Peter Smith (Schmitt)

Other Events and Attributes:

• MILF: Y
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Complications Of Typhoid Fever
• Residence: Abt 1863, Waldo, Livingston Co., IL

Notes:

Peter was 6 weeks old when the family moved to Illinois from Butler Co., OH (this doesn’t match Woodford Co. History information) in a two-story house on 80 acres of land (the house was still standing in 1968 owned by the Schrock families who ran Schrock Apple Orchards).

The family settled near Congerville, IL. After his parents and several siblings died of cholera, Peter was left with one older sister, Mary, and four younger siblings. They were all put out to live with other people. Peter lived with a Garber family (probably his father’s sister). Mary, his daughter later told of her father, age 17 at time of the epidemic, working the field and wanting desperately to have companionship, but being rejected because of others fearing cholera. He went to a house and asked for a drink of water. The woman opened the door a crack in order to hand out a cup of water and then closed the door. It was very hard on him, with no conversation or sympathy.

“A few years after their marriage, Peter Smith purchased and moved to an 80 acre farm in Waldo Township, near Meadows. The land which was level had to be tiled as fast as possible, because after the corn crop would be destroyed by standing water. This they did as rapidly as they could finance it. A small apple orchard was planted, with Winesap, Sheepnose and other varieties.”

In later years, Peter lived in Roanoke, IL.

“The closing days of Grandfather’s life were memorable. His mind was remarkable clear, especially his last day on earth. He seemed to realize or expect that today he was going to leave them. He thanked Dr. Monroe saying, ‘I know you’ve done everything you could to restore me to health, but my time has come to go.’ (The doctor went to a window, to hide his tears.) during that day he admonished the family to shun evil and follow godly convictions. (He spoke to them in German.) He would often fall asleep perhaps in a semi-conscious state. Each time upon awakening, he would have further words of advice or instruction, and often asked, ‘Is it not yet five o’clock?’ The last time he awoke he was in a gloriously triumphant state. ‘I see into Heaven! Oh, what a glorious sight! If only I could show it to you! I wish I could take all of you with me.’ Then followed more admonitions especially to his three little boys. He placed his hand on ‘Johnnie’s’ head and said, ‘If only I could take you along, before you grow up to cope with the evil and the temptations you have to meet.’ At 5:00 p.m. he drew his last breath.” ,

Peter was a friend of Valentine Maninger and they joined the Union Army together in 1861.

Peter’s brother, Joseph, was named administrator of Peter and Barbara’s children after they died at a fairly early age.

Birth:
Some sources give 20 June 1837

Residence:
80 acre farm near Meadows

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Peter married Barbara Neuhauser on 3 Feb 1861 in Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of Peter Neuhauser and Anna Maria (Mary P.) Schmidt (Peterschmidt)) was born on 21 Feb 1840 in Butler Co., OH; died on 24 Mar 1881 in Livingston Co., IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
by Michael Mosiman

1. Mary Smith was born on 31 Dec 1861 in Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 27 May 1955 in St. Johns, MI; was buried on 31 May 1955.
2. Anna Smith (Schmitt) was born on 4 Aug 1863 in Congerville, Woodford Co., IL; died on 25 Nov 1949 in Newton, Harvey Co., KS; was buried on 27 Nov 1949 in Zimmerdale, Harvey Co., KS.
3. Magdalena Smith was born on 18 Aug 1865; died on 21 Apr 1947.
4. Christian H. Smith was born on 8 Jun 1867 in Meadows, McLean Co., IL; died on 2 Jan 1958 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL.
5. Peter J. Smith (Schmidt) was born on 26 May 1870 in Gridley, McLean Co., IL; died on 23 Apr 1936 in Williams Co., OH; was buried in Stryker, Williams Co., OH.
6. John J. Smith was born on 5 Apr 1874 in Gridley, McLean Co., IL; died on 16 May 1924 in Ashley, Gratiot Co., MI; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL.
7. Elizabeth Smith (Schmidt)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish
• USR1: Cholera
• Immigration: 1828, NYC
• Residence: Abt 1829, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: Aug 1837, McLean Co., IL
• Census: 1850, Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Immigration:
Mainly based on unpublished Oyer family history, my findings indicate that Christian immigrated to America in 1828, arriving in New York City on the ship Sully, then traveling via the Erie Canal to Butler Co.  To my knowledge, he was unaccompanied by any family members.  I've seen copies of the ship immigration records via Ancestory.com. and these records of a Christian Schmidt match up in age and with the Oyer history. (Don Bishop Smith)

Residence:
Via the Erie Canal

Residence:
Purchased an 80-acre farm near Congerville with an existing house. “House still standing in 1968, part of Schrock Apple Orchards.”

