Schrock Immigrant Day

Mennonite Family History, July 2011, by Donna Birkey

Celebrating Our Heritage

The following article was published by Masthof Press in the July 2011 issue of  Mennonite Family History, and is presented here with their permission.  (http://www.masthof.com/mfh/mfh.html)

Group photo of the Schrock family by Laura Birkey Photography: http://www.laurabirkey.com

INTRODUCTION

Several years ago, then President of Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society (IMHGS), Carolyn Nafziger, asked if I would consider presenting the Schrock family at one of the Society’s occasional Immigrant Day events. Yes, I was interested, but could not see it as a possibility for several years. Finally, in 2009, I was ready to commit to the following year.

In 2008, I had spent two weeks in France visiting villages and farms relative to the Schrock family and had also made connections with all five Schrock family lines. Now or never, I thought, and my husband, Del, gave me his “go for it” in January, even though we knew it would take large amounts of time. Unfortunately, I did not have his continuing support with the project as he rather suddenly passed away in May of 2009. But by that time plans were underway, and I preferred not to back out.

Everyone I contacted about the idea of a reunion expressed interest. Thus, a group of six “cousins,” representing three of the family lines, agreed to form the planning group and scheduled a first meeting for February 2009. My illness and a bad weather accident for another member kept two of us away, but the remaining members met at the IMHGS Heritage Center in Metamora with staff member Julie Hendricks and got the ball rolling.

I was unable to attend the next meeting in May because of my husband’s death, and so I felt rather behind the curve for the third meeting in August. Although I had been the one to initiate the process, it was certainly the combined efforts of the planning group that made it happen.

And happen it did on June 18-20, 2010. The three-day weekend event was more than worth all the effort for approximately 175 people who gathered together from fourteen states. We were delighted that even a distant relative and his wife from France could also attend. Schrock “cousins” dug deep into both their time and financial reserves, and we all agreed it was a pleasure to bring our own families and other relatives from across the U.S. to learn about and appreciate our Schrock heritage.

SCHROCK IMMIGRANT DAY & REUNION

The Schrock Immigrant Day & Reunion was a gathering for the descendants of Joseph Schrag (1772-1830) and Marie Neyhousser (1772-aft 1826), and their five surviving immigrant children: Johannes (1801-1875); Peter (1802-1887); Andrew (1804-1855); Magdalena (1811-1855); and Barbara (ca 1815-ca1836). Peter settled in Butler Co., Ohio, but the other four siblings migrated to the prairies of Illinois. Later some descendants scattered to other states.

Welcome sign.

The Heritage Center campus was an ideal venue for Schrock relatives to gather. Many family members live in that area and the rural farmland reflected the history of our ancestors. The Dienerversammlungen meeting of 1868 was held in the Sutter barn now on this property, although at the time it was in its original location near Hopedale, Illinois.

Schrock family members were welcomed on Friday evening (#3) and became acquainted with cousins they did not know they had, and found themselves on the family tree charts prepared for the reunion (#4). They were photographed in family groupings, (#5) with the oldest (Mae Schrock, age 106) and youngest (Anika Cisco, age 2) Schrock descendants identified. Charles “Chuck” Schrock was the third oldest at age 92. The second oldest living descendant was unable to attend, but Eddis Hasselman who was born in 1912 on the original Johannes home place, was publicly honored on her 98th birthday on June 18.

Later in the evening everyone joined in singing hymns of our ancestors in the Sutter barn. The hymn sing was led by hymnodist Mary Oyer–one of the most memorable events of the evening. With twilight approaching and in the dimness of the historic barn, one could easily imagine former times when our ancestors were gathered to sing their familiar songs of the faith.

Hymns were selected from both the Apostolic Christian Zion’s Harp and the Amish Mennonite Ausbund.  We sang Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—the text: anonymous, Te Deum laudamus, late fourth century; Clarence A. Walworth’s English translation in 1853 based on Ignaz Franz’s German translation ca 1774 of Te Deum laudamus, alt.; and music from Katholisches Gesangbuch (Vienna, 1774).

Mary also explained the hymn O Gott Vater—the second song sung in every Amish worship service. After listening to a taped rendition, the group attempted to sing the tune from the Ausbund seventeenth century, and adapted by Mary Oyer. Another hymn was “Now Thank We All Our God,” with text and music from 1636 and 1647.

Following the hymn sing, everyone enjoyed kettle popcorn prepared by the Frank Kandel family before a rainstorm scattered the crowd. Saturday dawned bright and sunny with a presentation of the European ancestry of Joseph Schrag, followed by more presentations about each of his children.

European Ancestry (1500-1772)

On Saturday morning, I presented the probable early European ancestry of the Joseph Schrag family (see graphic), beginning with origins in the Swiss village of Wynigen where Schrag families were identified as “Anabaptists” as early as 1700. Joseph’s grandfather was Caspar Schrag, born ca1710 in Zweibrücken, Germany. Caspar’s son Caspar, born 1744 somewhere in Bavaria, was Joseph’s father. Since the reunion, I have been in touch with a Schrag descendant living near Wynigen, Switzerland. As a result, I have made adjustments to the graphic and am able to claim “almost certain” rather than “probable” Schrag ancestry.

