Franklin Louis Belsly: The Schrock-Birkey Connection

Franklin Louis Belsly

Male 1873 - 1936  (62 years)


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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Franklin Louis Belsly was born on 1 Jun 1873 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL (son of Christian Belsly (Belsley) and Mary Magdalene Schertz); died on 13 Jan 1936 in Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Education: Wesleyan University, Bloomington
    • Occupation: Banker, insurance broker, real estate agent

    Notes:

    “Franklin was the last son born to Christian and Mary. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington. For many years he was a banker in Deer Creek and later sold insurance and real estate in Washington. He was very interested in collecting antiques and had a wide reputation as an authority on old coins, Indian relics and old guns. He was a Past Master of two Lodges in the Masonic Order and a choir director at his church. He was known to have a good sense of humor and to be quite a kidder. Louis Phillips (who is quite a kidder himself) told the following story about Frank: ‘For many years we used to go to Peoria to pick up his daughter Margaret Belsly Triebel and then go to the cemetery in Washington where he was buried. One year I noticed a flag on his grave and I was fairly sure he had never been in the service so I asked Margaret about it. She said he and a buddy would go down to the local loafing corner and would tell of their exploits during World War I (which they were never in). Someone heard about it and thought they had been neglected so started putting flags on both graves. I can just see Uncle Frank turning overrun his grave and laughing a bit when he looked down—or up—and saw it.’ Franklin married Lydia Carlock, whose grandfather founded Carlock, Illinois. Their daughter Margaret graduated from Knox College in Galesburg. She married Louis Triebel who was President of the William Triebel Monument Co. at Peoria. Their son Franklin Jr. married Alamade St. Clair of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a casualty underwriter for Travelers Insurance Co. at Peoria, Omaha, Nebraska and New Orleans, Louisiana.”

    Franklin married Lydia Ellen Carlock on 8 Nov 1899 in Carlock, McLean Co., IL. Lydia (daughter of John Franklin Carlock and Julia Ann Stephens) was born on 14 Jul 1878 in Carlock, McLean Co., IL; died on 8 Mar 1940 in Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Children:
    1. Margaret Belsly was born on 22 Aug 1901 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 5 Jan 1973 in Peoria, Peoria Co., IL.
    2. Franklin Louis, Jr. Belsly was born on 22 Dec 1906 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 10 Dec 1962 in New Orleans, LA.

Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Christian Belsly (Belsley) was born on 31 Jul 1835 in Partridge Twp, Woodford Co., IL (son of Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly and Barbara Schrock (Schrack)); died on 5 Mar 1917 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Occupation: Farmer
    • Religion: East Washington Mennonite Church
    • Residence: Marshall Co., IL
    • PURC: 1860, Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

    Notes:

    Christian Belsly, as described by grandson Louis Phillips (in an unpublished ms. later included in John Robert Belsly’s “The Descendants of Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly”)

    When I saw “I Remember Mama” some years ago I thought of our Chris. It seemed to me his philosophy of life should be put in print to be remembered over the years. Chris was my grandfather, my mother’s father. That does not lend anything to his stature but it may perhaps explain some of the peculiar things that I do once in a while.

    Chris’ father “red Joe” lived to see his section of the country well settled and wealthy and he did much to bring about the change. He came here poor but at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest farmers in the country. This of course was all during the early life of Christ but it had much to do to make its mark upon his life. He soon began to realize that from the possessions his father had he wouldn’t have to work and at the early age of eighteen he decided that a life of leisure was what he should have. “Red Joe’ would have Chris get up every morning and run down to the barn and pump water for the livestock “Red Joe” thought it would make Chris healthy and hardy but it only served to make him rebellious against family discipline and to develop his theory of independence.

    Early in his married life Chris trained Mary as few wives were trained. His clothes were always laid out on the bed ready for Chris to put on. If he wanted something at the table he didn’t ask for it. He simply held his knife straight up and Mary would know what he wanted and see that it was started on the way to him. There was no idle chatter at the table when Chris was there but when he was finished with his meals he got up and went into the bedroom—or hammock in the summertime—for a nap. Then the children would cut loose as all children will. Mary and all the children loved Chris but he ruled with an iron hand.

    Chris had long anticipated the time when he would have the control and income from his father’s land and it was indeed a blow to his pride to find when “Red Joe’s” will was read that to a large degree he had been bypassed and most of the land was willed to the children of Chris. Of course as all the children were minors Chris was the man who handled the finances. Since he was justified in taking considerable of the income for the care and maintenance of the children, his income was no small item for those days.

