Albert Elmer Schrock

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Brown School. Beyond That, He Was Self Taught.
• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 11
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Pulmonary Hemorrhage, Tuberculosis
• Census: Jun 1900, Brown Twp., Champaign Co., IL
• Baptism: 25 Oct 1903, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Census: Apr 1910, Newcomb Twp., Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obituary: Jan 25, 1917 Gospel Herald

Schrock. - Albert E. Schrock was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., Jan. 13, 1886; died at his home near Fisher, Ill., Jan. 9, 1917; aged 30 y. 11 m. 27 d.
He united with the Amish Mennonite Church at the age of 17 years and remained faithful unto the end. He united in marriage with Josephine Yordy Dec. 18, 1907. To this union were born 2 sons, Elmer and Orval who with his loving wife, are left to mourn his early departure, also father and mother, 1 sister, an aged grandmother, and a host of other relatives and friends. He was a very devoted Christian, living true to his convictions. He was elected superintendent of the Sunday school where he served faithfully until his health failed, when he was attacked with the dreaded disease, tuberculosis, of which he was a sufferer for four years. Much of this time he spent in reading good books and studying God,s Word. He bore his afflictions patiently and fought the disease hard, and died with a hemorrhage. He was a deep thinker, very conservative, choosing rather to be right than popular.
Even with his afflictions he always took an active part in church work, being in Sunday school two days before his death.
Funeral services were conducted Jan. 11 at the East Bend A. M. Church by Bro. Samuel Gerber of Pekin, Ill., assisted by the home ministers. Buried at the Mennonite cemetery.

Fare thee well, our brother,
Yes, a last and sad farewell,
But in heaven, we'll try to meet thee,
And with thee forever dwell.
——————
A local newspaper account of his death reads as follows:

Well Known Resident of Fisher Vicinity Past (sic) Away Tuesday.
Fisher, Jan. 9--(Special.)--Albert Schrock, well known resident of this community, died this morning at his home, two miles north of the village, after an illness of four years, due to tuberculosis. He had been unusually well of late and arose this morning and kindled a fire and shortly afterward was seized with a hemorrhage and died a short time afterwards. The deceased was a son of John and Mary Schrock and was born on January 13, 1886. He was married about eight years ago to Miss Josephine Yordy, who, with two sons, Elmer and Oliver (Orval), survive, as do also his parents. A sister also survives. He was a prominent member of the Amish church. The funeral will be held on Thursday from the Amish church, Rev. Samuel Gerber, of Morton, conducting the services. Burial will be made in the family lot in the Amish cemetery.

Census:
Listed with his parents and sister. Albert was 14.

Baptism:
East Bend Mennonite by Peter Zehr

Census:
Listed with Josephine his wife, and Elmer his son

Died:
At 6:00 a.m., after six years of fighting tuberculosis

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Albert married Josephine L. Yordy on 18 Dec 1907 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Josephine (daughter of Joseph P. Yordy and Elizabeth A. Roeschley) was born on 14 Aug 1886 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL; died on 3 Jan 1977 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried on 6 Jan 1977 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Both bride and groom were 21 years of age at the time of their marriage by Bishop Peter Zehr, Minister of the Gospel (East Bend Amish Mennonite Church), at the home of the bride’s parents.
Witnesses were Andrew Birky (b.19 Jun 1864) cousin of the groom, and Jacob Heiser.

Peter Zehr’s church records give the marriage date as 18 Dec 1907.

Married:
By Peter Zehr, at the home of the bride’s parents in Fisher, IL .

1. Elmer Raymond Schrock was born on 26 Jan 1909 in Fisher, Newcomb Twp., Champaign Co., IL; died on 11 Dec 1989 in Montgomery, Montgomery Co., AL; was buried on 16 Dec 1989 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
2. Orval Leo Schrock was born on 9 Sep 1910 in Fisher, Newcomb Twp., Champaign Co., IL; died on 14 Aug 2002 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 19 Aug 2002 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
3. Eunice Lois Schrock was born on 25 Jun 1917 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 15 Mar 2002 in Fort Oglethorpe, GA; was buried on 21 Mar 2002 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Railroad School?
• Occupation: Farmer In 1885, Later Carpenter And Painter
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Old age-died in his sleep
• Residence: 19 Feb 1885, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1891, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit:
Schrock, -- John Schrock, was born near Delavan, Ill., May 28, 1862; died near Fisher, Ill., July 28, 1951; aged 89 y. 2 m. He accepted Christ in his youth and was a member of the Mennonite Church from then until his death. He was a charter member of the Eat Bend congregation at Fisher. In 1885 he was united in marriage to Mary Birkey, of Morton, Ill. To this union two children were born. Albert, preceded him in death thirty-four years ago and his daughter (Fannie-Mrs. J.A. Heiser, Dec. 17, 1950). Surviving are his wife, 8 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. His 3 brothers and 4 sisters preceded him in death. N. N. Roeschley conducted the funeral services at the East Bend Church.

