Bishop Joseph Aaron Heiser

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Education: Third grade, then self taught
• Occupation: Minister/Farmer
• Religion: Christian
• Ordained: 1917, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: 1921, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit:
Heiser.- Joseph A., son of Joseph and Barbara (Bachman) Heiser, was born in Morton, Ill., Aug. 22, 1888; died at Fisher, Ill., Jan. 1, 1977; aged 88 y. On Dec. 15, 1909, he was married to Fannie Schrock, who preceded him in death on Dec. 17, 1950. Surviving are 2 sons (Leslie and Willard), 3 daughters (Mrs. Alta Detweiler, Mrs. Mabel Teuscher, and Edna-Mrs. Alva Cender), 17 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. He was a bishop in the Mennonite Church and a minister of the East Bend Mennonite Church for 35 years. Private funeral services were held at the Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, Ill., on Jan. 3, in charge of Merle Conklin; memorial services were held at the Gibson City Bible Church on Jan. 4, in charge of Merle Conklin, Clyde Ingold, Irvin Nussbaum, and Wendall Arms; interment in East Bend Mennonite Church Cemetery.


{“When Barbara's third son, Aaron, was born on August 22, 1888, Grandfather Bachman looked at the infant and said, 'Du armes Kind! Dass du auch musst zu dieser verkruppelten Welt geboren sein' ('You poor child! That you also must be born into this crippled world')." (Mennonite Women: A Story of God's Faithfulness) After his father died, his mother called him Joseph rather than Aaron.

Joseph (J.A.) was baptized 11Jun1905 by Peter Zehr; ordained as minister at East Bend Mennonite Church on 5 Aug 1917 by the voice of the church; ordained bishop on 1 May 1921 by the same church. Active in Bible conference work and evangelistic work in many states an Canada, and served as moderator of Illinois Conference and a member of the General Mission Board of the Mennonite Church. He later left the Mennonite Church and pastored the Gibson City Bible Church.
Regarding his ordination (by lot) ––"Dad was surprised that his name was included, but he had no fear at all because Levi Birky was a real Bible student and Uncle Albert was a very genuine student of the Bible. He just shrugged his shoulders about this lot; he knew that it would either be Levi Birky or Uncle Albert. I was sitting with my mother in church on the day they cast the lot. I remember seeing my mother break down and cry, and I could not imagine what happened. It did not look to me like anything serious had happened, but she was crying. After we got home from church, they both cried. It cast quite a pall over the family. I was only three years old then, but I thought something terrible had happened. "

About 1930 J.A.’s mortgage was called on Josephine’s land which he had bought. $300 was due immediately to save it from foreclosure, but there was no money available. This matter was a topic of discussion and prayer at numerous family meals, times which included grandparents John and Mary. Growing anxious about the outcome John, evidently without the family’s knowledge, took the very unusual action of going to a neighbor and asking if he could borrow $300 for a short time. The loan was granted.

Shortly thereafter J.A. drove to Fisher and parked in front of Heiser and Ingold’s grocery store and sat in the car praying about how he was going to get the money for the payment. About that time Chris Good (father of Peter?) walked across the street and stopped to say hello. Then he asked J.A. (who at the time was pastor of the East Bent Mennonite Church), “Do you know anyone who could use $300? I have some extra cash and figured there are lots of people in bad straights because of the economic situation right now and would like to help.” Of course, J.A. told his story and received a loan for the amount he needed to stop the foreclosure. The family saw this as a direct answer to their prayers, and John returned his “backup” funds, with interest!

“Besides the gardens and orchards full of growing things, my father loved animals.  He raised purebred livestock--Jersey cattle that made records of note in butterfat and as show animals.  He raised several kinds of hogs when I was quite young.  Buff Rock chickens were a favorite for several years; and when I was a teenager he got an incubator, and we had a small hatchery.  I was more involved in the chicken business than any of the other animal projects.  I felt quite responsible for the trap nesting and enjoyed following the yearly records of some of the best hens.  Number 421 was the top producer; I wrote the number on her eggs so often, it still remains in my memory.  With the hatchery, my father got the salesmanship for a feed business also.  He vaccinated and gave medicine to all his animals, had the dealership for Onarga nursery stock, pruned and sprayed our trees, and did all our wallpapering.  He and Mama would do wallpapering for friends and neighbors also.  He seemed like an ordinary man to me when I was a child, but now I wonder how he did all this, besides pastoring a large church.” (From the memoirs of Edna Heiser Cender held by Kathy Cender Martin)



June 2012 - At an afternoon in Paxton with Heiser cousins, the story was told about the Murphy brothers who are buried in Beekman cemetery. They were a rough bunch and always getting into fights (drunk?). When the police were not able to handle them and settle them down they would call J. A. and he would always be able to get the job done!

