Samuel J. Heiser

Other Events and Attributes:

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

Notes:

Baptism:
East Bend Mennonite Church by Peter Zehr

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Samuel married Tillie Ingold on 23 Jan 1913 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Tillie (daughter of Henry Ingold and Veronica (Fannie) Steinman) was born on 19 Jul 1893 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL; died on 11 Aug 1987 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Evelyn Lucille Heiser was born on 21 Jun 1914 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 2 Aug 2007 in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL; was buried on 5 Aug 2007 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
2. Infant Heiser was born on 13 May 1917; died on 13 May 1917.
3. Lloyd Alton Heiser was born on 22 Jan 1919 in IL; died on 3 Jul 1951 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
4. Lorene Esther Heiser was born on 28 Mar 1921 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 20 May 1999; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
5. Dorothy Ilene Heiser was born on 3 Sep 1925 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 30 Jan 2020 in Dayton, TN; was buried on 8 Jan 2020 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
6. Melvin Jay Heiser

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish, Mennonite
• Residence: 1888, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

OBIT:

Heiser. -- Jacob Heiser, son of Jacob and Kathrine Heiser, was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., on April 22, 1856; died at his home in Fisher, Ill., on Feb. 19, 1923; aged 66 y. 10 m. 28 d. He was married to Elizabeth Bachman on Feb. 20, 1883. To this union were born 12 children, of whom the following survive: Manuel, Alvin, Samuel, Katie, Jake, Mrs. Alvin L. Burkey, Roy, Jesse, and Esther. Barbara preceded him in death about 6 years ago, and two died in infancy. He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife, 9 children, 12 grandchildren, 5 brothers, and 2 sisters. He was a member of the Amish Mennonite Church since his youth, and was one of the first Mennonite settlers in the East Bend congregation and worked faithfully unto the end. He expressed his readiness to go home and called the family to his bedside. He bade farewell leaving words of warning and comfort which will long be remembered. It was indeed hard to say goodby to one we all loved so well, one who meant all a father could mean to us. But we feel assured that our loss is his eternal gain. Therefore we humbly say, "Lord, thy will be done." Funeral services were conducted on Feb. 21 by Samuel Zehr from Psalm 39 and Samuel Gerber of Pekin, Ill., from Col. 2:8-10.

"Father, thou art sweetly resting
Cold may be this earthly tomb,
But the angels sweetly whispered,
'Come and live with us at home.' " The Children

Residence:
from Morton, Tazewell Co., IL

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Jacob married Elizabeth Bachman on 20 Feb 1883. Elizabeth (daughter of John Bachman and Barbara Sutter) was born on 15 Jun 1862 in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 26 Dec 1923 in Jacksonville, IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

OBIT:

Bachman. - Elizabeth (Bachman) Heiser died at Norbury Sanitarium, Jacksonville, Ill., Dec. 26, 1923; aged 62 y. 6 m. 4 d. She was the daughter of John and Barbara Bachman and was born near Groveland, Ill., June 15, 1861. On February 20, 1883, she was united in marriage to Jacob Heiser, who preceded her to the spirit world Feb. 19, 1923. To this union were born 12 children, namely: Manuel, Alvin, Samuel, Katie, Jake, Lizzie, Roy, Jesse, and Esther. One daughter, Barbara, and two infants preceded her in death. She united with the Mennonite Church in her youth and remained a faithful member until her death. She leaves to mourn her departure 6 sons, 3 daughters, 13 grandchildren, 2 brothers, 1 sister, 1 aunt, and a host of relatives and friends. She was a faithful and devout mother who was especially concerned about the spiritual welfare of her family and will long be remembered by her gentle disposition and kindness shown to all with whom she came in contact. Funeral services were held at the East Bend Church near Fisher, Ill., conducted by Samuel Gerber of Tremont. Text, II Cor. 5:1-10. Burial in the East Bend cemetery.

————————
Read at East Bend Mennonite Centennial Celebration, 1989

“My name is Elizabeth, I was born in 1862 in Tazewell County, and I married Jacob Heiser. We lived in Tazewell County and everything was going fine until after little Samuel was born. Now, there was Manuel, Alvin, and Samuel, three sons! My, what help Jake would have with the work before long! I think that’s why Jake started thinking about finding a place where there would be enough work for the boys. Then one day in January 1888, Jake came home and told me brother-in-law Peter Zehr had bought a farm in Champaign County and would we want to move there? What a shock! I sure hated the thought of moving so far away from Mama, Papa, and my brothers and sisters. When would I ever see them again? But then, it wouldn’t be quite so bad because my Aunt Lena, my cousin Mary, who was married to Charles Stormer, and cousin August Ingold already lived in Champaign County. So, when the spring weather came, the men helped Jake load all our things on the train. Jake’s sister Fannie went along to help US. So we all got on the train that was going to Gibson City. That train whistle sounded so sad, I felt lonesome already. When we got off the train at Gibson City, there was not a familiar face around at all!

