Leslie C. (Leck) Oyer

Notes:

Obit: (Pantagraph)
FISHER — Leslie C. “Leck” Oyer, 89, of Fisher, died at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday (May 8, 2007) at the Gibson Area Hospital in Gibson City.
Service: 2 p.m. Saturday at the Dewey Evangelical Mennonite Church, Dewey.
Burial: East Bend Memorial Gardens, rural Fisher.
Visitation: noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Survivors: four daughters, Carolyn (Jim) Miller, Wauseon, Ohio; Nan (Bill) Cagle, Kandy (Greg) Beesley and Kathy (Mike) Dennemann, all of Fisher; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruby Birkey, Rantoul, and Dorothy Parsons, McAllen, Texas; and one brother, Merle Oyer, Champaign.
Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, is in charge of arrangements.

Died:
GC Hospital

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Leslie married Ruth Velma Hieser on 25 Feb 1941 in Champaign Co., IL. Ruth (daughter of John Emil Hieser and Mary Cender) was born on 30 Nov 1917 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; died on 28 May 2008 in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Carolyn Joyce Oyer
2. Nancy Ruth Oyer
3. Kathy Mae Oyer
4. Kandy Kay Oyer

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Joseph married Bertha Zimmerman on 25 Nov 1909. Bertha (daughter of John Baecher Zimmerman and Martha Fahsbender) was born on 25 Oct 1889; died on 14 Oct 1952; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
Oyer. - Christian Oyer, son of Christian and Anna (Smith) Oyer, was born in Washington, Ill., May 23, 1852; died suddenly of cancer and heart trouble at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Unzicker, Fisher, Ill., May 20, 1929; aged 76 y. 11 m. 28 d. When a young man he accepted Christ as his Savior and united with the Mennonite Church, remaining a faithful member until death. On Aug. 26, 1876, he was united in marriage to Katherine Zehr. To this union were born 6 sons and 6 daughters. His wife and two daughters preceded him in death. He is survived by the following children: Jacob, Mackinaw, Ill.; Joseph, Manuel, Samuel and John, Foosland, Ill.; Mrs. J. E. Birkey, Manson, Iowa; Mrs. Levi Birkey, Clarksville, Mich.; Mrs. William Unzicker, Elsie Oyer, Fisher, Ill. He is also survived by 53 grandchildren and 2 brothers (Peter, Eureka, Ill.; John, St. John, Mich.). One half-brother and sister preceded him in death. He with his family made his home near Roanoke, Ill., until 1902, when they moved to a farm five miles north of Fisher, Ill. Here they lived until the death of his wife eight years ago. Although in failing health for three years, his death came as a shock to his family and friends. He bore his suffering with great patience and faith in his Lord, often expressing a desire to be taken where all sufferings are ended. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Funeral services were held at the East Bend Mennonite church by Bro. J. A. Heiser. Text, I Pet. 1:3, 4. Interment in East Bend cemetery.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Christian married Katherine Zehr on 27 Aug 1876 in Woodford Co., IL. Katherine (daughter of Bishop Jacob Zehr and Elizabeth Ehresman) was born on 2 Apr 1858 in Slabtown, Woodford Co., IL; died on 14 Apr 1921 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
Oyer. - Kathrine (Zehr) Oyer was born in Woodford Co., Ill., Apr. 2, 1858; died at her home near Fisher, Ill., Apr. 14, 1921; aged 63 y. 12 d. Sister Oyer suffered a number of years from a complication of diseases. At the age of 16 she confessed her Christ, united with the Amish Mennonite Church, and remained a faithful member to the end. On Aug. 27, 1876, she was united in marriage to Christian Oyer. To this union 12 children were born. She leaves 43 grandchildren, 2 brothers, 2 sisters, and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services conducted in [German] by Bro. Daniel Grieser (Text, II Cor. 5:1), in English by Bro. J. A. Heiser (Text, I Thes. 4:13).


“Jacob and Elizabeth had a daughter, Katherine Zehr Oyer (1858-1921) who "lived a full and active life.” She served as a practical nurse, delivering babies and caring for the sick. Often when her children would arise in the morning, mother would be gone having been called to the home of some sick neighbor. She was also the one who helped 'lay out the dead.' This was before undertakers as we know them today. She practiced in both the Mackinaw Valley and East Bend communities.

“Katherine was good at figures and helped with keeping the family records. she also did a great deal of quilting and was a good seamstress. She was a quiet and patient person and loved by all her family. Her last five years she was ill much of the time which she bore patiently.”