By the time of Joseph’s birth, the family had migrated to the Saarebourg area of France, where Joseph and his family stayed most of their remaining years in Europe. Joseph died at Rhodes in 1830. There is no indication that Marie emigrated to America, but within a year of their father’s death, Johannes and Peter with their families and Magdalena as a single woman, arrived at the port of Baltimore on the same boat in the spring of 1831. Andrew and Barbara’s arrival has not yet been documented.

Family members viewing charts. Photo by Donna Schrock Birkey

Johannes Schrag (1801-1875)

Johannes Schrag (1801-1875)

The story of Johannes, oldest son of Joseph and Marie, was told by several of his descendants, including Don Schrock, Frank Kandel, John Cender and Justine Trout, in readings, conversations, and artifacts.

Johannes, a miller in Europe, continued that occupation in Butler Co., Ohio, for about 20 years before taking his family by riverboat to Illinois. His oldest son Joseph (1828-1901) at the age of 22, however, drove the horses and wagon by land. On the final night of the trip, he camped with his wagon under a large elm tree near his final Illinois destination. Years later Joseph’s son Jonathan (1861-1947) was able to point out that tree to his children.

Johannes’ family line produced several powerfully built men. Joseph grew to be well over six feet tall and weighed in excess of 250 pounds. His son Jonathan was able to heave a hundred pound sack of grain onto each shoulder and walk up the steps to the second floor of the granary. John, the youngest of Johannes’ sons, worked in saw mills, gristmills and brickyards. A newspaper account reports that John “carried from the saw mill every tie and plank for the first bridge over the Illinois River in Pekin—the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad Bridge. . . .They told of John Schrock that he could cut with an axe and rack five cords of wood in a day.”   Joseph’s family, and his sister Catherine’s family, ultimately left the Amish tradition and joined the Apostolic Christian Church.

Gold medallion, both sides. Courtesy: Brett Schrock

In the late 1920s the Prairie Farmer Master Farmer Award,
in the form of a gold medallion, was awarded to grandson
Edward Schrock for the excellent management of his grand-
father Johannes’ original homestead farm.

Perhaps due to the Amish aversion to photographs, of the
five children only Johannes left behind an image of himself.

Peter Schrag (1802-1887)

Peter’s life in Butler County, Ohio, was shown in pictures and stories from his family’s archives by way of Power Point. Peter purchased several different farms in the area near Trenton. Both brother Johannes and sister Magdalena purchased land adjoining Peter’s original farm before migrating to Illinois. An active member of the Amish branch of the Mennonite Church, Peter was at the meeting on May 8, 1835 when it was decided to divide the original Amish congregation into two– Augspurger and Hessian–due to the strife that developed with the newly arrived Hessians. Later that year, he was elected a minister of the conservative “hook and eye” Augspurger Church along with Jacob Augspurger.

Peter’s home had a “church room” that was used as a meetingplace before a “church house” was built. Quite a number of Peter’s children and grandchildren did not marry, resulting in a smaller number of descendants than most of his siblings.

Andrew Schrag (1804-1855)

Debbie Birkey, dressed as Andrew’s daughter-in-law Magdalena Schick, presented a dramatic reading about his life and that of his son Andrew Jr.  Andrew Sr. died in the cholera epidemic that hit Illinois in 1855, after visiting his sister Magdalena and her family, also afflicted with the dreaded disease. In the 1920s, his son Andrew Jr. walked away from his family and was never heard from again. His wife and five children had moved to Nebraska about 1900, where oldest son Samuel became a well-known farmer and entrepreneur in the town of Holderege. A few years later the family received word that Andrew was in Portland, Oregon, and they made attempts to contact him, but to no avail. It is commonly thought by his family that he may have ended his own life. Perhaps the early death of his father was traumatic enough to affect the rest of his life, leaving him unable to face the challenges of life and a family. Today many of Andrew’s descendants are part of the Methodist Church.

 Magdalena Schrag Smith (1811-1855)

John J. Smith told the sad story of oldest daughter Magdalena who became the wife of Christian Smith. They both, along with two of their children, died within days in 1855 during the Illinois cholera epidemic. The six living children were cared for by relatives and friends. It was a difficult time for the children, as some neighbors were afraid of catching the disease and therefore shunned them. Oldest son, Peter, died young at age 38, and his wife died six years later. Just 25 years after Peter was orphaned, his children aged 7-20 years, were orphans. Three of Magdalena’s children left the Amish church to join the Apostolic Christian church. Magdalena and Christian had purchased farmland in what later became Congerville, Illinois, and the family lived there until their untimely deaths from cholera.

Barbara Schrag Belsly (ca1815-ca1836)

Barbara and her family connections were finally more fully revealed to the Belsly family by Robert Belsly. For many years the family only knew Joseph Belsly’s wife and son Christian’s mother to be named Barbara—“possibly a Schrock.” Because Barbara died early in life, just after Christian’s birth, more was remembered about his stepmother than this birth mother.

Little information has been found about the life of Barbara Schrag, but she had an interesting burial. At the time of her death, she was buried on her husband’s farm. Later when her husband died he was buried in the same area. Even later, his second wife Barbara Engel, was buried there as well. After the death of all three, a larger cemetery was created on his farmland, and Joseph and his two wives were moved there. However, there are only two stones, one for Joseph and one for Barbara Engel. Oral and written Belsly family history records that both wives are buried in the same plot beside Joseph, with no mention of Barbara Schrag on the stone. Perhaps this is another reason why she was not well remembered by her husband’s family.

