Susanna (Susan) Schrock

Notes:

This family first lived in Congerville, later moved to Oakville, Ia. and from there to Latty, Ohio, later to Fort Wayne, IN (1936). They had 13 children (listed in source .)

Buried:
Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery

Susanna married Paul Gerber on 6 Apr 1892 in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL. Paul (son of Christian Gerber, II and Elizabeth Zimmerman) was born on 31 Aug 1864 in Lorraine; died on 6 Apr 1944 in Fort Wayne, Allen Co., IN; was buried in Latty, Paulding Co., OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Jesse E. Gerber was born on 6 Jan 1893.
2. Noah A. Gerber was born on 20 Dec 1894 in Cissna Park, Iroquois Co., IL; died in 1981 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Latty, Paulding Co., OH.
3. Lester Gerber was born on 7 Jan 1897; died in 1898.
4. Esther Gerber was born on 25 Feb 1899.
5. Aline Gerber was born on 10 Mar 1900.
6. Laura M. Gerber was born on 20 Nov 1902.
7. Joseph Gerber was born on 10 Mar 1905.
8. Alfred P. Gerber was born on 7 May 1906.
9. Alice Viola Gerber was born on 11 Sep 1908.
10. Edith L. Gerber was born on 14 Dec 1911.
11. Helen L. Gerber was born on 17 Mar 1914.
12. Raymond E. Gerber was born on 14 Aug 1915; died on 30 Jun 1916.
13. Annabel Gerber was born on 14 Jun 1917; died on 28 Feb 1937.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite Then Apostolic Christian
• Immigration: 30 Apr 1831, Baltimore, MD

Notes:

“Joseph Schrock, a well-to-do and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Montgomery Township is located on section 22. The village of Congerville, which was begun in the spring of 1888, is situated on a portion of his farm.* He owns about 320 acres of land, which is divided into two farms. Some of this land was bought in 1864, in which year he first came to this county, buying wild land and improving it with fences, trees, buildings, etc., and as fortune smiled upon him, purchasing more land, which he also improved until he is now very comfortably situated. Before coming to Montgomery Township, he resided some seven years in Roanoke Township, which was the second place in which he had located after coming to the state of Illinois in 1850.

“...reared in Butler County, Ohio, and attended the common schools of the district through the winter, and in the summer assisted on the farm and in the mill, thus acquiring a practical knowledge of agricultural matters, and getting a good insight into business transactions while an employee in his father's mill. He was of legal age, but unmarried, when he came to this state. While a resident of Tazewell County, he was united in marriage with the lady of his choice, Miss Magdalena Guingerich, a country-woman of his....” ,

“Mr. and Mrs. Schrock are good, intelligent German people, industrious, thrifty, and provident, and although not mingling in political matters, yet make excellent citizens, and are worthy members of the New Amish Church.” (Apostolic Christian)

According to Illinois Public Land Purchase Records found at Ancestry.com, Joseph Guingerich purchased 20,000 acres of land between Oct 1861 and Mar 1869, paying $224,000.

Joseph Guingerich, his father-in-law, along with Peter Farni, built a mill in Woodford County (near Farnisville, Mackinaw River area).

The first Joseph and Magdalena Schrock reunion was held in 1949. Several Pekin Schrocks and Tillman Smith attended, but did not return other years. So it became known as the Jonathan Schrock reunion.

*The History of Congerville (page 10, 17) tells the story of the town’s original intention of being named Schrock and the ultimate decision to name it Congerville.

Birth:
In Dompcevrin, Meuse, France where his sister was born. However, Frederic Schwindt says he was not born in the village of Dompcevrin, but at some other place within the broader territory of Dompcevrin.

Immigration:
Information from quarterly listing of Baltimore arrivals. Exact date and ship are unknown.

Buried:
Apostolic Christian Cemetery (Dells)

Joseph married Magdalena Guingerich on 8 Jun 1852 in Tazewell Co., IL. Magdalena (daughter of Joseph Gingerich and Magdalena Guerber) was born on 29 Nov 1830 in Enroute To America, at sea; died on 29 Nov 1922 in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite, Then After Marriage, Apostolic Christian
• Immigration: 1830

Notes:

Obit: (from November 28, 1922 newspaper)

