Mary A. King

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
Heiser, Mary A., daughter of Christian and Phoebe (Zehr) King, was born at Deer Creek, Ill., Nov. 9, 1869; died at Fisher, Ill., May 29, 1962; aged 92 y. 6 m. 20 d. On March 22, 1892, she was married to Isaac Heiser, who died June 18, 1953. Surviving are 5 children (Albert, Rantoul, Ill.; Alma and Erwin, Fisher, Ill.; Ferne Ropp, Tremont; and Lovina Gerber, Morton). One daughter preceded her in death. She was a member of the East Bend Church. Funeral services were held at the Gibson City (Ill.) Bible Church, June 2, in charge of Roy Unzicker and J. Alton Horst.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Mary married Isaac Heiser on 22 Mar 1892 in Tazewell Co., IL. Isaac (son of Jacob Heiser and Katharina Wagler) was born on 23 Feb 1869 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 15 Jun 1953 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Home of bride’s parents by Joe Schlegel of NE

1. Albert Christian (Bert) Heiser was born on 15 Aug 1893 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 20 Jan 1996 in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
2. Alma Heiser was born on 5 Sep 1896 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 29 Jun 1983; was buried on 1 Jul 1983 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
3. Ervin William “E.w.” Heiser was born on 4 May 1898 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 7 Oct 1985; was buried on 9 Oct 1985 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
4. Lavina Catherine Heiser was born on 17 Nov 1902 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 4 Jun 2003; was buried in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL.
5. Mary Ferne Heiser was born on 8 Jun 1906 in Champaign Co., IL; died in Mar 2002 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried on 25 Mar 2002 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL.
6. Phoebe Heiser was born on 16 Oct 1908 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 10 Jan 1924 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
King.--Christian King was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1840; died at his home in Deer Creek, Ill., Nov. 23, 1924; aged 84 y. 1 m. 10 d. He was married to Phoebe Zehr Nov. 7, 1867. To this union were born 9 children (Mrs. Mary Heiser, Joseph, Jacob, Samuel, John, Mrs. Elizabeth Heiser, Mrs. Phoebe Heiser). Two sons (Christian and Andrew) preceded him in death. On April 16, 1897, his wife was called to the great beyond. Later, in 1901, he was married to Mrs. Kate Oesch, who was called by death in 1903. In the year 1904 he was again married to Mrs. Lydia Lehman, who with 7 children, 21 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 1 brother (John King), 1 sister (Barbara), also a host of relatives and friends are left to mourn his departure. The deceased united with the Mennonite Church in his youth and was ordained to the ministry in 1899 at the Goodfield congregation, where he remained a faithful worker in the Lord's vineyard until death called him to his reward. The funeral services were held from the M. E. Church at Deer Creek, Bro. Samuel Gerber of Tremont and Bro. J. A. Heiser of Fisher, Ill., officiating.

Buried:
Stumbaugh Cemetery

Christian married Josephine (Phoebe) Zehr on 7 Nov 1867 in Woodford Co., IL. Josephine (daughter of Christian Zehr and Marie (Mary) Oyer) was born on 11 Feb 1849 in Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Apr 1897 in Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Stumbaugh Cemetery

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, June 1872:

On the 9th of May, in Woodford co., Ill., Michael King, aged 66 yrs. Buried on the 11th in the presence of many relatives and friends. Services by Jacob Zehr, Christian Risser, and Joseph Stuckey." [This was the Mount Zion Cemetery near Deer Creek, IL].
————————————————
Michael, Elizabeth and son, John, came from Wurttemburg to Butler County, Ohio in 1836. They departed from Le Havre on the ship "Troy" and arrived at New York City Nov. 10, 1836. They settled at Liberty, Butler County where they are found in the 1840 census (Konig) as one male 70-79 years of age (Johannes Barnhart), one male 30-39 (Michael), one male 10-14 (unknown who this is), one female 20-29 (Elizabeth) one female 10-14 (unknown) and one female under 5 (Elizabeth King).

They moved on to Illinois before September 1847. In 1850, Michael was located in Dry Grove Township, McLean County, Illinois, living next to his brother, Christian. According to the obituary of his son, Joseph, the family was in Peoria County in 1847.