It was a chilly day, so we bundled up the boys. I handed six month old Samuel to Fannie for her to carry. I took four year old Manuel and two year old Alvin by the hand, and off we started walking to find our new home. It was time for me to carry Samuel for a while. I thought he must be sleeping soundly, but when I peeked under the blankets his little face was blue. I was frightened! When the fresh March air reached him, he gasped and started crying, and his little face turned bright pink again. I shall never forget that walk. I thought it would never end, but Jake said it was only eight miles!.

That was a long and lonely year. But that day in July, when Mama’s letter came, saying that Papa had bought land about one mile from US and that they would be moving here next spring, my heart jumped for joy. But, in October, when I got word that Papa had died, I felt more lonely than ever. Jake said that if no one else was going to move up here, we would move back to Tazewell County.

So, when spring finally came again, Jake took his wagon to Gibson City to meet the train. I could hardly wait for him to come back home, because he brought with him Mama, my twin sister Barbara and her husband Joseph Heiser, and their boys John, Amos, and Joseph. He also brought brother-in-law Peter Zehr, his wife Barbara, and their children Katie, Dan, Lizzie, and Joseph. What a reunion! They were all moving here to live. What a happy ending to that first lonely year in Champaign County.

Since Peter Zehr was a minister, he soon found a place where we could have church services. I shall never forget that spring day in 1889 when all our buggies headed for the Dixon school house. We sang and prayed together, and it was so good to hear a sermon again. We thanked God for a new beginning and for his faithfulness to US. I cannot imagine what this area will be like in 100 years, but our hopes for our children are that they will find this a good place to live and grow up to be Christians and be faithful to God.”

Birth:
Gravestone date. Obit says 1861.

Died:
Norbury Sanitarium

Buried:
East Bend Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

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

Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

PURC:
Bought land from Charles Graves in Section 36.

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

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

Other Events and Attributes:

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

Notes:

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

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

Residence:
Where they developed a farm in Section 36.

Buried:
Buckeye Cemetery

Notes:

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Religion: Mennonite
• Census: 1870, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

John Bachman was born in France and spoke French more fluently than English and German. Although he was an ordained minister, he seldom preached at their Amish Mennonite house meetings, in which the German language was used exclusively.

“..He was apparently the ‘deacon Bachman’ in the Pleasant Grove Amish Mennonite Church referred to in Harry F. Weber, The Centennial History of the Mennonites of Illinois. “Johannes Bachman” attended the Diener-Versammlungen in 1871, 1875, and 1878.”

Census:
Farmer John Bachman, 52, France; Barbara, 43, Bern; and four children born in Illinois.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

John married Barbara Sutter on 4 Nov 1855 in Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of Johannes Sutter (Suttor) and Barbara Oesch) was born on 1 Feb 1827 in Probfeld, Bavaria, GR; died on 10 Jan 1903 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1850

Notes:

“John and Barbara Sutter Bachman family also lived near Morton in Tazewell County. They had the misfortune of losing their first child. Thus, they gladly welcomed the opportunity to open their home to a homeless young lad by the name of John Grund. His name soon became John Bachman. The Bachmans also had twin daughters, Barbara and Lizzie, born June 15, 1861. Two more children, Lena and Joseph, were born but both died while young. Their youngest son was Andrew, who grew up in that area.”

Birth:
Detenfield Village

Died:
75 yrs. 11 mo. 8 days

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• EARL: Y
• Occupation: Medical Assistant or Care Giver {According To Helmut Funk Of Weierhof Working With Gary Waltner, and Joseph Staker}
• Residence: 1815-1818, Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR

Notes:

Residence:
lived on the grounds of the castle estate of major general Maximilian Graf von Spreti at Arzbach bei Dachau from 1815 to May 4, 1818.

Jacob married Katharina Oesch about 1813 in Lorraine, FR. Katharina was born in SW; died on 14 May 1816 in Arzbach, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Three months fter son Jacob’s birth.

Notes:

Lived in Bavaria (the Palatinate after 1805).

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Finish Carpenter (Menuisier) And Farmer
• Immigration: 1833, Butler Co., OH
• Census: 1840, Ross, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1844, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

“French records prove that the man who married Katharina Ulrich in 1831 in France and fathered her first child was named Jacob Wagler. But, in America, Katharina Ulrich’s husband was called Christian Wagler. Nothing is known from French documentation about Christian Wagler, except that he signed the death document of his father in 1826 in La Croix. Perhaps Christian Wagler set out for America with the family of Jacob Wagler in 1833 and, before or after crossing the Atlantic, married his younger brother’s wife--supposing, of course, that she had been widowed in an untimely fashion--and thereby merged the identity and responsibility of that brother with his own.”

