All of the Yousef (Joseph) Merhe sons, except for Amin, married Karam women. Since Karim’s wife was a Karam whom he married in Lebanon, it is presumed that the Karams who were married into the Mery family were also from Kfar Omai who most probably knew each other before migrating to America. Hence, in speaking of the Mery dynasty of San Antonio, Texas, one must also include the hyphen to say the Mery-Karam dynasty. 

The San Antonio Mery-Karam families are descendants of Michael and Joseph Merhe. Hanna’s (John’s) descendants also migrated to Mexico but either stayed in Saltillo, Mexico to raise their families, or moved to Mexican-American border towns, especially McAllen, Texas.

 

Descendants of Emjayel (Michael) Merhe

Emjayel (Michael), who was born in the 1840’s in Kfar Omai, married a young village girl by the name of Rachi di Ana. They had four children:

1. Shikri Michael
2. Aliah
3. Susan
4. Hanee

Shikri Michael Merhe (son of Emjayel Merhe)

In 1901 Shikri Michael (Elias Miguel) Merhe married Rosie Abdo Karam.  They sired their first son, Louis (Elias) Shikri, who was born on March 25, 1903 in Kfar Omai. Rosie Abdo Karam was the daughter of “Abdo Merhe Karam” of Kfar Omai.  After Rosie’s mother died, Abdo Merhe Karam married Haige (Alt. sp.: Haggi, Hage, Hajge) Marina Ashmore in 1885 and they had five children, some of whom, as we will see, also married into the Mery family (Rosie’s half-sister Sada Karam later married Shikri Michael’s cousin Kalil Mery.)

  In approximately 1910 Shikri, at the age of 27 years, his wife Rosie, and their son Louis, age 7, together with Shikri’s sister Aliah immigrated to Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico where they took up residence. While in Saltillo, Shikri and Rosie gave birth to their second son, Paul Karam Mery, born on October 29, 1912. By 1915 the Shikri Michael Mery family moved to San Antonio, Texas where a third son, Anthony (Tony), was born on September 11, 1915. Three years later Shikri and Rosie gave birth to their only daughter, Mary, on September 2, 1918 in San Antonio, Texas.

Shikri then sent for his sister, Susan, (born on February 8, 1900) to come to San Antonio to live with his family. Susan was 18 years old when she came to San Antonio, Texas in 1918. It was at her brother’s home that Susan met Shikri’s friend, Najeeb Said Rizik, whom she later married. Rosie died Sept. 12, 1943 and Shikri died May 17, 1951, both in San Antonio, Texas.

Shikri Mery and Rosie Abdo Karam had 4 children, and 14 grandchildren. 

Aliah Mery (daughter of Emjayel Merhe)

The second born, Aliah Mery married Wadeeh Nassif. After he passed away, Aliah moved to Lockhart, Texas and married Daviz Rizk. Aliah and Daviz had no children and she died in Lockhart, Texas.

Susan Mery (daughter of Emjayel Merhe)

The third born, Susan Mery born on February 8, 1900, and married on August 15, 1921 to Najeeb Said Rizik (who was born in Jezzine, Lebanon on February 5, 1891.)  They met in San Antonio in 1918 and married there. 

Najeeb Rizik and Susan Mery had 4 children and 2 grandchildren.

Hanee (daughter of Emjayel Merhe)

The last child of Emjayel Mery was Hanee, who never left Lebanon. She may have had a child but no name is known.

Descendants of Yousef “Joseph” Merhe

Yousef Merhe was born in Kfar Omai, Lebanon in approximately 1841. He married Marche Fadul who was born in 1856 and they had seven sons, all born in Kfar Omai, Lebanon. The first son, Karim (Alt. sp.: Carim), was born on February 25, 1874; Amin on October 2, 1879; Kalil on November 22, 1889. The other sons were Salim, Mirsched, Gerious, and a second son who was also named Gerious (Alt. sp.:Jeryes), after the first one died.