Magdalena Schrock 1829-1922
Magdalena Schrock, one of the eldest and most highly esteemed residents of Montgomery Township, Woodford County, died at the home of her son, Jonathan Schrock at Congerville, Thursday evening after a two month’s illness with complications incident to old age.
Magdalena Guingerich was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Guingerich, natives of Lorraine, France, and she was born on the sea on the way to America, November 20, 1829.
The family first settled in Ohio where they lived only a few years, later coming to Illinois. They settled near Mackinaw Dells over ninety years ago and where the deceased had since made her home and at Congerville.
When Mrs. Schrock was a child, her mother died and she then went to make her home with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gerber. Her father, Joseph Guingerich, left soon after his wife’s death for the Gold Fields of California, driving a team of cows that were taken on the trip to furnish milk for the prospecting party.
She married Joseph Schrock in 1852. They were the parents of nine children, as follows:
Mrs. John Zimmerman of Carlock; John Schrock, Wichita, Kansas; Mrs. Samuel Roth of Fairbury who died 38 years ago; Mrs. John Sutter, Paulding, Ohio; Joseph Schrock, Goodfield; Jonathan Schrock, Congerville; Mrs. Nathan Gudeman, Paine, Ohio; Mrs. Paul Gerber, Latty, Ohio; David Schrock, Congerville.
She is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Anna Sommers of Mansfield, Ohio.
Beside her sister and children, Mrs. Schrock is survived by fifty-nine grandchildren and seventy great-grandchildren. Her husband died several years ago.
Mrs. Schrock was a member of the Christian Apostolic Church. The funeral will be held from the Church of that denomination at Mackinaw Dells at 1 o’clock Friday afternoon.

Her parents came to the US in 1830 from Le Havre to New York, and Magdalena was born during the crossing. After her mother’s death, young Magdalena lived with “Aunt Gerber” (Barbara Guerber Gingerich Strubhar).

Birth:
Family Bible gives date as 30 Nov 1829

Died:
Family Bible gives date as 28 Nov 1922

Buried:
Apostolic Christian Cemetery (Dells)

Notes:

“After the wedding, a supper and reception were held in their home south of Deer Creek, Illinois. There was a gathering of Mennonites to help celebrate. Joseph Verkler, an elder in the Apostolic Christian Church who was visiting in Slabtown, was invited to attend the reception. After supper, the couple brought out a game of dominoes for all the guests to enjoy. When they invited Joseph Verkler to join them, he politely declined and said that that was not for him. The young bride witnessed the way he stood for his religious beliefs and did not bend temporarily to satisfy his peers. As time unfolded, Joseph and Magdalena Schrock joined the Christian Apostolic Church.”

Married:
by Andrew Ropp

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:

• Occupation: Cultivator
• Religion: Old Mennonite Church
• Residence: Butler Co., OH
• Immigration: 1830, NYC
• Residence: 1837, Farnisville, Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Birth:
Farm Vallerade . Gravestone gives year as 1803.

Immigration:
from Havre, France

Died:
At home of daughter Barbara Strubhar

Buried:
Imhoff Cemetery

Joseph married Magdalena Guerber on 21 Feb 1830 in Montigny, Haute-Normandie, FR. Magdalena (daughter of Pierre Guerber and Barbe Schertz) was born on 22 Nov 1807 in Insviller, Moselle, FR; died in 1848 in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Joseph Guingrich married Magdalena Gerber at Montigny, Meurthe-et-Moselle (22 miles south of Fribourg) Feb. 21, 1830. She was born on the Roderhof at Insviller Nov. 22, 1807, and died at Farnisville in 1848, a daughter of Peter/Pierre Gerber and Barbe Schertz. The marriage was recorded as that of Joseph Guingrich of Montigny and 'Magdelaine Guerber' of Ste. Croix farm at Fribourg. Peter/Pierre Gerber, the father of the bride, was working on Ste. Croix farm and attended the wedding.
The marriage entry also recognized that the couple had a child together. The birth of their daughter Barbe had been registered at Fribourg Jan. 1, 1830. The couple signed the entry as 'Joseph Guingrich' and 'M. Guerber.'
Though little is known about their passage from France to America, it has been passed down that Magdalena gave birth to their daughter Magdalena on a Transatlantic crossing Nov. 30, 1829. (from "Amish Mennonites in Tazewell County, Illinois" by Joseph Peter Staker)

Family history says that Magdalena was buried in the "Slabtown" Cemetery at Farneyville. Supposedly, horses got loose in the cemetery and trampled and broke some of the graves, including Magdalena's. Her burial location in the cemetery remains unknown.

Birth:
Roderhof

Buried:
Slabtown Cemetery

Notes:

The marriage record included the information that Magdelaine Guerber was the mother of Barbe Guerber, who had been born 1 January 1830.

The marriage was recorded as that of Joseph Guingrich of Montigny and 'Magdelaine Guerber' of Ste. Croix farm at Fribourg. Peter/Pierre Gerber, the father of the bride, was working on Ste. Croix farm and attended the wedding.

