Mark Joseph Cender

Other Events and Attributes:

• USR1: Auto Accident

Notes:

Obit:
Cender-. Mark, 40, Fisher, Ill., died Jan. 4 in an accident. Spouse: Candy Cender. Parents: Alva and Edna Cender. Other survivors: children Rachel, Michelle, Allyson, Clinton. Funeral: Jan. 9 at East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Mark married Candace Miller [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Rachel Deann Cender
2. Michelle Renee Cender
3. Allyson Marie Cender
4. Clinton Joseph Cender

Notes:

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Alva married Edna Lorine Heiser on 5 Sep 1939 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Edna (daughter of Bishop Joseph Aaron Heiser and Fannie Ann Schrock) was born on 5 Feb 1918 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 6 Aug 1996 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Cender, Edna Lorine Heiser, 78, Fisher, Ill. Born: Feb. 5, 1918, Fisher, Ill., to Joseph and Fannie Schrock Heiser. Died: Aug. 6, 1996, Fisher, Ill. Survivors-husband: Alva Cender; children: John, Mark, Mary Alene Miller, Annette Williams, Kathy Martin, Ruth Ellen Reaves; sisters: Alta Detweiler, Mabel Teuscher; 13 grandchildren, one great-grandchild. Funeral: Aug. 10, East Bend Mennonite Church, by Calvin Kaufman and Michael Dean.

Died:
At Home

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:

• CLER: Y
• Education: Third grade, then self taught
• Occupation: Minister/Farmer
• Religion: Christian
• Ordained: 1917, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: 1921, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit:
Heiser.- Joseph A., son of Joseph and Barbara (Bachman) Heiser, was born in Morton, Ill., Aug. 22, 1888; died at Fisher, Ill., Jan. 1, 1977; aged 88 y. On Dec. 15, 1909, he was married to Fannie Schrock, who preceded him in death on Dec. 17, 1950. Surviving are 2 sons (Leslie and Willard), 3 daughters (Mrs. Alta Detweiler, Mrs. Mabel Teuscher, and Edna-Mrs. Alva Cender), 17 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. He was a bishop in the Mennonite Church and a minister of the East Bend Mennonite Church for 35 years. Private funeral services were held at the Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, Ill., on Jan. 3, in charge of Merle Conklin; memorial services were held at the Gibson City Bible Church on Jan. 4, in charge of Merle Conklin, Clyde Ingold, Irvin Nussbaum, and Wendall Arms; interment in East Bend Mennonite Church Cemetery.


{“When Barbara's third son, Aaron, was born on August 22, 1888, Grandfather Bachman looked at the infant and said, 'Du armes Kind! Dass du auch musst zu dieser verkruppelten Welt geboren sein' ('You poor child! That you also must be born into this crippled world')." (Mennonite Women: A Story of God's Faithfulness) After his father died, his mother called him Joseph rather than Aaron.

Joseph (J.A.) was baptized 11Jun1905 by Peter Zehr; ordained as minister at East Bend Mennonite Church on 5 Aug 1917 by the voice of the church; ordained bishop on 1 May 1921 by the same church. Active in Bible conference work and evangelistic work in many states an Canada, and served as moderator of Illinois Conference and a member of the General Mission Board of the Mennonite Church. He later left the Mennonite Church and pastored the Gibson City Bible Church.
Regarding his ordination (by lot) ––"Dad was surprised that his name was included, but he had no fear at all because Levi Birky was a real Bible student and Uncle Albert was a very genuine student of the Bible. He just shrugged his shoulders about this lot; he knew that it would either be Levi Birky or Uncle Albert. I was sitting with my mother in church on the day they cast the lot. I remember seeing my mother break down and cry, and I could not imagine what happened. It did not look to me like anything serious had happened, but she was crying. After we got home from church, they both cried. It cast quite a pall over the family. I was only three years old then, but I thought something terrible had happened. "

About 1930 J.A.’s mortgage was called on Josephine’s land which he had bought. $300 was due immediately to save it from foreclosure, but there was no money available. This matter was a topic of discussion and prayer at numerous family meals, times which included grandparents John and Mary. Growing anxious about the outcome John, evidently without the family’s knowledge, took the very unusual action of going to a neighbor and asking if he could borrow $300 for a short time. The loan was granted.

Shortly thereafter J.A. drove to Fisher and parked in front of Heiser and Ingold’s grocery store and sat in the car praying about how he was going to get the money for the payment. About that time Chris Good (father of Peter?) walked across the street and stopped to say hello. Then he asked J.A. (who at the time was pastor of the East Bent Mennonite Church), “Do you know anyone who could use $300? I have some extra cash and figured there are lots of people in bad straights because of the economic situation right now and would like to help.” Of course, J.A. told his story and received a loan for the amount he needed to stop the foreclosure. The family saw this as a direct answer to their prayers, and John returned his “backup” funds, with interest!