Ordained:
Minister, East Bend Mennonite Church

Ordained:
Bishop, East Bend Mennonite Church

Buried:
East Bend Cemetery

Joseph married Fannie Ann Schrock on 15 Dec 1909 in Champaign Co., IL. Fannie (daughter of John Schrock and Mary Birky) was born on 18 Jul 1889 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 17 Dec 1950 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 19 Dec 1950 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Peter Zehr’s church records have written notation “in East Bend Church,” then, “at home of John Schrock.”

Married:
By Peter Zehr

1. Leslie Wilbur Heiser was born on 8 Jul 1912 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 8 Feb 1990 in Champaign, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 11 Feb 1990 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
2. Alta Lillian Heiser was born on 17 Mar 1914 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 12 Jan 2010 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 15 Jan 2010 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
3. Mabel Aldene Heiser was born on 22 Oct 1915 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 19 Jun 2005 in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL; was buried on 22 Jun 2005 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
4. Edna Lorine Heiser was born on 5 Feb 1918 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 6 Aug 1996 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
5. John Willard Heiser was born on 27 Apr 1919 in Champaign Co., IL; died on 10 Aug 1987 in Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 12 Aug 1987 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Pulmonary Hemorrage
• Residence: 11 Dec 1881, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Baptism: 11 Jun 1905, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: 5 Aug 1917, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: 1 May 1921, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

A week after Joseph and Barbara arrived in Champaign County, near Fisher, to live in a new home in a heavily wooded area along the Sangamon River, a four-month-old nephew--son of Peter and Barbara (Heiser) Zehr--died of measles. Three days after this burial some of the men were helping Joseph unload hay in the barn for his livestock when he was suddenly stricken with a fatal pulmonary hemorrhage.

Baptism:
By Peter Zehr

Ordained:
East Bend church by Bishop Samuel Gerber and Andrew Schrock

Ordained:
East Bend church by same Bishop

Died:
29 years, 4 months and 3 days

Buried:
Waggoner Cemetery (Blackford) - four miles north and 1/2 mile east of East Bend Mennonite church.

Joseph married Barbara Bachman on 11 Dec 1881 in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of John Bachman and Barbara Sutter) was born on 15 Jun 1862 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 24 Mar 1926 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 11 Dec 1881, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1900, Fisher, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Mennonite Women: A Story of God's Faithfulness

"This mother endured many hardships and remained faithful. After eight years of happy marriage she suddenly became a widow with three sons to raise in a new community. On the advice of men in her congregation, she married a man who proved to be an alcoholic and emotionally disturbed. She cared for a mentally retarded son and a senile mother. She lost a son in the great World War I flu epidemic....When the strong, handsome Joseph Heiser who lived nearby asked her to marry him, twenty-year-old Barbara gladly accepted.....A year after her own marriage Barbara's twin sister married Joseph Heiser's brother Jacob. Sisters married to brothers!" ....
"Following her husband's untimely death, Barbara was left a widow, in a new community, with three sons to bring up alone, and she had a farm to manage. She took little Aaron into her arms and, from that day on, called him Joseph, after his father."

Barbara and her sister, Elizabeth, were twins.
Later Barbara married Andrew Eyer, and they had two sons, William (b.8 Feb 1895) and Daniel (b. 1899).

“On December 11, 1881, Joseph Hieser, the fifth son of Jacob and Catherine Wagler Hieser, married Barbara Bachman, one of the John Bachman’s twins. They made their first home in Tazewell County in the Deer Creek area. To this union were born three sons: John Emil, Amos Albert, and Joseph Aaron.