The Illinois Prairie

Prairie display arranged by Kathy Cender Martin. Photo by Kathy Cender Martin.

On display during the weekend were two prairie quilts (one made by a Schrock descendant, Alta Heiser Detweiler) and information about the Illinois prairie where so many of Joseph and Marie’s descendants settled.

Prairie enthusiast and descendant of Johannes, Kathy Cender Martin, provided information about the Illinois prairie in general and its impact on our Schrock families.

Our Schrock ancestors from France and Germany crossed the ocean and arrived in Tazewell County, Illinois, to find a sea of grass bordered by dense woodlands along the Mackinaw River, Dillon Creek, Springhill Creek, Panther Creek, and Mud Creek.

The five immigrant children of Joseph and Maria Neyhousser Schrag located their first dwelling places in the new country near woods and waterways where transportation, building materials, fuel, and sustenance were readily available. In time, they and their descendents would venture out onto the prairie grasslands in search of expanded space and cropland.  Here they discovered that the vast prairie soil held a wealth of richness upon which they built farms, churches, and thriving communities.

John Schrock (1862-1951), a grandson of immigrant Johannes, first broke the prairie sod near Fisher with a horse-pulled, hand-guided plow in 1890. He told how the land was wet and marshy and so full of snakes that he had to wear protective tall boots as he walked behind the plow. Today, a portion of this very same land that John Schrock farmed has been restored by his granddaughter, Alta Heiser Detweiler, as a two-acre prairie restoration area. This restoration supports a rich variety of plants including big blue stem, Indian grass, switch grass, prairie dropseed, blazing star, purple coneflower, compass plant, prairie dock, New England aster, rattlesnake master, spiderwort, and others.

On the grounds of the Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center is another example of a restored Illinois prairie and a prairie grove. The Prairie Arboretum was planted with native prairie grasses and flowers in 1992. Trees native to Illinois have been planted nearby in the arboretum. It is a gift of descendants of Amish Mennonite preacher and pioneer farmer Christian Reeser (1819-1923). This Reeser prairie was available for exploration during the weekend event.

After lunch and at the conclusion of the presentations, Dr. Mary Oyer, hymnodist for many years at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, led the Schrock Family Singers in two songs of our ancestors as a fitting finale to the heritage stories we had heard. Then, as a welcome conclusion to a warm and wonderful day, everyone enjoyed a dish of ice cream before goodbyes were said.

For those who wished to participate further, a tour was led to various historic sites of the Schrock family in Illinois. Two buses made five stops over a 107-mile route to visit a church site, two cemeteries, two homesteads, and the town that was to be Schrock but was changed to Congerville. We visited sites described as follows.

Johannes Schrock Homestead

The Johannes Schrock homestead as it is today on the original land purchased in 1850 in Elm Grove Township near Pekin, Illinois. Photo by Donna Schrock Birkey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guth Cemetery near Washington, Illinois

Not far from Andrew Schrock’s original farm is an old cemetery where Andrew and his daughter Susanna are buried. In addition to Andrew’s stone is a readable stone for Peter Guth (1806-1886), whose wife, Susanna Oyer, was a sister to Andrew’s wife Anna, therefore providing the Schrock family access to burial plots in the cemetery on land owned by Peter Guth. The plan was to stop at Guth Cemetery but unforeseen street repair caused a drive by only.

Village of Congerville, Illinois

Congerville plat. Courtesy: Don Schrock

The village of Congerville, begun in the spring of 1888 as a town named Schrock, is situated on a portion of Joseph Schrock’s farm. The History of Congerville tells the story of the town’s original intention to name the town Schrock and the ultimate decision to name it Congerville. In 1887, the Nickel Plate Railroad was being built from Bloomington to Peoria. According to legend and history, the contractors completed the railroad as far as Schrock’s farm when they were halted by the severe winter that year. They settled there to wait for winter to be over. Other people moved to the railroad community, many seeking to participate in the building job. With this development, a town was formed on the land owned by Joseph Schrock, oldest son of Johannes, and a plat was recorded January 7, 1888, naming the community Town of Schrock. The Schrock name was  attached to the town for only one or two years. Eventually the town was named Congerville after Ben Conger, an early settler who owned a considerable amount of land and had a reputation as a fine hunter. Today there are no Congers living there, but plenty of Schrocks! The suggestion was floated to petition for a reversal of name!

Joseph Schrock’s house in Congerville. Photo by Donna Schrock Birkey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belsly Cemetery

The Belsly farm near Metamora, Illinois. has been in the family since the day Barbara Schrock’s husband purchased the land. It is considered to be the oldest one-family farm in Illinois. A family cemetery near the homestead on Lourdes Road contains the burial site of Barbara and her husband “Red Joe.”

Engel Barn  (The engraving of the barn was done by Jacob Faber in about 1891.)

Peter Engel log barn. Courtesy: Juliet Engel Schertz

Another tour stop was at the site of the Peter Engel log barn in Metamora, traditionally thought to have been the site of the first Amish church meetings as well as the first Apostolic Christian services in Illinoi

One of the first Apostolic Christian groups was known as the Partridge Prairie Apostolic Christian Church. This congregation often met in the barn on the Peter Engel farm in which the first service of the Amish Mennonite church had been held in 1833. When snow was knee deep in the winter and mud hub deep in the spring, this devout group would thoroughly sweep the barn, including the walls and rafters, and bake many loaves of bread in preparation for Sunday worship. Pieces of logs were carried into the barn and planks laid across the logs to serve as benches. Chickens sometimes wandered into the barn, and someone would quietly shoo them out if they became noisy. Families from Morton and Dillon walked 25 miles to services, leaving home at 2:00 a.m. in the morning to be at the church on time. At a service held at the Engel barn on July 1, 1866, there were 53 rigs in the yard for the morning service with still more persons attending in the afternoon.

