Johannes (John) Oyer

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1860, Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

A Catharine Shrock age 64, widow, born France, was living with John and Ann at the time of the 1860 Tazewell Co. census.

Evidently became part of the Egli Amish and was part of the Salem church, according to Steve Estes at 140th Anniversary of the church.

Birth:
Serpette says 1818

Census:
Page 134:
John Oyer, 41, farmer born France
Ann 33, born France
Children: Joseph, Catharine, Ann, Peter, John, Christian, Madaline, Mary;
and Catharine Shrock 64, widow, born France

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Johannes married Anna Farni on 18 Mar 1844 in Tazewell Co., IL. Anna (daughter of Peter Farny and Anne Kempf) was born on 8 Jul 1827 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died on 9 Jul 1897; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
by Michael Mosiman

1. Joseph J. Oyer was born on 5 Mar 1845 in IL; died on 8 Jun 1920 in IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL.
2. Barbara Oyer was born in 1846; died in 1908.
3. Catharine Oyer
4. Anne Oyer was born on 5 May 1848 in IL; died on 6 Jan 1930 in Illbach, Hesse, GR; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL.
5. Peter P. Oyer was born on 11 Apr 1850; died on 16 Aug 1929; was buried in Gridley Twp., McLean Co., IL.
6. John Oyer
7. Christian Oyer
8. Magdalena Oyer was born in 1857; died in 1873.
9. Mary 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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1804, Gondrexange, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Catherine died a few weeks following the birth of Mary (Marie). During 1807-1830 Joseph and Catherine lived at Niderhof, Lorraine, France.

Birth:
Oderfang Mill. Year calculated from marriage record.

Residence:
Ketzing. Living there at the time of her marriage

Died:
At age 40.

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?

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: 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 married Marie Blaser (Blaiser) about 1774. Marie was born in 1749; died on 27 Nov 1792 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Once lived at Belgrade/Bellegarde.

Birth:
Calculated from death date

Died:
At age 43. Civil death entry: 43-year-old wife of ‘citizen’ Gaspard Girack, a 48-year-old Anabaptist tailor living at Rhodes. Witnessed by ‘citizen laborer’ Jean Ruvenach, 27, and signed ‘Caspar Schrag’ and ‘Hans R?venacht.’

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.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist/Amish
• Residence: Abt 1733
• Residence: 1744, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1750, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1761, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR

Notes:

On the Ernstweilerhof.

Named on the Ingweilerhof near Zweibrücken in 1761.The Schrags were part of the Amish “Haftler” (those who believed buttons were a luxury and instead wore hooks and eyes), along with families Stalter, Hauter, Oesch, Eyer, Gut, Nafziger, Gungerich, etc. This group formed their own congregation at Ixheim where they built their own “praying house.” This was separate from the Mennonite congregation who were following “Knopfler” (those who wore buttons); Bachmann, Lehmann, Steinmann, etc.

Birth:
or Jebsheim, Alsace

Residence:
Ingweilerhof, according to LDS info

Residence:
Ingweilerhof

Caspar married Elisabeth Weiss in 1730. Elisabeth was born in 1708 in Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish

Notes:

Birth:
Ingweilerhof