Lelia Alberta Cender

Notes:

Obit: http://genealogytrails.com/ill/ford/obits_C.html
CENDER, Lelia - The funeral of LELIA A. CENDER, age 85, of Gibson City will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Gibson City Bible Church with the Rev. Scot Glasco officiating. Burial will be in East Bend Mennonite Cemetery, Fisher. Pallbearers include Dave Cender, Mark Cender, John Cender, Steve Oyer, Stan Oyer and Kent Oyer.

Miss Cender died at 8:40 a.m. Saturday, 4-3-1993 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Gibson City. She was born 6-21-1907 near Fisher, a daughter of John and Katie Zehr Cender. Survivors include a brother, Alva Cender of Fisher. Two brothers and a sister preceded her in death. [Contributed by Gail Hahn Hutchcraft].

Died:
Heritage Manor

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1892, Champaign Co., IL
• Undefined: 1923

Notes:

Obit:
Cender.-John, son of Joseph and Mary Cender, was born near Roanoke, Ill., Aug. 26, 1877; died at his home near Foosland, Ill., Nov. 21, 1935; aged 58 y. 2 m. 26 d. At the age of 10 years he moved with his parents to Champaign Co., Ill., where he has lived ever since. When 14 years of age he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and united with the Mennonite Church near Fisher, Ill., of which he was a faithful member until death. He bore his suffering patiently, and expressed his desire to go home to his Lord. He was united in marriage with Katie F. Zehr Dec. 15, 1904. Four children were born to this union. One daughter (Sadie Elizabeth) passed away 22 years ago. He leaves his sorrowing companion, 3 children (Roy of near Fisher, Lelia and Alva at home), 2 little grandchildren (Kenneth and Joyce Cender), 1 brother (Chris) and 2 sisters (Mrs. Lena Birky and Mrs. Mary Heiser, all of Foosland, Ill.). Two brothers and 1 sister preceded him in death. He also leaves a large host of relatives and friends to mourn his departure. Funeral services were held at the East Bend Mennonite Church, conducted by Bros. J. A. Heiser and Harold Zehr. Text, Isa. 38:1. Interment in East Bend Cemetery.

Undefined:
Invented a special lifting jack to be fitted on a corn sheller and registered it with the U.S. Patenet Office.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

John married Katherine Frances Zehr on 15 Dec 1904 in Champaign Co., IL. Katherine (daughter of Bishop Peter Zehr and Barbara Heiser) was born on 5 Oct 1877 in Danvers, McLean Co., IL; died on 10 Jan 1944 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1889, Champaign Co., IL
• Baptism: 1894, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, February 3, 1944, pages 941, 942, 943 and 944
Cender.-Katie F. Cender, daughter of the late Bishop Peter and Barbara Hieser Zehr, was born near Danvers, Ill., Oct. 5, 1887; departed this life Jan. 10, 1944; aged 66 y. 3 m. 5 d. At the age of 10 years she moved with her parents to their home near Fisher, Ill. On Dec. 15, 1904, she was united in marriage to John Cender who preceded her in death 8 years ago. This union was blessed with 4 children. One daughter, Sadie, preceded her in death in 1913. There remain 2 sons (Roy and Alva), and a daughter (Lelia), all of Fisher; also 4 grandchildren, a brother (Dan P. Zehr), and a sister (Mrs. Amelia Birkey), both of Foosland. A brother and a sister preceded her in death. At the age of 14 she accepted Christ as her Saviour and united with the East Bend Mennonite Church to which she remained faithful to the end, serving as a Sunday-school teacher as long as health permitted. During her illness she was very patient, often expressing a desire to remain with her loved ones, but also a longing to depart to be with her Lord whom she loved and served. Funeral services were conducted at the home by Bishop J. A. Hieser, and at the Church by Bro. G. D. Troyer, assisted by Bro. Elmer Crockett of the Rantoul Gospel Center, Rantoul, Ill. Text: I Cor. 15:13. Interment in East Bend Mennonite Cemetery.