The background given at this tour site provided a connection between the Apostolic Christian Schrocks and the Amish Mennonite Schrocks after a parting of the ways in the 1800s when some Schrock families left the Amish Mennonite churches to join the newly formed Apostolic Christian churches.

Schrock families able to stay until Sunday were invited to worship with the members of an Apostolic Christian Church in nearby Morton and enjoy a light lunch following the service.

Throughout this reunion, the staff of Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society handled the physical arrangements with efficiency. It is my hope this report of our experience will give other families the inspiration to do the same.

 (See three generations of Joseph’s family below)

Sources

Information about Johanes Schrag was compiled from French records and stories from various descendants.

Information about Peter Schrag was shared with me several years ago during a trip to Columbus and Butler Co., Ohio, by descendants and historians of the area and has been supplemented by French records.

Andrew Schrag’s story was developed from the book Schrock Farms, 1908-2008, compiled by Sharon Schrock and Nancy Morse, and from French records.

Don Bishop Smith supplied much of the information about Magdalena Schrag Smith and her descendants based on Oyer family notes, Willard Smith’s book, Mennonites in Illinois, and French research.

Robert Belsly provided details of the family of Barbara Schrag and her husband, “Red Joe” Belsly, and their only son, Christian’s family. Information is contained in the book The Descendants of Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly by Robert Belsly.

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 Joseph Schrag Family Genealogy

Three Generations

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First Generation

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1. Joseph Schrag (Schrack). Born in 1772 in Bistroff, Meurthe, France, on Belgrade farm. Joseph died on 5 Apr 1830 in Rhodes, Meurthe, France. Resided in Gondrexange, Moselle, France, in 1799-1805, during the birth of four children, and at the time of his sister Catherine’s marriage; in Rimling, Sarrebourg, Moselle, France, in 1811, at the mill at the birth of Magdelaine; in Rhodes, Meurthe, France, in 1822, still in Rhodes in 1826, living at the mill at Bachats at the time of Johannes’ and Catherine’s marriage. Occupation: Miller In Gondrexange; and at Rhodes at the time of his death. In 1827, at the time of Peter’s marriage, he was listed as an unskilled laborer.

On 13 Aug 1798 Joseph first married Maria Engel, daughter of Christian Engel (about 1730-bef 1798) and Catherine Marie Ritzieker (1736-18 Mar 1798), in Gosselming, Moselle, France. Maria was born in 1774 in Gosselming, Moselle, France, at Alzing farm. Maria died about 1799-1800.

They had one child:

i.            Joseph. Born on 7 Jun 1799 in Gondrexange, Moselle, France, and died in Gondrexange 9 Feb 1805 at age 5 yrs. 6 mo.

About 1800 Joseph secondly married Marie Neuhauser, daughter of Nicolas Christian Neuhauser (1736-11 Mar 1798) and an unknown wife. Marie was born in 1772 in Gosselming, Moselle, France, and died sometime after 1826.

They had the following children:

2            i.            Johannes (1801-1875)

3            ii.            Peter (1802-1887)

4            iii.            André (Andreas) (1803-1855)

iv.            Anne. Born on 24 Dec 1806. Evidently died young.

5            v.            Magdalena (1811-1855)

6            vi.            Barbara (~1815-~1836)

Second Generation

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2. Johannes Schrock (Schrack, Gerrard). Born on 15 Jun 1801 in Gondrexange, Moselle, France, according to his marriage record. Aug 17, 1801 has also been used. Johannes died in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL, on 21 Jan 1875; he was 73. Immigrated in the spring of 1831 via Le Havre to Baltimore, MD. On the ship list his name is recorded as Jno. Gerrard.

On 8 Apr 1826 when Johannes was 24, he first married Catherine (Elisabeth) Salzman, daughter of Michael Salzman (29 Sep 1779-30 Nov 1861) and Catherine Hergi (Hergy, Hirschine) (1780-5 Mar 1814), in Blamont, Moselle, France. Catherine was born on 27 Oct 1804 in Sarralbe, Moselle, France, and died in Mar 1858 in Tazewell Co., IL.

They had the following children:

7            i.            Joseph (1828-1901)

8            ii.            Catherine (1829-1906)

iii.            Johannes (Died as Infant). Born on 11 Jul 1834, died on 12 Oct 1835.

iv.            Jacobina (Died as Infant). Born on 23 Aug 1836, died on 12 Sep 1837.

9            v.            Peter (1839-1922)

10            vi.            John (1843-1935)

11            vii.            Magdalena (1845-1914)

On 1 Feb 1861 when Johannes was 59, he second married Jacobina (Phebe) King, daughter of Johannes King (24 Jun 1791-17 Jul 1860) and Jacobina “Phoebe” Reidiger (23 Oct 1794-19 Jul 1869), in McLean Co., IL. Jacobina was born on 14 Sep 1814 in Baden, Germany, and died in Livingston Co., IL, on 21 Mar 1896; she was 81.