    Deer Creek, which was Chris’ home town, was quite a baseball town. They had a local team which would play neighboring teams and would take on traveling teams. When this happened they would usually bolster the team with some extra good players from other towns and would often bring out special ones from Peoria if they thought the competition warranted it. The management of the Deer Creek team lined up a game with the Kansas City Gems which was an organization made up of Negro players. For this game the local management secured the talent of some exceptional players and though they didn’t expect to win they didn’t think they would be beaten too badly. The Negro boys were players who were capable of defeating almost any team that most towns would put on the field. Chris, true sportsman that he was, made a trip over to Danvers where the team was playing the day before their game at Deer Creek, saw the manager, and for forty dollars had the assurance that the Gems would lose the game. Then he hurried back to Deer Creek and had no trouble in placing two hundred dollars at even money that Deer Creek would win. That looked fine for Chris except that the Gems won. Since the manager left town before the game was over Chris never did find out how that came about, but it was rumored that another true sportsman had given the manager fifty dollars to win.

    Chris would always have the best groomed and well trained horse in the community. Before driving into the business part of town he would pull over to the side of the road and whistle a little tweet, tweet, tweet and sit there until the horse went to the powder room in typical horse manner. The boys in the family had good spirited horses but they wouldn’t be trained like Chris’ horse, much to his chagrin. His work horses were always strong and good pullers and many a time Chris would bet a little on the loads they could pull.

    For many years Chris was a member of the school board which ran the rural schools. He was interested because he usually had several children in school. Chris’ children were perhaps a little better students than many who attended the rural schools and were entitled to good grades. However, the fact that Chris was on the school board often brought the complaint from envious neighbors that the good grades were given the Belsly youngsters for that reason. Most of the children received some additional education at Eureka College which was close to the family homestead. The fact that they got along well with their work there would lead one to believe their good grades were justified.

    Chris had one story that he told to the school children every time he had a chance. The story was that when he and his father were driving to Chicago one early spring when the roads were pretty well broken up they came to this sign: TAKE CARE OF THE RUT YOU CHOOSE—YOU WILL BE IN IT FOR THE NEXT FIFTY MILES. He would refer to that and then say, “Would that we could say to every young man and every young woman, Take care of the path you choose—you will be in it for the next fifty years. Choose a path of vision and courage with a goal you have to reach for and your life will be a pleasant and profitable adventure.”

    ————————————————————————————————

    Christian was raised by his step-mother, Barbara Engel, and is said to have been a very spoiled person. He never learned how to handle finances, and as a result his father, Joseph, left his estate to Christian’s children.

    ————————————————————————————————

    “In 1860 Christian purchased land near Deer Creek, IL, where he and his wife lived and raised their family. They attended the early East Washington Mennonite Church. They had nine children...When the first son (second grandchild) was born, Grandpa Red Joe drove from his homestead in north Worth Township to see his first grandson. The parents had already chosen a name for the boy, but Grandpa Red Joe said his name is Joseph, so that is what he was named. It was that first grandson who later inherited the Red Joe homestead. When he married Ida Foster they moved to that homestead where they raised their family. From him, the homestead went to his son Maurice and today (1983) Maurice’s son, Clifford owns it.”

    ————————————————————————————————

    “The story of Christian Belsly (1835-1915), the only son of 'Red Joe', illustrates the circular nature of some of the family relationships. 'Red Joe' distrusted his son Christian's easy nature. Relatives considered the only child to be spoiled.

    Christian found a prospective wife during a visit to his uncle Peter Schrock at Lemon Township, Butler County. She lived in the next house on Salzman Road. The ceremony was conducted by minister Nicholas Augspurger at Trenton in Butler County Nov. 18, 1856.

    'Red Joe' showed his displeasure with his son by declining to present the groom with the customary gift of acreage from the family farm. Christian was forced to make his own living. He and his new wife first lived at Spring Bay, and in 1860 he purchased land in Deer Creek and started his own farm. When Christian's first son was born the following year, 'Red Joe' insisted that his grandson be named Joseph. Christian consented.

    When 'Red Joe' died on Christmas Eve 1872, his nine-page will divided his sizable fortune into 33 units that took six years to disperse through the probate process. He chose to leave his widow $2,000 but only 80 of his 2,000 acres. Son Christian, who expected a life of leisure, was left only 120 acres and a payment of $150 a year for 20 years. The family farm on Lourdes Road passed more or less intact to the namesake grandchild.