The marriage entry also recognized that the couple had a child together. The birth of their daughter Barbe had been registered at Fribourg Jan. 1, 1830. The couple signed the entry as 'Joseph Guingrich' and 'M. Guerber.'

Married:
Cultivator living at Montigny

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller In Gondrexange and Imling, And At Rhodes (Bachat) At The Time Of Death
• Occupation: Unskilled Laborer In 1827 At Time Of Peter’s Marriage
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1797, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1799-1807, Gondrexange, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1811, Imling, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1822, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1826, Rhodes, Moselle, FR

Notes:

At the time of Joseph’s brother Jean’s marriage in 1797, he was living at Moulin Les Bachats near Rhodes. Bachats is attached to Rhodes, 9 km north of Gondrexange. There is a walled Anabaptist cemetery at the edge of town, bordering a cow pasture, where Pelsy, Esch, Abresol families, and more, are buried.

The 'ferme des Les Bachats' at Rhodes is still operational and maintains an inn. It is located on a peninsula in L'Étang de Stock (Stock Pond). A bachat is a feeding trough for cattle, indicating that it may have once been a dairy farm.

Joseph married his first wife, Marie Engel at Alzing farm near Gosselming in 1798. Very soon after they were living at Gondrexange, for their first and only child (Joseph, who lived only 5 years) was born there. Marie died there, possibly as a result of child birth complications. A second time Joseph went to Alzing to marry his second wife, Marie Neuhauser, but returned to Gondrexange to live and work. Their first three sons and one daughter (Anne, who evidently died as an infant) were born between 1801 and 1806.

Joseph and his wives could have lived at Domaine Ketzing for a time, a nobleman’s possession, who hired workers to farm and run the mill, blacksmith workers, brick kilns, etc., but this isn’t documented. Living quarters were provided in the woods some distance from the main chateaus. Today one can find a few foundation stones of buildings, and the remains of a well that served the workers. (2012) There was no persecution of Anabaptists during this time at Ketzing, as the Duke of Lorraine protected them. Today Ketzing is owned by an insurance company: a newer building is used for training seminars. The domaine is part of the forestry department and the chateaus provide lodging for hunters.

But more than likely the family lived at the mill in Gondrexange, since Joseph was the miller there for a number of years from about 1800 to 1811.

By 1811 the family had moved to Imling near Saarebourg. They lived at one of the three mills along the Saare River, Remeling, when their first daughter was born. The other two mills were Rimling, and Rot (Roth) (also called Rotmuhle). All three mills were situated side by side along the banks of the Saare. Eleven years later Joseph and Marie were back at Bachats, and were there in 1826. No doubt they lived there continuously until Joseph’s death in 1830. Marie was still living in 1826, but what happened to her after that is still unknown.

“Joseph Schrack, 33, miller, ...witnessed the civil birth record of Johannes Gascho, Born on 8 Jan, 1806, son of Joseph Gascho, lease-manager of the agricultural property called Canardiere in Gondrexange, and Katharina Swalter.”

“Gondrexange had two mills, one was sacred for the construction of the Marne-Rhine canal. It is logical that in a given period an Anabaptist was a miller. Joseph Schrag from Bellegarde, commune of Bistroff, had the mill turned from about 1800 to 1807. He was married to Marie Neuhauser who gave him several children in Gondrexange. Did he then go to Rhodes where he died in 1830?

“His sister Catherine, born in Oderfang, Saint-Avold, married the mill boy Joseph Oyer in 1804 and went to Niderhoff's mill. Joseph Schrag was probably replaced or was he in competition with André Schertz enumerated in 1809 as head of the family. He was the son of Christian Schertz and Elisabeth Reitiger. The only act that reveals his presence is his testimony at the death of his father at the age of 55 years.”

Birth:
Belgrade farm. Commune of Grostenquin. Belgerade (Bellegarde) farm was built around 1818 according to Jean-Claude Koffel.

Residence:
Living at Moulin les Bachats at time of brother Jean’s marriage.

Residence:
At the mill in Gondrexange where four children were born.

Residence:
Lived at the mill Remeling near Imling at the birth of Magdelaine in 1811, was still there in 1813 according to source 1056.

Residence:
Living at the mill at Bachats at time of Johannes and Catherine’s marriage

Died:
“On Apr. 5, 1830, Joseph Serack, 58, miller, a native of the farm called Belgrade [canton of Bistroff], Moselle, husband of Maria Neuhauser, died in Rhodes. The death was reported by son Peter Serack, 27, miller at Dompcevrin, Meuse.”
(Translation by NASL)


Buried:
Most probably in a burying ground on the farm/mill Bachats.

