From the category archives:

Schrock-Birkey Blog

New Immigrant Day Details Available

March 6, 2010

Details of the June 18, Friday evening kickoff event of Schrock Immigrant Day and Reunion have been added at http://birkey.org/2009/08/20/schrock-immigrant-day-and-family-reunion.

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Bible of Daniel Zehr (1849 – 1942)

February 17, 2010

Peter Zehr (1818 – 1886) had four sons that grew to maturity. All four–Daniel, Peter, David, Samuel–were ordained to the ministry. Daniel’s Bible is archived at the Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center in Metamora.
Daniel’s obituary includes, “He was ordained to the ministry in 1895 [by Bishop John Smith]at the Goodfield [Illinois] Mennonite Church, in which capacity [...]

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Family Tree Update

February 13, 2010

Today the Family Tree was updated and now contains 11,656 names. A few corrections were made and quite a few new Joseph and Marie Neuhauser Schrag descendants added.
Two more articles are now available: one is the story of Amos and Bertha Birkey Hieser of Fisher, Illinois, and the other tells about the ancestry and ministry [...]

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Amos and Bertha: A Tribute by a Niece

February 13, 2010

by Ruth Hieser Oyer

Condensed and adapted by Donna Birkey from an unpublished
manuscript archived at East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher, IL.
Originally published in the Spring 2008 issue (Vol. XXXV, No. 1)
Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly  (http://www.imhgs.org)
(Used with permission of original publisher)

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After a four-year courtship, Amos Hieser and Bertha Birkey (shown at left years later [...]

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Burial Site of Andrew Schrock, Sr. (1804-1855)

January 23, 2010

At the links you will find a map of Washington, Tazewell Co., IL, showing the location and  photo of Guth Cemetery. Buried there is Andrew Schrock, Sr., third son of Joseph and Maria Neuhauser Schrag. Andrew died August 5, 1855 of cholera. Andrew’s wife, Anna Oyer, was a sister to Peter Guth’s wife, Susanna Oyer.

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Family Tree Update

January 23, 2010

Today the Family Tree section of The Schrock Birkey Connection has been updated. The tree now contains 11,543 names. Several corrections of information have been made as well.

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Schrock Immigrant Day on FaceBook

October 22, 2009

Schrock Immigrant Day has a presence on FaceBook. Become a member of the Group and get to know your Schrock relatives even before the reunion June 18-21, 2010 in Metamora, IL. The Group is open to all descendants of Joseph and Maria Neuhauser Schrag/Schrock. It can be accessed at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=184707186207&ref=mf

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Schrock Immigrant Day planners need your help

October 13, 2009
Thumbnail image for Schrock Immigrant Day planners need your help

At the Schrock reunion/immigrant day event there will be time for descendants to share with others any family treasures they might have in their possession.
Please contact Donna Birkey if you have any family stories, genealogies, books, pictures, news clippings, letters, ship lists, titles, deeds, marriage licenses, obituaries, or other documents that provide information on the [...]

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Ancestry and Ministry of the Bishop: Peter Zehr (1851-1922)

September 18, 2009

The Ancestry of the Bishop:
Peter Zehr (1851 – 1922)
by Donna Schrock Birkey
Originally published in the Winter 2008 (Vol. XXXV  •  No. 4)
Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly (http://www.imhgs.org)
(Used with permission of original publisher)
“Recently I found indications that the Amish Zehr name may have roots in the very early Zehringen family. The House of Zahringen has roots [...]

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Another Christian Birky Added to Family Histories Section

September 14, 2009

Christian Birky (1783 – abt. 1840) has been added as a new name in the Family Histories section. He was son of Christian Birki (abt. 1700-abt. 1750) and the father of eight children. His wife is unknown. Thought to have had connections to Lutterbacherhof (near Saar-union) where other Birki families lived. Photos included.

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