    In the end, Christian and his wife ran a prosperous farm and raised nine children. He served as a school director and commissioner of highways in Deer Creek. He and his wife are buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery at Deer Creek.

    “The wife that son Christian Belsley found in Butler County was his second cousin Mary Schertz, who was born in Butler County in 1837. She was the oldest of three daughters of John Schertz and Catherine Engel, who lived on Salzman Road in Lemon Township. 22 John Schertz was the business partner of John Stecker/Staker, and his daughters were trained in business and accounting. No doubt Mary Engel made an appropriate partner for the errant son of 'Red Joe' Belsley.”

    Birth:
    Verna Belsley says 1836 in a letter to H. H. Schrock in 1961. Robert Belsley’s book gives the date as 31 Jul 1835.

    Residence:
    Lived there two years following his marriage

    PURC:
    Lived on the land and raised nine children

    Buried:
    Mt. Zion Cemetery

    Christian married Mary Magdalene Schertz on 28 Oct 1856 in Trenton, Butler Co., OH. Mary (daughter of John Schertz and Catherine Engel) was born on 3 Mar 1837 in Lemon Twp., Butler Co., OH; died on 28 Nov 1911 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Mary Magdalene Schertz was born on 3 Mar 1837 in Lemon Twp., Butler Co., OH (daughter of John Schertz and Catherine Engel); died on 28 Nov 1911 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.

    Notes:

    “Mary was a slightly built lady. She was loved and respected in the community. She and Christian celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on October 28, 1906. She passed away in 1911 and it is remembered her funeral was a very large one. The following is a quote from her obituary: ‘In recognition of a quiet, unassuming Christian life, the following simple verse will apply most appropriately—Her hands were filled with deeds of charity, the Golden Keys that open the palace of Eternity.’”

    Mary was trained in business and accounting by her father, so was able to help her husband manage his finances--something he had been unable to do for himself.

    Notes:

    Married:
    Witnesses: John Schweitzer, Annie Schrack; Joseph Lehman, Annie Moseman
    Married by Rev. N. Augspurger. (Noah?)

    Children:
    1. Catherine Belsly was born on 21 Oct 1857 in Marshall Co., IL; died on 16 Dec 1857 in Marshall Co., IL.
    2. Anna Belsly was born on 1 Oct 1858 in Marshall Co., IL; died on 24 Oct 1858 in Marshall Co., IL.
    3. Catherine Belsly was born on 17 Apr 1860 in Woodford Co., IL; died on 13 Oct 1926 in Washburn, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Eure.
    4. Joseph Belsly was born on 3 Dec 1861 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 7 Oct 1937 in Metamora, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Woodford Co., IL.
    5. John Rudolph Belsly was born on 29 May 1863 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 12 Jun 1943 in Lacon, IL.
    6. Samuel L. Belsly was born on 11 Nov 1864 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 6 Jul 1928 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.
    7. Anna Rose Belsly was born on 18 May 1866 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 27 Aug 1932 in Marshall Co., IL.
    8. Mary Magdaline Belsly was born on 4 Apr 1868 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 28 Apr 1941 in Henry, IL.
    9. Barbara Louise Belsly was born on 11 Sep 1869 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 26 Jan 1953 in Des Moines, IA; was buried in Des Moines, Polk Co., IA.
    10. 1. Franklin Louis Belsly was born on 1 Jun 1873 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 13 Jan 1936 in Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL.
    11. Emma Josephine Belsly was born on 13 Nov 1877 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 17 Jan 1934 in Chillicothe, IL.
    12. Thorasia Victoria Belsly was born on 20 Aug 1879 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 3 Jan 1880 in Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly was born on 28 May 1802 in Hellocourt, Maizieres-les-Vic, Moselle, FR (son of Christian Pelsy and Catherine Verkler (Wirckler)); died on 24 Dec 1872 in Spring Bay, Washington Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Occupation: Farmer
    • Religion: Amish Mennonite
    • USR1: Dropsey
    • Immigration: 1828, Butler Co., OH
    • Residence: 1831, Spring Bay, Washington Twp., Woodford Co., IL
    • PURC: 1832, Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL

    Notes:

    Obit: Feb 1873 HofT
    In Woodford County, Ill., December, 24th 1872, of dropsy, JOSEPH BALSLY, snr., aged 70 years, 6 months, and 26 days. He leaves a bereaved wife and one son to mourn their loss. Services by Jacob Unzicker, Christian Esh, and Peter Gingerich. Peace to his ashes.