Joseph married Maria Neuhauser about 1800 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR. Maria (daughter of Nicolas Christian Neuhauser and Catherine Marie Ritzieker (Regsecker) (Lithzieker)) was born about 1772-1773 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died after 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist

Notes:

Alzing was already mentioned in 1525 as being a farm of the seigniory of Sarreck. In 1556, she was a possession of the counts of Lutzelbourg, then of the count de Custine. Alzing seems to have been in ancient times an important locality. The heart of Alzing remained an Anabaptist community.

Marie is almost certainly part of the Neuhauser family which lived in Gosselming and was well known to Schrag and Engel families--a sister to Jean Neuhauser, who was a witness to Joseph’s marriage to Marie Engel, since Marie’s mother had secondly married Jean’s father, Nicholas Neuhauser.

Her death is still a mystery. There is a Mary Gerrard listed along with Anna and Madeline Gerrard on the ship Baltimore, on which the family sailed to America in 1831. Her age is given as 52, and that fits fairly well with her probable birth date. However, except for a notation by son Peter in his Bible saying his mother died 27 January 1839, there has been no other data found about when (or where) she died, and no mention of her by any family members in America, or researchers finding evidence of her presence in America.

Gosselming (part of Meurthe before 1870 had 795 people in 1836, 542 in 2001) is situated at the extremity of a forest named Selvald, on the left bank of the Saar River, 6 km south of Fenetrange, 9 km from Sarrebourg, and 72 km from Nancy. The farm Alzing is 5 km west of Gosselming.

Birth:
Birth year calculated from son Johannes’ marriage document--she was 53 at the time. No doubt born at Alzing farm.

In a letter dated Aug 16, 1953, Homer Schrock (Ohio) writes to a cousin:
In going thru some of my great grandfather’s papers today (Peter, Sr.) in his Bible it said My mother died 27 January 1839 maiden name Bropfin and was born in Mariabirch. So far I haven’t found his father’s name.


Died:
She was present at Johannes and Catherine’s marriage in 1826.
In a letter dated Aug 16, 1953, Homer Schrock (Ohio) writes to a cousin:
“In going thru some of my great grandfather’s papers today (Peter, Sr.) in his Bible it said My mother died 27 January 1839 maiden name Bropfin [?] and was born in Mariabirch [Merlebach].”

Notes:

Married:
Alzing?

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Cultivator At Haras Near Sarralbe In 1803. Miller At Palace Mill (Schloessersmuhle) In Forbach At Time Of Catherine’s Death In 1814. [Haras Was A Horse Breeding Farm Established In 1717, Half Destroyed By Fire In 1825]
• Occupation: Worker At Mill Tree At Forbach At The Time Of His Marriage To Magdalena Eymann. 1820-1825 A Farmer At Bischwald Mill In Bistroff
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: 1801, Sarralbe, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1811, Forbach, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1814, Forbach, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1814, Albestroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1823, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1826, Xirange, Moselle, FR
• Immigration: Spring 1831, Baltimore, MD
• Naturalization: 21 Sep 1842, Butler Co., OH
• Census: 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH

Notes:

In his original will, Michael named Andrew as executor and John as trustee of funds for minor grandchildren. However, in a codicil filed about ten months before his death, he removed Andrew and named Jacob Hittell of the city of Hamilton, Ohio, as executor of his will.

Michael’s probate records reveal that he was buried in Mound Cemetery, Monroe, Butler Co., OH. A John Long received $21 for coffin and services. M. Doell (?) received $8 for oil cloth coat needed for funeral of Michael Salzman. Mound Cemetery (Rich Davies) was paid $26.25 (assumably for the lot), and $2.50 for interment of the body. Dr. D. R. Dyche submitted a bill totaling $25 for services on 16 different days during October 1861.

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

Mound Cemetery is just over two miles from the Salzman home, in Monroe, OH. The cemetery is indeed a mound of earth covered with grave sites. The Amish section is at the bottom of the mound fairly close to the entrance driveway.

Also in the Salzman plot are Georgie 1882-1887; Barbara 1853-1938; William 1857 -1917; Ella 1859-1943; and John W. 1860-1917.

