Joseph, Sr. Oyer

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller at Hemersbergerhof near Landau (compagnon meunier)/Farmer in America
• Residence: Abt 1807-1830, Niderhoff, Moselle, FR
• Immigration: 12 Dec 1830, New Orleans, LA
• Residence: 1831, Butler Co., OH
• PURC: 20 Aug 1838, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Joseph lived near Turquestein, in the village of Niderhoff, where he was the community's miller. Joseph was married first to Catherine Schrag. Joseph Oyer and family and his brother Jacob Oyer and family and their 85-year-old father, Johannes Oyer, along with others came to America in 1830. He made the voyage with his wife and twelve children: Magdalena, Catherine, Anna, Joseph, John, Peter, Christian, Mary, Elisabeth/Barbara, Andrew, Elise/Elisabeth, David. Eight of these children were born to Joseph's first wife, Catherine. They sailed from the port of LeHavre, France, and after a 53-day trip across the ocean landed at the port of New Orleans in November. After living a while in Butler County, Ohio, the Joseph Oyer family moved to Tazewell County, Illinois.

Birth:
Hermersbergerhof, near Landau. Calculated date from marriage document. (30 years at the time)

Residence:
Miller at Niderhoff

Immigration:
Ship Superior

Residence:
In 1838 To IL

PURC:
From Peter Ringenberg, brother-in-law

Census:
Listed as a Farmer, age 42, with wife Ann, age 33, both born in France, and children all born in Illinois:
Joseph age 15; Catharine 14; Ann 12; Peter 10; John 8; Christian 6; Madaline 4; Mary 1; and Catharine Shrock age 64, widow born in France.

Buried:
In a plot at the edge of the property line of his brother Jacob’s farm.

Joseph, married Catherine Schrag on 27 Dec 1804 in Gondrexange, Moselle, FR. Catherine (daughter of Caspar (Gaspard) Schrag (Gerack) and Marie Blaser (Blaiser)) was born about 1783 in St. Avold, Moselle, FR; died on 14 May 1823 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In her marriage record, Catherine’s surname is spelled “Schrack.” A rough translation of the vital statistic is: This record 6 (10?) nivo an 13 is the mariage of Joseph Oyer 30 years old born compagnon (companion or comrade) miller living in Gondrexange son of Jean Oyer and Jacobine Regle, and Catherine Schrack 21 years old born Oderfang, living in Gondrexange, major (of majority years) daughter of deceased Gaspard Schrack, miller and of deceased Marie Blazer (Blaser) living in Rhodes before death. Witnesses: Joseph Schrag born 1772/1773 son of Gaspard Schraque and Barbe Rouvenac, married 13 Aug 1798 with Marie Engel (1772-1819).

Another marriage document on file is “extrait du registre des actes de mariage de la commune de Gondrexange”--meaning it is a copy made (it could be 12 Oct 1823). This second record could be with regard to some census taken, as there is a seal on the record that includes the word census.

Joseph Oyer was 30 years old and living in Gondrexange at the time of his marriage.
Catherine was 21 years old (majeur fille, majority years), born in Oderfang, living in Gondrexange. Her parents had died before her marriage.

Witnesses:
Jean-Claude T(?)acotte
Joseph Schrock, age 32, brother of Catherine, living at Gondrexange.

Married:
10 Nivose 13 - at Ketzing?

1. Magdalena Oyer was born on 31 Aug 1805 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 15 Nov 1888 in Milford, Seward Co., NE; was buried in Woodford Co., IL.
2. Catherine Oyer was born on 4 Oct 1807 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 17 Sep 1808 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR.
3. Catherine Oyer was born on 15 Oct 1809 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 15 Nov 1897 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL.
4. Anna Oyer was born on 29 Nov 1811 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 5 Aug 1855 in East Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL.
5. Joseph, Jr Oyer was born on 29 Jan 1814 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 16 Aug 1866 in Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL.
6. Johannes (John) Oyer was born on 9 Sep 1816 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 12 Mar 1872 in Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL.
7. Peter Oyer was born on 15 Oct 1818 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 14 Jun 1890 in IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL.
8. Christian Oyer was born on 11 Dec 1820 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 9 Jul 1904 in IL; was buried in Gridley Twp., McLean Co., IL.
9. Marie (Mary) Oyer was born on 16 Apr 1823 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 22 Nov 1893 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.

Joseph, married Magdalena Litwiller on 20 Nov 1823 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR. Magdalena (daughter of Johannes Litwiller and Francoise (Veronica) Zehr (Serre)) was born on 30 Mar 1801 in Kerprich-Aux-Bois, Moselle, FR; died in 1861/2 in Livingston Co., IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Joseph’s brother Jacob was a witness to the marriage.

