Samuel Schrock

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish/Mennonite
• USR1: Old Age
• Residence: Abt 1898, Fisher, Brown Twp., Champaign Co., IL
• Census: 1900, Fisher, Brown Twp., Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: 1907, Thurman, Washington Co., CO
• Residence: 1914 and 1921, Thurman, Washington Co., CO

Notes:

Obit: (Mennobits)
Schrock.- Samuel, son of Peter and Mary (sic) Schrock, was born July 16, 1864, near Pekin, Ill.; passed away at the home of his son, Dec. 31, 1943, after a lingering illness; aged 79 y. 5 m. 15 d. He was united in marriage to Ellen Zendner who passed away 21 years ago. He was a member of the Thurman Mennonite Church and enjoyed attending as long as his health permitted. He was a devoted, kind father and was very fond of little children. He leaves to mourn his departure, his son (Peter, Thurman), 3 daughters (Mrs. Levi Schlabach, Mich.; Mrs. Irl Hicks, Calif.; and Mrs. Roy Gibboney, Thurman), 2 sisters, an aged brother in Ill., and another brother in Ohio, 23 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Thurman Mennonite Church, Jan. 2, 1944, by Bro. Aaron Unternahrer. Text. Num. 23:10.

Call not back the dear departed.
Anchored safe when storms are o'er.
On the borderland we left him.
Soon to meet and part no more.
When we leave this world of changes,
When we leave this world of care,
We shall find our missing loved one
In our Father's mansion fair.

Sam and his family moved to Thurman in the fall of 1907--just missed being there when a distant relative of his, Joe Schrock (ID. 2334), served as minister of Thurman Mennonite Church.

But Sam and his family were in Thurman when. . . .
“Tragedy struck the Thurman community on Sunday afternoon, 10 August 1924, when a tornado destroyed the Henry Kuhns' farmhouse four miles (6.5 km) east of the town. Four families, consisting of 27 persons from the Thurman Mennonite Church and the surrounding community--the Garretts, Yoders, Birkys, and Kuhns--had gathered at the Kuhns' home for a harvest celebration dinner. After finishing the meal, one of the men spotted a tornado to the north, in the direction of an adjoining ranch. Henry Kuhns and eight other men left to see whether help was needed. When they observed that no buildings had been hit, the men returned to the Kuhns' farm just as another tornado was bearing down from the west, directly at the farmhouse where 18 women and children inside were apparently unaware of the approach of the intense, 100-yard-wide funnel. As the men came to within 200 yards of the front gate, the Kuhns' house "trembled as if a giant unseen fist was shaking it." After a few seconds, "the structure was ripped apart and its occupants hurled into the air." Ten of the 18 people died while the other eight were injured; nine of the ten deceased were children. The dead were removed from the wreckage to the David Rediger home, and the injured were cared for by neighboring families. The tornado was said to be one of the worst catastrophes ever to occur in Washington County, and the outdoor funeral, which attracted more than 1,000 persons, was the largest that the community had ever witnessed.” http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/T5961.html}

Census:
Sam, Ellen, and three girls listed. Sam’s work was day laborer. Lived two houses from his parents, Peter and Anna Schrock and four houses from his sister Lydia Either and her family.

Residence:
In The Fall Of The Year

Residence:
Named (along with P.A. Schrock, Chris and John Zendner) in Washington Co., CO, Akron Weekly Pioneer Press (1921 June) in District Court and Notice for Publication about homesteading matters.

There is also a news article about the Mennonite congregation of Thurman giving a nice donation of $111.25 to the Red Cross, which was sent for relief work in Northern France. “These people do not believe in war so they sent their money as specified. Those contributing were: N. M.(?) Birky, $5; Joseph Ruby, $25; Joe Yoder, $1.50; Mike Ruby, $5; Joseph Unternahrer, $15; Frank Unternahrer, $5; Sam Schrock, $6; Aaron Ruby, $5; M. L.Schultz, $5; Anna Schultz, $5; Mrs. J. S. Zook, $1; F. W. Hoffman, $5; Joe Hoffman, $2; L.L. Schlabach, $5; A. Z. Birky, $2; John B. Yantzr, $2; S. L. Proops, $3; David Redeger, $5; Simon Schultz, $3; Joe Unternahrer, $1.75.

Buried:
Thurman Cemetery

Samuel married Helénè (Ellen) Zendner on 29 Apr 1888 in Fancy (Farny?), Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL. Helénè (daughter of Christian Zendner and Barbe Marie Schrag (Serach) (Gerard)) was born on 8 Apr 1865 in Foug, Toul, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR; died on 21 Dec 1922 in Denver, Denver Co., CO; was buried in Thurman, Washington Co., CO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
By Jacob Zehr, Minister of the Gospel. Witnesses: Jacob Wolber and Peter Zehr