Baptism:
East Bend Church by Jos. Sclegle

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By Andrew Schrock, at home of Peter Zehr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1854
• PURC: 28 Feb 1870, Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL
• Residence: 1892, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 4 Feb 1892, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Census: 1900, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth Feb 3, 1910
Cender.-- Jos. Cender was born in France, June 13, 1827; died near Fisher, Ill., Jan. 17, 1910; aged 82 y. 7 m. 4 d. He united with the A. M. church in his youth and remained a faithful member to the end. He united in marriage with Mary Rouvenac, Mar. 13, 1870. This union was blessed with seven children. He leaves 3 sons, 2 daughters, 8 grandchildren, one sister and many friends to mourn his departure. Two children and his companion preceded him to the spirit world. Funeral services were conducted at the home by Bro. Peter Zehr from Psa. 90:2, and at the church by Bro. Samuel Garber in English from Gal. 2:20, and by Bro. Andrew Schrock in German from II Tim. 4:7.
C. W. S.

Joseph and Mary settled in Roanoke in 1870. With them were Mary’s parents.

Immigration:
He is on the passenger list of the “John Hancock” along with his sister Madeleine.

PURC:
Sec. 26 Twn. 27N - 80 acres at $12/acre

Census:
Shows John, Mary and three children

Residence:
Moved from Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL

PURC:
Purchased land from William H. and Mary F. Swayze. Legal Description: W 1/2 of E 1/2 of W 1/ of NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 17, Township 22N, Range 8E of 3rdPM.}



Census:
shows them as Joseph Centner, 72, born in June 1827; Mary, 58, born in March 1842; and three children born in Illinois: Mary, John, and Peter. It states that they both immigrated in 1854. They were living next door to Peter and Barbara Heiser Zehr.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Joseph married Mary Rouvenacht on 13 Mar 1870 in Tazewell Co., IL. Mary (daughter of Christian Rouvenac and Maria Switzer (Suisse)) was born on 29 Mar 1842 in Guermange, Saarebourg, Moselle, FR; died on 4 Mar 1909 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1854

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth 3/27/09
Cender - Mary Cender (maiden name Rouvenac) was born in France, March 28, 1842; died of paralysis near Fisher, Ill., March 4, 1909; aged 66 y. 11 m. 6 d. She united with the A. M. Church in her younger years and remained a faithful member to the end. She was married to Joseph Cender and lived in this relation for nearly 39 years. To this union were born seven children. She leaves to mourn her departure an aged, mourning husband, three sons and two daughters. Funeral services were held at the house by Andrew Schrock of Metamora, Ill., in German and Samuel Gerber of Tremont, Ill., in English. Text Psa. 103; Gal. 2:20, and I Cor. 15:22.


Read at East Bend Mennonite Church Centennial:

“I was born in 1842 near Saarbourg, Lorraine, France. My parents were Christian and Maria Switzer Rouvenacht. They named me Maria too. My parents were Amish Mennonites and they, along with others of the same faith, experienced many hard times. Lorraine was a beautiful land, but since many families in our area, including the Oyers and the Mosimans, had already gone to America, my parents decided that it would be good for us as well. It was a long, hard trip. We were on the ocean many days. And then it was many more days until we would reach Woodford County where we made our first home. The first years in America were much different, and in some ways more difficult, than life had been in Lorraine, but we were happy with our new freedoms.

“One day when I was almost 28 years old, a visitor came to our door. Since he was also from France we made him very welcome. It was good to visit with someone from our homeland. Joseph Zentner (Cender) had been in America a few years and was now ready to find himself a wife. Even though he was 16 years older than me, I consented to marry Joseph on March 13, 1870. We began our life together on a farm just south of Roanoke, Illinois. We attended the Roanoke Amish Mennonite Church where Joe served as a trustee for a while. It was here that our seven children were born. That was Katie, Chris, Joe, Lena, John, Mary and Peter. Katie died when she was eight years old and we buried her in the Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery.

“It didn’t seem long until Joe had some good help as our young sons were growing up quickly. They were full of life, as Joe and I found out when we returned home to a surprise one day during hay season. It seemed the boys had been busy pulling the hay up into the haymow with a horse-drawn hayfork. All went well until they decided to send Katie up with a load of hay and left her stranded half way up the side of the barn. That is where we found her when we arrived home sooner than the boys expected us. A switchin’ was in order on that occasion. Joe decided he’d better be looking for more land to farm to keep the boys busy. And then too, they’d need their own places when they decided to get married. Land was getting scarce and prices were high in Woodford county, so Joe began looking around. He was hearing good things about Kansas, so he decided to make a trip there.