Died:
At her home

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
John B. Zimmerman was born July 23, 1846 in Baden, Germany; died at his home near Foosland, Ill., Sept. 24, 1939; aged 93 y. 2 m. 1 d. On June 21, 1887, he was united in marriage to Martha Fahsbender, who preceded him in death several years ago. To this union 7 children were born, all of whom survive, as follows: Mrs. Mary Birkey, Mrs. Bertha Oyer, and Mrs. Elizabeth Heiser of Foosland; Mrs. Allie Gregerson of Paxton; William and Ernest of Gibson City, and Charles at home; also 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. His 4 brothers preceded him in death. He united with the Defenseless Mennonite Church at Groveland, Ill., when a young man and found a great consolation reading his Bible daily. He was a devoted husband and a loving father and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. Funeral services were held Sept. 26 at the home and at the East Bend Mennonite Church conducted by Bro. Roy Unzicker. Text, Heb. 9:27. Burial in East Bend Cemetery.

John and Martha lived near Pontiac, IL, and later north of Fisher, IL. John worked on the farm until age 89 years. He first became a father at age 41, and was 57 when his youngest child was born. Martha was 14 years younger than John.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

John married Martha Fahsbender on 21 Jun 1877. Martha (daughter of Charles Fahsbender) was born on 26 Aug 1860 in GR; died on 26 May 1935 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Martha Fahsbender Zimmerman was born in Germany Aug. 26, 1860; died at her home near Foosland, Ill., May 26, 1935; aged 74 y. 9 m. She came to America when 12 years of age. She was united in marriage with John B. Zimmerman June -, 1887. To this union eight children were born. One daughter preceded her in death. She leaves the aged husband and the following children: Mrs. John Birky, Mrs. Joseph Oyer, and Mrs. Silas Heiser of Foosland, Ill.; Mrs. Louis Gregerson of Ludlow, Ill.; William and Ernest of Gibson City, Ill., and Charles at home; also 20 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Four grandchildren preceded her in death. She also leaves a brother (Ernest Fahsbender of Chicago) and a half-brother (Charles Fahsbender of Pontiac). She will be sadly missed, as she was always a loving mother and a kind neighbor, and was loved by all who knew her. Funeral services were held at the East Bend Mennonite Church with Bros. J. A. Heiser of Fisher, Ill., and ____ Zimmerman of Nebraska in charge. Interment in East Bend Cemetery.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Church

Notes:

Joseph is found on the 1850 census of Tazewell County, living in the household of his brother John. Their home was in Farmdale, a railroad junction that once held a post office and store.

Joseph, married Anna Peterschmidt on 7 Sep 1851 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. Anna (daughter of Jacob Peterschmidt and Barbara Lauber) was born on 25 Jun 1814 in Ruederbach, Haut-Rhin, FR; died on 11 Jan 1892 in Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, February 1892:
"On the 11th of January 1892, in Woodford Co., Ill., of the infirmities of old age, widow Anna Oyer, aged 77 years, 6 months and 14 days. She was the youngest daughter of Jacob Petter Schmitt, and was born in Canton Pfird [Fr. Ferrette], Upper Alsace, Germany. In 1832 she came with her mother, 3 brothers and 3 sisters to America. They settled in Lancaster Co., Pa., at Samuel Lantz's. From the church at this place this poor family received many favors. Three years afterwards the family moved to Butler Co., Ohio, where the deceased was married to Joseph Roth, who died 39 years ago. After his death she was united in matrimony to Joseph Oyer in Illinois, who also preceded her about 25 years ago. She leaves three sons and one daughter, a number of grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was a faithful member of the A.M. church. Buried on the 14th. Funeral services in the Roanoke meeting house by Peter Sommer, of Metamora, Ill., from John 6:38-40 and by John Schmitt from Heb. 4:9. J.P.S."

To America in 1832 with three sisters and three brothers. first to Lancaster co., Pa. To Butler Co., Ohio in 1835 and there married Joseph Roth (1811-1850).

Birth:
Staker says born at Bendorf June 25 or 27.

Notes:

Married:
Farmdale?