3. Peter Schrock (Schrack). Born on 15 Jun 1802 in Gondrexange, Moselle, France, and died in Trenton, Butler Co., OH, on 7 Sep 1887; he was 85. Immigrated in 1831 to Baltimore, MD. Arrived in the spring with his wife and first two children, along with brother Johannes and his family, and the Michael Salzman family. Also included in the group was Jacob and Betsy [Barby] Zimmerman, his wife’s parents. Peter resided in Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH, in 1832, was naturalized on 8 Oct 1855. Occupation: apprentice miller at Robert-Espagne in 1827; miller at Cheppe near Dompcevrin, Meuse in 1828. In Butler Co., OH, Peter was a farmer.

On 25 Aug 1827 when Peter was 25, he first married Magdalena Zimmerman, daughter of Jacob Zimmermann and Elisabeth Becker (Bacher or Baechler), in Robert-Espagne, Meuse. Magdalena was born on 17 Apr 1801 in Emmendingen, [Grand] Duchy Of Baden. Magdalena died on 31 Dec 1862; she was 61.

They had the following children:

12            i.            Peter (1828-1905)

13            ii.            Magdalena (1830-1878)

14            iii.            Maria (1836-1868)

iv.            Anna. Born on 6 Dec 1839, and died on 6 Sep 1864; she was 24.

v.            Frana. Born on 17 Jun 1841, and died on 29 Mar 1860; she was 18.

15            vi.            John (1843-1886)

vii.            Elizabeth. Born on 15 Aug 1846. Elizabeth died on 1 Apr 1862; she was 15.

viii.            Christian. Born on 6 Sep 1849, and died in Butler Co., OH, on 5 Apr 1867; he was 17.

Peter secondly married Magdalena Rediger, daughter of Christian Rediger (5 Jun 1805-Mar 1860) and Magdalena Stalter (10 Dec 1805-5 Jan 1877), in Butler Co., OH. Magdalena was born on 25 Oct 1829 in Germany, and died in Gridley, McLean Co., IL, on 23 Apr 1896; she was 66.

4. André (Andreas) Schrock (Schrack). Born on 3 Jul 1804 in Gondrexange, Moselle, France, and died in Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL, on 5 Aug 1855; he was 52. Andre resided in Dompcevrin, Meuse, France, in 1828, and in Butler Co., OH, from about 1835-1840; he went to Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL, bet 1837-1842.

Sometime before 1835 André married Anna Oyer, daughter of Jacob Oyer (ca 1778-14 Nov 1885) and Suzanne Shertz (ca 1780-2 Jul 1829). Anna was born on 31 Aug 1815 in Niderhof, Lorraine, France, and died after 1880.

They had the following children:

i.            Andrew (Died as Infant).

16            ii.            Joseph (1835-1920)

iii.            Susannah. (1837-1863)

17            iv.            Anna (1840-1874)

18            v.            Andrew (1842-?)

19            vi.            Mary (1846-1945)

20            vii.            Magdalena (1847-1946)

21            viii.            Peter (1849-1940)

5. Magdalena Schrock (Schrack). Born on 10 Apr 1811 in Rimling, Sarrebourg, Moselle, France, and died in Congerville, Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL, on 4 Aug 1855; she was 44. Buried in Woodford Co., IL. Immigrated in 1831 with brothers Johannes and Peter. Magdalena resided in Wayne Co., OH, about 1832, then in Butler Co., OH, after 1832; in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL, in 1838.

About 1833 Magdalena married Christian Smith (Schmitt), son of Joseph Schmitt (26 Apr 1777-) and Freni/Veronique Gerber (28 Feb 1781-), in Wayne Co., OH. Christian was born on 31 May 1810 in Bisping, Moselle, France, and died in Congerville, Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL, on 2 Aug 1855; he was 45. Buried in Woodford Co., IL.

They had the following children:

22            i.            Mary S. (~1833-1896)

ii.            Barbara. (1835/36-1855)

23            iii.            Peter (1837-1875)

24            iv.            Anna (Nancy) (1840-1861)

25            v.            Magdalena S. (1841-1916)

26            vi.            Joseph (1843-1889)

27            vii.            Christian (1846-1924)

viii.            John. (1848-1855)

6. Barbara Schrock (Schrack). Born about 1815 in France, and died about 1836.

About 1832-35 Barbara married Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly, son of Christian Pelsy (2 Jul 1772-10 Jun 1837) and Catherine Verkler (Wirckler) (1 Jan 1778-4 Apr 1860). Joseph was born on 28 May 1802 in Hellocourt, Rhodes, Meurthe, France, and died in Spring Bay, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL, on 24 Dec 1872; he was 70. At his death he was one of the richest farmers in the county.

They had one child:

28            i.            Christian (1835-1917)

Third Generation

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7. Joseph Schrock. Born on 17 Mar 1828 in Dompcevrin, Meuse, France, and died in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL, on 28 Dec 1901; he was 73.

On 8 Jun 1852 when Joseph was 24, he married Magdalena Guingrich, daughter of Joseph Gingerich (15 Dec 1804-6 Mar 1875) and Magdalena Guerber (22 Nov 1807-1847).