“In the spring of 1889 Joseph and Barbara Hieser decided to join others and moved their family to Champaign County, Illinois. At this time the children were yet small, John being 6 years old, Amos 4, and Joseph 7 months. Joseph’s brother, Jacob Hieser and brother-in-law Peter Zehr, were already living in the East Bend community. Peter Zehr was the first minister and bishop of the new East Bend church. Joseph and Barbara Hieser made this move on March 4, 1889. He bought the land that lay to the north side of his brother Jacob’s property.

“As there was no dwelling on the property Joseph and his family purchased, they lived temporarily in a small house on his brother Jacob’s farm, until such a time as he could get their own home built. He possibly had already been making plans to build, when his brother-in-law Peter Zehr, who had purchased hay, needed help to get it into the mow. Joseph, a strong robust man, helped pitch the hay into the barn. While working he suddenly became ill, making it necessary to acquire a doctor. The doctor left some medicine without having come to an exact diagnosis. Joseph passed away on March 27, 1889, at the age of 29 years and 4 months, three weeks after moving to Champaign County. It was later determined that death was due to an apomanary(?) hemorrhage (ruptured lung artery). This caused internal bleeding, a result of over exertion.

“This surely must have been disheartening to Barbara Heiser, who was left with her three small sons; John, Amos and Joseph. This left her with a great responsibility and she was now faced with many hardships, the children’s diseases, but at all times she trusted in the Lord to see her through. As there was a new home to build and hired help for farming the purchased ground, she met with many hard financial situation.

“For about five years Andrew Eyer, a native of Germany, farmed for Barbara. On June 17, 1894, Barbara married Andrew. To them were born two sons, William and Daniel. About nine years after their marriage, Andrew found himself battling with a mental disability. He was taken to Kankakee State Hospital, Kankakee, IL, where he spent the next seven years. About three weeks before his death, October 8, 1910, he was brought home. Once again Barbara was left without a husband. She now had five sons.

———————————————

Champaign Co., IL, Probate Court guardianship record #1234 (0401000201234) dated 1895, in the matter of the Guardianship of John E. Heiser, et.al., Barbara Eyer, Guardian:

Petition of Barbara Eyer in the matter of the Estate of Joseph Heiser deceased, for Letter of Guardianship respectfully represents that John E. Heiser, minor aged 12 years on the 4th day of December 1894; Amos Heiser, minor aged 10 years on the 18th of February 1895; and Joseph Heiser, minor aged 7 years on the 22nd day of August 1895...
said minors are residents of this County; that they have no father living, or other legal guardian residing in this state; that said minors are heirs of one Jacob Heiser, deceased, father of their father Joseph Heiser, deceased, late of Champaign County, Ills. and as such heirs they will shortly be entitled to receive a sum of money realized from the sale of the estate of said Jacob Heiser, deceased, and that said sum of money being about seven hundred dollars, will be payable to them about November 1st 1895. And that your petitioner is the Mother of and desires herself to be appointed guardian of said minors. Dated Urbana, Ill., Sept 26, 1895. Barbara Eyer being duly affirmed deposes and says that the facts averred in the above petition are true according to the best of her knowledge, information and belief. Sworn to and subscribed before me, Harry L. Kelly, N.P. Filed on the 27th of Sept 1895. Bond $1400. H. L. Kelly, Atty, Fisher, Ill.

Receipt of Ward
On August 30, 1909, Joseph Heiser, now being of legal age of 21, acknowledged receipt of the sum of $304.33 from Barbara Heiser Eyer as his Guardian, in full settlement of amount due to him. This was the Final Report of the Guardian, found to be correct, and it was approved and Guardian discharged. Signed by Joseph A. Heiser.

Residence:
Barbara listed as wife of Andreas Eyer, head of household, and children: John Heiser, Amos Heiser, Joseph Heiser, Willie Eyer and Daniel Eyer; and her mother, Barbara Bachman.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Joseph and Barbara were married in the Mennonite Church at Elm Grove, by Christian Nafziger. Joseph Litwiller and A. Ropp were witnesses.

Married:
MR #84

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:

• CLER: Y
• Religion: Mennonite
• Census: 1870, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

John Bachman was born in France and spoke French more fluently than English and German. Although he was an ordained minister, he seldom preached at their Amish Mennonite house meetings, in which the German language was used exclusively.