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: In Europe, A Dienstknecht (Farm Hand), In US, A Minister/Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1848, Slabtown, Woodford Co., IL
• Immigration: May 1848, Le Havre to New York
• Census: 1850, Woodford Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth - March 15, 1898 - page 93, 94.
PRE. JACOB ZEHR
Montgomery Township, Woodford County, Ill., lost one of its oldest and most respected citizens on Tuesday morning of Feb. 22nd, 1898 by the death of Pre. Jacob Zehr, at his home in Mackinaw valley, near Zimmerman's Ford. Deceased was born in Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 17, 1825 and emigrated to America in the spring of 1848. On April 21st, 1850, he was married to Elizabeth Ehresman and settled on the farm upon which he died. This farm he entered from the government and by hard labor succeeded in making it a comfortable home, leaving his family well provided for. His family consisted of four sons and five daughters of whom one son and two daughters preceded him to the grave; his wife, six children and eighteen grandchildren survive him. Bro. Zehr united with the Amish Mennonite Church in early youth and remained a faithful member to the time of his death. On the 12th of June 1859, he was chosen by the above named church as minister of the Gospel, and on May 17th, 1863 ordained as bishop. It was ever his highest aim to fill this charge according to God's ordinances as long as He gave him power and health to do so. He was a sufferer from nervousness or sick-headache more or less for nearly forty years, which wore on him so that for the last four or five years his health has been so poor that he was unable to preach. This seemed to be his greatest sorrow in his declining years; yet by his patience in his sufferings and his trust in his Master he was ever setting a good example to others who visited him, and to his family. About four months ago he was partly paralyzed and from that time was confined to his bed and as helpless as a child, patiently awaiting his Master's call to come up higher. His life on earth was an exemplary, upright, humble one, highly respected by all who knew him. While the sorrow of his death is general, yet it is mitigated by the knowledge that after a long and useful life a good man has gone to the home he so longed for.

What a blessed assurance that
"If we so live as to meet him,
In heaven his bright face we shall see."

The funeral services were held in the village of Deer Creek. Thursday at 1 o'clock P. M. Feb., 24th, a very large congregation of friends and relatives came to pay their last tribute of respect to their beloved friend whose kindness and generosity brightened the lives of many. Elder John Schmitt of Metamora spoke in German, and Val. Strubhar of Washington, in English. The remains were laid to rest in the Mt. Zion cemetery, two miles north of Deer Creek.

"Yonder in the graveyard gently
Rests the form we loved so well;
But we look to heaven and glory
Where there will be no farewell.
Farewell father, till we meet thee,
In thy heavenly home above;
There to sing God's praises with thee,
In the land of joy and love."


Settled near Slabtown near his brothers. After marriage he farmed near Mackinaw River's Zimmerman Ford at the southern edge of Woodford County's Montgomery Township.

“Jacob and Elizabeth’s two oldest children, a son and a daughter, died in infancy. These two children, we were told, were buried in a little plot under the apple tree in the southeast corner of their garden.”

He was ordained as a minister on June 12, 1859, and as an elder (bishop) on May 20, 1863, for the Mackinaw Meeting. After 1873 he primarily served the Goodfield congregation. He attended the May 16-19, 1875, Amish ministers conference held in the Sutter barn.

“For Jacob Zehr there was a “throne in the flesh” in the form of very painful headaches from which he suffered for 35 years. These finally wore him down so that the last few years of his life he was no longer able to minister to the people. Once he could no longer fulfill this service his desire was to be called out of this life to be with his Lord.

“The last four months of life he was partially parliized. On a Tuesday morning, Feb 22 1898, death came to release him form further suffering. His funeral was held in the Deer Creek Baptist church in order to accommodate the large crowd of people who came to the services. The services were in charge of Rev. Peter Zehr, Rev. John Smith, and Rev. John Strubhar. His body was laid to rest in the Mt. Zion cemetery north of Deer Creek, IL.”

“Jacob., Jr. is at the well; in the background are Phoebe (Zehr) Wolber and her daughter [given her apparent age, probably Mary Magdalena “Lena”, b. 1895] and Mrs. (Zehr) Warner. It was recorded that “Mrs. Wolber’s small son [Alvin] fled to the safety of the house” because he was camera-shy!” ,


According to Auswanderung, Jakob Zehr, a serving farmhand at Hanfeld, emigrated from Bavaria in 1848 bound for Illinois with 400 florins in hand.

Birth:
in the Hofmark at Hilgertshausen

Residence:
Purchased land in row Zimmerman Ford area of Mackinaw River.

Immigration:
On the ship Admiral. Assets of 400 fl.

Census:
Living next to older brother Christian: Jacob Sears, 25, Germany; and Eliza, 20, Germany.

Census:
Farmer Jacob Zehr, 42, Bavaria; R. Annie Zehr, 36, Ohio; with six children born in Illinois, and Magdalena Zehr, 75, Bavaria

Buried:
Mr. Zion Cemetery (see photo)

Jacob married Elizabeth Ehresman on 21 Apr 1850 in Woodford Co., IL. Elizabeth (daughter of Christian Ehresman (Eyresmann) and Magdalena Barnhardt) was born on 11 Sep 1830 in GR; died on 27 Nov 1902 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 1835, OH
• Residence: 1844, IL

Notes:

Elizabeth died a highly respected lady who spent her married life fulfilling duties as mother, minister’s wife and Christian lady.

Buried:
Mt. Zion cemetery

John + Veronica Baecher. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]