Yousef and Marche had seven sons:

1. Karim (Carim) Joseph Mery
2. Amin Joseph Mery
3. Salim Joseph Mery died in an explosion in Mexico
4. Kalil Joseph Mery
5. Marched Mery
6. Gerious Mery died as a child
7. Jeryes (Gerious) Yousef Mery Abi-Moussa

Karim (Carim) Joseph Merhe (son of Yousef Merhe)

Karim lived with his family in Kfar Omai, Lebanon until, in approximately 1900, Karim left to go to South America at the age of 26 years. He traveled to Uruguay, Paraguay and then to Argentina or Brazil. Karim worked in South America long enough to earn enough money to take back to Lebanon with him. In approximately 1905, Karim returned to Lebanon and built a house for his parents and brothers. Then, at the age of 31, he married Zaizaf Karam (Alt. sp.: Zaizaaf)  and began his family. (Zaizaf’s brother was Nasri Karam (Alt. sp.: Nasre, Nazri), the father of Ralph and Solomon Karam.)

Karim’s younger brothers Amin, Salim, and Kalil left Lebanon in approximately 1909 at ages of 30 years, 24 years and 20 years respectively. They immigrated to Mexico where they entered through the port of Vera Cruz, and traveled to Saltillo where they settled.

Meanwhile, Karim and Zaizaf remained in Lebanon and gave birth to three children; Yousef, Abdo and Elias. Karim opened a coffee and argileh shop. The customers would visit the shop, smoke the argileh and depart with a fond “Shukran” but no pay. After a while Karim became tired of his meager existence since by then he had three children. Consequently, in approximately 1910, Karim immigrated to Mexico with his wife Zaizaf and their three sons, to join his brothers Amin, Salim and Kalil in Saltillo, Mexico. At that time Karim was 36 years of age, Amin 31 years of age, Salim, approximately 25 years of age, and Kalil approximately 21 years of age. Amin, Salim and Kalil were still single.

During this period of time Mexico was experiencing turmoil and conflict. Mexico was under the rule of the dictator Portfirio Diaz from 1877 through 1911. In 1909, Francisco Madero took arms against the dictator and was joined in the fight by Pancho Villa, the revolutionary. It wasn’t until June of 1914 that Pancho Villa together with Venustiano Carranza won a decisive victory over the Mexican general, Victoriano Huerta, and became the victorious leader of the Mexican revolution. 

During the revolution, the Mery brothers went into the manufacturing business in Saltillo, Mexico, producing military clothing used by the Mexican army. Kalil, the youngest brother, had learned to be a tailor (and a good one, we are told). He therefore had an important role in the business while the other brothers probably helped in the business and became salesmen for the clothing they were making. 

One day in 1912, Salim Mery and a cousin, Tanous Mery (the youngest son of Hanna Merhe, brother to Emjayel and Yousef Merhe) had gone to the railroad station to inquire when the train would arrive. They would customarily sell their goods to the arriving military troops. While at the railroad station speaking to the stationmaster, Pancho Villa’s troops dynamited the railroad station and the arriving trains, causing many casualties, including the death of Salim and Tanous. 

After this event, Tanous’ older brother Najeeb (Juan) Mery sold his grocery store and purchased a hotel by the name of “Hotel Zaragoza” on Aldama Street in Saltillo, Mexico, which he operated. In 1925 Najeeb sold this hotel and moved to McAllen, Texas. 

After the death of Salim more tragedy would befall the family when Karim and Zaizaf lost their two children, Abdo and Elias at the ages of 5 years and 4 years, to typhoid fever. 

As a result of these tragedies and the unstable economic conditions in Mexico, Karim and his family, along with his brother Kalil, still single, left Mexico and settled in San Antonio, Texas in the year 1914. While in San Antonio, Karim and Zaizaf gave birth to George (Naim), born June 9, 1913; Abraham (Sam) born January 9, 1920; Anthony (Chicralla) born on January 9, 1923; and Joseph (Joe) born on May 8, 1925.

In 1914 when Karim and his family and younger brother Kalil immigrated to San Antonio, Texas, they started a combination fruit and ice cream stand on Alamo Street. (Karim’s family still has a little chair used at the ice cream stand.)  Both families lived in rented homes on Leona Street. After a period of time, they closed the fruit and ice cream stand and started peddling produce by horse and buggy.

