Schrock Immigrant Day is history and the event was successful according to many comments received. Here is a sampling of reactions:

A member of the planning group said, “I was surprised by the many positive comments on Saturday about the Day, and the thank you e-mails I received. I’m impressed when people take the time to send such messages. I heard people comment that the music alone, on Friday, was worth coming for the evening.  The popcorn event made for a family atmosphere.” Another planning group member commented, “The best outcome [of the event] was getting over 100 people together to remember each of the [five] immigrants.”

“The content of this reunion was just superior! Also, I must hand it to Frank [Kandel] especially for moving things along.  It takes a lot of energy and smarts to keep a large body of people happy and on schedule and he did it with elan. I loved it that we ate in the [farm museum] shed.  The popcorn and ice cream were such droll additions. I think we absolutely got our money’s worth. Thank you for a job well done and for the memory of this occasion that we will all value in the years ahead.”

“What a great reunion!  Thanks for all the effort and planning.  Your daughter-in-law’s [Debbie Birkey as Magdalena Schick] drama was a highlight.”

“All [the] years of research, [the] days and nights of planning for this weekend paid off in over 100 of near and far cousins enjoying a thoroughly delightful weekend.  [My husband] said this weekend should be the model for family reunions–guided information, lots of printouts, activities, a hospitable setting, perfectly coordinated timings for events like meals, ice-cold delicious ice cream.  So many times almost strangers gather and find they have lots of empty time and not much to say to each other.  This event was perfect!   Thank you so much for the gift of this weekend.”

“[Please] forward a big thank you to all the responsible people who made the Schrock Immigrant Day so enjoyable & successful (I’m not good with e-mail).  We certainly appreciated it all and had a wonderful & educational time with our many cousins.  Words simply can not repay all of you for all your hard work & efforts, but may God richly bless you all for what you have done on our behalf.”

” [We] really enjoyed our quick trip out to Illinois [from the east coast] this past weekend and want to thank [everyone] for all the hard work and attention to detail. It was a most memorable time! Thank you.”

“Thanks again for all the work [everyone] put into researching our family history and for the recent event.  I do not think any of the others of us could have done what [was done] but all our family has benefited from the greater knowledge of our past.  I sure wish I was confident this generation will pass on to future generations the blessings we have inherited.”

Below are some suggestions for overnight lodging for our out-of-town guests attending Schrock Immigrant Day events.

Stoney Creek Inn
101 Mariners Way
East Peoria, IL  61611
309.694.1300 or 800.659.2220

http://www.stoneycreekinn.com

Sleep Inn and Suites
1101 Cummings Lane
Washington, IL  61571
309.481.0450

http://www.sleepinn.com

Best Western Ashland House & Conference Center
201 E. Ashland Street
Morton, IL  61550

http://www.bestwesternillinois.com

Cornerstone Inn
111 North Main Street
Washington, IL  61571
309.444.5632

Full details about Schrock Immigrant Day and Reunion have been added to the website.

The Schrock story, from 1550 to 2010, will be presented through drama, PowerPoint, and music–stories of death by cholera, family abandonment, single-handed bridge building, tense family relationships, and legacies of caring. On Saturday a choir of Schrock descendants will sing several songs of their European ancestors from the Ausbund and Zion’s Harp, led by hymnody scholar, Dr. Mary Oyer, Professor Emerita of Music at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana.

Don’t miss the photo shoot Friday evening. Be a part of this historic event recorded for future generations. And the Kandel’s make wonderful kettle popcorn.

For those of you who have never seen the area where our Illinois Schrocks lived and worked, be sure to join the Saturday afternoon tour. There is also a wonderful display of prairie quilts, along with information about the prairie land our ancestors tamed in the 1800s.

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.

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 immigrants, their ancestors in Europe, or their children and descendants. (See document sample below left.) Also contact Donna if you have any family artifacts that you would be willing to bring and share as part of a “show and tell” presentation. Family artifacts might include furniture, dishes, recipes, clothing, tools, household utensils, special books (See Bible sample below right), etc. that belonged to the immigrants, their children, or their grandchildren.

You may reach Donna Birkey by e-mail at http://www.dbirkey@birkey.org, though the contact page of this website (http://birkey.org/contact/), or by postal mail at 1S710 Orchard Road, Wheaton, IL  60189.

Peter Schrock (1839-1922) Family Bible

Birth record of André Schrack, first son of Joseph and Maria, who evidently died as an infant since the third son was named André

Heritage Center Arboreatum, Metamora

Sutter Barn, Heritage Center

ANNOUNCING . . .

Schrock Immigrant Day

and a reunion of the descendants of the children of Joseph Schrag and Maria Neyhouser– Johannes, Pierre, Andreas,
Magdalena (Smith), Barbara (Belsly)

June 18-20, 2010
Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center
Metamora, Illinois

June 18 – Friday evening

Picnic Social for Schrock Descendants Get acquainted, “climb” the Family Tree,
family photo ops provided

Schedule

Registration 5:30-6:30 p.m.
A light meal begins at 6:30 (suggested donation $5)
Professional Photos of the five family line groupings
Get acquainted activities
Sing along – songs sung by Schrock ancestors, led by hymnodist Mary Oyer
http://www.gracematters.org/interviews/m.oyer.html
Gather ’round the campfire for famous Kandel Kettle Popcorn

Charted Family Trees will be available for viewing during the evening
see where you grow on your branch of the tree

June 19 – Saturday Morning Session 1

Overview of European ancestry and movement of the Schrock family from
Switzerland to Illinois

Session 2

Sketches of three family lines: Johannes (John), Pierre (Peter), Andreas (Andrew)

Noon Meal

Explanation of area map as it relates to the area of settlements and the
afternoon tour of sites

Visit the Illinois Prairie Display that will include two quilts with prairie plants (one by a Schrock descendant), and walk through the Reeser Prairie on the grounds of the
Heritage Center

Saturday Afternoon Session 3

Sketches of two family lines: Magdalena (Smith), Barbara (Belsley)

Tour

Tour of historic sites (by bus/and or car) to see homes where Schrock families lived, land they owned, and cemeteries where they were buried on the Illinois prairie

June 20 – Sunday Morning

Worship at a local church relevant to Schrock history

WATCH THIS SITE . . .

for further details as they are released
Subscribe to the RSS feed to be automatically notified

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CLICK HERE to view a three-generation chart of descendants and see where you fit into the Schrock family. The chart will be small, but click on it to enlarge.
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Below are photos of European areas and sites where Joseph Schrag, his parents and his children lived and worked
followed by a message from the Immigrant Day planners requesting your help

Bachats Farm near Rhodes	Bischwald Mill Ruins near Rhodes
Ketzing Estate near Gondrexange	Alzing Farm near Gosselming

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 immigrants, their ancestors in Europe, or their children.  Also contact Donna if you have any family artifacts that you would be willing to bring and share as part of a “show and tell” presentation. Family artifacts might include furniture, dishes, recipes, clothing, tools, household utensils, special books (See Bible sample below right), etc. that belonged to the immigrants, their children, or their grandchildren.

You may reach Donna Birkey by e-mail at dbirkey@birkey.org, though the contact page of this website (http://birkey.org/contact/), or by postal mail at 1S710 Orchard Road, Wheaton, IL 60189.

Peter Schrock (1839-1922) Family Bible