    Called “Joe de laRouge” because of his distinctive red hair.
    Joe was successful growing clover on his land, which had not been done before in that part of the country.

    “As he prospered he continued to buy land. At the time of his death he was the owner of fifteen parcels of land ranging in size from forty acres to three hundred twenty acres.”

    “Red Joe’s first wife, who is thought to have been a Schrock, died early after the birth of their son, Christian. According to Tazewell Co. marriage records, he married second on Feb 25, 1840, Barbara Engel, the daughter of Christian Engel and his second wife, Barbara Brunner. According to both Verna Belsly and Ida Belsly, bones of the two wives were interred in the same grave when the graves were moved many years ago a short distance to their present site in the Red Joe Belsly cemetery on Lourdes Road in Worth Township, Woodford Co., IL.”

    Joseph (Red Joe) born 28 May 1802 in “Hof Helle Court, France” Lorraine, came to America in 1828, going first to Ohio (according to Verna Belsly in a 1961 letter to H. H. Schrock). He died 1872. His first wife, Barbara Schrock, according to Verna Belsly, died young, sometime after the birth of a child named Christian. He secondly married Barbara Engel (1803-1881), who came to Illinois with her family in 1833. Red Joe was the first Mennonite to settle in Woodford County.

    Red Joe amassed a great deal of land (much of it in Marshall County) and left farms in life estates to each of his grandchildren. His favorite grandson, Joseph, received the Red Joe homestead (purchased for $1.25 an acre from the government ), a brick house, now painted white, on Lourdes Road. In the estate file, the name appears as Belsy.

    Red Joe’s birthplace, Hellocourt, is today attached to Maizieres Les Vic. (Some say Fribourg) The present structures were built in about 1870 and were used by the Germans in WWI.


    Cimetière Anabaptiste-Mennonite de Rhodes - Moselle Jan 4, 2016 post

    Some additional information: (Translated by Google)
    While their older brothers, Joseph, Jean and Pierre, as well as their sister Catherine emigrated to the us one after the other, Christian, Jacob and Nicolas Pelsy chose to marry and settle in their village of birth. Christian and Nicolas have married two sisters Abresol, Catherine and Barbe, both also of Rhodes. While Jacob has sought his wife, Madeleine Schertz, Meurthe and Moselle to here in the country of baccarat. They're all buried in this cemetery.

    While their older brothers Joseph (Red Joe), John and Peter, as well as their sister Catherine emigrated to the USA one after the other, Christian, Jacob and Nicolas Pelsy all chose to get married and settle in their hometown. Christian and Nicolas got married to 2 Abresol sisters, Catherine and Barbe, who were both from Rhodes. As for Jacob, he found his wife Madelaine Schertz in Rehere (Meurthe et Moselle), a village near the town of Baccarat. All of them are burried in the cemetery.

    It should be noted the existence in the 19th century on the levee of the pond of the mill (Farm of bachats) of a mill operated by the family Abresol.
    This one is now destroyed, only remain the two wheels in the gardens of the field.

    Red Joe’s Will
    “On July 30, 1872, Red Joe wrote his will. It was a lengthy document covering nine pages 8 1/2 x 11 inches in size. It distributed cash and the approximately two thousand acres of land he owned. His wife Barbara received two thousand acres of land he owned plus her share of all real and personal property allowed by the Statute of the State of Illinois. He left his son Christian one hundred fifty dollars a year for the next twenty years following his death, plus one hundred twenty acres of land. His daughter-in-law Mary, Christian’s wife, received one hundred acres of land. He willed each of his seven living grandchildren the use of land ranging from two hundred to two hundred forty acres. He set other land aside for any unborn grandchildren. Three more were born, two of whom living to adulthood. Unique feature of his will was that no grandchild could own the land but had only a life estate in it. At their death the land had to be passed on to their living heirs. If the grandchildren had no living heirs at their death, the land was to be redistributed among the other grandchildren. He wanted to insure that many more of his descendants would enjoy the fruits of his labors. . . . .Red Joe left a legacy of courage, ambition and success to his son and g grandchildren. His descendants have continued in his example, making the Belsly name something of which to be proud.”

    Birth:
    Hof Hellocourt, the farm at Chateau Hellocourt. Pierre Pelsy gives the date as 28 May 1802--from Christian Belsley’s hymnbook. Joe Staker has it 28 Mar 1802.