“When he arrived in Kansas he stepped off the train and started looking the area over. He noticed piles of buffalo chips scattered about and asked someone if the land required fertilizer already. Joe was told the buffalo chips were burned for fuel, as there were no coal mines in Kansas and coal was very expensive there. Joe had already made his decision about moving to Kansas. He quickly boarded the train and sat quietly in his seat while the lady land agent walked through the train calling, “Where’s Zentner, where’s Zentner?” He didn’t answer her because he didn’t even want to discuss a Kansas land purchase! When Joe got back to Woodford County, he told the family, “Kansas is not for us.”

“Joe said he’d heard about an Amish Mennonite settlement that had just been started near Fisher in Champaign County, Illinois. So he decided to check this out next. He took our oldest son, Chris, with him since he was almost 19 years old. When they got there Peter Zehr took them to look at some farms that were for sale. Joe decided he liked the William Swayze farm, so on February 4, 1892, he signed the papers and bought our new farm. Just in case we didn’t like this new place, Joe kept the one at Roanoke for a little while longer. Well, we made arrangements to move to our new home yet that spring. Our six children were a big help; Peter, the youngest, was ten years old. When the train reached Gibson City, we found Peter Zehr, Jacob Heiser and Charles Stormer there to meet us. They loaded our things on the wagons and tied the horses behind. The boys drove the cattle along behind the horses. The weather was cold and wet, and we were glad when that eight mile trip was over.

“We really weren’t very happy when we reached our new home. That spring of 192 was cold and rainy, which didn’t help our attitude either! But things began to happen and there were a lot of changes in the East Bend area. That year eleven new families moved nearby, and among them were four Birkey families. After Joe built our new house, we were much more comfortable and we began to appreciate our surroundings. It was such a nice neighborhood where we lived! Our house was almost across the road from Peter Zehr, then west of us was Charles Stormer, north were Joe Beacher and John Zehr, and south was August Ingold. A little east of us were Jake Heisers and Barbara Heiser and her family.

“As the years went by, we felt we’d made a good choice. When our children married we were happy to have them living nearby. We all attended the East Bend Mennonite Church, and as we worshipped with our family and friends, we thanked God many times through the years for His goodness and blessings. Because He was faithful in caring for us, we wanted to be faithful and live for Him.”

Birth:
headstone date is 28 March

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Minister, Bishop, Farmer
• Reference Number: 16
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Complications Of Bright’s Disease
• Residence: Abt 1856, Tazewell Co., IL
• Ordained: 10 Jun 1883, Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL
• Residence: 1889, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: 30 Apr 1893, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: 1900, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald Mar 30 1922

Zehr. - Bishop Peter Zehr was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., Aug. 24, 1851; died at his home near Fisher, Ill., Mar. 14, 1922; aged 70 y. 6 m. 18 d. He suffered from a complication of diseases. He bore it very patiently. He was married to Barbara Heiser of Morton, Ill., June 8, 1876. To this union were born five children (Mrs. Catharine Cender, Dan P. Zehr, Mrs. Lizzie Cender, Mrs. Amelia Birky, and Joseph A., who preceded his father in his infancy). He leaves 15 grandchildren, three brothers, and three sisters. Five brothers and 1 sister preceded him to eternity. He united with the Mennonite Church in his youth. June 10, 1883, he was ordained to the ministry in Deer Creek, Ill. In 1893 he was ordained bishop in charge of the East Bend congregation near Fisher. He was known for his heart concern for the flock. His last prayers were for her welfare. The funeral was held Mar. 17, 1922, conducted by Bros. Samuel Gerber, C. F. Derstine, and Bros. Ezra B. Yordy. Text, I Thes. 4:14; II Cor. 5:1.
——————————————
PETER ZEHR DEAD
Peter Zehr, an aging resident of East Bend township residing northeast of town, died at his home on Tuesday night of last week.

Bishop Peter Zehr, son of Peter and Elizabeth Zehr was born near Deer Creek Ill., August 24th, 1851 and died at his late home March 14th 1922, aged 70 years 6 months and 18 days he suffered a complication of diseases. He was married to Barbra Heiser of Morton, Ill. June 8th, 1876, to this union were born five children as follows: Mrs. Catherine Cender; Dan P. Zehr; Mrs. Lizzie Cender; Mrs. Amelia Birkey; and Joseph A. Zehr who preceded his father to eternity in his infancy 33 yers ago.