Karim and Zaizaf suffered yet another tragedy in July of 1925. Yousef, their eldest son, along with his younger brother Naim and a helper were delivering watermelons to a customer when an army vehicle, driven by a drunk soldier, hit and killed Yousef. Fortunately, Naim and the helper were spared. After this incident, Zaizaf never ate watermelon again. By this time, Karim and Zaizaf had lost three sons since immigrating to America.

Following the death of Yousef, Zaizaf wanted to move away from San Antonio. Karim purchased a used Model-T Ford and the family moved to McAllen where both Karim and Zaizaf, assisted by their son Naim, started peddling dry goods. Their other son Sam worked with his Uncle Amin in McAllen.

In 1935 Zaizaf became very ill and died, leaving her husband and six surviving children, ranging from 10 to 22 years of age. Before she died, she asked her eldest son, Naim, to help Karim take care of his brothers and sisters. Malake, the eldest daughter, then 17, had to quit high school to help with the cooking and other housekeeping chores. Karim and his family opened a grocery business on 17th Street, and they lived in back of the store. The store was tended by Karim and family, while Naim continued to peddle dry goods. Naim eventually opened a store in Raymondville, Texas.  During the busy cotton season in the valley, the entire family helped with the business and due to their success, they were able to open additional stores in Elsa and La Mesa, Texas.

Karim and Zaizaf had 9 children and 16 grandchildren. 

Abdo Merhe Karam & Haige Ashmore Karam, and their children, Said & Sada Karam

Because the Lebanese immigrants tended to gravitate toward each other, especially if they are related or from the same Lebanese village, it may have been in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico where the Mery’s met up with Haige Ashmore Karam, widow of Abdo Merhe Karam of Lebanon, and her children, Said and Sada Karam. Haige Ashmore was born in Lebanon in 1862. She married in Lebanon to a widower, Abdo Merhe Karam, who had a 5-year-old daughter by the name of Rosie Abdo Karam, born on May 15, 1885. Rosie Abdo Karam would eventually marry Shikri Michael Mery in Lebanon.

Haige and Abdo Merhe Karam had five children born in Lebanon: Merhe (Alt. sp.: Mery) who died at age 2; Said; Izmerod, who died when she was a baby in Lebanon; Sada; and Liez. After her husband’s death, Haige became very depressed and to begin a new life, immigrated to Mexico with her daughter Sada in 1905, temporarily leaving behind her son Said in Lebanon. Haige and her daughter Sada settled in Saltillo, Mexico for a period of eight years, during which time Haige worked selling dry goods. 

In 1907 her son Said, after marrying his first cousin, Malvina Karam in Lebanon, immigrated to Mexico and four months later his wife Malvina followed him. The Karam family joined the Mery brothers in Saltillo. (Malvina’s sister Salimee later married Jeryes Mery Abi-Moussa in Lebanon.)

The Mery brothers knew the Karam family quite well. Kalil and Said became best friends. It was a known fact that prior to Salim’s death, Sada was especially fond of him. In 1913 Haige and her daughter Sada left Mexico and initially traveled to Greenville, Texas. Haige had relatives there from her great-grandfather, Farris Ashmore. The son Farris married and had two children, Tony and Lillie. Tony Ashmore never married, however Lillie married Joe Ashmore Sr. of Dallas, Texas and they had three children: Joe, Frank, and Jean. 

Meanwhile, Haige’s son Said and his wife, Malvina had moved to San Antonio with their daughter, Meladdie “Carrie” Karam, born on December 22, 1912, in Saltillo. Haige and Sada joined them there, from Greenville.

It is said that in her younger days Haige (Sada’s mother) suffered an episode of tearing eyes making it impossible for her to see. Blinded, she requested to be taken to another town to visit the chapel of Our Lady and on her way back from this difficult trip she was able to see. The doctors were amazed at her condition after her visit and called it no less than a miracle.

Said and Malvina would have three children and 27 grandchildren. 

Amin Joseph Merhe (son of Yousef Merhe)

When Karim and Kalil came to San Antonio, Texas in 1914, Amin Joseph Mery, still single, remained in Mexico for about 8 years before he joined his brothers in the United States.  While in Mexico Amin probably peddled dry goods and produce in Saltillo and small towns in the vicinity, and in the neighboring state of Zacatecas, where other relatives and friends lived. It was probably in Saltillo that he also set up a stand in the local “mercados”. 

