Edward R. Hieser

Notes:

Of Pekin, IL.

Notes:

Obit:
Heiser. ? Joseph S. Heiser of Tremont, Ill., was born Jan. 4, 1854; died Aug. 8 1932, after being bed-fast for five weeks; aged 78 y. 7 m. 4 d. Through all his suffering he was very patient never complaining, having a desire to depart. He united with the Amish Church in his youth, always interested and active in the work of the Lord, never missing a church service when able to attend, ever ready to give an answer for the hope that was within him. On Jan. 28, 1877, he was united in marriage to Fannie, daughter of Pre. Daniel and Kate Roth. Five children blessed this union. One daughter (Bena), 2 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 3 sisters, and 1 brother preceded him in death. He leaves his bereaved companion and the following children: Ella M. Litwiller of Tremont, Albert E. Heiser of Pekin, Louisa Heiser at home, Edward R. Heiser of Pekin, 8 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 1 brother (Christian Heiser of Minier, Ill.) 2 sisters (Mrs. Jacob Nafziger and Mary Heiser of Tremont), and many relatives and friends mourn his departure.

"Father, dear, your wish is granted;
Sorrow, toil and pain are o'er;
By the grace of God we'll meet you
Over on the peaceful shore."

Funeral services on Aug. 10, conducted by Bro. Jonas Litwiler at the home and by Bros. Simon Litwiler of Hosedale and Joe Hartzler of Gridley at the Pleasant Grove Church near Tremont. Interment in adjoining cemetery.

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Joseph married Veronica (Fannie) Roth on 28 Jan 1877 in Tazewell Co., IL. Veronica (daughter of Daniel K. Roth and Catherine Ropp) was born on 14 Feb 1856 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 17 Dec 1946 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald Vol XXXIX, No 41 7 Jan 1947

Hieser - Fannie, daughter of the late Daniel and Catherine (Ropp) Roth, was born north of Morton, Ill., Feb. 14, 1856; passed away Dec. 17, 1946; aged 90 y. 10 m. 3 d. On Jan. 28, 1877, she was united in marriage to Joseph S. Hieser. They lived on a farm in Elm Grove Township and later retired and moved to Tremont, Ill. Her husband, 2 daughters (Bena and Ella), 2 granddaughters, one great-granddaughter, 3 sisters (Bena Staker, Louisa Rich, and Kate Rediger), and 2 brothers (Jacob and Amos) preceded her in death. Surviving are 3 children (Albert, Pekin, Ill.; Louisa, of Tremont; and Edward, also of Pekin), 3 brothers (Joseph, of Morton; Daniel, Gibson City, Ill.; and Samuel, also of Morton), 2 sisters (Mary Teuscher, Fisher, Ill.; and Amelia, of Morton), 8 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. In early youth she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour and united with the Mennonite Church, remaining faithful until death. She was active in church work, being the president of the first organized sewing circle in the Pleasant Grove community. Funeral services were held at the home and at the Morton Mennonite Church, Dec. 20, in charge of J. W. Davis and Leland Bachman. Texts: II Cor. 5:1, Heb. 13:14. Interment was made in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Butler Co., OH
• Immigration: 17 Sep 1838, NY
• Residence: 1848, Dillon Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1850, Dillon Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Hof T Obit: Jan 1, 1893
HIESER - On the 8th of November, 1892, near Pekin, Tazewell Co., Ill., of the infirmities of old age and other complaints, Bro. Joseph Hieser, aged 74 years, 8 months and 8 days. He leaves an aged widow, three sons and four daughters to mourn his death. He begged his family not to weep for him, for he said he was going home to Jesus. His remains were laid to rest at Pleasant Grove on the 10th. Funeral services by David Augsburger of Washington, Pre. King of Mackinaw, P. Ropp of Pekin, and J. Burckey of Tiskilwa.

“Joseph went to Dillon in 1848 to work laying railroad tracks. He labored on the rails to Peoria until 1850, but came away with little savings.

Following his arrival in Tazewell County, Joseph Hieser worked [in 1850] on the first railroad built into Peoria, and on account of dishonesty he was never paid for his labor. Until his marriage the home of Joseph Hieser was cared for by his mother, who had subsequently joined her son. She is now deceased and lies in the cemetery of Elm Grove Township.”