He leaves 15 grandchildren one grandchild preceded him in death a number of years ago. He also leaves three brothers and three sisters as follows: Daniel Zehr of Danvers, Ill., Mrs. C. W. Heiser of Goodfield, Ill., Mrs. Joseph Baecher of Foosland, Ill., David D. Zehr of Manson, Iowa; Mrs. C. S. Zehr of Manson, Iowa, and Samuel Zehr of Foosland, Ill; five brothers and one sister preceded him in death in their infancy.

He united with the Mennonite Church in his youth, later in June 10th, 1883 he was ordained to the ministry in Deer Creek Ill. Ten years later he was ordained bishop in charge of the East Bend congregation near Fisher, Ill. He was known for his heart concern for the Church. His last prayers were for her welfare and for her souls.

The funeral services were held at the Mennonite Church March 17 conducted by Bishop Samuel Gerber Tremont Ill. Bishop Clayton Derstine of Eureka Ill. and by Pre Ezra Yordy of Eureka at the home. Texts.I Thess. 4:4, II Cor. 5:1.

Father thou art sweetly resting; Gone from all thy toil and pain.
For from earth and all its wrestling, Thou didst now thy crown obtain.
Thou didst love the good old bible, Turned its pages o’er and o’er.
Till the Savior bade thee leave it, And its promised realms explore.
—By his Children
————————————————————
Harold S. Bender said: “The proper name of the followers of Jakob Ammann is ‘Amish Mennonite’ although frequently they are referred to simply as Amish.” The Amish Mennonites came to Illinois a few years earlier than the Mennonites and came in larger numbers. Amish Mennonites from Dillon Creek and Goodfield and Hopedale [IL] began moving to the East Bend area of Champaign Co. [IL] in about 1880. (Source 1098)
——————————————————
Peter was the first minister of the East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher, IL. He had served the Goodfield Mennonite Church (formed from the Mackinaw Meeting) from 1883-1889. In 1914, Bishop Peter Zehr started the practice of an all day meeting on the Fourth of July, including morning session, noon basket lunch, afternoon and evening sessions. Just the year before, in 1913, Peter writes in his church record book that “an evening service was held at East Bend Church, Champaign Co., IL, on Jun 19 by the four brothers-Daniel Zehr, Peter Zehr, David Zehr, Samuel Zehr. A sermon was held again by the four brothers at Goodfield, IL, Apr 30, 1918.”
————————————————————
Willard Smith in Mennonites of Illinois tells of the tense time following World War I. “At the East Bend church at Fisher, vandals splashed yellow paint only on the front door. They also put up a flagpole and flag. Some members wanted to remove it, but Bishop Peter Zehr instructed that it remain flying. It was left there until it became tattered.” (p.356)

The final marriage (No. 59 in Peter’s church record book) performed by Peter seems to be on October 2, 1919, joining Samuel Heiser and Mrs. Alma Kohli. The last death recorded in his book is John Zehr, 30 June 1919.}

Read at East Bend Mennonite Church Centennial, 1989

“I moved to East Bend Township in 1889 for the purpose of starting a new church...I was born in Woodford County on August 24, 1851 and my parents were Peter and Elizabeth Oyer Zehr. When I was five years old, Pa bought a farm in Tazewell County by the Mackinaw River, so we moved there. Our house stood on the high hill overlooking the Mackinaw Valley. I had a happy childhood growing up with my three brothers Daniel, David and Samuel. I also had three sisters Elizabeth, Mary and Phoebe. We had Christian parents who must have been our inspiration , because all four of US boys grew up to be preachers. Our parents took US to church whenever possible and at first we had our church services in different homes. The preachers were my Uncle Jake Zehr, Christian Ropp and Christian Reesor.

I felt the call of God and wondered what he had in store for me. When the church at Goodfield called me to be a minister in 1883, I thought maybe that was the answer. The next year we built our new church building.

I had married Barbara Heiser in 1876 and by now Katie, Dan, and Lizzie were born. Things were going well but still it seemed God was calling me to something different. When it was brought to my attention that there were several families in Champaign County without a minister, it seemed that this was the answer to the call I had been feeling. When I said something to Barb, she was willing to go. Her brother Jake was already living there, and her brother Joe and family decided to move with us.