Amin, at the age of 36 years, met and married Esperanza Emilia Matar who was born in Saltillo on February 3, 1904. Esperanza, a quiet and shy young lady, was the eldest of 12 children born in Mexico, an elder sibling being born in Lebanon prior to her parents’ immigration to Mexico, and who died in Lebanon. Esperanza’s parents were Hanna (Juan) Salvador Matar, born at about 1874 and Yamile (Emilia) Fadul de Matar, born in 1899, in Tannourine, Lebanon. The Matar family most probably settled around Saltillo, Mexico and eventually settled down in Durango, Durango, Mexico. 

Amin and Esperanza married on November 29, 1922, in the Concepcion Del Oro, Zacatecas, Mexico, a small village between Saltillo and Durango. They remained in Mexico almost a year before they immigrated to McAllen, Texas on August 14, 1923.  Amin and Esperanza had four children: John, Francis, Cecilia and Gerious. 

In McAllen, Amin and Esperanza opened a grocery store, which Esperanza tended while Amin peddled their merchandise, including dry goods items and notions, in the many small towns in the valley. Sam Mery, Karim’s son, helped his uncle Amin and on occasions Amin would take his wife, Esperanza, and the children, John, Frank and Cecilia with him to the little towns where he peddled his wares. Esperanza and Amin would take a “zahwadee” along and they would then stop and picnic somewhere out in the country. 

Shortly after Gerious was born in 1940 they closed the grocery store while Amin continued his peddling business. Eventually Amin opened a dry goods store in McAllen, Texas and during cotton season a small store in Alamo, Texas. There were many Lebanese families in the Texas valley and they formed “The Lebanese American Society of McAllen.”  Amin was the president of this society in 1942 when the first anniversary of Lebanon’s independence was celebrated.

Around that time, World War II started and patriotism was high. John volunteered for the U.S. Navy on July 16, 1943 (and served through March, 1946). In about April 1944, Frank also volunteered for the U.S. Navy (and served through September 5, 1946). During the years that John and Frank were in the service, Amin was not able to drive a vehicle to peddle his goods because of his poor health. He remained at the dry goods store to work, assisted by Esperanza and Cecilia after school and on weekends. 

When John and Frank returned from the war they helped in the family business as much as possible, even though business was not as good as it had been. Around 1948 or 1949, the McAllen store was closed and a new store was opened in April 1948 in Hargill, Texas, about 20 miles from McAllen. Amin and John continued peddling while Frank ran the store in Hargill. On weekends the whole family would work at the Hargill dry goods store. 

Since neither the business climate in the valley nor Amin’s health improved, it was decided to close the Hargill store on September 10, 1949. John and Frank were the first to move to San Antonio to find work and in October 1950, Amin, Esperanza, Cecilia and Gerious, then 10 years old, followed.

Amin Joseph Mery died on August 18, 1969 and his wife, Esperanza Emilia Matar Mery died on May 26, 1974, both in San Antonio, Texas. 

Amin and Esperanza had 4 children, and 22 grandchildren.

Kalil Joseph Merhe (son of Yousef Merhe)

Kalil would meet his wife through his good friend Said. Said Karam was so fond of Kalil that he persuaded his sister Sada that Kalil would make a great husband. Kalil arrived in San Antonio from Mexico in 1914. On July 9, 1916 Sada married Kalil Joseph Mery at the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas.

Upon the arrival to San Antonio from Mexico, Kalil and his older brother Karim started a fruit/ice cream stand on Alamo Street. At the time both families lived in rented homes on Leona Street in San Antonio. After they closed the stand, Kalil started peddling dry goods. Sada and Kalil’s cousin Aliah also peddled dry goods in a horse and buggy, and they did quite well. Although Sada did not read or write well, she proved to be a great asset to Kalil because she had a good business mind and was able to figure math – costs, expenses, and percentages – all in her head. Kalil and Sada gave birth to Aziz, Azizi, and Amira, all born in San Antonio. In 1922 Kalil and Sada moved to McAllen, Texas where their other five children were born: Elvira, Maria, Janie, George and Edward. 