Birth:
Another source says Delavan

Residence:
At time of marriage

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

John married Mary Birky on 19 Feb 1885 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL. Mary (daughter of Andrew (Andréas) S. Birky and Veronica (Fannie) Sutter) was born on 19 Sep 1862 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 24 Mar 1954 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 26 Mar 1954 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 19 Feb 1885, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1914, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
Schrock, Mary (Birky), was born near Morton, Ill., Sept. 19, 1862; passed away at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Alta Detweiler, Fisher, Ill., March 24, 1954; aged 91 y. 6 m. 5 d. She was bedfast for 18 months. On Feb. 19, 1885, she was married to John Schrock. He preceded her in death in July 1951. They were the parents of 2 children (Albert E., and Fannie-Mrs. J. A. Heiser). Albert preceded her in death in February, 1917, and Fannie in December, 1950. Surviving are her daughter-in-law (Mrs. Josephine Schrock, Eureka, Ill.), son-in-law (J. A. Heiser, Fisher, Ill.), 8 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She accepted Christ in her youth and bore testimony of her love for her Saviour. She was a member of the East Bend Mennonite Church. Funeral services were held at the East Bend Church in charge of Ezra Yordy. Burial was made in the adjoining cemetery.


John and Mary lost both of their adult children before their own deaths.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married at the home of the bride’s parents by Andrew Ropp. Peter Schrock was a witness.
Both were 23 years of age at the time of their marriage.

Married:
By Andrew Ropp, minister of the gospel. (MR #153)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Railroad School?
• Occupation: Farmer, beekeeper
• Religion: Amish Mennonite. Attended A Methodist Church in Pekin After Marriage And Before Moving To Fisher.
• USR1: Chronic Interstitial Nephritis (Kidney Failure)
• Residence: 1850, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 27 Jul 1860, Malone Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1862, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1864, Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: Abt 1890, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: 1898, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 1904, Fairview, MI
• Residence: 1905, Fairview, MI
• Residence: 1907-1922, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obituary: Gospel Herald, 20 April 1922, pg 63
Schrock.--Peter Schrock was born, Aug. 1, 1839; died at his home in Fisher, Ill., April 5, 1922; aged 82 y. 8 m. 5 d. He was united in marriage to Anna Garber Jan. 8, 1860, who preceded him in death twenty years ago. To this union 8 children were born. Two preceded him in death. He leaves 6 children, 10 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 1 brother. He accepted Christ as his Savior while young and united with the Mennonite Church. He was a faithful member until death. Funeral services were conducted April 7, by Bro. S. S. Zehr and Bro. Sam Gerber. Text, Gal. 2:20.
—————————
“Peter Schrock had long, white whiskers and told one of his grandsons, "You'd be a fine feller if you'd let your whiskers grow." After Peter got older he would sit in his big chair in the sitting room with his spittoon by his chair. He had a jack knife with the words "Peter Schrock, Fisher, Illinois" made in the handle. He used this to cut his chewing tobacco. He also whittled a great deal. Peter raised pigs and kept bees--from 10-15 hives. Peter wasn't able to establish himself as a prosperous farmer like his brother Joseph, or a successful businessman like his brother John, but he left a legacy of compassion and kindness to his descendants.

“Sometime around 1885-1890 a real estate agent appeared in Fisher and persuaded Peter and his two sons, Samuel and Joseph, to buy some uncleared timberland in Fairview, Michigan [village of Mio nearby]. Peter went ahead and sometime later Sam and Joe and their families chartered a freight car and moved to Michigan. Sam and Joe, their livestock and furniture, rode in the freight car and the women (evidently including Lena and Ella) and children rode in a passenger car.

“The Schrocks managed to clear a few acres of land and planted it to Buckwheat. They had the buckwheat ground for pancakes at the mill in Mio. There were beautiful big rainbow and speckled trout in great abundance in the Au Sable river about on and one-half or two miles south of their house...Fish and buckwheat cakes were two important items in the Schrocks’ diet....On the north side of the small buckwheat field was the Sam Schrock house and on the south side of the field was the Joe Schrock house....Pete’s father [Sam], mother and oldest sister Katie worked for other people whenever they could to make a little money. Ellen would help when there was a new baby in the community or when extra help was needed with housework, etc.”

“After a few years Peter moved back to his home in Fisher, IL; Joseph and his family moved to Defiance, OH; and Samuel and his family moved to CO.”

















—————
Then, in the January Term A.D. 1919, Circuit Court, Champaign County, IL: George Bowman, Emma Van Dorn and Lucinda Lady, vs. a large number of persons named, including Peter and Anna Schrock; re who is the owner of real estate as follows:
The East Half (1/2) of the Southeast Quarter (1/4) of Section Thirty-one (31), and the West Half (1/2) of the Northwest Quarter (1/4) of the South west Quarter (1/4) of Section Thirty-two (32), all in Township Twenty two (22) North, Range Eight Eight (8), East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Champaign County, Illinois.

The three complaintants say their mother purchased the land in 1904 from John Zehr, and John Zehr had purchased the property from Austin E. Troutman in 19 from a whitacker01; and that Troutman had purchased the land from Peter Schrock in 1900; and that Peter Schrock had acquired title to the said lands by purchase thereof from Geo. S. VanHouten, the owner at that time, in 1893, and that Geo. S. VanHouten acquired title through various conveyances running in an unbroken line duly filed for record from the United States government, with the exception of a deed executed by Thomas Gile who originally entered said land from the United States Government in 1836.}

Census:
Page 261, Dwelling 1902: Peter Shrock age 21, farmer b. OH; Anna age 20, b. OH. (See map at http://www.tcghs.org/images/mp1857LLLG.jpg)

Residence:
Received mail in Fisher from Eureka

PURC:
Bought timbered land

Residence:
Moved family there in the spring of the year. This was noted in a letter from John Schrock (who stayed in Fisher) to Jonathan Schrock in Congerville, dated Sept 12, 1905.