1. Katie Schrock was born on 17 May 1889 in IL; died on 31 Oct 1958; was buried in Loveland, Larimer Co., CO.
2. Lydia Schrock was born on 22 Feb 1891; died on 4 Jan 1976; was buried in Whittier, Los Angeles Co., CA.
3. Mamie Schrock was born on 7 Feb 1893; died after 7 Feb 1991.
4. Peter Alvin Schrock was born on 12 Mar 1895 in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL; died on 4 Jul 1980 in CO; was buried in Akron, Washington Co., CO.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Railroad School?
• Occupation: Farmer, beekeeper
• Religion: Amish Mennonite. Attended A Methodist Church in Pekin After Marriage And Before Moving To Fisher.
• USR1: Chronic Interstitial Nephritis (Kidney Failure)
• Residence: 1850, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 27 Jul 1860, Malone Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1862, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1864, Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: Abt 1890, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: 1898, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 1904, Fairview, MI
• Residence: 1905, Fairview, MI
• Residence: 1907-1922, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obituary: Gospel Herald, 20 April 1922, pg 63
Schrock.--Peter Schrock was born, Aug. 1, 1839; died at his home in Fisher, Ill., April 5, 1922; aged 82 y. 8 m. 5 d. He was united in marriage to Anna Garber Jan. 8, 1860, who preceded him in death twenty years ago. To this union 8 children were born. Two preceded him in death. He leaves 6 children, 10 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 1 brother. He accepted Christ as his Savior while young and united with the Mennonite Church. He was a faithful member until death. Funeral services were conducted April 7, by Bro. S. S. Zehr and Bro. Sam Gerber. Text, Gal. 2:20.
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“Peter Schrock had long, white whiskers and told one of his grandsons, "You'd be a fine feller if you'd let your whiskers grow." After Peter got older he would sit in his big chair in the sitting room with his spittoon by his chair. He had a jack knife with the words "Peter Schrock, Fisher, Illinois" made in the handle. He used this to cut his chewing tobacco. He also whittled a great deal. Peter raised pigs and kept bees--from 10-15 hives. Peter wasn't able to establish himself as a prosperous farmer like his brother Joseph, or a successful businessman like his brother John, but he left a legacy of compassion and kindness to his descendants.

“Sometime around 1885-1890 a real estate agent appeared in Fisher and persuaded Peter and his two sons, Samuel and Joseph, to buy some uncleared timberland in Fairview, Michigan [village of Mio nearby]. Peter went ahead and sometime later Sam and Joe and their families chartered a freight car and moved to Michigan. Sam and Joe, their livestock and furniture, rode in the freight car and the women (evidently including Lena and Ella) and children rode in a passenger car.

“The Schrocks managed to clear a few acres of land and planted it to Buckwheat. They had the buckwheat ground for pancakes at the mill in Mio. There were beautiful big rainbow and speckled trout in great abundance in the Au Sable river about on and one-half or two miles south of their house...Fish and buckwheat cakes were two important items in the Schrocks’ diet....On the north side of the small buckwheat field was the Sam Schrock house and on the south side of the field was the Joe Schrock house....Pete’s father [Sam], mother and oldest sister Katie worked for other people whenever they could to make a little money. Ellen would help when there was a new baby in the community or when extra help was needed with housework, etc.”

“After a few years Peter moved back to his home in Fisher, IL; Joseph and his family moved to Defiance, OH; and Samuel and his family moved to CO.”

















—————
Then, in the January Term A.D. 1919, Circuit Court, Champaign County, IL: George Bowman, Emma Van Dorn and Lucinda Lady, vs. a large number of persons named, including Peter and Anna Schrock; re who is the owner of real estate as follows:
The East Half (1/2) of the Southeast Quarter (1/4) of Section Thirty-one (31), and the West Half (1/2) of the Northwest Quarter (1/4) of the South west Quarter (1/4) of Section Thirty-two (32), all in Township Twenty two (22) North, Range Eight Eight (8), East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Champaign County, Illinois.

The three complaintants say their mother purchased the land in 1904 from John Zehr, and John Zehr had purchased the property from Austin E. Troutman in 19 from a whitacker01; and that Troutman had purchased the land from Peter Schrock in 1900; and that Peter Schrock had acquired title to the said lands by purchase thereof from Geo. S. VanHouten, the owner at that time, in 1893, and that Geo. S. VanHouten acquired title through various conveyances running in an unbroken line duly filed for record from the United States government, with the exception of a deed executed by Thomas Gile who originally entered said land from the United States Government in 1836.}

Census:
Page 261, Dwelling 1902: Peter Shrock age 21, farmer b. OH; Anna age 20, b. OH. (See map at http://www.tcghs.org/images/mp1857LLLG.jpg)

Residence:
Received mail in Fisher from Eureka

PURC:
Bought timbered land

Residence:
Moved family there in the spring of the year. This was noted in a letter from John Schrock (who stayed in Fisher) to Jonathan Schrock in Congerville, dated Sept 12, 1905.

Residence:
Moved back to the house in Fisher and remained until death

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery (Amish Mennonite Cemetery). Undertaker was L. C. Wade of Fisher. Funeral service by S. Zehr and Samuel Gerber

Peter married Anna (Nancy) Garber on 8 Jan 1860 in Tazewell Co., IL. Anna (daughter of John Garber and Eva Caroline Paithe) was born on 30 Apr 1839 in PA; died on 3 Feb 1902 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 5 Feb 1902 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Railroad School?
• Occupation: Housewife
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Carcinoma Of Stomach
• Residence: 1844, Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

The Garber family owned and ran a mill (see map at http://www.tcghs.org/images/mp1857MRLG.jpg)

Grandson Peter Schrock (1895-1950) remembered his grandmother as a large woman, rather quiet and solemn, but his memories were vague since he was only seven years old when his grandmother died in 1902. Some who knew Grandma Nancy say she was a very good cook.

Walter Ropp comments in his writings that Nancy loved beautiful things in nature like the sunsets, etc.

Residence:
Family moved when Anna was 4 yrs. old.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery (Amish Cemetery on the death certificate)

Notes:

Anna’s surname is spelled Gerber when entered by the county clerk, and Garber when entered by Andrew Ropp.