“..He was apparently the ‘deacon Bachman’ in the Pleasant Grove Amish Mennonite Church referred to in Harry F. Weber, The Centennial History of the Mennonites of Illinois. “Johannes Bachman” attended the Diener-Versammlungen in 1871, 1875, and 1878.”

Census:
Farmer John Bachman, 52, France; Barbara, 43, Bern; and four children born in Illinois.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

John married Barbara Sutter on 4 Nov 1855 in Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of Johannes Sutter (Suttor) and Barbara Oesch) was born on 1 Feb 1827 in Probfeld, Bavaria, GR; died on 10 Jan 1903 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1850

Notes:

“John and Barbara Sutter Bachman family also lived near Morton in Tazewell County. They had the misfortune of losing their first child. Thus, they gladly welcomed the opportunity to open their home to a homeless young lad by the name of John Grund. His name soon became John Bachman. The Bachmans also had twin daughters, Barbara and Lizzie, born June 15, 1861. Two more children, Lena and Joseph, were born but both died while young. Their youngest son was Andrew, who grew up in that area.”

Birth:
Detenfield Village

Died:
75 yrs. 11 mo. 8 days

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• EARL: Y
• Occupation: Medical Assistant or Care Giver {According To Helmut Funk Of Weierhof Working With Gary Waltner, and Joseph Staker}
• Residence: 1815-1818, Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR

Notes:

Residence:
lived on the grounds of the castle estate of major general Maximilian Graf von Spreti at Arzbach bei Dachau from 1815 to May 4, 1818.

Jacob married Katharina Oesch about 1813 in Lorraine, FR. Katharina was born in SW; died on 14 May 1816 in Arzbach, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Three months fter son Jacob’s birth.

Notes:

Lived in Bavaria (the Palatinate after 1805).

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Finish Carpenter (Menuisier) And Farmer
• Immigration: 1833, Butler Co., OH
• Census: 1840, Ross, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1844, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

“French records prove that the man who married Katharina Ulrich in 1831 in France and fathered her first child was named Jacob Wagler. But, in America, Katharina Ulrich’s husband was called Christian Wagler. Nothing is known from French documentation about Christian Wagler, except that he signed the death document of his father in 1826 in La Croix. Perhaps Christian Wagler set out for America with the family of Jacob Wagler in 1833 and, before or after crossing the Atlantic, married his younger brother’s wife--supposing, of course, that she had been widowed in an untimely fashion--and thereby merged the identity and responsibility of that brother with his own.”

Wagler/Berse
“The groom is actually called “Jacques Berse” in the couple’s French civil marriage record, to which he signed his name as “Jakob Bers” in crude antique German script. Alteration of the Germanic surname Wagler to Bers(e) in French must somehow have been justifiable linguistically.”

“The surname Wagler, like Wagner, was obviously originally drawn from wagon-building and/or the wheelwright’s trade. The rare French noun ber(s), “the side rail of a cart over which canvas may be stretched,” would seem to lie behind this name change: Tresor de la Langue Francaise...vol. 4 (Paris, 1975), p. 400.s.v., Bs. The Wagler surname appears frequently in French records as Berse, but often the male Wagler in question simply signs his name as Wagler in old German script to the French document naming him as Berse.”

According to Tazewell County, Illinois Cemeteries Volume Two, the headstone of Christian Wagler in Railroad Cemetery at Elm Grove says he was born Jan. 30, 1803, lived 73 years, 10 months, and 22 days, and died Dec. 22, 1877.

Birth:
(near Croix-aux-Mines) Gravestone says 30 June 1803. Birth registered as “Jacques Berse.” Joe Staker gives date as 30 Jan 1803.

Census:
as two males under 5 [Christian Jr. and Joseph]; one male 5-10 [Peter]; one male 10-15; one male 30-40 [Christian Sr.]; one female under 5 [Barbara]; one female 5-10 [Katharina/Catherine]; and one female 30-40 [Catherine Ulrich].

Census:
farmer Christian Wagler, 51, France; Catharine, 54, France; Peter, 17, France; Catharine, 16, Ohio; Christian, 14, Ohio; Barbara, 13, Ohio; Joseph, 12, Ohio; and Isaac, 10, Ohio.

Census:
oldest son Peter Wagler, 27, France; Catherine, 21; Illinois; and Christian, 7 months, Illinois.