In 1860, Michael (54), Elizabeth (50), Christian (20), Frena (18), Joseph (13), Barbara (10), John (9), and Catherine (6) were in Montgomery Township, Woodford County (next to Pete Sommers and Joe Rich).

Buried:
Mount Zion Cemetery

Michael + Elizabeth Barnhardt. Elizabeth was born on 11 Jul 1811 in GR; died on 8 Jun 1893 in Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald Obituary:

"KOENIG - On the 8th of June 1893, in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., Ill., of general debility, sister Elizabeth Koenig, aged 82 years, 6 months and 25 days. She was a faithful, devoted Christian and was held in great esteem by all. Her trials in life were many, but she was unwavering in her trust in God. Her husband, Michael Koenig, died 21 years ago. She leaves 8 children, 53 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Buried on the 10th. Funeral services by Chr. Risser, D. Roth, M. Kinsinger and John Schmitt."

Buried:
Mount Zion Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer And Stock-Raiser
• Residence: 1838, Butler Co., OH
• Immigration: 14 Jul 1838, New York, NY
• Residence: 1843, Woodford Co., IL
• Census: 1850, Woodford Co., IL
• Residence: 1852, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, October 1893:
"On the 19th of Sept. 1893, in Tazewell Co., Ill., of general debility, Bro. Christian Zehr, aged 81 y., 7 m. He leaves his wife and 6 children. Funeral services by Joseph King and Joseph Stuckey in German and English from Psa. 90."
——————————
Christian traveled in 1838 to America, stopping in Butler County, Ohio, where his wife joined him in 1840. He farmed in Ohio until 1843, the next year he went to Illinois. Here he settled along the Mackinaw River and built a two room log cabin. He and [Elizabeth] had only one child, Lena. Shortly after this birth Christian's wife died. He served as a deacon of the Roanoke Mennonite Church from 1856 to 1893.

In 1844, Christian married his second wife. Their wedding was performed by bishop Michael Mosiman. The Zehrs probably belonged to the Mackinaw Meeting Amish congregation. In about 1856, Christian built a fine brick house. It was nestled in a hillside overlooking the Mackinaw River Valley. The house took two years to build. Christian made all the bricks for the dwelling in a brickyard located on his farm. Tradition says that his children mixed the clay by stamping barefoot in the mix. Christian also built his own wagon using a broad axe and a saw. It is said that there was "not a pound of iron in the wagon." ...The brick house has since been torn down.

“Christian had the grit and determination of his German forebarers and came to own 900 acres in Tazewell County--which he then gave to his children. He was a registered Democrat and served as a school director. His son, Christian born 3-12-1857, engaged in general farming and stock raising in Tazewell County. He married Magdalena Roeschley, daughter of John and Elizabeth Saltzman Roeschley. He also was registered as a Democrat, and listed as a prominent citizen of Tazewell County. “

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Tazewell County: "The family has been known in this section since the spring of 1852, when the father...Christian Zehr...settled on Section 25, Deer Creek Township, where he engaged in the general farming and stock-raising business on a scale exceeding that of his neighbors, and raising expectations in the popular mind which were more than realized...and in time became the owner of 900 acres of land, the greater part being valuable and productive. As his children became of age he apportioned farms to them, thus giving them a start in life to which his own youth had been a stranger."

“Christian Zehr was a very thrifty and frugal man. Of all the Zehr brothers he became the most prosperous financially. In his lifetime he accumulated 900 acres of land, having a farm for each of his children when they married and started out in life for themselves.”

“They lived along the Macinaw River near the Rocky Ford. Christian Zehr became a man of wealth and owned much land between Deer Creek and Goodfield.”