    Immigration:
    At age 26

    Residence:
    Settled there in Partridge Creek Amish settement.

    PURC:
    Purchased from the government for $1.25/acre

    Died:
    At his death he was one of the richest farmers in the county.

    Buried:
    Lourdes Rd., Belsley-Kamp Cemetery on Red Joe’s homestead

    Joseph married Barbara Schrock (Schrack) before 1834 in Butler Co., OH?. Barbara (daughter of Joseph Schrag (Schrack) and Maria Neuhauser) was born about 1815 in Moselle, FR; died about 1835 in Spring Bay, Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  Barbara Schrock (Schrack) was born about 1815 in Moselle, FR (daughter of Joseph Schrag (Schrack) and Maria Neuhauser); died about 1835 in Spring Bay, Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Religion: Amish Mennonite
    • USR1: Joe Staker Says Cholera. I Find No Source For That. Could be from child birth.

    Notes:




    From an unpublished manuscript written by Verna Belsly in the 1980-90s. }

    Birth:
    Before 1819. Birth date could be earlier than 1815 if she married in France, but the probability is that they married in Ohio.

    Buried:
    Belsley-Kamp Cemetery

    Notes:

    Could they have married in Wayne Co., OH?

    Married:
    abt 1832-33, either in Ohio or Illinois

    Children:
    1. 2. Christian Belsly (Belsley) was born on 31 Jul 1835 in Partridge Twp, Woodford Co., IL; died on 5 Mar 1917 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.

  3. 6.  John Schertz (son of Schertz); died in GR.

    John + Catherine Engel. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Catherine Engel (daughter of Joseph Engel and Magdalena Güngerich).

    Notes:

    Came to Illinois after her husband’s death and lived with her daughter Mary.

    Children:
    1. 3. Mary Magdalene Schertz was born on 3 Mar 1837 in Lemon Twp., Butler Co., OH; died on 28 Nov 1911 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.


Generation: 4

  1. 8.  Christian Pelsy was born on 2 Jul 1772 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR (son of Rudolf Pelsy and Anne Zehr (Zeer, Zorny)); died on 10 Jun 1836 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Occupation: Famille 62 Cultivateur Rhodes 1846 (Ste. Croix)
    • Residence: until 1810, Azoudange, Moselle, FR

    Notes:

    Christian was at Rhodes in 1774. He was mayor of Rhodes from June to September 1819.

    Christian and Catherine had a total of ten children, all of whom stayed in Rhodes, except for Joseph, Jean and Catrina.

    “At Hellocourt ‘Christianne Belzele’ appeared as a witness on two wedding entries: André Vercler and Barbe Rupp on Feb. 1, 1804 (he was a brother-in-law of the groom), and Jacob Bachman and Barbe Vercler the following day (he was a brother-in-law of the bride). He is described as a worker in Hellocourt. On the second entry, another witness was minister Joseph Engel (son of elder Christian Engel), later to be an Amish Mennonite elder, who was also described as a brother-in-law of the bride.”

    In Rhodes Christian was a successful cultivator and served as interim mayor June 9-July 6, 1819, signing four etat civil entries in that capacity. His farm, close to Rhodes, was St. Croix.
    ——————————————

    Cimetière Anabaptiste-Mennonite de Rhodes - Moselle Jan 4, 2016 FB post

    While their older brothers Joseph (Red Joe), John and Peter, as well as their sister Catherine emigrated to the USA one after the other, Christian, Jacob and Nicolas Pelsy all chose to get married and settle in their hometown. Christian and Nicolas got married to 2 Abresol sisters, Catherine and Barbe, who were both from Rhodes. As for Jacob, he found his wife Madelaine Schertz in Rehere (Meurthe et Moselle), a village near the town of Baccarat. All of them are burried in the cemetery.

    It should be noted the existence in the 19th century on the levee of the pond of the mill (Farm of bachats) of a mill operated by the family abresol.
    This one is now destroyed, only remain the two wheels in the gardens of the field.
    ———————

    Residence:
    Domaine de Hellocourt-fFour children were born here

    Died:
    Sources : 1. Maurice hébert 2. Swic ucgl, 12/06/1837: 3. Robert boehm

    Christian married Catherine Verkler (Wirckler) before 1802. Catherine (daughter of Joseph Verkler and Marie Abresol) was born on 1 Jan 1778 in Oberstinzel, Fenetrange, Moselle, FR; died on 4 Apr 1860 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 9.  Catherine Verkler (Wirckler) was born on 1 Jan 1778 in Oberstinzel, Fenetrange, Moselle, FR (daughter of Joseph Verkler and Marie Abresol); died on 4 Apr 1860 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR.