Census:
Peter's family has moved to Morton, while the parents and two sons have return to the Elm Grove farm: farmer Christian Wagler, 67, France; Catharine, 71; Joseph, 35; and Christian, 34.

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery (see photo) http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/tazewell/railroadcem.html

Christian married Katharina Ulrich on 7 Apr 1831 in Hirsingue, Haut-Rhin, FR. Katharina (daughter of Peter Ulrich, Jr. and Katharina Lauber) was born on 2 May 1797 in Hirtzbach, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, FR; died on 21 May 1887 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in May 1887 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Immigrated 1833

Notes:

From the diary of Sam Wagler's father Joseph we have the following information: "Sat. May 21, 1887. This afternoon I was by Grandmother. She died 8 o'clock and 8 minutes. Sunday May 22: From home I went to C.W. Heiser and Aunt Catherine Heiser. Monday May 23: Today was the funeral of my Grandmother. The scripture reading was 90 Psalm and John Chapter 5: Verses 20 to end. First part was read by Peter Ropp. Peter Zehr and Andrew Ropp held the sermon."

The ship France departed from Le Havre and arrived at New York July 12, 1833. Gary L. Yordy found the passenger list, which includes this grouping from France:

Pete Ulrich 30 carpenter [Christian Wagler]
Catherine Ulrich 23 [his wife, Catherine Ulrich]
Peter Ulrich 2 [their son, Peter Jacob Wagler]
Ludwick Schoften 28 [unknown]
Peter Ulrich 60 [Christian's father-in-law Peter Ulrich]
Catherine Lowber 55 [Christian's mother-in-law Catherine Lauber]

On April 7, 1831at Hirsingue, Upper Alsace Jacob Berse married his cousin Catherine Ulrich. He appears on the civil entry as Jacques Berse, a 28-year-old finishing carpenter born at La Croix-aux-Mines but living at Bruebach.258 His parents were described as the deceased cultivator Isaac Berse and the widow Elisabeth Marchal, who was living at Bruebach.259
Though her age is given as 31 on her 1831 marriage entry, bringing it closer to the groom's, Catherine Ulrich was actually born at Hirtzbach (next to Hirsingue) March 2, 1797, a daughter of Hirsingue weaver Peter/Pierre Ulrich and Catherine Lauber.

Birth:
Neil Stuckey says 1799/1800

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery (see photo) http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/tazewell/railroadcem.html

Notes:

The only relative among official witnesses to the marriage was Joseph Wagler (“Berse)), 29, farmer, living in Bruebach: film 0733968, 1831, #4.

The witnesses at the marriage of Jacob Berse and Catherine Ulrich were brother Joseph (now living at Bruebach), and the brothers Christian and Jacob Hirschi of the Birkenhof at Ruederbach. 

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Estate manager/Minister/farmer - Bauer in Dittenfeld
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1825-27, Probfeld, Bavaria, GR
• Ordained: 19 May 1824, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 11 Nov 1851, New York, NY
• Census: 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Birth:
One history has the year 1795. Source #360 gives birthplace as Münchweiler (probably Münchweiler an der Rodalbe.

Residence:
John and Barbara were born there

Immigration:
From Le Havre. After 36 day voyage on the Samuel L. Fox (left Le Havre about 5 Oct 1851).
https://www.immigrantships.net/v3/1800v3/samuelmfox18511111_01.html

Census:
pg. 149 farmer John Sutter, 65, Germany; Barbara, 61; Andrew, 19; Andrew Buky [son-in-law Andrew Birkey], 29; Fanny [Veronica], 22; and Barbara, 1, born in Illinois.

Buried:
Birky-Landes Mennonite Cemetery - Grave #36 on printed plot map, or Plot #2 on the 8/12/2013 version.

Johannes married Barbara Oesch on 31 Oct 1819 in Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR. Barbara (daughter of Christian N. Oesch and Katharina Burki) was born on 24 Jun 1799 in Saarbuckenheim, Alsace, FR; died on 10 Sep 1884 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Birth:
(Sarre-Union) Day could be read Jun 23 or 27 just as well.

Buried:
Landes Cemetery - Grave #10 on printed plot map dated 8/12/2013.

Notes:

Married:
Near Lake Starnberg, below Munich. They were first cousins.