1. Barbara Oyer was born on 20 Aug 1824 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 30 Oct 1881; was buried in Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.
2. Andrew Oyer was born on 27 Feb 1829 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 27 Jun 1916 in Sterling, KS; was buried in Walnut Twp., Reno Co., KS.
3. Elizabeth Oyer was born on 23 Apr 1828 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 21 Mar 1896 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
4. David Oyer was born on 26 Apr 1830 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died on 7 Jul 1891; was buried in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL.
5. Veronica (Fannie) Oyer was born in 1834 in Butler Co., OH; died on 30 May 1872 in Gridley, McLean Co., IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL.
6. Josephine (Phoebe) Oyer was born on 1 Aug 1838 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 28 May 1929; was buried in Jefferson Twp., Hillsdale Co., MI.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Laborer, In 1798
• Occupation: Miller/Farmer, 1807-1830
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1795, Grostenquin, Linstroff, Moselle, Lorraine, FR
• Residence: 1817, Niderhoff, Moselle, FR
• Immigration: Oct 1830, New Orleans, LA

Notes:

Also known as “Hans Oyer der Junge.”

"Mennonite" at Hermersbergerhof, Palatinate, Germany, in 1776 and 1777. At Hingsange near Morhange, Moselle, FR, in 1796. At Turquestein, Moselle, FR, 1829-1830.

Hermersbergerhof was originally a farm belonging to Eusserthal, a Cistercian monastery. Then it became part of the Duchey of Zweibrücken. In 1774 the Dukes leased it to a Mennonite named Michel Albrecht, and by 1776 both Johannes’s worked there for leaseholder Albrecht.



In marriage record of Joseph to Katherina Schrag, Johannes is called a “laborer.”

Between 1807 and 1830, the family operated a mill at Niederhof (Niderhoff). They were probably a part of the Repaix congregation.

According to research by Gordon Oyer in 1999, “The village of Niderhoff is where the extended Oyer family that emigrated to Butler County Ohio, in 1830 was formed. Local records include sixteen Oyer births, six deaths, and one marriage. Since the two brothers, Joseph and Jacob, are listed as millers at Niderhoff in many of these records, their place of residence can be pinpointed. The community actually has three nineteenth-centuy mills, however, so the task was not as easy as it seemed. One, le Moulin des Caillaux” was not built until the 1820s, so it could be ruled out. Another, named ‘Neuve Grange’ is situated in the nearby countryside; and the third is on the edge of the village. The fact that records consistently refer to the brother as millers at Niderhoff--never at Neuve Grange--coupled with the recent discovery of one of the Oyer mill lease contracts, establishes the village mill as the Oyer residence.”

Proprietors at Niderhoff at the time of son Johannes’ and Catherine’s marriage in 1817.

The family departed LeHavre 12 Oct 1830 on the ship SUPERIOR; landed New Orleans 4 Dec 1830 (53 days). Amish passengers arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, 25 Dec 1830.

Residence:
also, abt 1789-1793?

Residence:
Proprietors at Niderhoff at the time of son Johannes’ and Catherine’s marriage in 1817.

Immigration:
Ship Superior, arriving 4 Dec.

Johannes + Jakobine Regle’ (Ruschli, Roeschly). Jakobine was born about 1750 in Scheppach, Haut-Rhin, FR; died on 20 Mar 1820 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Upper Rhine according to her death record.

Birth:
Imbrehof

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller

Notes:

Probably the son “Hans Jakob Eyer” listed as son of Benedict “Benz” Eyer.,
Also known as “Hans Oyer der Alte.”

Referred to as "Mennonite" at Hermersbergerhof, Palatine, Germany in 1776 and 1777.

In 1776, both Johannes Oyers are listed among subjects of the Duchy of Zweibrücken and were living at Hermersbergerhof. In both 1793 and 1796 records, Johannes was listed as a day worker/miller at Hingsange in Lorraine (Linstroff community, half way between Saarbrucken and Nancy). The Amish congregation there was named "Morhange" after a nearby town and it originated in the 1720s, when Anabaptists first appeared here.
See IMH Sept 1989, p. 19, for a photo and description of Hingsange.

Notes:

Oyer/Eyer/Eymann - From Ey, which means meadow or wet meadow land (MFH Jan 1984) There are several places named Oy in Canton Bern, in the German Algau, Bavaria, and elsewhere.

Associated with Riggisberg, Canton Bern—Benedict thought to be born here late 17th century.

“Benedict Eyer, Mennonite, farmer. In St. Marie-aux-Mines (Markirch/Els.) in 1708. Named as a resident, leased in 1728 for six years along with Jacob Dettweiler the Steinichhof (Langensteinbach), two marriages and more than eight children.”

For fuller genealogical information about Benedict’s descendants, see source . (