Residence:
Moved back to the house in Fisher and remained until death

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery (Amish Mennonite Cemetery). Undertaker was L. C. Wade of Fisher. Funeral service by S. Zehr and Samuel Gerber

Peter married Anna (Nancy) Garber on 8 Jan 1860 in Tazewell Co., IL. Anna (daughter of John Garber and Eva Caroline Paithe) was born on 30 Apr 1839 in PA; died on 3 Feb 1902 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 5 Feb 1902 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Railroad School?
• Occupation: Housewife
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Carcinoma Of Stomach
• Residence: 1844, Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

The Garber family owned and ran a mill (see map at http://www.tcghs.org/images/mp1857MRLG.jpg)

Grandson Peter Schrock (1895-1950) remembered his grandmother as a large woman, rather quiet and solemn, but his memories were vague since he was only seven years old when his grandmother died in 1902. Some who knew Grandma Nancy say she was a very good cook.

Walter Ropp comments in his writings that Nancy loved beautiful things in nature like the sunsets, etc.

Residence:
Family moved when Anna was 4 yrs. old.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery (Amish Cemetery on the death certificate)

Notes:

Anna’s surname is spelled Gerber when entered by the county clerk, and Garber when entered by Andrew Ropp.

Married:
By Andrew Ropp

Other Events and Attributes:

• DESC: At Time Of Death Owned Land As Follows: The SE 1/4 Of The NE 1/4 Of Section 19 Town 22N, R8E Of 3rdPM (40 Acres At $70 Per Acre =$2800)
• DESC: At Time Of Death Owned Land As Follows: The W 1/2 Of The NE 1/4 Of Section 19 Town 22N, R8E Of 3rdPM (Excet One Acre In NE Corner Thereof, Deeded For Cemetery Purposes (79 Acres At $80 Per Acre=$6320)
• DESC: At Time Of Death Owned Land As Follows: The W 35 1/2 Acres Of The SW 1/4 Of The NW 1/4 Of Section 20, Town 22N, R8E Of The 3rdPM (35 1/2 Acres At $70 Per Acre = $2485) Purchased From Cora Baker
• Occupation: Farmer
• PURC: Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: Champaign Co., IL
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1872, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 16 Feb 1888, Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 3 Mar 1890, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1892, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

“After Andrew and Veronica married, they probably soon moved into the [Johannes] Sutter home, after the elder Sutters moved into the smaller house just across the garden. Their home was about eighteen feet long and sixteen feet wide. Its one room was divided into a kitchen and bedroom by a curtain. The hired man had to climb a ladder to his bed in the loft. Later an addition was built to the house for use as a kitchen in the summer. It could not be used during the winter because it was not built very warm and was floorless. The pole barn was eight feet high, sixteen feet wide, and eighteen feet long. In the wall in front of the horses was a flap door, which was opened at feeding time. The haystacks were just outside. Oats was kept in a rail pen nearby.”

Andrew and Veronica bought 80 acres of the Sutter land in 1882 for $50 an acre. In 1891 they sold the land for $95 an acre and moved to Fisher. He bought some land in the same section where daughter Mary and her husband had purchased land and built a house.

Birth:
Perhaps Arzbach. Birthdate on gravestone is 31 Mar 1830

PURC:
Section 19 portion purchased from George W. Mathews, who had himself derived title by patent from the United States.

PURC:
35 1/2 acres in Section 20 purchased from Cora A. Baker, who had derived title indirectly from the United States by patent.

Residence:
Daughter Mary lived in Morton as a child

Naturalization:
Intent to become a citizen

Naturalization:
Final certificate signed

Residence:
Moved from Tazewell Co., IL

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery (First burial)

Andrew married Veronica (Fannie) Sutter on 25 Mar 1858 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL. Veronica (daughter of Johannes Sutter (Suttor) and Barbara Oesch) was born on 11 Nov 1838 in Neuberg-an-Donau, Bavaria, GR; died on 16 Apr 1927 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Apr 1927 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 1851, New York, NY
• Residence: 1863, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1914, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: May 26, 1927 Gospel Herald
Birkey--Fannie S. Birkey was born Nov. 11, 1838; died April 16, 1927. She was the daughter of John Sutter of Berlin, Germany, who with his family came to the United States in 1848. She became a member of the Mennonite Church in her youth. In 1858 she was married to Andrew Birkey, who preceded her in death in 1895. She was the mother of five sons and two daughters. She is survived by three sons, one daughter, twenty-six grandchildren, and thirty-nine great-grandchildren. The funeral service was held in the East Bend Mennonite Church near Fisher, Ill., by A. H. Lehman of Chicago, Ill.

"Our dear Mother's tasks are finished,
Labors o,er and victories won
Now she's gone to be with Jesus,
Beckons to US all to come."

Birth:
Forsthof

Immigration:
On the ship Samuel M. Fox from Havre

Residence:
Living with Veronica’s parents

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: In French
• Occupation: Farmer In Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL 1850-1875
• Occupation: Miller At Cheppe Near Dompcevrin In 1829
• Occupation: Miller In Butler Co., OH (And Perhaps Farmer?) 1832-1850 (Possibly worked with the Flenner mill, since his brother Peter lived at one time near the Flenner family.)
• Religion: Amish, Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1826, Blâmont, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1829, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR
• Residence: 1829, Cheppe, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR
• Immigration: Spring 1831, Le Havre to Baltimore
• Residence: 1831, Lancaster Co., PA
• Census: 1840, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Naturalization: Sep 1844, Butler Co., OH
• Census: 1850, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1832-1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Census: Oct 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Residence: Oct 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Residence: Nov 1850, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 11 Aug 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