Census:
Joseph 'Hiser', 30; 'Madaline', 62, and Jacob, 34.

Census:
Joseph Heiser, 50, farmer; Barbara, 40; Christian, 19, farm laborer; Joseph, 17; Andrew, 14; Barbara, 14; Magdalena, 10, Elizabeth, 8; and Maria, 5. They appear on the 1880 census of Elm Grove as 'Jos. Hiser', 62, farmer; Barbara, 52, keeping house; Andrew, 23; Barbara, 23; Mary, 15; and Elisabeth [Barbara's mother], 67.

Died:
At 71 yrs. 8 mo., 8 days.

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Joseph married Barbara Schrag on 4 Feb 1851 in Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of Christian Schrag and Elisabeth Bircki) was born on 17 Aug 1828 in Koesching, Bavaria, GR; died on 30 Oct 1911 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Gravestone date

Died:
Gravestone date

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
by Andrew Ropp. Page 188 Tazewell Marriage Index

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Mennonite
• Census: 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

OBIT: Gospel Herald Vol XIV, No 48 2 March 1922

Roth - Daniel Roth was born in France Feb 5, 1833; died at his home in Morton, Ill, Feb. 10, 1922; aged 89 y, 5 d. Brother Roth came to America with his widowed mother when but four years of age. For a few years they lived in Ohio but later moved to Tazewell Co, Ill, where he lived the rest of his life. 

He was one of the pioneer settlers of this country, experiencing many of the privations and hardships of those early days, having been enabled to see the changes in the community in the course of its development from raw prairie to the thickly settled, modernized farms and towns of today. This can be better understood when we remember how he often related the fact that he helped to cut wheat with the cradle on the ground where the town of Morton now stands. He accepted Jesus as his personal Savior when a young man, uniting with the Mennonite Church. His Christian character won the respect of his fellow Christians, being called to the ministry by his church in which capacity he served them until the infirmities of old age settled upon him, having been a faithful shepherd of the flock and remaining loyal to his Master until called by death. 

In the year 1855 he was married to Catharine Ropp, who preceded him in death in 1885. This union was blest with nine children. 

In 1887 he was married the second time to Lisette Goldsmith. Two children were born to this union. He leaves his loving wife, eleven children, 43 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren, and a large concourse of neighbors and friends. 

The children were all in attendance at the funeral. They are Mrs Fannie Heiser, Mrs Phoebe Staker, Joseph, Amos, Jacob, Mrs Louisa Rich, Mrs Katie Rediger, Daniel, Mrs Mary Teuscher, Amelia, and Samuel. 

The funeral was largely attended, conducted by Bro C F. Derstine at the home, and at the church by Bro. Derstine and Bro. Simon Gingerich. Texts, Eccl 12:5; Psa 90; Phil 1:21.

Census:
Daniel’s mother is living with the family

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Daniel married Catherine Ropp on 27 Feb 1855 in Tazewell Co., IL. Catherine (daughter of Bishop Andrew Ropp and Jacobina Vercler) was born on 27 Dec 1835 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 25 Mar 1885 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Catherine Ropp (1835 - 1885) and Daniel Roth (1833 - 1922)
Their Children

Jacobina Roth (1856 - 1924) and Nicholas Staker (1853 - 1941)
Veronica (Fannie) Roth (1856 - 1946) and Joseph Heiser (1854 - 1932)
Joseph Roth (1858 - 1949) & Amelia Ropp (1857 - 1894) & Elizabeth Ropp (1859 - 1940)
Amos Roth (1860 - 1945) and Barbara Augsburger (1861 - 1917)
Jacob Roth (1863 - 1939) and Rosina Ringenberger (1872 - 1938)
Louisa Roth (1866 - 1940) and Joseph Rich (1861 - 1933)
Katie Roth (1869 - 1942) and Edward Rediger (1870 - 1945)
Daniel K. Roth (1872 - 1968) and Leanna Mosiman (1873 - 1958)
Mary Roth (1875 - 1959) and John Teuscher (1875 - 1935)


Catherine Ropp lent truth to the old adage that the first child usually resembles his or her father. Her stature and general appearance together with her personality and mannerisms gave her a right to say that she was Andrew Ropp's daughter. She was born in a two-room log cabin on December 27, 1835. She was given her Grandmother Catherine Ringenberger Werkler Engel's name. Her childhood home was a very busy place. Her father's farm quickly grew to a size that required them to hire farm laborers to help in the fields and young women to help with the cooking and cleaning. They had frequent company. Grandpa Andréas Ropp and her six Ropp uncles lived nearby and her mother's family close enough to visit occasionally. Because father was the bishop of their church, brethren frequently met in their home.