In McAllen, Kalil opened a dry goods store that Sada managed while Kalil peddled on the side. The store was eventually converted to a grocery store. Wanting to make a better living, Kalil opened a candy factory adjacent to the store. All of his children helped him to make the candy… their specialty was peanut brittle which was peddled to drug stores.

In 1934 Kalil and family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. There they opened a meat market and grocery store on Leopard Street in front of the Buhidar’s store. After approximately 1-1½ years in the business, this store was closed in late 1935 to return to San Antonio. Upon their return to San Antonio, Texas, Kalil and Sada opened another grocery store on the corner of Martin and Navidad Streets which Sada ran while Kalil went to work for Curtis Candy Company selling to stores on the west side. 

In 1939, the grocery store was converted to Pan-Tex Manufacturing Co. by Kalil’s eldest son, Aziz, where Kalil’s talents as a tailor were once again put to use. Slacks and shirts of the same fabric and color were the company’s specialty and they picked up customers such as J.C. Penney, C.R. Anthony in the valley, and the U.S. government. While Kalil and Sada were running the factory, Aziz also started a produce route and was servicing a group of prominent establishments such as S.A. Country Club, Tip-Top Cafe, and Earl Abel’s restaurant. 

In 1941 Aziz was drafted into the armed services with the advent of World War II, and the Pan-Tex Manufacturing Co. store had to be closed. Kalil and George, then 13 years old, took over the Aziz’s produce route until he returned from the war.

After the war, Kalil went to work at the N. Sinkin factory and also at Southwest Mercantile Co., selling ladies dresses. Between 1947 and 1949, the family also opened different dry goods stores during cotton season at Lubbock, La Mesa, and San Perlita, Texas.

In the year 1944, the family moved to 2404 Buena Vista in San Antonio. They lived at that address until 1951 when they moved to 1216 Bandera Road. In 1964, Kalil started working at the Consolidated Produce Company at the terminal market until he retired. 

Kalil and Sada along with their children and friends celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1966 at the then-Seven Oaks Hotel. They were fortunate to also celebrate their 60th anniversary at the St. George Maronite center in 1976. At this celebration, to the delight of everyone, their grandchildren put on a program imitating their grandparents.

Sada passed away in San Antonio on July 23, 1982, and Kalil passed away at the age of 98 in San Antonio on May 14, 1988.

Kalil and Sada had 10 children, 2 of whom died: a son, Nazre, at the age 10 months and a daughter, Juanita, at birth. They had 41 grandchildren.

Jeryes (Gerious) Yousef Merhe (Abi-Moussa) (son of Yousef Merhe)

The fifth and sixth children of Yousef and Marche Merhe died while in Lebanon. The 7th child, Gerious (Jeryes), married Salimee Karam (the sister of Malvina Karam) and they settled in Kfar Omai, Lebanon. Gerious (Jeryes) and his family go by the last name of Abi-Moussa as the entire family there is presently known. 

Jeryes and Salimee Abi-Moussa had 7 children, and 17 grandchildren.

Even though Jeryes remained in Lebanon, the brothers kept in touch over the years through their letters. On August 5, 1962, the remaining brothers Amin and Kalil were reunited after 53 years when Jeryes came to visit, as Kalil’s guest. It was a happy reunion for the brothers and all the families here finally met their “Ammo Jeryes “. After Jeryes returned to Lebanon, later on in 1964, Kalil visited Lebanon and met all of his brother’s family. Amin was never able to return to visit his beloved homeland.

Descendants of Hanna (Juan) Merhe

Hanna (Juan) Merhe married and settled in Kfar Omai, Lebanon. 

Hanna married Barbara Nacif, and they had three children:

1. Najeeb Juan Mery-Nacif
2. Felipe Juan Mery-Nacif
3. Tanous (Antonio) Juan Mery-Nacif 

All three children immigrated to Mexico.

Najeeb Juan Mery-Nacif

Najeeb Mery-Nacif married Adele Musa. They had 4 children, and 5 grandchildren. 

Felipe Juan Mery-Nacif

Felipe Juan Mery-Nacif married Maria El Jach and lived in Saltillo, Mexico. They had 10 children, and 45 grandchildren.

Tanous (Antonio) Juan Mery-Nacif

Tanous Mery-Nacif died 1912 in the same railway explosion that killed his cousin, Salim Mery.