Married:
By Andrew Ropp

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: In French
• Occupation: Farmer In Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL 1850-1875
• Occupation: Miller At Cheppe Near Dompcevrin In 1829
• Occupation: Miller In Butler Co., OH (And Perhaps Farmer?) 1832-1850 (Possibly worked with the Flenner mill, since his brother Peter lived at one time near the Flenner family.)
• Religion: Amish, Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1826, Blâmont, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1829, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR
• Residence: 1829, Cheppe, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR
• Immigration: Spring 1831, Le Havre to Baltimore
• Residence: 1831, Lancaster Co., PA
• Census: 1840, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Naturalization: Sep 1844, Butler Co., OH
• Census: 1850, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1832-1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Census: Oct 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Residence: Oct 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Residence: Nov 1850, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 11 Aug 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

“John Schrock, a native of Lorraine, was of German ancestry, but was educated in French, which he spoke like a native. He was wedded to a lady of Lorraine, Miss Catherine Saltsman, and when the couple were the parents of two children, Joseph and his sister Catherine, they came to America in 1831 leaving the port of Havre in the spring. The passage across the boisterous Atlantic consumed forty-four days. They at length disembarked in Baltimore, Md., very much fatigued from the hardships they had endured during the long journey. From there they went to Lancaster, Pa., and a year later, in 1832 removed to Ohio, and located on a farm which the father operated, and in connection with it rented a mill, which he managed very successfully, it being the business in which he was most proficient. While living in Butler County, Ohio, the family was increased by the addition of three children, namely: John, Peter and Magdalena, who were bright and intelligent, and their mature years have not disappointed the fond expectations, which their parents conceived of the little French-Americans. In the autumn of 1850, Mr. Schrock and his family removed to Tazewell County, Ill., and located near Pekin, taking up wild land, but subduing it by patient industry until at their decease they were surrounded by numbers of broad acres well cultivated and supporting numerous fine domestic animals. During life they were members of the old Amish Church, and died in that communion. The father entered into his rest in his seventy-fourth year and the mother in her fifty-seventh."

(Although the newspaper article said Johannas rented a mill, I’m wondering if in fact he might have managed a mill owned by the Flenner family. Daniel Flenner bought a mill site in 1812 and sold it in 1853, according to the book “Woodsdale’s Story” by Doris Page. Johannas and his family lived in that area during that time. Amishmen Iutzi and Augspurger are mentioned also in connection with the mill. (DB)
—————————————————————
Newspaper article 20 Apr 1935 (at event of son John’s death)
“...Back in Ohio lived Johannes Schrock, German born and also a follower of Menno. Schrock found Ohio pretty well settled, but from the Mennonites in mid-Illinois he heard of a growing new land where acres were cheap and crops were abundant. So Johannes Schrock with three horses, pushed through from Trenton, Ohio, to Pekin and looked at this new west. He liked it. He left one horse here and drove the other two back to the Buckeye state. Arriving, he told the anxious wife, who had been Katharina Salzman in her girlhood days in Germany, that they were moving to Illinois. To Joe, the oldest youth, was given the task of driving through with the horses and cattle and what goods they had. The father and mother took the rest of the family to Cincinnati where they took a boat down the Ohio to Cairo and up the Mississippi and Illinois to Pekin.

Joseph’s son, Jonathan, was later able to point out to his family an American elm tree along the road west of Bloomington where Joseph had camped under his wagon the last night of his trip from Ohio. He had the reputation of being an excellent marksman.
——————————————————————
“The [Johannes Schrock] family located in a log house on what is now the Allen Miller farm five miles east of Pekin. They were made at home by the Mennonites here and kindly neighbors; and because they were honorable and thrifty, they prospered.” ,
——————————————————————
Johannes and his family were counted in the 1850 Butler Co. census and were still there in October. They turn up in Tazewell in November. Land records seem to indicate John made a trip to Illinois prior to taking the family in November, since he had made arrangements to purchase land from the Niewkirk family before arriving. The sale was completed in December 1850. He likely stayed with the Christian Ackerman family and happened to be there when the census taker knocked and was counted again—twice in 1850!
———————————————————————
From John Garber information, Walter Ropp records:
“Danny Garber, whose death by blood poisoning followed a threshing accident, should come in about here. My old Uncle Christ Ropp, who remembered everything that ever happened around there, said that his grave was the first one in the Railroad Cemetery. John Schrock, six months older and much like him said, "I know your Uncle 'Crysthel' had an awful good memory but there's one time when he was mistaken. It was the third one." And now that they are both gone these twenty years, who is going to settle it!”

Bishop Samuel Gerber many times officiated at weddings and funerals of East Bend Mennonite Church members in the early 1900s. While living in Tazewell County, the Schrocks were surrounded by Gerbers and Ropps, including Bishop Samuel Gerber and Bishop Andrew Ropp. The families were obviously close neighbors and friends, and attended church together. So it was natural for both Bishops to be involved in the marrying and burying of these people, even after they had moved to Champaign County.

When Johannes and his family first lived in Tazewell Co., they probably worshipped in the old Railroad School just across the road from Johannes’ land. W. A. Ropp writes about the school: “This school was begun about 1840 and continued to operate until 1872 or 1873 ... about the year 1835, a company was organized to build a railway eastward from Pekin--the grade was finished nearly to Tremont when the panic of 1837 stopped the work. A primitive log school house was built near the newly-graded roadway and was named the Railroad school, altho there was no railroad within a hundred miles.