“Besides the gardens and orchards full of growing things, my father loved animals.  He raised purebred livestock--Jersey cattle that made records of note in butterfat and as show animals.  He raised several kinds of hogs when I was quite young.  Buff Rock chickens were a favorite for several years; and when I was a teenager he got an incubator, and we had a small hatchery.  I was more involved in the chicken business than any of the other animal projects.  I felt quite responsible for the trap nesting and enjoyed following the yearly records of some of the best hens.  Number 421 was the top producer; I wrote the number on her eggs so often, it still remains in my memory.  With the hatchery, my father got the salesmanship for a feed business also.  He vaccinated and gave medicine to all his animals, had the dealership for Onarga nursery stock, pruned and sprayed our trees, and did all our wallpapering.  He and Mama would do wallpapering for friends and neighbors also.  He seemed like an ordinary man to me when I was a child, but now I wonder how he did all this, besides pastoring a large church.” (From the memoirs of Edna Heiser Cender held by Kathy Cender Martin)



June 2012 - At an afternoon in Paxton with Heiser cousins, the story was told about the Murphy brothers who are buried in Beekman cemetery. They were a rough bunch and always getting into fights (drunk?). When the police were not able to handle them and settle them down they would call J. A. and he would always be able to get the job done!

Ordained:
Minister, East Bend Mennonite Church

Ordained:
Bishop, East Bend Mennonite Church

Buried:
East Bend Cemetery

Joseph married Fannie Ann Schrock on 15 Dec 1909 in Champaign Co., IL. Fannie (daughter of John Schrock and Mary Birky) was born on 18 Jul 1889 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 17 Dec 1950 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 19 Dec 1950 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 11 Jun 1905, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Pantagraph
Fisher-(PNS-Mrs. Fannie Heiser, 61, wife of Bishop J. A. Heiser, pastor of the East Bend Mennonite Church, died at 1 p.m. Sunday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Justus Detweiler, near Fisher. She had been ill for seven months. The body was taken to the Blair Funeral Home in Mahomet, where it was to remain until 9:30 a.m. Tuesday when it was to be taken to the East Bend Mennonite Church. Short funeral services were to be held at 1 p.m. at the church. Burial was to be in the church cemetery. The Rev. Francis C. Yoder of Goshen, Ind., was to officiate.

She was born July 18, 1889, near Fisher, daughter of John and Mary Birkey Schrock. She spent her entire life in this community. On Dec. 15, 1909, she married Joseph A. Heiser.
Surviving are her husband; her parents; two sons, Leslie and Willard; three daughters, Mrs. Detweiler, Mrs. Mabel Teuscher and Mrs. Edna Cender, all of Fisher and 14 grandchildren. She had been a life long member of the East Bend Mennonite Church.

Baptism:
East Bend Church by Peter Zehr

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery. Funeral service by S. C. Yoder and Harold Zehr.

Notes:

Peter Zehr’s church records have written notation “in East Bend Church,” then, “at home of John Schrock.”

Married:
By 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:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Pulmonary Hemorrage
• Residence: 11 Dec 1881, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Baptism: 11 Jun 1905, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: 5 Aug 1917, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: 1 May 1921, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

A week after Joseph and Barbara arrived in Champaign County, near Fisher, to live in a new home in a heavily wooded area along the Sangamon River, a four-month-old nephew--son of Peter and Barbara (Heiser) Zehr--died of measles. Three days after this burial some of the men were helping Joseph unload hay in the barn for his livestock when he was suddenly stricken with a fatal pulmonary hemorrhage.

Baptism:
By Peter Zehr

Ordained:
East Bend church by Bishop Samuel Gerber and Andrew Schrock

Ordained:
East Bend church by same Bishop

Died:
29 years, 4 months and 3 days

Buried:
Waggoner Cemetery (Blackford) - four miles north and 1/2 mile east of East Bend Mennonite church.

Joseph married Barbara Bachman on 11 Dec 1881 in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of John Bachman and Barbara Sutter) was born on 15 Jun 1862 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 24 Mar 1926 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 11 Dec 1881, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1900, Fisher, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Mennonite Women: A Story of God's Faithfulness

"This mother endured many hardships and remained faithful. After eight years of happy marriage she suddenly became a widow with three sons to raise in a new community. On the advice of men in her congregation, she married a man who proved to be an alcoholic and emotionally disturbed. She cared for a mentally retarded son and a senile mother. She lost a son in the great World War I flu epidemic....When the strong, handsome Joseph Heiser who lived nearby asked her to marry him, twenty-year-old Barbara gladly accepted.....A year after her own marriage Barbara's twin sister married Joseph Heiser's brother Jacob. Sisters married to brothers!" ....
"Following her husband's untimely death, Barbara was left a widow, in a new community, with three sons to bring up alone, and she had a farm to manage. She took little Aaron into her arms and, from that day on, called him Joseph, after his father."