They had the following children:

i.            Catherine (1853-1944)

ii.            John (1855-1930)

iii.            Lidia (1857-1885)

iv.            Joseph S. (1859-1936)

v.            Jonathan (1861-1947)

vi.            Magdalena (1864-1938)

vii.            Mary (1867->1900)

viii.            David (1869-1948)

ix.            Susanna (Susan) (1872-1944)

8. Catherine Schrock. Born on 18 Dec 1829 in Dompcevrin, Meuse, France, and died in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL, on 10 May 1906; she was 76. Buried in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL. Old Apostolic Cemetery.

About 1848 Catherine first married Joseph Oyer, son of Catherine Oyer (11 Jun 1796-aft 1860) who married John Schrock.

They had the following children:

i.            John

ii.            Joseph

iii.            Lena

iv.            Catherine (Katie) (1856-1936)

v.            Mary

vi.            Peter Charles (1862-)

On 12 Mar 1865 when Catherine was 35, she second married Christian Kauffman, in Tazewell Co., IL, who was born on 25 Jan 1825 in Switzerland.

They had the following children:

i.            William (1867-1868)

ii.            Samuel (1869-1870)

iii.            Benjamin G. (1871-)

iv.            Emma Rebecca

9. Peter Schrock. Born on 1 Aug 1839 in Butler Co., OH, and died in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL, on 5 Apr 1922; he was 82. Buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. East Bend Mennonite Cemetery.

On 8 Jan 1860 when Peter was 20, he married Anna (Nancy) Garber, daughter of John Garber (25 Jul 1788-27 Jul 1845) and Eva Caroline Paithe (20 Mar 1799-26 Nov 1874), in Tazewell Co., IL. Anna was born on 30 Apr 1839 in Wayne Co., OH, and died in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL, on 3 Feb 1902; she was 62.

They had the following children:

i.            Katherine (Katie) (1860-1861)

ii.            John (1862-1951)

iii.            Samuel (1864-1943)

iv.            Joseph (1866-1947)

v.            Lydia Anna (1868-1938)

vi.            Moses (1870-1879)

vii.            Ella (1876-1951)

viii.            Magdalena Matilda (Lena) (1885-1950)

10. John Schrock. Born on 26 Mar 1843 in Trenton, Butler Co., OH, and died in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL, on 20 Apr 1935; he was 92.

On 3 Dec 1865 when John was 22, he married Barbara Rediger, daughter of Joseph Rediger (31 Jan 1796-9 Feb 1852) and Anna Schmidt (2 Aug 1808-30 Aug 1876), in Pekin Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara was born on 29 May 1844 in Washburn, Woodford Co., IL, and died in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL, on 3 Aug 1911; she was 67.

They had the following children:

i.            Peter (1867-1942)

ii.            Catherine (1868-1951)

iii.            Daniel (1869-1937)

iv.            Bina (1871-1942)

v.            Sarah (1872-1941)

vi.            Ida (1874-1945)

vii.            Frances (1875-1968)

viii.            Edward (1877-1964)

ix.            John William (1880-1948)

x.            Margaret Isabel (Belle) (1882-1954)

xi.            Barbara (1885-1980)

xii.            Aaron Lester (1888-1889)

11. Magdalena Schrock. Born on 23 Apr 1845 in Butler Co., OH, and died in Feb/Mar 1914.

On 18 Dec 1866 when Magdalena was 21, she married Joseph Yoder, in Meadows, McLean Co., IL. Joseph was born on 18 Dec 1841 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, and died in Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL, on 18 Jun 1928; he was 86.

They had the following children:

i.            Mary (1868-1952)

ii.            Daughter (~1870-1873)

iii.            Christian (1877-1893)

iv.            John M. (1871-1944)

v.            Joseph M. (1874-1939)

vi.            William (1885-1942)

12. Peter Schrock, Jr. Born on 5 Dec 1828 in Dompcevrin, Meuse, France, and died in Trenton, Butler Co., OH, on 5 Mar 1905; he was 76. Buried in Trenton, Butler Co., OH.

On 13 Mar 1856 when Peter was 27, he first married Elizabeth K. (Lizzie) Augsburger, daughter of Joseph Augsburger (17 Mar 1806-29 Jan 1869) and Magdalena Kennel (9 Mar 1811-12 Oct 1902). Elizabeth was born on 26 Jan 1837, and died in Trenton, Butler Co., OH, on 28 Aug 1874; she was 37.

They had the following children:

i.            Joseph Albert (1857-1945)

ii.            John (1859-1859)

iii.            Maria A. (1860-1875)

iv.            Magdalena A. (1862-1932)

v.            Veronica A. (Fanny) (1866-1944)

vi.            Samuel A. (1869-1932)

vii.            Sarah Anna (1873-1942)

On 14 Jan 1875 when Peter was 46, he second married Elizabeth Augspurger, in Butler Co., OH. Elizabeth was born on 27 Aug 1844, and died on 16 Feb 1912; she was 67.

13. Magdalena Schrag. Born on 7 Jun 1830 in Dompcevrin, Meuse, France, and died in Butler Co., OH, on 27 Jan 1878; she was 47.

On 13 Nov 1853 when Magdalena was 23, she married Joseph Arthur (Otto) Salzman, son of Andre’ Saltzman (about 1799-3 Nov 1876) and Anne Catherine Hodler (10 Oct 1801-14 Dec 1891), in Butler Co., OH. Joseph Arthur was born on 25 May 1825 in Blamont, Moselle, France, and died in Butler Co., OH, on 1 May 1871; he was 45. Buried in Trenton, Butler Co., OH.