————————

Michael's first wife, Catherine was born during 1780 in St. Avold, a daughter of Pierre Hergi and Anne Agnes Farny of St. Avold. She married Michael Salzman, a son of Michel Salzman and Catherine Weiss Salzman and Michael is identified as an Anabaptist and the ceremony was held at Sarralbe at 3:00 on 3 March 1804, in deference to Michel Salzman. Catherine and Michael had four children, Pierre (Peter), Catherine, Magdalena and Christian. Michael was a resident of Sarralbe and the couple was still there at the time of daughter Catherine's birth in 1804. Michael worked as a cultivator at Haras and then the family moved to Forbach where Michael was a Miller at Schloesser's mill. His wife, Catherine died at Forbach on 5 March 1814. After only three months of Catherine's death, Michael is in Albestroff, where his parents resided and where he married Madelaine Eiyman in June. He is named there off and on until 1823 when he moved to Belgrade Farm with his family and was a farmer at Bischwald mill in Bistroff. Magdalena was born 2 June 1795 in Prussia/Palainate and died 1 Oct. 1875 in Butler, OH. They had nine children: Jacques (Jacob), Maria, Michael, Elisabeth, Jacobina, Barbara, Catherine, Andre(Andrew) and John. (Information by Donna Schrock Birkey, originally published in the Winter 2004 issue of the Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly.) 

Jean-Michel Engel reports Michael and his family also lived for a time in Val-de-Gueblange, in addition to the residences now listed.,

Birth:
Zelle farm

Residence:
Farmer at Haras. Lived here at time of Catherine’s birth

Residence:
miller at Moulin at Schlefalermuhl?

Residence:
His wife Catherine Hirchi died here

Residence:
Farmer at Vallerade at time of marriage to Madelaine Eiyman. Also is named there in 1815, 1819, 1820 and 1823.

Residence:
Belgrade Farm

Residence:
Miller at Xirange at time of Catherine’s marriage

Naturalization:
Page 135 of Naturalization Book. Naturalized at the same time as Michael, age 60, were sons Michael age 17; Andrew age ten; and John age five.

Census:
House # 1176, Family #1317. Living with wife Magdalina, Andrew, Phoebe, John; next to John and Catherine Schrock

Buried:
Mound Cemetery, Lot 2, Sec. 3 (which cost $26.25)

Michael married Catherine Hirschy (Hergi Hirschine) on 3 Mar 1804 in Sarralbe, Moselle, FR. Catherine (daughter of Pierre Hirchy (Hergi) and Anne Agnes Farny (Phorni)) was born about 1780 in Faulquemont, Moselle, FR; died on 5 Mar 1814 in Forbach, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1814, Forbach, Moselle, FR

Notes:

“Pierre Hirschi was the brother of Anne Hirschi who married Christian Farny; Anne Farny was sister to Christian Farny who married Anne Hirschi. This meant that Josephe Stecker's in-laws were Christian Farny and Anne Hirschi; Michael Salzman's in-laws were Pierre Hirschi and Anne Farny. In simplest terms, the children of Michael Salzman and the children of Josephe Stecker shared common great-grandparents.“

Birth:
Bonhouse farm

Residence:
Ferme du venheck, Moulin Schlossermuhle.

Died:
At the age of 34 years. Schloesser’s Mill

Notes:

Marriage Document reads:
At three o’clock, the act of marriage of Michel Salzman, male minor of the Anabaptiste sect, cultivator at Haras near this community, born at Zelle near Petit Tenquin, age 24; son of Michel Salzman, an Anabaptiste farmer at Haras, and Catherine Veis; and Catherine Hirgi, an Anabaptist living at “-----” near St. Avold, age 24; daughter of Pierre Hergi and Agnes Phorni [Farny/Fahrni]. Preliminary announcements [ban] posted at Sarralbe and St. Avold on Dec. 11 and 18, 1803...The marriage was held here in deference to the father Michael Salzman, cultivator living at Haras near Sarralbe, age 53...

Married:
57430

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Cultivator

Notes:

Vallerade at Albestroff was a horse-breeding farm established in 1717, and at one time owned by the Duke of Lorraine.

Between 1806 and 1809, Johannes/Jean became owner and master of a half-portion of the smallholding Ste. Croix farm at Fribourg, a tiny hamlet above Rhodes. The nearest village presently is Maiziéres-Les-Vic.

Jean married Ann Marie /Muller Miller on 8 May 1802 in Albestroff, Moselle, FR. Ann (daughter of Christian /Muller Miller and Marie Knerin) was born on 9 Feb 1781 in Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 21 Apr 1831 in Gros-Réderching, Moselle, Lorraine, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
“at boulin”

Died:
Reported by son-in-law Jean Gingerich, age 39, and neighbor Christian Engel, age 32, both Anabaptists and farmers at Brandelfing. Died on April 12?

Notes:

Married:
St. Croix farm

Notes:

Buried:
Near Rockville, in the Nathan Lantz burial plot.

Pierre + Barbe Schertz. Barbe died on 13 Mar 1809 in Insviller, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]