“John Schrock, a native of Lorraine, was of German ancestry, but was educated in French, which he spoke like a native. He was wedded to a lady of Lorraine, Miss Catherine Saltsman, and when the couple were the parents of two children, Joseph and his sister Catherine, they came to America in 1831 leaving the port of Havre in the spring. The passage across the boisterous Atlantic consumed forty-four days. They at length disembarked in Baltimore, Md., very much fatigued from the hardships they had endured during the long journey. From there they went to Lancaster, Pa., and a year later, in 1832 removed to Ohio, and located on a farm which the father operated, and in connection with it rented a mill, which he managed very successfully, it being the business in which he was most proficient. While living in Butler County, Ohio, the family was increased by the addition of three children, namely: John, Peter and Magdalena, who were bright and intelligent, and their mature years have not disappointed the fond expectations, which their parents conceived of the little French-Americans. In the autumn of 1850, Mr. Schrock and his family removed to Tazewell County, Ill., and located near Pekin, taking up wild land, but subduing it by patient industry until at their decease they were surrounded by numbers of broad acres well cultivated and supporting numerous fine domestic animals. During life they were members of the old Amish Church, and died in that communion. The father entered into his rest in his seventy-fourth year and the mother in her fifty-seventh."

(Although the newspaper article said Johannas rented a mill, I’m wondering if in fact he might have managed a mill owned by the Flenner family. Daniel Flenner bought a mill site in 1812 and sold it in 1853, according to the book “Woodsdale’s Story” by Doris Page. Johannas and his family lived in that area during that time. Amishmen Iutzi and Augspurger are mentioned also in connection with the mill. (DB)
—————————————————————
Newspaper article 20 Apr 1935 (at event of son John’s death)
“...Back in Ohio lived Johannes Schrock, German born and also a follower of Menno. Schrock found Ohio pretty well settled, but from the Mennonites in mid-Illinois he heard of a growing new land where acres were cheap and crops were abundant. So Johannes Schrock with three horses, pushed through from Trenton, Ohio, to Pekin and looked at this new west. He liked it. He left one horse here and drove the other two back to the Buckeye state. Arriving, he told the anxious wife, who had been Katharina Salzman in her girlhood days in Germany, that they were moving to Illinois. To Joe, the oldest youth, was given the task of driving through with the horses and cattle and what goods they had. The father and mother took the rest of the family to Cincinnati where they took a boat down the Ohio to Cairo and up the Mississippi and Illinois to Pekin.

Joseph’s son, Jonathan, was later able to point out to his family an American elm tree along the road west of Bloomington where Joseph had camped under his wagon the last night of his trip from Ohio. He had the reputation of being an excellent marksman.
——————————————————————
“The [Johannes Schrock] family located in a log house on what is now the Allen Miller farm five miles east of Pekin. They were made at home by the Mennonites here and kindly neighbors; and because they were honorable and thrifty, they prospered.” ,
——————————————————————
Johannes and his family were counted in the 1850 Butler Co. census and were still there in October. They turn up in Tazewell in November. Land records seem to indicate John made a trip to Illinois prior to taking the family in November, since he had made arrangements to purchase land from the Niewkirk family before arriving. The sale was completed in December 1850. He likely stayed with the Christian Ackerman family and happened to be there when the census taker knocked and was counted again—twice in 1850!
———————————————————————
From John Garber information, Walter Ropp records:
“Danny Garber, whose death by blood poisoning followed a threshing accident, should come in about here. My old Uncle Christ Ropp, who remembered everything that ever happened around there, said that his grave was the first one in the Railroad Cemetery. John Schrock, six months older and much like him said, "I know your Uncle 'Crysthel' had an awful good memory but there's one time when he was mistaken. It was the third one." And now that they are both gone these twenty years, who is going to settle it!”

Bishop Samuel Gerber many times officiated at weddings and funerals of East Bend Mennonite Church members in the early 1900s. While living in Tazewell County, the Schrocks were surrounded by Gerbers and Ropps, including Bishop Samuel Gerber and Bishop Andrew Ropp. The families were obviously close neighbors and friends, and attended church together. So it was natural for both Bishops to be involved in the marrying and burying of these people, even after they had moved to Champaign County.

When Johannes and his family first lived in Tazewell Co., they probably worshipped in the old Railroad School just across the road from Johannes’ land. W. A. Ropp writes about the school: “This school was begun about 1840 and continued to operate until 1872 or 1873 ... about the year 1835, a company was organized to build a railway eastward from Pekin--the grade was finished nearly to Tremont when the panic of 1837 stopped the work. A primitive log school house was built near the newly-graded roadway and was named the Railroad school, altho there was no railroad within a hundred miles.

“Most of the land already had been taken up by settlers, for it consisted of some small, rich, open glades just lying round to let the sunshine in, and a good grade of timberland covered by a magnificent growth of hardwoods and elms--tall, straight and clean-trunked--that gave the township the name Elm Grove.