Wagler/Berse
“The groom is actually called “Jacques Berse” in the couple’s French civil marriage record, to which he signed his name as “Jakob Bers” in crude antique German script. Alteration of the Germanic surname Wagler to Bers(e) in French must somehow have been justifiable linguistically.”

“The surname Wagler, like Wagner, was obviously originally drawn from wagon-building and/or the wheelwright’s trade. The rare French noun ber(s), “the side rail of a cart over which canvas may be stretched,” would seem to lie behind this name change: Tresor de la Langue Francaise...vol. 4 (Paris, 1975), p. 400.s.v., Bs. The Wagler surname appears frequently in French records as Berse, but often the male Wagler in question simply signs his name as Wagler in old German script to the French document naming him as Berse.”

According to Tazewell County, Illinois Cemeteries Volume Two, the headstone of Christian Wagler in Railroad Cemetery at Elm Grove says he was born Jan. 30, 1803, lived 73 years, 10 months, and 22 days, and died Dec. 22, 1877.

Birth:
(near Croix-aux-Mines) Gravestone says 30 June 1803. Birth registered as “Jacques Berse.” Joe Staker gives date as 30 Jan 1803.

Census:
as two males under 5 [Christian Jr. and Joseph]; one male 5-10 [Peter]; one male 10-15; one male 30-40 [Christian Sr.]; one female under 5 [Barbara]; one female 5-10 [Katharina/Catherine]; and one female 30-40 [Catherine Ulrich].

Census:
farmer Christian Wagler, 51, France; Catharine, 54, France; Peter, 17, France; Catharine, 16, Ohio; Christian, 14, Ohio; Barbara, 13, Ohio; Joseph, 12, Ohio; and Isaac, 10, Ohio.

Census:
oldest son Peter Wagler, 27, France; Catherine, 21; Illinois; and Christian, 7 months, Illinois.

Census:
Peter's family has moved to Morton, while the parents and two sons have return to the Elm Grove farm: farmer Christian Wagler, 67, France; Catharine, 71; Joseph, 35; and Christian, 34.

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery (see photo) http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/tazewell/railroadcem.html

Christian married Katharina Ulrich on 7 Apr 1831 in Hirsingue, Haut-Rhin, FR. Katharina (daughter of Peter Ulrich, Jr. and Katharina Lauber) was born on 2 May 1797 in Hirtzbach, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, FR; died on 21 May 1887 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in May 1887 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Immigrated 1833

Notes:

From the diary of Sam Wagler's father Joseph we have the following information: "Sat. May 21, 1887. This afternoon I was by Grandmother. She died 8 o'clock and 8 minutes. Sunday May 22: From home I went to C.W. Heiser and Aunt Catherine Heiser. Monday May 23: Today was the funeral of my Grandmother. The scripture reading was 90 Psalm and John Chapter 5: Verses 20 to end. First part was read by Peter Ropp. Peter Zehr and Andrew Ropp held the sermon."

The ship France departed from Le Havre and arrived at New York July 12, 1833. Gary L. Yordy found the passenger list, which includes this grouping from France:

Pete Ulrich 30 carpenter [Christian Wagler]
Catherine Ulrich 23 [his wife, Catherine Ulrich]
Peter Ulrich 2 [their son, Peter Jacob Wagler]
Ludwick Schoften 28 [unknown]
Peter Ulrich 60 [Christian's father-in-law Peter Ulrich]
Catherine Lowber 55 [Christian's mother-in-law Catherine Lauber]

On April 7, 1831at Hirsingue, Upper Alsace Jacob Berse married his cousin Catherine Ulrich. He appears on the civil entry as Jacques Berse, a 28-year-old finishing carpenter born at La Croix-aux-Mines but living at Bruebach.258 His parents were described as the deceased cultivator Isaac Berse and the widow Elisabeth Marchal, who was living at Bruebach.259
Though her age is given as 31 on her 1831 marriage entry, bringing it closer to the groom's, Catherine Ulrich was actually born at Hirtzbach (next to Hirsingue) March 2, 1797, a daughter of Hirsingue weaver Peter/Pierre Ulrich and Catherine Lauber.

Birth:
Neil Stuckey says 1799/1800

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery (see photo) http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/tazewell/railroadcem.html

Notes:

The only relative among official witnesses to the marriage was Joseph Wagler (“Berse)), 29, farmer, living in Bruebach: film 0733968, 1831, #4.

The witnesses at the marriage of Jacob Berse and Catherine Ulrich were brother Joseph (now living at Bruebach), and the brothers Christian and Jacob Hirschi of the Birkenhof at Ruederbach. 

Other Events and Attributes:

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

Notes:

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

Residence:
John and Barbara were born there

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

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

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

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

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

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

Notes:

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