“Most of the land already had been taken up by settlers, for it consisted of some small, rich, open glades just lying round to let the sunshine in, and a good grade of timberland covered by a magnificent growth of hardwoods and elms--tall, straight and clean-trunked--that gave the township the name Elm Grove.

“The first settlers were families from a number of eastern states and several German families, immigrants from the Upper Rhine country... they said they were Amish. These folks came rapidly and bought out the earlier eastern settlers, so that by 1845 the neighborhood was predominantly German. Some of the early families were the Youngs, the Hodgsons, the Griggs, several Nieukirk families, three Garber families, six Ropp families, and the Unsickers, Sommers, Schrocks, Heisers, Kings, Yordys, Litwillers, Hochstettlers, Birkeys and a few others.“
————————————————————————
The only known photo of Johannes has sometimes been purported as his passport photo. However, according to Wikipedia: “In Europe, general peace between the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1815) and the beginning of WWI (1914), and development of railroads, gave rise to international travel by large numbers of people. Passports were not usually required; there were limited wars which caused some exceptions.” And, photos would not have been used in 1831--photography in its infant form came later--about 1839.
—————————————————————————
Joseph Staker, in his discussion of the Schrock family, describes the land on which they settled: “The Schrocks (and Salzmans) lived on ‘ministerial’ land they had purchased from the State of Ohio. On Jan. 7, 1796, the Ohio Company set aside Section 29 in each of the ten townships of its second purchase for the support of religion. This set a precedent. When John Cleves Symmes made the Miami Purchase on Oct. 15, 1788, it included parts of Hamilton, Butler, and Warren counties. Congress approved his purchase but followed the earlier model by reserving Section 29 in each of the three counties for religious purposes. The State of Ohio was authorized by Congress in 1833 to sell or rent unused parts of each Section 29. The money from sales was invested, and churches within the boundaries of the original township received the interest and rent income until 1968.”
—————————————————————————
In Ohio, the family worshipped with the Augspurger congregation, where Johannes’ brother, Peter, was a minister. This group was the more conservative of the two congregations near Trenton (the other being made up mostly of Hessian Christians who were more “liberal,” using buttons on their clothes rather than hooks and eyes). No doubt the Augspurger group followed the customs of kneeling for prayer and foot washing with communion, since the East Bend Mennonite Church in Champaign Co., Illinois, continued these customs well into the 1940s.
————————————————————————
John and his brother Peter, and Catherine’s father, Michael Salzman, purchased adjoining land in Section 29 of Lemon Township. In 1855 John sold 81+ acres to John Shertz.










———————————
With regard to John Schrock in their household, John and his family were counted in the 1850 Butler Co. census and were still there in October. They turn up in Tazewell in November. Land records seem to indicate John made a trip to IL prior to taking the family in November, since he had made arrangements to purchase land from the Niewkirk family before arriving. The sale was completed in December 1850. He likely stayed with the Ackermans and happened to be there when the census taker knocked, and was counted twice in 1850.
Donna }

Birth:
Date is according to marriage record. Aug 17, 1801 has been used by Willard Smith.

His father Joseph was the miller at Gondrexange during the birth years of his first children, so Johannes was likely born at the mill in the village. No birth document has been found. Nearby Ketzing estate housed many Anabaptist farm workers, so there were probably connections between the Schrag family and other Anabaptists living at the estate, and perhaps products from the farm were processed at the Gondrexange mill.

Residence:
At time of his marriage was living in Blâmont

Residence:
Miller at Cheppe, Commune of Dompcevrin. The mill was destroyed in 1914 during the war, only ruins remain. More than likely lived at the farm Chanteraine.

Residence:
48°56'11.53'' N / 5° 29' 35.00'' E A small village next to Dompcevrin that included Cheppe mill.

Immigration:
On ship list name recorded as Jno. Gerrard. Family lore says the trip lasted 44 days.

Residence:
No information found about the family’s time in Lancaster Co., PA

Census:
#155 (Brother Peter was listed also at #155)

Naturalization:
Two men vouched for John Schrock: Michael Saltzmann and Jacob Taylor.


Census:
Counted again, John Shrock, age 50, being in the household of Christian Ackerman

Census:
House #1175, Family #1316

Residence:
Living with wife Catherine, Joseph, Catharine, Peter, John; next to the Michael Saltzman family

Residence:
Left Ohio to settle in Illinois

Census:
Page 176: John Shrock, age 60, farmer, b. France; John age 17, farmer, b. OH; Magdalene age 16, b. OH.

Census:
Page 18: John Schrack, age 70, farmer; Jacobine, age 53, keeping house, born in Baden.

The information below doesn’t belong to Johannes. Does it belong to his son John?
Real Estate valued at $8000, Personal Estate at $2000. Living in the same dwelling were John, Jr., age 30, farmer; Phoebe, age 24, keeping house; Peter 3; Catharine 2, and Daniel 5/12. This family was living next to Peter Unzicker family in dwelling 119.

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery (not documented, but the most likely)

Johannes married Catherine (Elisabeth) Salzman on 8 Apr 1826 in Blâmont, Moselle, FR. Catherine (daughter of Michael Salzman and Catherine Hirschy (Hergi Hirschine)) was born on 27 Oct 1804 in Sarralbe, Moselle, FR; died in Mar 1858 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Servant
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1826, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Immigration: 30 Apr 1831, Baltimore, MD

Notes:

Birth:
6 brumaire an 13 according to (Film #1981660; n/m/d 1792) Her parents were age 25 and 24 at her birth. Witnesses to Catherine’s birth: Jacob Stabe(?), age 46 and Louis Heyacker, age 23, justitier.?