They had the following children:

i.            John (1854-1937)

ii.            Christian (1856-1910)

iii.            Peter (1858-1939)

iv.            Joseph Arthur (1862-1932)

v.            Anna M. (1864-1949)

vi.            Mary B. (1865-1946)

14. Maria Schrag. Born on 6 Sep 1836, and died on 18 May 1868; she was 31.

On 5 Mar 1861 when Maria was 24, she married Christian Kinsinger, son of Rev. Joseph Kinsinger (19 Aug 1801-16 Dec 1857) and Magdalena Augsburger (13 Dec 1809-), in Butler Co., OH. Christian was born in 1836, and died in 1874.

They had the following children:

i.            Veronica Ellen (1862-1876)

ii.            Lisetta (1865-1937)

15. John Schrock. Born on 28 Aug 1843, and died on 12 Mar 1886; he was 42. Buried in Trenton, Butler Co., OH.

On 12 Nov 1867 when John was 24, he married Emelia Augsburger, daughter of John Augsburger (19 Jul 1819-) and Jacobina Holly. Emelia was born on 8 Feb 1849, and died on 21 Dec 1928; she was 79.

They had the following children:

i.            Christian (1868-1942)

ii.            Otellia (1869-)

iii.            Arthur (Twin) (1879-)

iv.            Alvin (Twin) (1879-)

v.            Oscar (1880-2929)

vi.            John (1882-)

vii.            Stanley (1870-)

viii.            Maria (1871-1874)

ix.            Albert (1873-1884)

x.            Otto (1875-1876)

16. Joseph Schrock. Born on 21 Jun 1835 in Butler Co., OH, and died on 5 Aug 1920; he was 85.

On 25 Nov 1858 when Joseph was 23, he first married Elizabeth Rediger, daughter of Benjamin Reidiger (1786-3 Dec 1848) and Barbara Ehresman (27 Aug 1797-31 Aug 1861), in Tazewell Co., IL. Elizabeth was born on 5 Sep 1839, and died on 25 Mar 1861; she was 21.

They had the following children:

i.            Anna (1859-1883)

ii.            John (1861-1861)

Joseph second married Mary Risser.

They had the following children:

i.            Andrew

ii.            Joseph

iii.            Mary

17. Anna Schrock. Born in 1840 in OH, and died in 1874 in IL.

On 11 May 1861 Anna married Ludwig (Louis) Stalter, son of Magdalena Stalter (1808-). Ludwig was born in Nov 1841 in Bavaria, Germany, and died in 1914.

They had the following children:

i.            Joseph

ii.            Lena

iii.            Anna

iv.            Peter

v.            Lewis

vi.            Elizabeth (Died as Infant)

vii.            Mary (Died as Infant) (-1874

18. Andrew Schrock II. Born on 9 Dec 1842 in IL.

On 25 Oct 1866 when Andrew was 23, he married Magdalene Schick, daughter of Joseph Schick (26 Dec 1818-6 Jun 1898) and Magdalene Augspurger (23 May 1823-11 Apr 1893), in Tazewell Co., IL.  Magdalene was born on 10 Jan 1849 in IL, and died in 1941 in NE. Buried in Holdrege, NE.

They had the following children:

i.            Mary Magdalena (Lena) (1867-1948)

ii.            Elizabeth “Lizzie” (1869-)

iii.            Samuel Truman (1876-1975)

iv.            Edward Bruner (1879-)

v.            Andrew T. (1889-)

19. Mary Schrock. Born in Jun 1846 in IL. and died on 11 Dec 1945 in Bruce Lake, IN. Buried in Logansport, IN. Mt. Hope Cemetery.

On 5 Jan 1879 Mary married Henry Hoffman, in Tazewell Co., IL. Henry was born in Feb 1857 in Germany, and died on 18 Mar 1924 in Bruce Lake, IN. Buried in Logansport, IN. Mt. Hope Cemetery.

They had the following children:

i.            Charles (1879-1964)

ii.            Annie M. (1881-)

iii.            Kate (1885-)

iv.            Amelia (1888-)

20. Magdalena Schrock. Born on 30 Jun 1847 in IL, and died on 10 Dec 1946; she was 99.

On 31 Dec 1874 when Magdalena was 27, she married David D. Augspurger, son of David Augspurger (1823-1895) and Elizabeth Schertz (1826-1895), in IL. Davie was born on 16 Oct 1852, and died on 21 Jul 1935; he was 82.

They had the following children:

i.            Samuel J. (1877-)

ii.            Daniel A. (1879-)

iii.            Sarah

iv.            Lydia Mae (1889-)

 

21. Peter Schrock. Born on 8 Jun 1849 in Peoria, IL, and died in Upland, San Bernardino Co., CA, on 27 May 1940; he was 90.

On 13 Nov 1873 when Peter was 24, he married Magdalena (Lena) Unzicker, daughter of Valentine Unzicker (15 Aug 1823-11 Oct 1881) and Magdalena Schertz (10 Sep 1827-9 Dec 1899). Magdalena was born on 19 Dec 1853 in Butler Co., OH, and died in Upland, San Bernardino Co., CA, on 14 Oct 1930; she was 76.