Census:
Farmer Christian Smith, 40, France; Malind, 38, France; Mary, 17 OH; Barbary, 15 Ohio; Peter 13 Ohio; Mancy, 10, Illinois; Malinda, 9, Illinois; Joseph, 7, Illinois; Christian, 5, Illinois; and John 2, Illinois. They are listed on the same page as brothers Christian and Jacob Zehr, and on the page after brothers Christian and Peter Farny.

Died:
Aug 1854 according to source 347

Buried:
Slabtown Cemetery, also known as Cholera Cemetery, or in unnamed cemetery on his land, now Congerville. There is no stone in Slabtown Cemetery.

Christian married Magdalena Schrock (Schrack) about 1833 in Wayne, Ashtabula Co., OH. Magdalena (daughter of Joseph Schrag (Schrack) and Maria Neuhauser) was born on 10 Apr 1811 in Sarrebourg, Moselle, FR; died on 4 Aug 1855 in Congerville, Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Cholera
• Immigration: 1831, Baltimore, MD
• Residence: Abt 1832, Wayne, Ashtabula Co., OH
• Residence: Aft 1832, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1838, Congerville, Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Magdalena and Christian lived in the country near what became Congerville, Woodford Co., IL. They had eight children.The parents and three children died of cholera, five survived. (One source includes a daughter Nancy, b. 1840 in Congerville, who died of cholera.)

“Early medical works and other accounts unite in stating that its (cholera) characteristic symptoms were first, extreme and greatly offensive purging, soon followed by vomiting and severe muscular cramping, rapidly terminating in a complete physical collapse, which very few of its victims ever survived. It was said if the patient could survive the collapse stage, his chances for recovery were very good, but only an extremely small number withstood this terrible physical strain. the pioneer physicians applied the name ‘rice-water evacuations’ to the first stage.”

Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, April 1930: “…Then came next the worst and most extensive of all the local cholera outbreaks, that of July and August, 1855. The total number of deaths of this period will never be known, and can only be approximated.”
——————————————————
"Husband, Christian, died 2 Aug 1855 of cholera, in his log cabin home. Three days later Magdalena died, 5 Aug, followed by the death of her nineteen year old daughter Barbara, and a few hours later by her six year old son John. These deaths left four orphaned children, who were placed in separate homes. What trauma the surviving children must have suffered.

“Grandfather’s brother, Joseph, was made administrator over the family and at various times the children related the good care they received from their Uncle Joe...Uncle Joe Smith looked after the needs of the family often supplying them with choice meats which commanded very little price on the market. Their Uncle Valentine Maninger, being a cobbler, provided boots for the family and their clothing was largely home-spun.”

"The Lydia Oyer material says that Magdalena Schrock Smith died on the Saturday following her husband's death. The perpetual calendar shows that to be August 4. There has been much discrepancy about these dates of death. This family is listed on p. 124 of Milo Custer's Asiatic Cholera in Central Illinois, 1834-1873". Journal of Illinois State Historical Society 23 (April 1930): 113-162. Others who died in the same community were John Lantz (August 5), Jonas Kaufman (August 6) and Bishop Daniel Zehr (August 11).


From the Magdalena Schrock presentation June 2010 at Schrock Immigrant Day in Metamora, IL: Great Great Grandma Mary Oyer's account:

“…all four [died] of cholera in a short space of time, from Wednesday afternoon when Grandpa [died.] [He] contracted it in Bloomington the day before. There was a funeral for him on Thurs. - the rest all well yet, but by Sat. night Grandmother went at 12 o'clock and Barbara a half hour later and John, 6 yrs. old Monday morning at 3 o'clock. No funeral held for them. The rest all sick with cholera. Those who took sick at Grandpa's funeral were Andrew Schrock, Grandma's brother and Mrs. Ulrich. …This is the way my father gave it more than once and said how sad it was for them.”

Birth:
Father, Joseph Schrag, living at the mill Remeling, between Saarebourg and Imling. Mother’s name given as Marie Rixsiker (surname of her stepmother, Catherine Marie Rugsegger.) Jean-Claude Koppel in his 2017/18 book says Magdalena was born at the Rotmhule in Sarrebourg, but birth record says the family was living at the mill Remeling. Perhaps they are one and the same.

Immigration:
The ship list with Johannes and Peter and families lists Madeleine Gerrard, 19, within the Schrag families that arrived in Baltimore in 1831.


Residence:
Lived on the acreage of her brother Peter

Buried:
Probably on unnamed cemetery on their land. (Congerville, McLean Co?)