The recollections of Christian's daughter Elizabeth, written in the 1930s:
"I was born in 1854 in a log cabin which contained only two rooms and no floors. The roof was made of clapboards. This cabin was situated along the Mackinaw River which was only two jumps wide. It is now about 80 feet wide. There were fourteen log cabins in the community where I was born. I was the last one born in the long [sic] house, for soon after that my father made his own bricks out of clay and built a brick house.
My father's wagon was made out of logs with broad axe and saw and not one pound of iron in it. I saw him work in the field with that wagon and three yoke of oxen a great number of times. He also built a log barn - 70 ft. by 40 ft. My father made his own plow out of wood. This was a one-horse plow and it took one row for one round.
We always went to church in the wagon. The church was twenty five miles away. In those days church services were held in houses, while now it is held in buildings use for that purpose only. In years after, we rode in spring wagons. Now automobiles are used almost entirely, and if it rains we can't get there.
My father put the wheat and grain on the barn floor and threshed it out with clubs. Now all farmers have threshing machines. He put the corn on the barn floor and stamped it out with horses, fanned it, put it in sacks, and took it to market. Now corn shellers are used. He cut his grain with a cradle and one of us had to follow with the garden rake and make bundles, another to bind it. They now have a machine which does both cutting and threshing.
It always seemed that my father was blessed, for he was never too tired or busy for family worship. God blessed him with six children. My father was born in 1812 and was always a hard working man. He died when he was 82 years of age....
I think the old days were a blessing and a comfort. The times now are so different that they are hard to get used to. I think the automobiles and high ways of living spoil things. Then the neighbors helped each other without pay; now it is pay for every quarter of an hour. During the years 1861, '62, and '63, the Civil War was fought. Two of my uncles were drafted but my father bought substitutes for them. The Civil War and also the World War are sad memories.
I was married in 1873 to Mr. Andrew Ulrich. We lived with my folks for two years and then moved in 1875 to Harlen farm, a mile and a half east of Deer Creek. From the Harlen place, we moved to Deer Creek. We raised four children. I have fourteen grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. My husband died February 13, 1919. Since then I have lived alone. Up to this time I have made 168 quilts.
God blessed me and still does, for he keeps me well. My wish is that God may bless the whole relationship.”

Birth:
On the Bergerhof. Source 356 puts Christian's birth at 12 Nov 1812. Gravestone says 8 Nov 1812. Ancestry.com shows a birthdate of 12 Nov 1812 and a death date of 18 Dec 1892

Residence:
Farmed in OH, wife joined him here in 1840

Immigration:
From Le Havre. On ship Burgundy. The passenger list gives 'Christian Zeiyer,’ 24.

Residence:
Mackinaw River area

Census:
farmer Christian Sears, 38, Germany; Mary, 28, France; Matlan [Magdalena/Madeleine], 8, Illinois; Joseph, 5, Illinois; Josephine, 2, Illinois; and Mattan [Magdalena/Madeleine] Stine, 14, Germany.

Residence:
Settled on Section 25

Census:
them living next door to brother Peter Zehr as farmer Christian Zears, 48, Germany; Mary, 37, Germany; and six children born in Illinois.

Census:
Listed as farmer age 47, born in Bavaria; with wife Mary age 47 born in France; children Elizabeth age 16, Christian age 14, Liddy age 8 and Samuel age 4, all born in IL

Census:
farmer Christian Zehr, 57, Bavaria; Mary, 47, France; and four children born in Illinois (son Joseph Zehr, 24, lived next door; brother Peter Zehr, 52, is found on the same page).

Census:
as farmer Christian Zehr, 68, Bavaria; Mary, 58, France; with two children 17 and 13 still living at home, both born in Illinois

Died:
On his farm in Deer Creek Twp.
Source 356 puts death at 18 Dec 1892. Source 26 gives date as 12 Sep 1893.

Buried:
Mt. Zion Cemetery, north of Deer Creek (see photo)

Christian married Marie (Mary) Oyer on 12 Aug 1844 in Tazewell Co., IL. Marie (daughter of Joseph, Sr. Oyer and Catherine Schrag) 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. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1840, OH

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, December 1893:
"On the 21st of November, 1893, in Tazewell Co., Ill., of the infirmities of old age and epilepsy, Mary, maiden name Oyer, widow of Christian Zehr who died two months ago. Her age was 71 years and 7 months. She leaves 6 children, who were present at her funeral on the 23d. Funeral services by Joseph Stuckey, at the house, and at the Deer Creek M.H. by him and Solomon Yoder from John 11 and 2 Cor. 5. Sister Zehr longed for the end and we have reason to believe she is at rest."

Birth:
Gravestone date: 23 Apr 1823

Buried:
Mt. Zion Cemetery (see photo)

Notes:

Source 356 says, “In his native land he married Mary Oyer, born in France in 1823, and who died November 22, 1892, one month before her husband.”