“The first settlers were families from a number of eastern states and several German families, immigrants from the Upper Rhine country... they said they were Amish. These folks came rapidly and bought out the earlier eastern settlers, so that by 1845 the neighborhood was predominantly German. Some of the early families were the Youngs, the Hodgsons, the Griggs, several Nieukirk families, three Garber families, six Ropp families, and the Unsickers, Sommers, Schrocks, Heisers, Kings, Yordys, Litwillers, Hochstettlers, Birkeys and a few others.“
————————————————————————
The only known photo of Johannes has sometimes been purported as his passport photo. However, according to Wikipedia: “In Europe, general peace between the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1815) and the beginning of WWI (1914), and development of railroads, gave rise to international travel by large numbers of people. Passports were not usually required; there were limited wars which caused some exceptions.” And, photos would not have been used in 1831--photography in its infant form came later--about 1839.
—————————————————————————
Joseph Staker, in his discussion of the Schrock family, describes the land on which they settled: “The Schrocks (and Salzmans) lived on ‘ministerial’ land they had purchased from the State of Ohio. On Jan. 7, 1796, the Ohio Company set aside Section 29 in each of the ten townships of its second purchase for the support of religion. This set a precedent. When John Cleves Symmes made the Miami Purchase on Oct. 15, 1788, it included parts of Hamilton, Butler, and Warren counties. Congress approved his purchase but followed the earlier model by reserving Section 29 in each of the three counties for religious purposes. 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.”
—————————————————————————
In Ohio, the family worshipped with the Augspurger congregation, where Johannes’ brother, Peter, was a minister. This group was the more conservative of the two congregations near Trenton (the other being made up mostly of Hessian Christians who were more “liberal,” using buttons on their clothes rather than hooks and eyes). No doubt the Augspurger group followed the customs of kneeling for prayer and foot washing with communion, since the East Bend Mennonite Church in Champaign Co., Illinois, continued these customs well into the 1940s.
————————————————————————
John and his brother Peter, and Catherine’s father, Michael Salzman, purchased adjoining land in Section 29 of Lemon Township. In 1855 John sold 81+ acres to John Shertz.










———————————
With regard to John Schrock in their household, John and his family were counted in the 1850 Butler Co. census and were still there in October. They turn up in Tazewell in November. Land records seem to indicate John made a trip to IL prior to taking the family in November, since he had made arrangements to purchase land from the Niewkirk family before arriving. The sale was completed in December 1850. He likely stayed with the Ackermans and happened to be there when the census taker knocked, and was counted twice in 1850.
Donna }

Birth:
Date is according to marriage record. Aug 17, 1801 has been used by Willard Smith.

His father Joseph was the miller at Gondrexange during the birth years of his first children, so Johannes was likely born at the mill in the village. No birth document has been found. Nearby Ketzing estate housed many Anabaptist farm workers, so there were probably connections between the Schrag family and other Anabaptists living at the estate, and perhaps products from the farm were processed at the Gondrexange mill.

Residence:
At time of his marriage was living in Blâmont

Residence:
Miller at Cheppe, Commune of Dompcevrin. The mill was destroyed in 1914 during the war, only ruins remain. More than likely lived at the farm Chanteraine.

Residence:
48°56'11.53'' N / 5° 29' 35.00'' E A small village next to Dompcevrin that included Cheppe mill.

Immigration:
On ship list name recorded as Jno. Gerrard. Family lore says the trip lasted 44 days.

Residence:
No information found about the family’s time in Lancaster Co., PA

Census:
#155 (Brother Peter was listed also at #155)

Naturalization:
Two men vouched for John Schrock: Michael Saltzmann and Jacob Taylor.


Census:
Counted again, John Shrock, age 50, being in the household of Christian Ackerman

Census:
House #1175, Family #1316

Residence:
Living with wife Catherine, Joseph, Catharine, Peter, John; next to the Michael Saltzman family

Residence:
Left Ohio to settle in Illinois

Census:
Page 176: John Shrock, age 60, farmer, b. France; John age 17, farmer, b. OH; Magdalene age 16, b. OH.

Census:
Page 18: John Schrack, age 70, farmer; Jacobine, age 53, keeping house, born in Baden.

The information below doesn’t belong to Johannes. Does it belong to his son John?
Real Estate valued at $8000, Personal Estate at $2000. Living in the same dwelling were John, Jr., age 30, farmer; Phoebe, age 24, keeping house; Peter 3; Catharine 2, and Daniel 5/12. This family was living next to Peter Unzicker family in dwelling 119.

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery (not documented, but the most likely)

Johannes married Catherine (Elisabeth) Salzman on 8 Apr 1826 in Blâmont, Moselle, FR. Catherine (daughter of Michael Salzman and Catherine Hirschy (Hergi Hirschine)) was born on 27 Oct 1804 in Sarralbe, Moselle, FR; died in Mar 1858 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Servant
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1826, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Immigration: 30 Apr 1831, Baltimore, MD

Notes:

Birth:
6 brumaire an 13 according to (Film #1981660; n/m/d 1792) Her parents were age 25 and 24 at her birth. Witnesses to Catherine’s birth: Jacob Stabe(?), age 46 and Louis Heyacker, age 23, justitier.?

Residence:
At time of marriage

Immigration:
On the April 30, 1831 ship list of Baltimore arrivals ,with her two children, Joseph and Catherine, and husband Johannes; also her father Michael Salzman and step-mother. Manifest has not been found, but they are on the quarterly summary.

Buried:
Likely Railroad Cemetery

Notes:

Johannes was living at Blâmont at the time of the marriage and Catherine was at Bistroff.
A publication of the marriage was made at commune of Rhodes at Bistroff.

Witnesses:
Father of the groom, Joseph Schrack, living at the mill at Bachats, age 52, and Marie Nayhouser, age 53, mother of the groom
Nicolas Cherrier, age 50 years; Augustin Demontzey b. 1763.
Michael Salzman, age 44, miller at Xirange, father of the bride
André Chertz, age 33 years (born 1793), an uncle “par alliance” (by marriage) of the bride.