Residence:
At time of marriage

Immigration:
On the April 30, 1831 ship list of Baltimore arrivals ,with her two children, Joseph and Catherine, and husband Johannes; also her father Michael Salzman and step-mother. Manifest has not been found, but they are on the quarterly summary.

Buried:
Likely Railroad Cemetery

Notes:

Johannes was living at Blâmont at the time of the marriage and Catherine was at Bistroff.
A publication of the marriage was made at commune of Rhodes at Bistroff.

Witnesses:
Father of the groom, Joseph Schrack, living at the mill at Bachats, age 52, and Marie Nayhouser, age 53, mother of the groom
Nicolas Cherrier, age 50 years; Augustin Demontzey b. 1763.
Michael Salzman, age 44, miller at Xirange, father of the bride
André Chertz, age 33 years (born 1793), an uncle “par alliance” (by marriage) of the bride.

Married:
The French marriage index says Catherine Hergi was no longer living at the time of Catherine's marriage in 1826.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Asiatic Cholera
• Immigration: 28 Aug 1818, Philadelphia, PA
• Residence: Abt 1819, Mifflin Co., PA
• Residence: 1827/1835, OH
• Census: 1840, OH
• Residence: Abt 1841, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Gerber/Garber = tanner.

All the graves of John and Eva’s children in Elm Grove Twp. Cemetery use the name spelled GERBER.

“Sometime near 1840, John Garber and wife, Eva Caroline Paithe, came from Butler Co., Ohio and moved into a log house on the John Young farm about 80 rods southeast of Andrew Ropp. He was a native of Switzerland, born in 1799. His passport gives his departure for Philadelphia as June 18, 1819. His wife was born in New York City in 1801 of Holland Mennonite parents who went to Mifflin Co., Pa where this marriage took place. Their married life was in Lancaster Co and few years in Ohio. A short time after his arrival he returned to Ohio on business and dies there of cholera. His widow remained on the Young farm supported by the children, who married in the families of the community. They numbered 11. Samuel's wife was Mary Litwiller, their home at Eniden. Emmanuel's wife was Fannie Switzer, they lived on the east eighty of the Sommer Seed Corn farm. Sybil married Peter Ringenberger and lived on the west eighty. Mary, wife of Samuel King, lived in the field a mile northeast of the school house. Lydia, wife of Uncle Mose Ropp. Dave, whose wife was Lena Kinsinger on Dillon Creek. Katie, wife of Jacob Kennel north of Morton; Nancy, wife of Peter Schrock; John and Noah, and Dannie who died in his teens following an accident at a horse power.

“About 1860, when Man Garber lived on the Sommer farm, Mr. Young had a field of corn down at the road. One morning Garber noticed him out looking around to see how it was coming up and turn suddenly and come over to where he as working. "Garber", he said, "your chickens are rooting up all my corn." All right, all right, shoot em, shoot em. After a while (Garber) heard a shot and over came Young, and Garbers had chicken for dinner. A year or so later Garber had rye on his, with Young's field in corn again. May and June were dry and warm and one day in came Mr. Young all excited, "Garber, your chinch bugs are coming across the road to my corn. All right, Mr. Young, shoot em, shoot em!

“Way long ago, the church corner was the Nieukirk corner, named after a very early settler with two sons, Tom and Mace, in the old brink house across from the church. This place was a station where horses were changed on the stage coaches before 1800.”

According to Grubb in “Mennonites of Butler County, Ohio” a second Amish settlement in Ohio began when Jacob Yoder moved to Wayne Co. in 1817 from Mifflin Co., PA. Since John and his family had lived in Mifflin Co. at one time there is the probability that he had connections in Wayne Co. (or even lived there briefly before moving to Butler Co. since one of his children was born in Wayne Co.). Therefore when he returned to Ohio on business and died there, he could be buried in either Butler or Wayne Co.

————
“When they left Ohio for Illinois in 1840, they sold their household goods and implements and with their eleven children started their journey down the Ohio River, up the Mississippi to St. Louis on a large steamboat. The last night before arriving at St. Louis no one could sleep. Every few minutes a sentinel would cry out, “Look out for pickpockets!”. From St. Louis, they boarded a smaller vessel and arrived at Wesley City.” Arrived with wife and 11 children in Tazewell Co., IL, via Wesley City, from Butler Co., OH.

"Moved to Ohio 1827, to Illinois 1840. Had eleven children, older born in Lancaster Co. Pa, the younger in Butler Co. Ohio. Eva, wife was born in New York City in 1801. They lived in Butler Co. a number of years before moving to IL. Their new home was a log house on the John Young farm. It now has the Bethel Mennonite Church located on the north corner. At the time it was the Nieukirk corner with a brick house that was the stopping place for stage coaches on the Peoria-Indianapolis road. Now Illinois Highway #9. Soon after their arrival John Garber went back to Ohio on business quite likely by stage and died there during an epidemic of Asiatic Cholera. This left his widow and her family in that house in Young's field for quite a number of years supported by her children Emmanuel the oldest, being around 21 and Nancy was the baby.