    Notes:

    Birth:
    (57)

    Died:
    (57)

    Children:
    1. 4. Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly was born on 28 May 1802 in Hellocourt, Maizieres-les-Vic, Moselle, FR; died on 24 Dec 1872 in Spring Bay, Washington Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL.
    2. Jean Pelsy was born in 1805; died in 1805.
    3. Mary (Marie) Belsley (Pelzel, Bellesley) was born on 3 Sep 1806; died on 29 Jan 1810 in Azoudange, Moselle, FR.
    4. Johannes Pelsey (Pelzel, Bellesley) was born on 14 Oct 1809 in Azoudange, Moselle, FR; died on 26 Apr 1854 in Metamora Twp., Woodford Co., IL.
    5. Catherine (Catrina) Pelsy (Pelzel, Belsley, Bellesley) was born on 4 Oct 1811 in Azoudange, Moselle, FR; died in 1887.
    6. Christian (Christophe) Pelsy was born on 3 Oct 1814 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; died on 16 Nov 1886 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; was buried in Rhodes, Moselle, FR.
    7. Madeleine Pelsy was born in 1815; died in 1815.
    8. Pierre Pelsy was born in 1816; died in 1816.
    9. André Belsley (Pelzel, Bellesley) was born on 15 May 1819 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; died on 26 Jul 1842 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR.
    10. Jacob Pelsy (Pelzel, Bellesley) was born on 3 Feb 1822 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; died on 29 Oct 1910 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; was buried in Rhodes, Moselle, FR.
    11. Mary (Marie) Belsley (Pelzel, Bellesley) was born on 5 Sep 1823 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; died in 1841.
    12. Nicolas Pelsy (Pelzel, Bellesley) was born on 3 Jan 1826 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; died on 17 Nov 1896 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; was buried in Rhodes, Moselle, FR.
    13. Pierre Pelsy (Pelzel, Belsley, Bellesley) was born in 1826 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR.

  3. 10.  Joseph Schrag (Schrack) was born on 17 Mar 1772 in Bistroff, Moselle, FR (son of Caspar (Gaspard) Schrag (Gerack) and Barbe Rouvenac (Rüfenacht)); died on 5 Apr 1830 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; was buried in Rhodes, Moselle, FR.

    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]


  4. 11.  Maria Neuhauser was born about 1772-1773 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR (daughter of Nicolas Christian Neuhauser and Catherine Marie Ritzieker (Regsecker) (Lithzieker)); died after 1826.

    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?

    Children:
    1. Johannes Schrock (Schrack, Gerrard) was born on 15 Jun 1801 in Gondrexange, Moselle, FR; died on 21 Jan 1875 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL.
    2. Peter Schrock was born on 15 Jun 1802 in Gondrexange, Moselle, FR; died on 7 Sep 1887 in Trenton, Butler Co., OH; was buried on 9 Sep 1887 in Trenton, Butler Co., OH.
    3. André (Andréas) Schrock was born on 3 Jul 1804 in Gondrexange, Moselle, FR; died on 5 Aug 1855 in Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Aug 1855 in Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.
    4. Anne Schrag (Serach) was born on 24 Dec 1806 in Gondrexange, Moselle, FR.
    5. Magdalena Schrock (Schrack) was born on 10 Apr 1811 in Sarrebourg, Moselle, FR; died on 4 Aug 1855 in Congerville, Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Woodford Co., IL.
    6. 5. Barbara Schrock (Schrack) was born about 1815 in Moselle, FR; died about 1835 in Spring Bay, Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL.

  5. 12.  Schertz
    Children:
    1. Barbe Schertz was born in 1808; died in 1886 in Butler Co., OH.
    2. 6. John Schertz died in GR.

  6. 14.  Joseph Engel was born in 1775/76 (son of Christian Engel and Magdelaine Schertz (Chertz)); died in 1818.

    Notes:

    Lived at Destry, Moselle.

    Joseph + Magdalena Güngerich. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  7. 15.  Magdalena Güngerich
    Children:
    1. 7. Catherine Engel
    2. Jacobine Engel was born on 11 Jul 1803; died on 20 Jul 1885; was buried in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL.


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