When I told the church, people objected to us moving. One day my son Dan came home and told me he had heard some people talking. they were saying, “Peter will come back with his pack on his back.” But Barb and I felt we must follow God’s call no matter what the home folks were saying.

In November of 1888, another son, Joseph, was added to our family. While we were preparing to move to Champaign County in the spring of 1889, baby Joseph took sick with the red measles. When we thought he was over the measles, we got our belongings together and boarded the train for Gibson City. The train ride was long, but it was so good to see Barb’s brother Jacob Heiser at the train depot to meet us. The spring air was so cold, and it was a rainy day when we arrived.

It seemed such a long ride in the cold rain until we got to our new home. But riding in a spring wagon was so much better than walking the eight miles like Jacob and Elizabeth had to do. We were so glad to get there, but that night Joseph became ill again with a setback from the measles. In spite of the best we could do, the baby died on March 23rd. We buried him in Blackford Cemetery. We couldn’t help but wonder why this happened to us.

To add to our wondering, four days after little Joseph died, Barb’s brother Joseph Heiser injured himself while moving some hay and died suddenly. Two deaths in four days! I knew what some home folks would be saying now!

But in spite of these setbacks, I felt God’s call to go ahead and organize a church. After we had our first church service, I felt a peace within me that I had not experienced before. I felt sure this was where God wanted me to be.

In 1891 our last child, Amelia, was born.

With more people moving to the area, Dixon School soon became too small, so in 1892 we rented the Houstonville Methodist Church for our meeting place. My brother David Zehr helped organize our first Sunday school and became the first Sunday school superintendent. With more and more people coming, we felt it was time to have our own church building. So in the summer of 1895 we built our first church building. Now we had a permanent place for our church home.

My concern was always for the welfare of the church and even unto my dying day I was praying for the church. I had a favorite motto that influenced my life and I passed it on to others. It went like this, “I shall pass through this world but once, if therefore there be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do, let me do it now, let me not deter it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”







It was then used for at least some of the subsequent children, but ventually ended up with Bishop Peter and his wife Barbara. Most likely, all of their children used it, then it was given to Amelia (who married Alvin Birkey). It stayed with that family for many years until thier son, Delmar Gene, was born, and was the last person to sleep in the vintage bed. In July of 2023, the bed was gifted to Del and Donna’s family to keep, protect, and hand down at the appropriate time.}

Ordained:
Served the Mennonite Church at Goodfield, IL from 1883-1889

Ordained:
To bishop status-East Bend Mennonite

Residence:
Head of house, Peter, wife Barbara, children Katie, Daniel, Lizzie, Amelia.

Died:
Death Certificate on Microfilm at Urbana Free Library, DC #11574

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery. Funeral service by Derstine and Sam Gerber.

Peter married Barbara Heiser on 8 Jun 1876 in Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of Jacob Heiser and Katharina Wagler) was born on 1 Nov 1857 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Nov 1934 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Minister's Wife And Mother
• Reference Number: 17
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
Zehr. - Barbara, daughter of Jacob and Katherine Heiser, and wife of Bishop Peter Zehr, was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., Nov. 1, 1857; died Nov. 16, 1934, at the home of her daughter (Mrs. Alvin R. Birkey of Foosland, Ill.); aged 77 y. 15 d. She united with the Mennonite Church in her youth and remained a faithful member until death. She was united in marriage with Peter Zehr, June 8, 1876. To this union were born 5 children, 3 of whom are now living -- Mrs. Katie Cender, Daniel P. Zehr, and Mrs. Amelia Birkey, all of Foosland, Ill. Two children preceded her in death -- Mrs. Elizabeth Cender, who died April 4, 1928, and Joseph who died in infancy. Her husband also preceded her in death, having died March 14, 1922. She leaves 19 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Two grandchildren have gone on before her. She also leaves 1 sister (Mrs. Fanny King of Fisher, Ill.) and 5 brothers (Christian of Goodfield, Ill.; Peter of Foosland, Ill.; Isaac of Fisher, Ill.; Samuel and Daniel of Morton, Ill.). Four sisters and two brothers preceded her in death. She leaves a large host of relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at the East Bend Mennonite Church with Bro. Harold Zehr of Fisher, Ill., and Bro. Ezra Yordy of Eureka, Ill., in charge. Text, Job 5:26. Interment in East Bend Cemetery.