Catherine was the eldest of seven children. Her sister Elizabeth was born about two months before Catherine's second birthday and her youngest sibling Andrew was born when she was fifteen years old. She began doing chores at an early age - there was always work that needed doing. She attended both a private German school - German was the language in her home and church - and a public school where she learned English. When she married, she had the skills to manage a farm home, cook for family and company, and care for children. She was a capable young woman.

Catherine's first pregnancy ended with a surprise - twin daughters Jacobena and Veronica, who soon responded to the names Bena and Fannie, were born February 14, 1856. They were Andréas and Elizabeth Ropp's first great-grandchildren. Catherine and Daniel had three more daughters - Louisa was born in 1866, Katie in 1869, and Mary in 1875. They also had four sons - Joseph was born in 1858, Amos in 1860, Jacob in 1863, and Daniel in 1872. Catherine died February 27, 1885 at the age of forty-nine. Her four older children were married and living nearby. Her five younger children were still at home - her youngest daughter Mary was ten years old.

From Walter Ropp’s writings:
“At one time this area of the county was called “Roppland” because of the many Ropp families who owned approximately 2000 acres of land in this section. The home of Catherine’s parents was located on the Allentown-Pekin Road, approximately one and one-half miles east of Pekin. The house, a brick structure built in 1832, is still standing with many old-fashioned flowers and an old pine tree surrounding it.

“Grandmother Catharine received her education in a nearby school called “The Railroad School.” It was so named because the railroad ran along beside it. It is also interesting that this building was used for Sunday school and that a cemetery dotted with many pine trees, was located at the rear of the school. for many years this was an important landmark until one day the little school burned to the ground. It was thought that a spark from the train perhaps caused the fire. However, the old pine trees still remain, keeping vigil over those loved ones resting in the cemetery.”

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
The wedding was at home with her Uncle Christian officiating.

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 Magdalena Eyer on 25 Nov 1816 in Arzbach, Bavaria, GR. Magdalena (daughter of Jakob Eyer and Magdalena Birki) was born in 1788 in FR; died on 19 Oct 1851 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Dillon Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

History of Illinois:
"Until his marriage the home of Joseph Hieser was cared for by his mother, who had subsequently joined her son. She is now deceased and lies in the cemetery of Elm Grove Township."

Birth:
Hatten in Lower Alsce?

Census:
Joseph Hiser, 30; Madaline, 62; and Jacob, 34.

Buried:
Magdalena is thought to be buried in one of the unmarked graved at Landes Mennonite Cemetery.

Notes:

Married:
Described the groom as Bauer Jakob Hiser, living in House No. 10, born in 1788, a son of Nicolaus Hiser and Katharina Hiser.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist (Wiedertaufer)
• USR1: Pulmonary tuberculosis

Notes:

“Mennonite family Schrag from Giesing (Community Au) six family members together have 1000 Gulden as John Schrag counted out for the tribunal. The family is from the Bavarian Rhine District (Palatinate) with the following persons: Jakob, 84 years old previously farmed several estates, now in Giesing supported by his children. Children: Magdalena, servant with farmer Haslinger in Giesing; Katharina at home with her father; Joseph, hired hand in Kloster Scheyern; Johann, works as brandywine maker; Daniel, hired hand with farmer Glaser in Freimann. A son of Jakob Schrag of the first marriage with the name Jakob Muller [called a step-son in the first application] emigrated to America 13 years ago and settled in ‘Wilmont.’ He left behind a child by Barbara W., hired girl in Weissenfels by Pardorf, Munich, Katharina Muller, who is now 13 years old and is now in the care of the Mennonite Holly at Linden, District of Ebersberg. The Schrag family wish to take this child with them to America. Mother and guardian are agreed. The sons of Schrag performed their military duty. No other hindrance. The family, for three years in Giesling, complains that they are being sent around from one authority to the other. (2 Dec 1837)

They farmed at Kösching, a suburb of Ingolstadt, adjacent to Hellmannsberg, where the Sutters leased an estate in 1811.