Married:
The French marriage index says Catherine Hergi was no longer living at the time of Catherine's marriage in 1826.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Asiatic Cholera
• Immigration: 28 Aug 1818, Philadelphia, PA
• Residence: Abt 1819, Mifflin Co., PA
• Residence: 1827/1835, OH
• Census: 1840, OH
• Residence: Abt 1841, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Gerber/Garber = tanner.

All the graves of John and Eva’s children in Elm Grove Twp. Cemetery use the name spelled GERBER.

“Sometime near 1840, John Garber and wife, Eva Caroline Paithe, came from Butler Co., Ohio and moved into a log house on the John Young farm about 80 rods southeast of Andrew Ropp. He was a native of Switzerland, born in 1799. His passport gives his departure for Philadelphia as June 18, 1819. His wife was born in New York City in 1801 of Holland Mennonite parents who went to Mifflin Co., Pa where this marriage took place. Their married life was in Lancaster Co and few years in Ohio. A short time after his arrival he returned to Ohio on business and dies there of cholera. His widow remained on the Young farm supported by the children, who married in the families of the community. They numbered 11. Samuel's wife was Mary Litwiller, their home at Eniden. Emmanuel's wife was Fannie Switzer, they lived on the east eighty of the Sommer Seed Corn farm. Sybil married Peter Ringenberger and lived on the west eighty. Mary, wife of Samuel King, lived in the field a mile northeast of the school house. Lydia, wife of Uncle Mose Ropp. Dave, whose wife was Lena Kinsinger on Dillon Creek. Katie, wife of Jacob Kennel north of Morton; Nancy, wife of Peter Schrock; John and Noah, and Dannie who died in his teens following an accident at a horse power.

“About 1860, when Man Garber lived on the Sommer farm, Mr. Young had a field of corn down at the road. One morning Garber noticed him out looking around to see how it was coming up and turn suddenly and come over to where he as working. "Garber", he said, "your chickens are rooting up all my corn." All right, all right, shoot em, shoot em. After a while (Garber) heard a shot and over came Young, and Garbers had chicken for dinner. A year or so later Garber had rye on his, with Young's field in corn again. May and June were dry and warm and one day in came Mr. Young all excited, "Garber, your chinch bugs are coming across the road to my corn. All right, Mr. Young, shoot em, shoot em!

“Way long ago, the church corner was the Nieukirk corner, named after a very early settler with two sons, Tom and Mace, in the old brink house across from the church. This place was a station where horses were changed on the stage coaches before 1800.”

According to Grubb in “Mennonites of Butler County, Ohio” a second Amish settlement in Ohio began when Jacob Yoder moved to Wayne Co. in 1817 from Mifflin Co., PA. Since John and his family had lived in Mifflin Co. at one time there is the probability that he had connections in Wayne Co. (or even lived there briefly before moving to Butler Co. since one of his children was born in Wayne Co.). Therefore when he returned to Ohio on business and died there, he could be buried in either Butler or Wayne Co.

————
“When they left Ohio for Illinois in 1840, they sold their household goods and implements and with their eleven children started their journey down the Ohio River, up the Mississippi to St. Louis on a large steamboat. The last night before arriving at St. Louis no one could sleep. Every few minutes a sentinel would cry out, “Look out for pickpockets!”. From St. Louis, they boarded a smaller vessel and arrived at Wesley City.” Arrived with wife and 11 children in Tazewell Co., IL, via Wesley City, from Butler Co., OH.

"Moved to Ohio 1827, to Illinois 1840. Had eleven children, older born in Lancaster Co. Pa, the younger in Butler Co. Ohio. Eva, wife was born in New York City in 1801. They lived in Butler Co. a number of years before moving to IL. Their new home was a log house on the John Young farm. It now has the Bethel Mennonite Church located on the north corner. At the time it was the Nieukirk corner with a brick house that was the stopping place for stage coaches on the Peoria-Indianapolis road. Now Illinois Highway #9. Soon after their arrival John Garber went back to Ohio on business quite likely by stage and died there during an epidemic of Asiatic Cholera. This left his widow and her family in that house in Young's field for quite a number of years supported by her children Emmanuel the oldest, being around 21 and Nancy was the baby.

“In the peaceful little country of Switzerland, in the year 1788, 25th day of July, John Garber was born. When he reached early manhood, exciting news came to the village where he, his widowed mother and four sisters lived. The Americans were sending passports for young men to use, providing they agreed to work a certain length of time after arriving in America to pay for their passage--the time to be agreed upon by the two contracting parties. The government seal in the family tells us this was the method John Garber used to get to America.

“His passport was issued on March 19, 1813, and was good for five years. The passport was used April 7, 1818, and bears the seal of a Notary Public in the County of Bern, Switzerland. On May 26, 1818, he entered into contract with Joseph Rush, Captain of the ship Susquehanna, for his passage to America, at the cost of two hundred francs, amounting to about fifty American dollars, leaving his widowed mother and four sisters in Bern.

“Family tradition indicates that John Garber worked two years for a Pennsylvania planter to pay off his travel contract. As far as we know, John was the only one of his family to come to America. He later married Eva Caroline Paithe (b.1799).”

Birth:
Other dates found 1792, 1798 (near Steffisburg)

Immigration:
From Amsterdam on ship Susquehannah, John Rush, Captain

Residence:
Butler, Monroe, or Wayne Co.

Census:
Listed in the Rush Creek, Fairfield County census

Residence:
Walter Ropp history

Died:
Probably Butler or Wayne Co.