“In the peaceful little country of Switzerland, in the year 1788, 25th day of July, John Garber was born. When he reached early manhood, exciting news came to the village where he, his widowed mother and four sisters lived. The Americans were sending passports for young men to use, providing they agreed to work a certain length of time after arriving in America to pay for their passage--the time to be agreed upon by the two contracting parties. The government seal in the family tells us this was the method John Garber used to get to America.

“His passport was issued on March 19, 1813, and was good for five years. The passport was used April 7, 1818, and bears the seal of a Notary Public in the County of Bern, Switzerland. On May 26, 1818, he entered into contract with Joseph Rush, Captain of the ship Susquehanna, for his passage to America, at the cost of two hundred francs, amounting to about fifty American dollars, leaving his widowed mother and four sisters in Bern.

“Family tradition indicates that John Garber worked two years for a Pennsylvania planter to pay off his travel contract. As far as we know, John was the only one of his family to come to America. He later married Eva Caroline Paithe (b.1799).”

Birth:
Other dates found 1792, 1798 (near Steffisburg)

Immigration:
From Amsterdam on ship Susquehannah, John Rush, Captain

Residence:
Butler, Monroe, or Wayne Co.

Census:
Listed in the Rush Creek, Fairfield County census

Residence:
Walter Ropp history

Died:
Probably Butler or Wayne Co.

Buried:
B. Lorenz says in one place Elmgrove Twp. Cemetery, Tazewell Co., IL. But it is logical he was buried in either Butler or Wayne Co., OH, as cholera victims were generally buried immediately.

John married Eva Caroline Paithe on 30 Jun 1824 in Mifflin Co., PA. Eva (daughter of John (Emanuel?) Paithe (Paight?) and Barbie Bressman) was born on 20 Mar 1799 in PA; died on 26 Nov 1874 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Could Not Read Or Write, Signed With Her X
• Religion: Dillon Creek Amish Congregation
• Census: 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Her father was a native New Yorker, mother was from Holland. Walter Ropp’s notes say Eva was born of Mennonite parents from Holland, who went to Mifflin Co., PA.


“Barbara Lorenz says it has been handed down in her family that Eva Caroline’s father, John Paithe, was a Hessian soldier who stayed in the US after the Revolutionary War.”

“Eva Caroline Paithe, the girl who later became the wife of John Garber, was born on March 20, 1799, near New York City. Her mother was born in Holland, but her father was a native of New York state. When Eva Caroline was quite young, her parents moved to Pennsylvania. After her marriage to John Garber they resided in Mifflin County, PA. Eleven children were born to this union. In 1835, the parents with their seven children moved to Butler County, Ohio where they lived until 1840. Here four more children were born.

“In 1840 John and Eva sold their household goods and implements and with their eleven children started their journey down the Ohio River, and up the Mississippi to St. Louis on a large steamboat. The last night before arriving at St. Louis, no one could sleep. Every few minutes a sentinel would cry out, "Look out for pickpockets!" From St. Louis, they boarded a smaller vessel and arrived at Wesley City, Illinois, in Tazewell County. They made their home near Pekin.

“The following year, 1841 (probate says 1845), John Garber went back to Ohio to collect sale notes. He died there and was buried before the news reached his family. His wife, Eva, and her second son, Emanuel and his family, shared their home until her death in 1874.”

After John’s death, Eva lived with Emanuel until her own death.

Birth:
Charles W. Finch gives date 20 Mar 1794; Carr 1801

Census:
Listed as 70 years of age, born in PA, living in the household of Emanuel Gerber

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller In Gondrexange and Imling, And At Rhodes (Bachat) At The Time Of Death
• Occupation: Unskilled Laborer In 1827 At Time Of Peter’s Marriage
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1797, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1799-1807, Gondrexange, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1811, Imling, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1822, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1826, Rhodes, Moselle, FR

Notes:

At the time of Joseph’s brother Jean’s marriage in 1797, he was living at Moulin Les Bachats near Rhodes. Bachats is attached to Rhodes, 9 km north of Gondrexange. There is a walled Anabaptist cemetery at the edge of town, bordering a cow pasture, where Pelsy, Esch, Abresol families, and more, are buried.

The 'ferme des Les Bachats' at Rhodes is still operational and maintains an inn. It is located on a peninsula in L'Étang de Stock (Stock Pond). A bachat is a feeding trough for cattle, indicating that it may have once been a dairy farm.

Joseph married his first wife, Marie Engel at Alzing farm near Gosselming in 1798. Very soon after they were living at Gondrexange, for their first and only child (Joseph, who lived only 5 years) was born there. Marie died there, possibly as a result of child birth complications. A second time Joseph went to Alzing to marry his second wife, Marie Neuhauser, but returned to Gondrexange to live and work. Their first three sons and one daughter (Anne, who evidently died as an infant) were born between 1801 and 1806.

Joseph and his wives could have lived at Domaine Ketzing for a time, a nobleman’s possession, who hired workers to farm and run the mill, blacksmith workers, brick kilns, etc., but this isn’t documented. Living quarters were provided in the woods some distance from the main chateaus. Today one can find a few foundation stones of buildings, and the remains of a well that served the workers. (2012) There was no persecution of Anabaptists during this time at Ketzing, as the Duke of Lorraine protected them. Today Ketzing is owned by an insurance company: a newer building is used for training seminars. The domaine is part of the forestry department and the chateaus provide lodging for hunters.

But more than likely the family lived at the mill in Gondrexange, since Joseph was the miller there for a number of years from about 1800 to 1811.