Notes:

Married:
Joe Staker - Calculated from birth of children

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Cabinet Maker
• Residence: Bisping, Moselle, Lorraine, FR
• Residence: Vannecourt, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Lived at Bisping and Vannecourt in Moselle

Birth:
According to his marriage entry.

Residence:
13 mi. west of Bisping

Joseph married Freni (Veronique) Gerber on 5 May 1803 in Linstroff, Moselle, Lorraine, FR. Freni (daughter of Jean Gerber and Catherine Gingerich) was born on 28 Feb 1781 in Kreutzwald At Saverne, Haut-Rhin, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her parents were farming on the Roderhof at Insviller, Moselle, (12 miles southeast of Grostenquin).

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?

Jean + Catherine Gingerich. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: A Mennonite tailor
• Occupation: Miller And Tailor Of Clothes In Rhodes
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1771, St. Avold, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1772, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1773, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1775, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1783, St. Avold, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1787, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1788, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1794, Rhodes, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Andréas has been included as a child of Caspar by several researchers. However, his birth date seems not to fit with being Caspar’s son, but perhaps Andréas’ birth date is incorrect. It could also be that Caspar’s birthdate is incorrect or that he had a wife before Barbe Rouvenac.

Gondrexange is situated at the edge of a lake with the same name, between Rechicourt le Chateau and Heming. Eight km from Rechicourt le Chateau, twelve km from Sarrebourg and 72 km from Nancy. In 1836 there were 1027 people living in the village. By 2001 that number had dwindled to 464. A farm 2 km away called Ketzing had 18 inhabitants in 1836.

“At the edge of the village (Gondrexange), next to a large recreational lake, a narrow lane named ‘rue de la vieux moulin,’ or ‘old mill street,’ winds down below the edge of the main highway. Here can be seen the trace of a small mill stream and the ruins of a small stone mill structure, overgrown with weeds. Though not conclusively documented, this site seems a likely candidate for the Schrag residence and site of Joseph Oyer’s marriage (to Catherine Schrag, daughter of second wife, Marie Blazer).”


(also found on French documents as 'Caspard' and 'Gaspard'), was born circa 1744 and died on Sommerhof at Neuviller, Lower Alsace March 15, 1794. He was a miller at Bischwald Mill and a cultivator on Belgrade farm at Bistroff after 1772, and at the time of his death was a tailor at Rhodes. His civil death entry from Neuviller described him as a 50-year-old Anabaptist living at Rhodes (it is likely that he was visiting the Sommers on Sommerhof at the time of his death). Witnesses were tenant farmer Jean Sommer, 63, and day laborer Jean Müller, 59 (Jean Sommer, born circa 1731, was the father of Joseph Sommer, and grandfather to the Sommers who came to Tazewell County in 1834). “ }




  

Birth:
Ingweilerhof

Residence:
Cultivator at Belgrade farm, and miller at Bischwald Mill.

Residence:
Son Joseph was born at Bellegrade Ferme near Bistroff

Residence:
At time of Catherine’s birth

Residence:
At time of Anne’s birth

Residence:
Domiciled at Bachats at the time of his death.

Died:
On Sommerhof. 25 Ventose 2. Caspar Schraag, 50 year old Anabaptist living at Rhodes. Witnesses: Tenant farmer Jean Sommer of Sommerhof, 63, and day laborer Jean Muller.
The witnesses may not have known the exact date of Caspar’s birth, and gave a nice round number as what they thought was a probable age. Witnesses were Jean Sommer, 63 (tenant farmer) and Jean Muller, 59 (day laborer). Jean, b. abt. 1731 was the father of Joseph Sommer and grandfather to the Sommers who arrived in Tazewell Co., IL in 1834.

Buried:
There are remains of a Sommers cemetery at Sommerhof, so Caspar could have been buried there, or the body removed back to Rhodes. There are no identifiable stones at either place.

Caspar + Barbe Rouvenac (Rüfenacht). Barbe (daughter of Jean Rouvenac and Barbe Ringenberg) was born in 1730; died in 1773. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish

Notes:

The marriage record of Caspar’s son, Josef, names his mother as Barbe Ruvennach. The other children’s marriage records name Marie Blaser as mother.

NOTE: Anne Rouvenacht [Barbe’s sister?] married Jean Hirschy b. 1752, who is listed as a witness to Anne Schrag’s marriage and is named as her cousin.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Plowman

Notes:

Died:
Probably at Alzing farm

Nicolas married Catherine Marie Ritzieker (Regsecker) (Lithzieker) in 1770. Catherine was born in 1736; died on 18 Mar 1798 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• EARL: Y
• Residence: 1798

Notes:

Residence:
Alzing

Died:
Paul Auburtin source