They had the following children:

i.            Frank William (1875-1957)

ii.            John Edward (1878-1961)

iii.            Matilda Ann (Tillie) (1881-1980)

iv.            Emma (1883-1972)

v.            Katie M. (1885-1973)

22. Mary S. Smith. Born about 1833 in Butler Co., OH, and died in 1896 in Harper, Harper Co., KS

On 7 Dec 1858 Mary S. married Frederick Fellrath, in Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL. Frederick was born in 1836 in Alsace, and died on 21 Nov 1894 in Harper, Harper Co., KS.

They had the following children:

i.            Magdalena (1861-~1921)

ii.            Louis Hubert (1865-1929)

iii.            Ida (1871-1928)

iv.            George

23. Peter Smith (Schmitt). Born on 1 Jun 1837 in Butler Co., OH, and died in Livingston Co., IL, on 17 Nov 1875; he was 38. Buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. Waldo Cemetery. Served in the Union Army.

On 3 Feb 1861 when Peter was 23, he married Barbara Neuhauser, daughter of Peter Neuhauser (20 Feb 1796-23 Jul 1889) and Anna Maria (Mary P.) Schmidt (Peterschmidt) (22 Jul 1807-2 Feb 1884). Barbara was born on 21 Feb 1840 in Butler Co., OH, and died in Livingston Co., IL, on 24 Mar 1881; she was 41.

They had the following children:

i. Mary (1861-1955)

ii. Anna (1863-1949)

iii. Magdalena (1865-1947)

iv. Christian H. (1867-1958)

v. Peter (1870-1936)

vi. John J. (1874-1924)

vii. Elizabeth (Died as Child)

24. Anna (Nancy) Smith. Born in 1840 in IL, and died in 1861.

On 28 May 1858 Anna (Nancy) married John M. Garber, son of John Garber (25 Jul 1788-27 Jul 1845) and Eva Caroline Paithe (20 Mar 1799-26 Nov 1874).

They had the following children:

i. Peter

ii. David

iii. Eva

iv. Anna (Died as Infant)

25. Magdalena S. Smith. Born on 11 May 1841 in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL, and died in Harper, Harper Co., KS, on 14 Apr 1916; she was 74.

On 21 Oct 1860 when Magdalena was 19, she first married Peter Neuhauser, son of Peter Neuhauser (20 Feb 1796-23 Jul 1889) and Anna Maria (Mary P.) Schmidt (Peterschmidt) (22 Jul 1807-2 Feb 1884). Peter was born on 8 Jul 1838 in Butler Co., OH, and died on 26 Aug 1864; he was 26.

They had the following children:

i. Mary Ann (-1864)

ii. Peter (-1865)

iii. Samuel (-1877)

On 11 Oct 1866 when Magdalena S. was 25, she second married Valentine (Valtin) Damien Maninger, in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL. Valentine was born on 26 Sep 1835 in Dittwar, Baden, Germany, and died in Harper, Harper Co., KS, on 4 Jul 1913; he was 77.

They had the following children:

i. John L. (1867-1944)

ii. Frank (1869-1946)

iii. August “Gus” (1872-1938)

iv. Emma Rebecca (1874-1944)

v. Joseph (1876-1915)

vi. William Lee (1879-1951)

vii. Edward Jennings (1880-1932)

viii. Frederick Albert (1886-1941)

26. Joseph Smith. Born on 22 May 1843 in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL, and died in Harper, Harper Co., KS, on 3 Jan 1889; he was 45.

On 18 Dec 1863 when Joseph was 20, he married Barbara Roth, daughter of Nicholas Roth (24 Mar 1815-3 Feb 1894) and Katharine Habecker (-2 Dec 1888), in Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara was born on 25 May 1847 in Butler Co., OH, and died in Harper, Harper Co., KS, on 1 Sep 1920; she was 73.

They had the following children:

i. Andrew (1864-1951)

ii. Katherine (1867-1891)

iii. Christian (1871-1933)

iv. Joseph (1873-1951)

v. Magdalena (1875-)

vi. Mary (1877-)

vii. Rena (1880-)

viii. Emma (1882-1967)

27. Christian Smith. Born on 18 Jan 1846 in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL, and died in 1924.

On 13 Feb 1873 when Christian was 27, he married Phoebe Sweitzer, daughter of Jean Suisse (Sweitzer) (29 Sep 1807-28 Jan 1885) and Marie Engel (1 Dec 1807-17 Feb 1888). Phoebe was born on 12 Jun 1847, and died in 1912.

They had the following children:

i. William Arthur (1873-)

ii. Frederic Albert (1879-)

28. Christian Belsly. Born on 31 Jul 1835 in Partridge Twp, Woodford Co., IL, and died in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL, on 5 Mar 1917; he was 81. Buried in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. Mt. Zion Cemetery.

On 18 Nov 1856 when Christian was 21, he married Mary Magdalene Schertz, daughter of John Schertz and Catherine Engel, in Trenton, Butler Co., OH. Mary was born on 3 Mar 1837 in Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH, and died in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL, on 28 Nov 1911; she was 74.

They had the following children:

i. Catherine (Died as Infant) (1857-1857)

ii. Anna (Died as Infant) (1858-1858)

iii. Catherine (1860-1926)

iv. Joseph (1861-1937)

v. John Rudolph (1863-1943)

vi. Samuel L. (1864-1928)

vii. Anna Rose (1866-1932)

viii. Mary Magdaline (1868-1941)

ix. Barbara Louise (1869-1953)

x. Franklin Louis (1873-1936)

xi. Emma Josephine (1877-1934)

xii. Thorasia Victoria (1879-1880)

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