Barbara and her sister, Elizabeth, were twins.
Later Barbara married Andrew Eyer, and they had two sons, William (b.8 Feb 1895) and Daniel (b. 1899).

“On December 11, 1881, Joseph Hieser, the fifth son of Jacob and Catherine Wagler Hieser, married Barbara Bachman, one of the John Bachman’s twins. They made their first home in Tazewell County in the Deer Creek area. To this union were born three sons: John Emil, Amos Albert, and Joseph Aaron.

“In the spring of 1889 Joseph and Barbara Hieser decided to join others and moved their family to Champaign County, Illinois. At this time the children were yet small, John being 6 years old, Amos 4, and Joseph 7 months. Joseph’s brother, Jacob Hieser and brother-in-law Peter Zehr, were already living in the East Bend community. Peter Zehr was the first minister and bishop of the new East Bend church. Joseph and Barbara Hieser made this move on March 4, 1889. He bought the land that lay to the north side of his brother Jacob’s property.

“As there was no dwelling on the property Joseph and his family purchased, they lived temporarily in a small house on his brother Jacob’s farm, until such a time as he could get their own home built. He possibly had already been making plans to build, when his brother-in-law Peter Zehr, who had purchased hay, needed help to get it into the mow. Joseph, a strong robust man, helped pitch the hay into the barn. While working he suddenly became ill, making it necessary to acquire a doctor. The doctor left some medicine without having come to an exact diagnosis. Joseph passed away on March 27, 1889, at the age of 29 years and 4 months, three weeks after moving to Champaign County. It was later determined that death was due to an apomanary(?) hemorrhage (ruptured lung artery). This caused internal bleeding, a result of over exertion.

“This surely must have been disheartening to Barbara Heiser, who was left with her three small sons; John, Amos and Joseph. This left her with a great responsibility and she was now faced with many hardships, the children’s diseases, but at all times she trusted in the Lord to see her through. As there was a new home to build and hired help for farming the purchased ground, she met with many hard financial situation.

“For about five years Andrew Eyer, a native of Germany, farmed for Barbara. On June 17, 1894, Barbara married Andrew. To them were born two sons, William and Daniel. About nine years after their marriage, Andrew found himself battling with a mental disability. He was taken to Kankakee State Hospital, Kankakee, IL, where he spent the next seven years. About three weeks before his death, October 8, 1910, he was brought home. Once again Barbara was left without a husband. She now had five sons.

———————————————

Champaign Co., IL, Probate Court guardianship record #1234 (0401000201234) dated 1895, in the matter of the Guardianship of John E. Heiser, et.al., Barbara Eyer, Guardian:

Petition of Barbara Eyer in the matter of the Estate of Joseph Heiser deceased, for Letter of Guardianship respectfully represents that John E. Heiser, minor aged 12 years on the 4th day of December 1894; Amos Heiser, minor aged 10 years on the 18th of February 1895; and Joseph Heiser, minor aged 7 years on the 22nd day of August 1895...
said minors are residents of this County; that they have no father living, or other legal guardian residing in this state; that said minors are heirs of one Jacob Heiser, deceased, father of their father Joseph Heiser, deceased, late of Champaign County, Ills. and as such heirs they will shortly be entitled to receive a sum of money realized from the sale of the estate of said Jacob Heiser, deceased, and that said sum of money being about seven hundred dollars, will be payable to them about November 1st 1895. And that your petitioner is the Mother of and desires herself to be appointed guardian of said minors. Dated Urbana, Ill., Sept 26, 1895. Barbara Eyer being duly affirmed deposes and says that the facts averred in the above petition are true according to the best of her knowledge, information and belief. Sworn to and subscribed before me, Harry L. Kelly, N.P. Filed on the 27th of Sept 1895. Bond $1400. H. L. Kelly, Atty, Fisher, Ill.

Receipt of Ward
On August 30, 1909, Joseph Heiser, now being of legal age of 21, acknowledged receipt of the sum of $304.33 from Barbara Heiser Eyer as his Guardian, in full settlement of amount due to him. This was the Final Report of the Guardian, found to be correct, and it was approved and Guardian discharged. Signed by Joseph A. Heiser.

Residence:
Barbara listed as wife of Andreas Eyer, head of household, and children: John Heiser, Amos Heiser, Joseph Heiser, Willie Eyer and Daniel Eyer; and her mother, Barbara Bachman.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Joseph and Barbara were married in the Mennonite Church at Elm Grove, by Christian Nafziger. Joseph Litwiller and A. Ropp were witnesses.

Married:
MR #84

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)