Christian died near Munich in 1831. His parents, brothers, and sisters went to Canada in 1837.

Birth:
Freudenbergerhof

Died:
Near Munich

Buried:
by a Catholic priest

Christian married Elisabeth Bircki about 1821. Elisabeth was born on 24 Jan 1802 in FR; died on 24 Jan 1892 in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• USR1: infirmities of old age

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, February 1892:
"On the 24th of January, 1892, near Pekin, Ill., of the infirmities of old age, Elizabeth, widow of Christian Schrag, aged 90 years. She had been a widow for 31 years [61 years?]. She leaves four children, 23 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren. Her last words were, 'Come, Lord Jesus.' Buried in the Pleasant Grove graveyard. Funeral services by D. Roth, P. Ropp, Em. and Joseph Litwiller, and Joseph Buercky, of Tiskilwa, Ill."
——————————————————
Elizabeth traveled to Butler Co., OH with her daughter Barbara after the death in Germany of her husband where Barbara may have met and become engaged to Joseph Heiser. From there they went to the Elm Grove area of Tazewell Co. She may have been a daughter of Christian “Christel Burcky/Bircki and Barbara/Barbe Koch.

{She and her daughter migrated to Illinois, Pleasant Grove. )

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Cemetery as Elizabeth Schrag (Aug 2020 - unable to find this in FAG)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish

Notes:

Niklaus married Verena (Veronica) Zimmermann in 1807-1808. Verena (daughter of Andres Zimmerman and Anna Maria /Isen Eissin (Eyer?)) was born on 31 Dec 1789 in GR; died on 10 Apr 1878 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1844-48, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Immigration: 26 Jan 1837, Le Havre to New York

Notes:

Birth:
probably at Denzlingen.

Immigration:
On ship Francois I

Buried:
Roberts Cemetery

Notes:

Married:

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer, minister and bishop
• Religion: Amish
• Census: 1870, Tremont, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Ministers at Andrew’s funeral were Joseph Springer, Chr. Naffzinger, Andrew Buerky and Jacob Naffziger of Tazewell County and Joseph Buerky of Bureau Co. in the meetinghouse, and by J.P. Schmitt of Livingston Co. at the grave.

Owned land near Johannes Schrock and family in Tazewell Co., IL. Were the beginning of the Dillon Creek Amish settlement in 1834 when they settled 4 miles southeast of Pekin on Old State Rd.
—————————
“Smoking a pipe was the common lot of men where the Ropp’s came from and each one of the old men did more or less piping. You’d expect energetic Andrew to be the heaviest smoker. He was. When he went on the road it was whip in one hand, reins in the other, the old pipe puffing along. Perhaps part of its companionship was that it gave him something to do.

“He was about average height (about five feet nine inches tall) and apparently never weighed over 165 pounds. His hair and beard were always cut true Amish man style. At that he could always say to the brethren, do as I do, and to the sister, do as mother does, and they would never need to wander away after strange fashion plates....

“When their daughters and sons married, each of them was given a farm....”
———————

According to Steve Estes in Living Stones: A History of the Metamora Mennonite Church, Andréw “served as minister of the Dillon Creek Congregation until about 1840 when he was ordained as bishop. He was described as a person made up on a ‘a large measure of push and energy and prompt decision, driven by a wish to succeed in building up a home and accumulating property.’ Ropp was an agricultural innovator but a religious conservative. His sincerity inspired deep devotion among many, but others criticized him as a minister who did more scolding, fault finding, and preaching on ‘dress,’ than preaching the Gospel. Ropp was assisted in the ministry by Peter Ropp (1815-1893) who became deacon about 1843 and Valentine Birky (1817-1856) who was ordained a minister of the word about 1847. Also known as the Pekin district, the Dillon Creek Congregation became the Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church now part of the First Mennonite Church in Morton, Illinois.”

Census:
Andrew age 63, farmer, born in France; wife Jacobine age 60, keeping house; child Andrew age 19, farmer, born Illinois.

Buried:
ite Cemetery

Andrew married Jacobina Vercler on 10 Apr 1834. Jacobina (daughter of Joseph Verkler, Sr. and Catherine Ringenberg) was born on 27 Apr 1811; died on 24 Jul 1885; was buried in Tremont, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
by Christian Engel