Buried:
B. Lorenz says in one place Elmgrove Twp. Cemetery, Tazewell Co., IL. But it is logical he was buried in either Butler or Wayne Co., OH, as cholera victims were generally buried immediately.

John married Eva Caroline Paithe on 30 Jun 1824 in Mifflin Co., PA. Eva (daughter of John (Emanuel?) Paithe (Paight?) and Barbie Bressman) was born on 20 Mar 1799 in PA; died on 26 Nov 1874 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Could Not Read Or Write, Signed With Her X
• Religion: Dillon Creek Amish Congregation
• Census: 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Her father was a native New Yorker, mother was from Holland. Walter Ropp’s notes say Eva was born of Mennonite parents from Holland, who went to Mifflin Co., PA.


“Barbara Lorenz says it has been handed down in her family that Eva Caroline’s father, John Paithe, was a Hessian soldier who stayed in the US after the Revolutionary War.”

“Eva Caroline Paithe, the girl who later became the wife of John Garber, was born on March 20, 1799, near New York City. Her mother was born in Holland, but her father was a native of New York state. When Eva Caroline was quite young, her parents moved to Pennsylvania. After her marriage to John Garber they resided in Mifflin County, PA. Eleven children were born to this union. In 1835, the parents with their seven children moved to Butler County, Ohio where they lived until 1840. Here four more children were born.

“In 1840 John and Eva sold their household goods and implements and with their eleven children started their journey down the Ohio River, and up the Mississippi to St. Louis on a large steamboat. The last night before arriving at St. Louis, no one could sleep. Every few minutes a sentinel would cry out, "Look out for pickpockets!" From St. Louis, they boarded a smaller vessel and arrived at Wesley City, Illinois, in Tazewell County. They made their home near Pekin.

“The following year, 1841 (probate says 1845), John Garber went back to Ohio to collect sale notes. He died there and was buried before the news reached his family. His wife, Eva, and her second son, Emanuel and his family, shared their home until her death in 1874.”

After John’s death, Eva lived with Emanuel until her own death.

Birth:
Charles W. Finch gives date 20 Mar 1794; Carr 1801

Census:
Listed as 70 years of age, born in PA, living in the household of Emanuel Gerber

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: In Europe A Bauer (Farmer), In USA Farmer
• Reference Number: 97
• Religion: Mennonite
• Residence: Bef 1800, Völlerdingen, Alsace, FR
• Residence: 1811, Flugelsberg, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 10 Nov 1815, Arzbach, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1818-1824, Pellheim, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 13 Mar 1851, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 7 Jun 1851, Le Havre to New York
• Census: 1860, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Of Kirshstockach, Bavaria. Lived first in Odenstockah, near Munich, Bavaria, then moved to Neukirchstock, also near Munich.

According to Hermann Guth's 1989 research, “at 62 years of age Christian applied to emigrate to Illinois on 13 Mar 1851, with his second wife Elizabeth Stalter, age 37. He had 10,000 fl of assets and his wife had an additional 2,225 fl. This was much more than most immigrants had. Traveling with them were Elizabeth 23, Andréas 29, Anna 28, Katharina 17, Veronika 15, from his first wife, and, Jakobine 5, Heinrich 4, Jakob 3, and Helena 6 mo. from his second wife. Christian noted to authorities that several older children were already in America.

Christian's daughter, Barbara Birki, from Kirchstockach (unmarried, but with child, Jacob, whose father was Thomas Luiderer from Putzbrunn) applied on 29 Feb 1849 for permission to emigrate to Illinois. Her father gave approval because she wished to travel with his brother, Valentine Birki from Gern, who was the child's guardian. The document indicated that three brothers/sisters were already in America. Barbara and Valentine planned to travel via Mannheim-Le Havre-New York, with ship agent Karl Dick from Augsburg, but evidently plans changed since they are on the ship list of the Minnesota sailing from Liverpool, England to New York in 1849. Included were Valentine Birki (1794) with niece Barbara and her illegitimate son; Valentine's daughter, Mary Burkey Birky (1833); and Daniel Zehr. “
—————————————————————————————
“Christian Birkÿ, farmer at Mair in KIrchstockach and widower, intends to marry Elisabeth Stalter, forestry farmer’s daughter from Gern, and sought reception into and consent of the community. Since Christian Birkÿ possesses an entire estate, and his future bride brings a dowry of 800 guilders, and their advancement is adequately assured, and they are liable for insignificant debts, we agree to this marriage on behalf of the entire community.
In confirmation of this, Brunnthal the 13th of August 1841, the local authorities of Brunnthal:
Andreas Zimmermann, Georg Fischer[?], Johann Heiss[?]”

“Christian’s assets at the time of immigration were 10,000 fl. and the assets of his children’s mother was a further 2,225 fl. for the children of his first marriage. He emigrate from Bavaria to the New World with one of the higher known fortunes. His brother Valentine also left the Europe with 10,000 fl. Many immigrants left with only a few hundred.”

“In the 1860 Illinois census, Christian and Elizabeth "Berky" are found in Groveland Township where Christian had purchased 120 acres of land in Section 22. Seventy two year-old Christian and 48 year old Elizabeth lived with their children, Henry, Jacob, Helena, Jacobina, and John (born in Illinois after the family arrived). Upon arriving in Illinois, Christian purchased 80 acres of farmland just north of Groveland in Tazewell County. Christian died on February 14, 1866 and was buried on his farm next to Heinrich Stalter, his father-in-law. His son Joseph was appointed administrator of his estate. The estate was valued at $2050.75 plus 120 acres of land valued at $4400. Each child received $264.13 from the estate settlement on 4/15/ 1868. Elisabeth received her widow's share. The last documentation of Elizabeth Stalter "Burky" is in the 1870 Census when she was living in Groveland, Tazewell County with her 5 children, Jacobine, Henry, Jacob, Helena, and John. Elisabeth died on September 24, 1872 and was buried next to her husband and father. In 1875 the children sold the land to Meinrad Biender, reserving one quarter of acre where the cemetery lay. It is now referred to as the “Birki Cemetery”.