"The great Jehovah, full of love,
An angel bright did send,
And took our darling Mother home,
To joys that never end."

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 100
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1815-1832, Niedernai, Bas-Rhin, FR
• Residence: 1832-1835, Saverne, FR
• Residence: 1836-1855, Rigny-la-Salle, Meuse, FR
• Immigration: 20 Jun 1855, Le Havre to New York

Notes:

“Christian Cender (1786-1861), a native of Belmont, Bas-Rhin, son of Ulrich Zehender (1761/62-1835), the principal lease-manager of the farm called Riedhof or Täuferhof near Niedernai in 1815, and Barbara Sommer (1765-1827), and himself a farmer assisting his father on that property. From the time of marriage until at least 1831, Magdalena Eymann and Christian Cender lived in Niedernai. From 1832 to 1835, they were near Saverne, Bas-Rhin. Then for two decades theirs was the sole Anabaptist family in the tiny village of Rigny-la-Salle, Meuse, near Vaucouleurs. To America in 1855...

“Christian Cender's notebook is in the hands of Alva Cender. He left no doubt as to who owned the book. On the first page he entered, "This housebook is mine, Christian Cender, whoever takes it is a thief, whoever brings it back is kind to me." The book contains mostly business transactions. On April 11, 1852, he recorded that "I settled my accounts with my son-in-law Christian Schrag."

Birth:
Schonenberg

Residence:
The family residence was the farm called Taüfferhoff-within the farm Reidhoff or Reith.

Immigration:
Arrival date on the “John Hancock” - The passenger list shows farmer Christian Zender, 58, France; Madelaine, 58; Madelaine, 35; Barbara, 28; Jean, 25; Cathrine, 21; Madelaine, 9; farmer Christophe Gerard, 35; Elise, 34; Christian, 4; Cathrine, 2; Joseph, eleven months; and Joseph [Cender], 29. Note that most of the stated ages were nearly correct except for those of Christian and his wife Magadlena/Madeleine: they were stated to be 58 when they were actually 65 and 58.

Christian married Magdalena Eymann on 2 Sep 1815 in Niedernai, Bas-Rhin, FR. Magdalena (daughter of Johannes Eymann and Anna Barbe Goldschmidt) was born on 20 Nov 1789 in Lubine, Vosges, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 13 Feb 1873 in Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 101

Notes:

Birth:
near Saales

Notes:

Of Sarrebourg, FR.

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetry

Christian married Maria Switzer (Suisse) on 6 Jun 1833 in Guermange, Saarebourg, Moselle, FR. Maria (daughter of Christophe Suisse and Marie Farni) was born on 29 Nov 1803 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; died on 27 Oct 1883; was buried in Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Headstone date

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Brewer/Farmer/Minister
• Religion: Amish
• Immigration: 17 Jun 1844, Le Havre to New York
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1856, Farmdale To Rocky Ford
• Census: 1860, Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., IL
• PURC: 30 Apr 1867, Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Peter was born in Manried, near Munich, in the Hofmark at Hilgertshausen. He came to America and settled at Farmdale as a single man. After marrying, Peter and Elizabeth remained at Farmdale until 1856, when they moved to the Mackinaw River's Rocky Ford area near his brother Christian. Their homes stood on the high hill overlooking the Mackinaw Valley.

Peter had four sons who grew to maturity. All four--Daniel, Peter, David, Samuel--were ordained to the ministry. Of the first nine children of Peter and Elizabeth Oyer Zehr, five died before their first birthday and a sixth before his second. Of the first nine “six never lived to be over two years old. In the year 1860 two small sons died within 3 months.





It was then used for at least some of the subsequent children, but ventually ended up with Bishop Peter and his wife Barbara. Most likely, all of their children used it, then it was given to Amelia (who married Alvin Birkey). It stayed with that family for many years until thier son, Delmar Gene, was born, and was the last person to sleep in the vintage bed. In July of 2023, the bed was gifted to Del and Donna’s family to keep, protect, and hand down at the appropriate time.}

Birth:
Hilgerthausen-Tandern

Immigration:
arrival on packet ship Baltimore.