By 1811 the family had moved to Imling near Saarebourg. They lived at one of the three mills along the Saare River, Remeling, when their first daughter was born. The other two mills were Rimling, and Rot (Roth) (also called Rotmuhle). All three mills were situated side by side along the banks of the Saare. Eleven years later Joseph and Marie were back at Bachats, and were there in 1826. No doubt they lived there continuously until Joseph’s death in 1830. Marie was still living in 1826, but what happened to her after that is still unknown.

“Joseph Schrack, 33, miller, ...witnessed the civil birth record of Johannes Gascho, Born on 8 Jan, 1806, son of Joseph Gascho, lease-manager of the agricultural property called Canardiere in Gondrexange, and Katharina Swalter.”

“Gondrexange had two mills, one was sacred for the construction of the Marne-Rhine canal. It is logical that in a given period an Anabaptist was a miller. Joseph Schrag from Bellegarde, commune of Bistroff, had the mill turned from about 1800 to 1807. He was married to Marie Neuhauser who gave him several children in Gondrexange. Did he then go to Rhodes where he died in 1830?

“His sister Catherine, born in Oderfang, Saint-Avold, married the mill boy Joseph Oyer in 1804 and went to Niderhoff's mill. Joseph Schrag was probably replaced or was he in competition with André Schertz enumerated in 1809 as head of the family. He was the son of Christian Schertz and Elisabeth Reitiger. The only act that reveals his presence is his testimony at the death of his father at the age of 55 years.”

Birth:
Belgrade farm. Commune of Grostenquin. Belgerade (Bellegarde) farm was built around 1818 according to Jean-Claude Koffel.

Residence:
Living at Moulin les Bachats at time of brother Jean’s marriage.

Residence:
At the mill in Gondrexange where four children were born.

Residence:
Lived at the mill Remeling near Imling at the birth of Magdelaine in 1811, was still there in 1813 according to source 1056.

Residence:
Living at the mill at Bachats at time of Johannes and Catherine’s marriage

Died:
“On Apr. 5, 1830, Joseph Serack, 58, miller, a native of the farm called Belgrade [canton of Bistroff], Moselle, husband of Maria Neuhauser, died in Rhodes. The death was reported by son Peter Serack, 27, miller at Dompcevrin, Meuse.”
(Translation by NASL)


Buried:
Most probably in a burying ground on the farm/mill Bachats.

Joseph married Maria Neuhauser about 1800 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR. Maria (daughter of Nicolas Christian Neuhauser and Catherine Marie Ritzieker (Regsecker) (Lithzieker)) was born about 1772-1773 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died after 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist

Notes:

Alzing was already mentioned in 1525 as being a farm of the seigniory of Sarreck. In 1556, she was a possession of the counts of Lutzelbourg, then of the count de Custine. Alzing seems to have been in ancient times an important locality. The heart of Alzing remained an Anabaptist community.

Marie is almost certainly part of the Neuhauser family which lived in Gosselming and was well known to Schrag and Engel families--a sister to Jean Neuhauser, who was a witness to Joseph’s marriage to Marie Engel, since Marie’s mother had secondly married Jean’s father, Nicholas Neuhauser.

Her death is still a mystery. There is a Mary Gerrard listed along with Anna and Madeline Gerrard on the ship Baltimore, on which the family sailed to America in 1831. Her age is given as 52, and that fits fairly well with her probable birth date. However, except for a notation by son Peter in his Bible saying his mother died 27 January 1839, there has been no other data found about when (or where) she died, and no mention of her by any family members in America, or researchers finding evidence of her presence in America.

Gosselming (part of Meurthe before 1870 had 795 people in 1836, 542 in 2001) is situated at the extremity of a forest named Selvald, on the left bank of the Saar River, 6 km south of Fenetrange, 9 km from Sarrebourg, and 72 km from Nancy. The farm Alzing is 5 km west of Gosselming.

Birth:
Birth year calculated from son Johannes’ marriage document--she was 53 at the time. No doubt born at Alzing farm.

In a letter dated Aug 16, 1953, Homer Schrock (Ohio) writes to a cousin:
In going thru some of my great grandfather’s papers today (Peter, Sr.) in his Bible it said My mother died 27 January 1839 maiden name Bropfin and was born in Mariabirch. So far I haven’t found his father’s name.


Died:
She was present at Johannes and Catherine’s marriage in 1826.
In a letter dated Aug 16, 1953, Homer Schrock (Ohio) writes to a cousin:
“In going thru some of my great grandfather’s papers today (Peter, Sr.) in his Bible it said My mother died 27 January 1839 maiden name Bropfin [?] and was born in Mariabirch [Merlebach].”

Notes:

Married:
Alzing?

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Cultivator At Haras Near Sarralbe In 1803. Miller At Palace Mill (Schloessersmuhle) In Forbach At Time Of Catherine’s Death In 1814. [Haras Was A Horse Breeding Farm Established In 1717, Half Destroyed By Fire In 1825]
• Occupation: Worker At Mill Tree At Forbach At The Time Of His Marriage To Magdalena Eymann. 1820-1825 A Farmer At Bischwald Mill In Bistroff
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: 1801, Sarralbe, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1811, Forbach, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1814, Forbach, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1814, Albestroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1823, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1826, Xirange, Moselle, FR
• Immigration: Spring 1831, Baltimore, MD
• Naturalization: 21 Sep 1842, Butler Co., OH
• Census: 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH

Notes:

In his original will, Michael named Andrew as executor and John as trustee of funds for minor grandchildren. However, in a codicil filed about ten months before his death, he removed Andrew and named Jacob Hittell of the city of Hamilton, Ohio, as executor of his will.

