Rev. Robert Edward Zehr

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Religion: Mennonite
• Ordained: 23 Oct 1949

Notes:

Ordained:
Newcastle Mennonite Church

Buried:
Mount Zion Cemetery

Family/Spouse: Barbara Jane Reuber. Barbara was born on 21 Jun 1911; died on 28 Sep 1966; was buried in Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish/Mennonite
• Baptism: 1892, Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL
• Ordained: Jun 1912, Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

From East Peoria Post, Friday, December 21, 1917 (printed in TCGHS The Monthly, October 2006):

“P.S. Heiser [Peter S.], Jacob Zehr, Alvin and Miss Lena Wolber and Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Heiser [Christian D. and Susan Wolber] went to Chicago last Wednesday as delegates to a Mennonite meeting which is being held in that city for the purpose of appointing a committee to have charge of the work of soliciting funds for the relief of the suffering humanity in the war area. A part of the funds raised will be turned over to the government for this purpose and part will be sent direct by the Mennonite Association.”

Baptism:
By Bishop John Smith

Ordained:
By John C. Birky

Buried:
Mt. Zion Cemetery. Services by J. D. Hartzler and Samuel Gerber

Jacob + Elizabeth Ann Wolber. Elizabeth (daughter of Jacob Wolber and Magdalena Zehr) was born on 4 Aug 1876; died on 7 Sep 1936. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Minister And Farmer
• Religion: Amish/Mennonite
• Ordained: 1895

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
Zehr. - Daniel, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Oyer) Zehr, was born March 9, 1849, at East Peoria, Ill.; died June 5, 1942, at the home of his son (Peter Zehr, near Morton, Ill.); aged 93 y. 2 m. 26 d. His illness was of short duration, caused by a paralytic stroke, which occurred about 12 hours before his death. His passing was just as he lived. Calmly and quietly he passed into his eternal rest. He was united in marriage to Katherine Heiser Jan. 13, 1874. She preceded him in death May 15, 1911. His oldest son (Jacob) also preceded him in death. He is survived by the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Oyer, Peter, Amos, and Matilda, all of near Morton; Mrs. Ida Birkey and Daniel, both of Fisher. He is also survived by 43 grandchildren and 33 great-grand-children, 1 brother, Samuel of Fisher, Ill., 1 sister, Mrs. Phebe Zehr of Manson, Iowa, and a host of other relatives and friends. In his youth he confessed Christ as his Saviour, was baptized and became a member of the Mennonite Church of which he has been a faithful member until death. He was ordained to the ministry in 1895 at the Goodfield Mennonite Church, in which capacity he served until recent years when he retired from active service. Though not able to preach any longer he has always attended church up to the last Sunday he lived and taken a great interest in his Master's service. The greatest part of his time during recent years was spent in reading the Bible which seemed to be his greatest treasure. He had a meek and quiet spirit and always showed great interest and love for his family and for his fellow men, manifesting a friendly spirit to every one he met. Funeral services were held June 8 at the Morton Mennonite Church in Morton, Ill., in charge of Bros. J. D. Hartzler of Gridley, Ill., and Simon Litwiller, Minier, Ill. Interment in Mt. Zion Cemetery near Deer Creek, Ill.

"E'en for the dead I will not bind
My soul to grief;
Death cannot long divide,
For is it not as though the rose
That climbed my garden wall
Has blossomed on the other side?
Death doth hide
But not divide,
Thou art but on Christ's other side.
Thou art with Christ,
And Christ with me.
In Christ united still are we." -By the Family.

Baptism:
By Christian Ropp

Ordained:
By Bishop John Smith

Buried:
Mt. Zion Cemetery

Daniel married Katherine Heiser on 13 Jan 1874. Katherine (daughter of Jacob Heiser and Katharina Wagler) was born on 1 May 1854 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 15 May 1911 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald June 1, 1911,
Sister Catharine Zehr (nee Heiser) was born near Pekin, Ill., May 1, 1854; died of heart failure, near Deer Creek, Ill., May 15, 1911; aged 17 y.(sic) 14 d. she was united in marriage to David Zehr, Jan. 13, 1874. this union was blessed with 7 children. She leaves a sorrowing husband, 7 children, 22 grandchildren, 6 brothers, 2 sisters and many friends to mourn her departure. Her father, mother, 1 brother and 3 sisters preceded her to the spirit world. Sister Zehr united with the A.M. church in her youth and remained a faithful member until death. Funeral services were held by Christ king at the home in German (text, Psa. 90), and at the church by Dan Nafziger and John C. Birkey in German and A.A. Schrock in English. Texts, I Cor. 15:1-23; John 5:28,29. Buried at Mount Zion cemetery.