Census:
County next door to brother George Zehr as brewer Peter Seers, 32, Germany; Elizabeth, 20, France; and Daniel, 1, Illinois.

Residence:
on Mackinaw River

Census:
Township next door to brother Christian Zehr as farmer Peter Zears, 40, Germany; Elizabeth, 32, Germany; and four children born in Illinois.

PURC:
The Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database shows Peter Zehr purchasing 40 acres in Section 36 between Deer Creek and Mackinaw at $10 per acre on April 30, 1867.

Census:
Listed as farmer born in Bavaria, age 52; with wife Elizabeth age 42 born in France; children Daniel age 21, Peter age 19, Elizabeth age 15, Mary age 9, David age 8, Phoeby age 3 and Samuel age 6 months, all born in IL

Census:
Farmer Peter Zehr, 62, Bavaria; Lizzie, 53, France; with four children, all born in Illinois.

Died:
Six days after Phoebe’s wedding.

Buried:
Slabtown Cemetery

Peter married Elizabeth Oyer on 12 Aug 1845 in Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL. Elizabeth (daughter of Joseph, Sr. Oyer and Magdalena Litwiller) was born on 23 Apr 1828 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 21 Mar 1896 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish
• Immigration: 4 Dec 1830, New Orleans, LA
• Residence: 1831, Butler Co., OH

Notes:

Her’s was the second burial in the East Bend Mennonite Church cemetery--six months after Andrew Birky.

Immigration:
Ship Superior

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery (second burial in the cemetery)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Mennonite
• Immigration: 2 Jul 1842, NY
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1855, IL
• Census: 1860, Dillon Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• PURC: 1876, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 6 Nov 1876, Pekin, Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Birth:
Streicherhof, 30 miles south of Hanfeld. Arzbach bei Dachau

Immigration:
On the Rhone, under the name Jacob Heisser, a 27-year-old from Bavaria, accompanied by 26-year-old Margaretha, as yet unidentified.

Census:
Jacob, 34-year-old farmer, living with his stepmother “Madaline” [Eyer], 62, in the home of his younger stepbrother “Joseph Hiser,” 30.

Census:
Illinois State Census. . The family of Jacob 'Heisor' can be found on the 1855 Illinois State Census. It described them as one male, 40-50 years old; one male, 20-30 years old; one male, under 10; one female, 20-30 years old; and one female, under 10 years of age.

Census:
Their family can be found on the 1860 census of Dillon as Jacob 'Hiser', 40; Catherine, 26; Christian, 7; Catherine, 6; Jacob, 4; Barbara, 3; and Joseph, eight months.

PURC:
Bought land from Charles Graves in Section 36.

Buried:
Landes Mennonite Cemetery (Headstone says Hieser) Grave #14 on printed plot map dated 8/12/2013

Jacob married Katharina Wagler on 8 Oct 1850 in Tazewell Co., IL. Katharina (daughter of Christian H. (Jacob) Wagler and Katharina Ulrich) was born on 8 Jun 1834 in Butler Co., OH; died on 2 Sep 1910 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: infirmities of old age
• Residence: 1860, Dillon Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: Aft 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obituary: Oct. 20, 1910 Gospel Herald
Heiser.--Mother Catherine Heiser, nee Wagler, was born in Butler Co., O., June 8, 1834; passed to her reward near Morton, Ill., Sept. 2, 1910; aged 76 y. 2 m. 24 d. Her death was caused by the infirmities of old age. Mother Heiser united with the A. M. Church in her younger years and remained a faithful member to her blessed end. She was united in matrimony with Jacob Heiser in 1850. This union was blessed with 13 children. Father Jacob Heiser, her husband, 4 children, 5 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, preceded her to the spirit world. She leaves 9 children, 48 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 2 brothers and many friends to mourn her departure. Funeral services were conducted by Christ King at the house in German, text 90th Psalm; and at the church near Morton, Ill., by Andrew Schrock in German and Val. Strubar in English; text, Heb. 9:27, 28. Burial in cemetery nearby.

https://www.tcghs.org/cem/buckeye.htm

Residence:
Where they developed a farm in Section 36.

Buried:
Buckeye Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
Their names were transcribed into the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index as Jacob Hiser and Catharine Wauble.