Michael’s probate records reveal that he was buried in Mound Cemetery, Monroe, Butler Co., OH. A John Long received $21 for coffin and services. M. Doell (?) received $8 for oil cloth coat needed for funeral of Michael Salzman. Mound Cemetery (Rich Davies) was paid $26.25 (assumably for the lot), and $2.50 for interment of the body. Dr. D. R. Dyche submitted a bill totaling $25 for services on 16 different days during October 1861.

On 3 Feb 1862, an inventory of personal property was valued at $215.32. Items included 1 milk cow, $15; 1 kitchen cupboard, $10; 2 blankets and quilt coverlet, $12; 1 bed and bedstead and bedding, $24; 1 keg wine and 1 barrel vinegar, $8; a note against Andrew McCleary for $56, which was declared “of doubtful value.”

Mound Cemetery is just over two miles from the Salzman home, in Monroe, OH. The cemetery is indeed a mound of earth covered with grave sites. The Amish section is at the bottom of the mound fairly close to the entrance driveway.

Also in the Salzman plot are Georgie 1882-1887; Barbara 1853-1938; William 1857 -1917; Ella 1859-1943; and John W. 1860-1917.

————————

Michael's first wife, Catherine was born during 1780 in St. Avold, a daughter of Pierre Hergi and Anne Agnes Farny of St. Avold. She married Michael Salzman, a son of Michel Salzman and Catherine Weiss Salzman and Michael is identified as an Anabaptist and the ceremony was held at Sarralbe at 3:00 on 3 March 1804, in deference to Michel Salzman. Catherine and Michael had four children, Pierre (Peter), Catherine, Magdalena and Christian. Michael was a resident of Sarralbe and the couple was still there at the time of daughter Catherine's birth in 1804. Michael worked as a cultivator at Haras and then the family moved to Forbach where Michael was a Miller at Schloesser's mill. His wife, Catherine died at Forbach on 5 March 1814. After only three months of Catherine's death, Michael is in Albestroff, where his parents resided and where he married Madelaine Eiyman in June. He is named there off and on until 1823 when he moved to Belgrade Farm with his family and was a farmer at Bischwald mill in Bistroff. Magdalena was born 2 June 1795 in Prussia/Palainate and died 1 Oct. 1875 in Butler, OH. They had nine children: Jacques (Jacob), Maria, Michael, Elisabeth, Jacobina, Barbara, Catherine, Andre(Andrew) and John. (Information by Donna Schrock Birkey, originally published in the Winter 2004 issue of the Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly.) 

Jean-Michel Engel reports Michael and his family also lived for a time in Val-de-Gueblange, in addition to the residences now listed.,

Birth:
Zelle farm

Residence:
Farmer at Haras. Lived here at time of Catherine’s birth

Residence:
miller at Moulin at Schlefalermuhl?

Residence:
His wife Catherine Hirchi died here

Residence:
Farmer at Vallerade at time of marriage to Madelaine Eiyman. Also is named there in 1815, 1819, 1820 and 1823.

Residence:
Belgrade Farm

Residence:
Miller at Xirange at time of Catherine’s marriage

Naturalization:
Page 135 of Naturalization Book. Naturalized at the same time as Michael, age 60, were sons Michael age 17; Andrew age ten; and John age five.

Census:
House # 1176, Family #1317. Living with wife Magdalina, Andrew, Phoebe, John; next to John and Catherine Schrock

Buried:
Mound Cemetery, Lot 2, Sec. 3 (which cost $26.25)

Michael married Catherine Hirschy (Hergi Hirschine) on 3 Mar 1804 in Sarralbe, Moselle, FR. Catherine (daughter of Pierre Hirchy (Hergi) and Anne Agnes Farny (Phorni)) was born about 1780 in Faulquemont, Moselle, FR; died on 5 Mar 1814 in Forbach, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1814, Forbach, Moselle, FR

Notes:

“Pierre Hirschi was the brother of Anne Hirschi who married Christian Farny; Anne Farny was sister to Christian Farny who married Anne Hirschi. This meant that Josephe Stecker's in-laws were Christian Farny and Anne Hirschi; Michael Salzman's in-laws were Pierre Hirschi and Anne Farny. In simplest terms, the children of Michael Salzman and the children of Josephe Stecker shared common great-grandparents.“

Birth:
Bonhouse farm

Residence:
Ferme du venheck, Moulin Schlossermuhle.

Died:
At the age of 34 years. Schloesser’s Mill

Notes:

Marriage Document reads:
At three o’clock, the act of marriage of Michel Salzman, male minor of the Anabaptiste sect, cultivator at Haras near this community, born at Zelle near Petit Tenquin, age 24; son of Michel Salzman, an Anabaptiste farmer at Haras, and Catherine Veis; and Catherine Hirgi, an Anabaptist living at “-----” near St. Avold, age 24; daughter of Pierre Hergi and Agnes Phorni [Farny/Fahrni]. Preliminary announcements [ban] posted at Sarralbe and St. Avold on Dec. 11 and 18, 1803...The marriage was held here in deference to the father Michael Salzman, cultivator living at Haras near Sarralbe, age 53...

Married:
57430

Notes:

Wife’s name was Mary.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Abt 1800, Mifflin Co., PA

Notes:

John + Barbie Bressman. Barbie was born in 1750 in Holland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes: