His Ancestors and His Descendants

by Donna Schrock Birkey
Originally published in the Winter 2004 issue (Vol. XXXI, No. 4)
Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly (http://www.imhgs.org)
(Used with permission of original publisher)

A 1589 Swiss record of the surname (Trina) Salzman is shown below. Over the years some families added a “t,” others added an extra“ n, still others changed “z” to “s”—so evolved the various spellings.

The Winter 2002 issue of Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly carried the story of Immigrant Johannes Schrock of Illinois. Johannes’ wife was Catherine Salzman, daughter of Michael Salzman. This time I focus on the ancestry of Michael Salzman in Europe and follow him and his family to America. Both the Schrock and Salzman families were closely linked to Belgrade farm near Bistroff, Moselle, France in the early 1800s. Belgrade was home to a number of Anabaptist families, including Staker, Schertz, Engel, Stalter and Zehr families, who after emigration lived again in a close community in Butler Co., OH, and then in Tazewell Co., IL. Bistroff is no doubt where Catherine Salzman and Johannes Schrag courted, and they were married a few miles away in Blamont in 1826. The Schrock and Salzman families traveled together to America in the spring of 1831. We begin our story with Michael’s ancestors—his grandfather Christian and father Michel.

CHRISTIAN SALTZMANN (ca. 1719-1795)

Christian was born about 1719 and died 5 May 1795 at Zelle farm, Petit Tenquin, Moselle. He married Marie Rider (Rediger?). When son Michel recorded his death the following day he indicated that Marie was already deceased. ¹

MICHEL/MICHAEL SALTZMAN (ca. 1755-1821)

Michel was born about 1755 in Altwiller, Lower Alsace, and died 16 Jun 1821 ² at Vallerade farm in Albestroff, a horse-breeding farm established in 1717 and at one time belonging to the Duke of Lorraine. It is situated about seven miles to the east of Altwiller. His death record identifies him as a farmer at Vallerade, son of Christian Salzmann and Marie Rider, and husband of Catherine Weiss (born about 1758 in Zweibrucken), daughter of Christian Weiss and Catherine Ziegel. Michel and Catherine died only days apart. Catherine’s death entry on 24 Jun 1821 ³ follows Michel’s in the civil records of Albestroff.

The couple had nine children. Michel, Pierre, Catherine, Magdeleine, Barbe and Christian were all born at Zelle farm, Petit Tenquin (near Grostenquin), but the parents did not register their births until Dec. 26, 1801 at Sarralbe. ⁴ By that date the children ranged in age from 9 to 22. Their birth records provide us with most details we know of the family. (Joseph Salzman who married Barbara Litwiller may be a son of Christian and brother to Michel, but it has yet to be proven.)

MICHAEL SALZMAN (1779-1861)and wife Catherin Hergi

Michael was born 29 Sep 1779 in Petit Tenquin, ¹⁷ the son of Michel Salzman and Catherine Weiss, and died 30 Nov 1861 Butler Co. OH at age 82. He married Catherin Hergi (Hirschi), daughter of Pierre Hergi of St. Avold, and Anne Agnes Farny. Their marriage record ¹⁸ identifies Michael as an Anabaptist and records preliminary announcements were posted at Sarralbe and St. Avold on December 11 and 18, 1803. It also reveals that the marriage was held in Sarralbe at 3:00 on 3 Mar 1804 in deference to the 53-year-old father Michel Salzman who was living at Haras, also named as an Anabaptist.

Michael was a resident of Sarralbe before he and Catherine Hergi were married there, and they were still in Sarralbe at the time of daughter Catherine’s birth in October of 1804. During 1803, and perhaps over a longer period, Michael worked as a cultivator at Haras, near Sarralbe, as did his father. At some point the family moved to Forbach where Michael was a miller at Schloesser’s mill.  This is also where his wife Catherine died on 5 Mar 1814. ¹⁹ Catherine had been born during 1780 in St. Avold, if we use her death record to calculate the birth year. Before she died, Catherine bore Michael four children:

Peter and Susan had a large family, but son Michael is the only one with a known history to me. He was born 9 Jan 1836 in Ohio (no doubt Butler Co.) and died 9 Feb 1907 in Red Cloud NE. He married Sarah Yetter Kenny on 22 Oct 1860. They had a family of eight children: three daughters and five sons. Most were born in Lafayette IN, but one was born in Cerro Gorda, IL in 1870 and one in Logan, KS in1872. ²⁵

Only three months after his wife’s death Michael (1779-1861) is in Vallerade, Albestroff, where his parents resided and where he married Madelaine Eiyman in June. ²⁶ He is named there off and on until 1823. But in that year he moved to Belgrade Farm with his family and was a farmer at Bischwald mill in Bistroff.

MICHAEL SALZMAN (1779-1861) and second wife Magdalena Eymann

Michael’s second wife was the daughter of Etienne (Stephen) Eymann and Marie Cers (Zehr?). Magdalena was born 2 June 1795 in Prussia/Palatinate and died 1 Oct 1875 (one source says 1870) in Butler Co., OH. Their children are:

THE 1831 TRIP TO AMERICA

From 1755 to 1826, three generations of Salzman families seemed to live and move mostly within a triangular area from Bistroff east about 22 miles to Sarralbe and southward 14 miles to Albestroff.

But in the spring of 1831 two of the families made a radical departure–the Michael and André Salzman families, and several Schrag families, left France for America. They left together, even as they had lived together at Belgrade farm. They traveled to Le Havre on the coast of France where they boarded a ship and sailed to Baltimore, arriving sometime between April 1 and June 30. Since their names are on page 4 and 5 of the Quarterly Arrival abstract of passengers, one could guess they arrived earlier rather than later in the quarter. On the same list of passengers, named both before and after the Salzmans and Schrags, were Engel, Shirtz, Neuhauser, Rogi, Suisse, and Zimmerman families totaling about seventy Anabaptists. All the men were listed as farmers from France. ³⁶

The ship list answers some questions, but raises others. Ages given on the list do not always correspond with birth records found. But I was personally very pleased to finally find my immigrant Schrock ancestor, Johannes, on the list. At first glance it seemed that his wife Catherine Salzman and their two children sailed to America with her family, leaving Johannes behind for some reason. But on closer examination, Johannes was found to be passenger #147 with a difficult-to-decipher surname of Gerrard (used in many French documents for Schrack/Schrag). Although he was listed separately from his wife and children (#152, 156, 157), he was among other Anabaptist men. The original ship manifest and name of the ship may be lost; however, the Quarterly Arrival lists have preserved the names and approximate arrival times. (See the list of names with comments and questions below.)

As did many arriving immigrants, both Salzman and Schrock families left Baltimore and traveled to Lancaster Co., PA, where they stayed for a short while. It is difficult to find information about this time period as they were in transit and between census records, probably living with other Anabaptists who served as hosts until the immigrant families were able to move on to their intended destinations.

NATURALIZATION

Michael took his family on to Butler Co., Ohio, and in June of 1840, Michael, with sons Michael, Andrew, and John, standing before the Court of Common pleas of the Court of Butler in the State of Ohio, “declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States and renounce all allegiance to the King of France, of whom he was then a subject.” In the September Term of 1842 Michael and his sons were given citizenship. As a matter of law at that time, when the men of the family were given citizenship the women were automatically included. Two witnesses declared that Michael had resided within the United States upwards of five years and within the State of Ohio and County of Butler upwards of one year; and during that time he had behaved as a man of good moral character.  In the same September Term of 1842 Michael’s son Peter, with sons Michael, John and Christian, was also given citizenship and two years later, in the September Term of 1844 son Christian, after declaring his intention in 1842, was also given citizenship. ³⁷

In 1850 we find Michael living in Lemon Township with wife Magdalena, and children Andrew, Phoebe, and John—next door to daughter Catherine and John Schrock, and near daughter Jacobina and her Staker in-laws.

LAND PURCHASE

In 1796 the Ohio Company had set aside Section 29 in each of the 10 townships of its second purchase for the support of religion. Most of Ohio’s early immigrants were religious and this supported their desire to worship and teach their religious beliefs to their children. Ohio was the only state in the Union, other than a few small mission sites in the West, where Congress gave land for the support of religion.

The State of Ohio was authorized by Congress in 1833 to sell or rent unused parts of each Section 29. The money from sales was invested, and churches within the boundaries of the original township received the interest and rent income until 1968. ³⁸

Michael, along with son-in-law John Schrock, purchased and lived on this “ministerial” land between the Miami Rivers in Section 29, Lemon Township, which they had purchased from the State of Ohio. Michael’s purchase was for 81 and 34/100 acres for which he paid $813.40. He made the final payment in July 1855. ³⁹ This land lies along present-day Salzman Road. (See map above.)

Michael stayed in Butler Co. even after several of his children including Catherine and John Schrock moved away. He and his family continued to live in the Amish community with long-time friends and family from France and worshipped with the more conservative group of Amish sometimes led by neighbor Peter Schrock, John’s brother.

IMPENDING DEATH

Recognizing the importance of having his affairs in order, in 1855 Michael put together a will ⁴⁰ for his family, naming son Andrew as executor and son John as trustee of funds for minor grandchildren. Realizing he was nearing the end of his earthly life Michael filed a codicil to his will about ten months before his death, removing Andrew who had moved away and naming Jacob Hittell of the city of Hamilton, Ohio, as executor. Monetary designations for the heirs were:

Death finally came to Michael 30 Nov 1861. When wife Magdalena died fourteen years later, she was buried along side Michael in Lot 2, Section 3, Mound Cemetery, Butler Co., OH.

PROBATE RECORDS

Probate records ⁴¹ reveal that John Long received $21 for Michael’s coffin and services. M. Doell (?) received $8 for “oil cloth coat needed for funeral of Michael Salzman.” Mound Cemetery (Rich Davies) was paid $26.25 (presumably for the lot) and $2.50 for interment of the body. Dr. D. R. Dyche submitted a bill totaling $25 for services on 16 different days during October 1861, no doubt for medical attention during Michael’s final sickness before death.

On 3 Feb 1862, an inventory ⁴² of personal property gave the value as $215.32. Items included 1 milk cow, $15; 1 kitchen cupboard, $10; 2 blankets and quilt coverlet, $12; 1 bed and bedstead and bedding, $24; 1 keg wine and 1 barrel vinegar, $8; a note against Andrew McCleary for $56, which was declared “of doubtful value.”

Son John was sworn in 1904 that he had carried out his duty as guardian of funds for Michael’s grandchildren (children of Marie Russell) and had paid all that was due under the terms of the will. The funds were distributed to Mrs. Carrie Hill, C. M. Igleberger (Eichelberger), Mary C. Allen, Harry Igleberger, L.F. Igleberger, M. Elizabeth Russell and Leah L. Russell. ⁴³

So ends the chronicles of my great, great, great, great grandfather Michael Salzman.

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ENDNOTES

¹ Death record, Petit-Tenquin, LDS Film #1979095
² Death record, Albestroff, LDS Film #1858646
³ Ibid.
⁴ The birth dates of children Michel, Pierre, Catherine, Madeleine and Barbe are known from a declaration made by their father
at Sarralbe Dec. 26,1801, found on LDS Film 1982659.
⁵ Marriage record, Albestroff, LDS Film #1858646
⁶ See Endnote 4
⁷ Marriage record, Sarrebourg, LDS Film #1980413
⁸ See Endnote 4
⁹ Marriage record, Rhodes, LDS Film #1980413
¹⁰ Birth record, Petit Tenquin, LDS Film #1979095
¹¹ Marriage record, Grostenquin, LDS Film #1896920
¹² Birth record, Petit Tenquin, LDS Film #1979095
¹³ Marriage record, Val de Gueblange-les-Sarralbe, LDS Film 1897073
¹⁴ Butler County, Ohio Naturalization records Sept 1840
¹⁵ The Salzman, Troyer, and King Families, Copyright 1969 by Ann Farrier
¹⁶ Birth record, Sarralbe, LDS Film #1981659
¹⁷ Birth date taken from marriage documents
¹⁸ Marriage record, Sarralbe, LDS Film #1981660
¹⁹ Death record, Forbach, LDS Film #1895129
²⁰ Birth record of Pierre not found
²¹ Birth record, Sarralbe, LDS Film #1981660
²² Known from ship list and Michael Salzman’s will
²³ Birth record, Forbach, LDS Film #1895129
²⁵ Michael Saltzman information and photo provided by Bill Burr, “The Burr Family of England and USA” website.
²⁶ Marriage record, Albestroff, LDS Film #1858646
²⁷ Ibid.
²⁸ Birth record, Bistroff, LDS Film #1860456
²⁹ Birth record, Bistroff, LDS Film #1882991
³⁰ Ibid.
³¹ Known from Michael Salzman’s will and Mennonites of Butler Co., Ohio by Grubb
³² Ibid.
³³ Farrier
³⁴ Known from Michael Salzman’s will and Mennonites of Butler Co., Ohio by Grubb
³⁵ Baltimore Arrivals Index, LDS Film #1376178
³⁶ Butler County, Ohio Naturalization records Sept 1842, p. 135; Sept 1844, p. 285
³⁷ http://www.shelbycountyhistory.org/schs/immigration/landeducatrelig.htm
³⁸ Deed Book No. 26, p. 111, Butler County, OH (1854-55)
³⁹ Will filed 1861
⁴⁰ Probate record File Box 99, #02380
⁴¹ Inventory #668 Vol. 3, Page 450
⁴² Probate record

For several months in 2004/2005 I was in contact with Joseph Staker, who was researching his Staker connections in Tazewell County. These connections include many Amish Mennonite families with names such as Salzman, Schrock, Birkey, Zehr, Schertz, Engel, Garber, Roth, Ropp and Farney. Since there is interconnectedness in our family lines we worked together to decipher connections from original documents and collected works. Joe has done the footwork of ordering and reading film after film of French civil records. I added what I could to his findings. He has done a great service in connecting so many of the families of Tazewell County and surroundings. His family document is online. (The link is on my Home Page.) I thank Joe especially for leading me to the ship list with the names of my Schrock and Salzman immigrants.
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SHIP LIST- Quarterly Abstract April 1-June 30, 1831- Le Havre to Baltimore
Passengers from France:

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