Buried:
Mount Zion Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By Bishop Andrew Ropp

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, November 1931:
Jacob, son of Christian and Susan Wolber, was born in Koenigeback, Baden, Germany, Feb. 13, 1849; died at his home near Deer Creek, Ill., Oct. 17, 1931; aged 82 y. 8 m. 4 d. He came to America at the age of 19 years, and lived in this community the remainder of his life. On Oct. 28, 1875, he was married to Magdalene Zehr, who preceded him in death 41 years ago. To this union four children were born. On Jan. 1, 1891, he was married to Phoebe Zehr and to this union were born four children. In his youth he united with the Mennonite Church and remained a faithful and active member until death. He enjoyed good health until two months ago, when he was stricken with an illness from which he never recovered. During this time he suffered much but bore it all patiently. He was resigned to the will of God and had morning worship with his family until the day preceding his death. He leaves his wife, and the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Zehr, Mrs. Susan Heiser, Mrs. Otto Guengerich, John, Alvin, Lena (a patient at the Oak Knoll Sanitarium), and Esther. One daughter, Ada, preceded him in death in 1902. He also leaves two sisters and one brother in Germany, 17 grandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends. Funeral services were held from the church at Deer Creek, Oct. 19, in charge of Bro. E.B. Yordy, Ellison and J.D. Hartzler."

Jacob married Magdalena Zehr on 28 Oct 1875 in McLean Co., IL. Magdalena (daughter of Bishop Jacob Zehr and Elizabeth Ehresman) was born on 26 Nov 1855; died on 4 Apr 1890. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Brewer/Farmer/Minister
• Religion: Amish
• Immigration: 17 Jun 1844, Le Havre to New York
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1856, Farmdale To Rocky Ford
• Census: 1860, Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., IL
• PURC: 30 Apr 1867, Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Peter was born in Manried, near Munich, in the Hofmark at Hilgertshausen. He came to America and settled at Farmdale as a single man. After marrying, Peter and Elizabeth remained at Farmdale until 1856, when they moved to the Mackinaw River's Rocky Ford area near his brother Christian. Their homes stood on the high hill overlooking the Mackinaw Valley.

Peter had four sons who grew to maturity. All four--Daniel, Peter, David, Samuel--were ordained to the ministry. Of the first nine children of Peter and Elizabeth Oyer Zehr, five died before their first birthday and a sixth before his second. Of the first nine “six never lived to be over two years old. In the year 1860 two small sons died within 3 months.





It was then used for at least some of the subsequent children, but ventually ended up with Bishop Peter and his wife Barbara. Most likely, all of their children used it, then it was given to Amelia (who married Alvin Birkey). It stayed with that family for many years until thier son, Delmar Gene, was born, and was the last person to sleep in the vintage bed. In July of 2023, the bed was gifted to Del and Donna’s family to keep, protect, and hand down at the appropriate time.}

Birth:
Hilgerthausen-Tandern

Immigration:
arrival on packet ship Baltimore.

Census:
County next door to brother George Zehr as brewer Peter Seers, 32, Germany; Elizabeth, 20, France; and Daniel, 1, Illinois.

Residence:
on Mackinaw River

Census:
Township next door to brother Christian Zehr as farmer Peter Zears, 40, Germany; Elizabeth, 32, Germany; and four children born in Illinois.

PURC:
The Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database shows Peter Zehr purchasing 40 acres in Section 36 between Deer Creek and Mackinaw at $10 per acre on April 30, 1867.

Census:
Listed as farmer born in Bavaria, age 52; with wife Elizabeth age 42 born in France; children Daniel age 21, Peter age 19, Elizabeth age 15, Mary age 9, David age 8, Phoeby age 3 and Samuel age 6 months, all born in IL

Census:
Farmer Peter Zehr, 62, Bavaria; Lizzie, 53, France; with four children, all born in Illinois.

Died:
Six days after Phoebe’s wedding.

Buried:
Slabtown Cemetery

Peter married Elizabeth Oyer on 12 Aug 1845 in Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL. Elizabeth (daughter of Joseph, Sr. Oyer and Magdalena Litwiller) 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. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish
• Immigration: 4 Dec 1830, New Orleans, LA
• Residence: 1831, Butler Co., OH

Notes:

Her’s was the second burial in the East Bend Mennonite Church cemetery--six months after Andrew Birky.

Immigration:
Ship Superior

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery (second burial in the 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:

• 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