Birth:
Near Diemeringen

Residence:
Lutterbacherhof. This is assumed because we know his brother Valentine lived there before going to Bavaria.

PURC:
Near Dachau, borough Rohrmoos. A half farm, the “Pasten estate,” house No. 8. Purchased from Jakob Hiser (Heiser) from Hanfeld, Country Court Starnberg. Size of the half farm was 84 days work and included a potato distillery.

Residence:
Mennonite and partial leaseholder on the grounds of the Pellheim estate of major general Maximilian Graf von Spreti at Arzbach, Bavaria, a few miles north of Dachau.

Immigration:
Applied for emigration

Immigration:
On French Bark, Adhimary (Adhema?), with his second wife and nine children, and Christian’s brother-in-law, Georg Kettner and his family (husband of Maria Birki).
Traveling with Christian and Elisabeth were Andréas (29), Anna (18), Elizabeth (23), Katharina (17) and Veronika (15) -children of Christian and his first wife - and Jakobine (5), Heinrich (4), Jakob (3), and Helena (6 mo.) - children of Christian and Elisabeth. He left capital of10,000 guilders. He deposited 2225 guilders for the children of his first marriage.

Census:
Listed as age 72 with wife Elizabeth, age 48.

Died:
Estate document from Tazewell Co. on file. Burial site is in Section 22 of Groveland Two., Tazewell Co., IL.

Buried:
Birki Cemetery - https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2596053/birki-cemetery/map#share_email

Christian married Maria Anna Gascho about 1815 in Pellheim, Bavaria, GR. Maria (daughter of André Gascho and Anna Zwalter) was born in 1798 in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR; died between 1840-1841 in Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“Maria Gajou from Nancÿ in Frankreich”

“Christian's first wife was named Mary [Gascho]. On August 10, 1854, Christian Birky petitioned the court to be named legal guardian of his daughter Fronica (Veronica), as follows:

To the County Court Tazewell County Illinois The undersigned respectfully shows that Fronica Birkey aged seventeen years in January last is a minor heir of his wife Mary deceased and that the said Fronica is his daughter, and that heir aforesaid she is entitled to certain property of about the value of $178---- and he preys that letter of Guardianship may issue to him the said Christian Birkey for his said daughter. Affirmed to this ?? (Signed) Christian Birki before me this 10th day of August, 1854 Jno M Bush.

Also in the file is the Court's Order that appointed Christian the legal guardian of Fronica (Veronica) until she reached the age of 18. This suggests that Mary received a bequest (most likely from her father at the time of his death). Since she had apparently pre-deceased the benefactor, her bequest was divided among her natural children (Mary, Joseph, Magdalena, Barbara, Elizabeth, Andrew, Anna, Catharina, and Veronica). All save Veronica were of the age of majority in 1854. In order for her to collect her property, she needed a legal guardian, and that became her father. The person leaving the bequest may have been of some means since Mary's share was $1602, and an equal amount may well have been left to any of Mary's siblings or their issue. The entire process suggests that Mary Birki's father may have died intestate in Illinois in 1853 or 1854 and it thus may be possible to identify him through probate or other guardian records. “ Gary Yordy (Source: Tazewell County Probate Records, File 11 “Fronica Birkey”)

Notes:

Married:
Arzbach was the name of an estate outlying the village of Pellheim (about 1.7 miles north of the center of Pellheim. It was the site of Schloss Pellheim, the house or palace of a count. The house is now a restaurant. Pellheim was administratively incorporated into Dachau in 1972.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Estate manager/Minister/farmer - Bauer in Dittenfeld
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1825-27, Probfeld, Bavaria, GR
• Ordained: 19 May 1824, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 11 Nov 1851, New York, NY
• Census: 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Birth:
One history has the year 1795. Source #360 gives birthplace as Münchweiler (probably Münchweiler an der Rodalbe.

Residence:
John and Barbara were born there

Immigration:
From Le Havre. After 36 day voyage on the Samuel L. Fox (left Le Havre about 5 Oct 1851).
https://www.immigrantships.net/v3/1800v3/samuelmfox18511111_01.html

Census:
pg. 149 farmer John Sutter, 65, Germany; Barbara, 61; Andrew, 19; Andrew Buky [son-in-law Andrew Birkey], 29; Fanny [Veronica], 22; and Barbara, 1, born in Illinois.

Buried:
Birky-Landes Mennonite Cemetery - Grave #36 on printed plot map, or Plot #2 on the 8/12/2013 version.

Johannes married Barbara Oesch on 31 Oct 1819 in Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR. Barbara (daughter of Christian N. Oesch and Katharina Burki) was born on 24 Jun 1799 in Saarbuckenheim, Alsace, FR; died on 10 Sep 1884 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Birth:
(Sarre-Union) Day could be read Jun 23 or 27 just as well.

Buried:
Landes Cemetery - Grave #10 on printed plot map dated 8/12/2013.

Notes:

Married:
Near Lake Starnberg, below Munich. They were first cousins.