Married:
Wedding performed by bishop Michael Moseman. The Zehrs probably belonged to the Mackinaw Meeting Amish congregation

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Cholera
• Residence: 1803, Abstried, near Diessen, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1810-1817, Laim, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1818-1827, Manried, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 1849, New York, NY
• Residence: 1828-1849, Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1849, Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

At one time Daniel lived in the village of Struth in France, but moved to Bavaria in 1803, where he leased a cattle farm for two years. From 1810 to 1817, the family lived at Laim, near Munich. Daniel purchased property at Manried near Hilgertshausen on 2 Dec 1818, then resold it on 15 Dec 1827. The next move was to Hanfeld, near Starnberg, Bavaria. At the age of 72 and about ten years after the death of his wife (Magdalena Unzicker), Daniel emigrated to America with the David Springer family on the ship Minnesota. The ship departed from Liverpool, England and arrived in New York on 21 June 1849. From New York Daniel went to Illinois where his sons George, Christian, Peter, and Jacob had settled.

Also on board were Valentine Birkey (1794) with brother Christian's daughter, Barbara and her illegitimate son, and Mary Burkey Birky.

Daniel’s children’s names were kept in a 1780 edition of Martyrs’ Mirror that has been passed down in the Ingold family.
——————
While in Bavaria, Daniel was one of the signatories to a letter sent March 18, 1811, to King Maximilian I. Joseph (ruler from 1806-1825). In it the “Elders of the Menonists” of the dairy farm Oberndorf, appealed to the King for permission to hire their own private instructors to educate their children in their own catechism, since he had allowed them freedom of religion. But “some of the community have received legal orders to send their children to school a good half hour away.”

The answer came to them on Sept. 11, 1811, that “attendance of the local school remained compulsory, but the Mennonite children were not compelled to participate in religious instruction.”

Other signing the letter were: Christian Güngerich, Heinrich Stalter, Christian Bürcky, Johannes Bächler.

———————
Daniel’s estate was probated in 1858 (Woodford Co., IL), Jacob Summers, Administrator. Appraisers were Christian and Peter Farney and Peter Sommer.
Paid out was: Christian Zehr $825.79; Daniel Zehr $825.79; Magdalena Zehr $36.00; Magdalena Zehr two $40 payments.

Residence:
Bergerhof. Laim was very near Nymphenberg in Gern. Thus, surely he had dealings with the Stalter and Birkey families in Gern.

Immigration:
From Liverpool. Arrived 21 June 1849 on ship Minnesota. Only son Joseph stayed in Bavaria.

Residence:
Mang-Anwesen

Residence:
Mackinaw River area

Buried:
Thought to be Slabtown Cemetery

Daniel married Magdalena Unzicker on 6 Jun 1802 in Windstein, Wissembourg, Alsace, FR. Magdalena (daughter of Johannes Unzicker and Barbara Ullmann) was born on 8 May 1785 in Windstein, Wissembourg, Alsace, FR; died on 16 Dec 1838 in Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR; was buried in Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Bas-Rhin

Died:
Dec 1 (Staker)

Notes:

On 17 Parairial 10th year of the Republic (6 Jun 1802), at Windstein, District of Wissembourg, France, Daniel Zohr, age19, sone of Daniel Zehr and Catherina Zohr, married Magdalena Hunzicker, age 17, daughter of Johannes Unzicker and Barbara Uhlmann of Windstein. The following persons were witnesses and signed the marriage record: Joseph Zohr, farmer, age 47 years; Jacob Stepp, farmer, age 54 years, both residing at Windstein; Christian Bock, farmer, age 35 of Windstein; Christian Zohr, farmer, age 45 of Stultzthal.

Married:
Marriage records of Windstein, Bas-Rhin, France, 1793-1862:
On 17 Prairial 10th year of the Republic (6 Jun 1802), at Windstein, District of Wissembourg, France, Daniel Zohr, age 19, son of Daniel Zehr and Catherina Zohr, married Magdalena Hunzicker, age 17, daughter of Johannes Unzicker and Barbara Uhlmann of Windstein. The following persons were witnesses and signed the marriage record: Joseph Zohr, farmer, age 47 years; Jacob Stepp, farmer, age 54 years, both residing at Windstein; Christian Bock, farmer, age 35 of Windstein; Christian Zohr, farmer, age 45 of Stultzthal.

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?