Peter Zehr, Sr. b. 1818 Manried, Bavaria, GR d. 6 Apr 1886 Slabtown, Woodford Co., IL: The Schrock-Birkey Connection
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Peter Zehr, Sr.

Male 1818 - 1886  (68 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All

  • Name Peter Zehr  [1, 2, 3] 
    Suffix Sr. 
    Birth 1818  Manried, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 4] 
    • Hilgerthausen-Tandern
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 17 Jun 1844  Le Havre to New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • arrival on packet ship Baltimore.
    Census 1850  Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • County next door to brother George Zehr as brewer Peter Seers, 32, Germany; Elizabeth, 20, France; and Daniel, 1, Illinois.
    Residence 1856  Farmdale To Rocky Ford Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • on Mackinaw River
    Census 1860  Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Township next door to brother Christian Zehr as farmer Peter Zears, 40, Germany; Elizabeth, 32, Germany; and four children born in Illinois.
    PURC 30 Apr 1867  Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • The Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database shows Peter Zehr purchasing 40 acres in Section 36 between Deer Creek and Mackinaw at $10 per acre on April 30, 1867.
    Census 1870  Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Listed as farmer born in Bavaria, age 52; with wife Elizabeth age 42 born in France; children Daniel age 21, Peter age 19, Elizabeth age 15, Mary age 9, David age 8, Phoeby age 3 and Samuel age 6 months, all born in IL
    Census 1880  Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Farmer Peter Zehr, 62, Bavaria; Lizzie, 53, France; with four children, all born in Illinois.
    Occupation Brewer/Farmer/Minister 
    Religion Amish 
    Death 6 Apr 1886  Slabtown, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    • Six days after Phoebe’s wedding.
    Burial Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    • Slabtown Cemetery
    Person ID I306  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 11 Aug 2023 

    Father Daniel Zehr,   b. Struth, Bas-Rhin, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1856, Farnisville, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Magdalena Unzicker,   b. 8 May 1785, Windstein, Wissembourg, Alsace, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Dec 1838, Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 53 years) 
    Marriage 6 Jun 1802  Windstein, Wissembourg, Alsace, FR Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6, 7, 8] 
    • Marriage records of Windstein, Bas-Rhin, France, 1793-1862:
      On 17 Prairial 10th year of the Republic (6 Jun 1802), at Windstein, District of Wissembourg, France, Daniel Zohr, age 19, son of Daniel Zehr and Catherina Zohr, married Magdalena Hunzicker, age 17, daughter of Johannes Unzicker and Barbara Uhlmann of Windstein. The following persons were witnesses and signed the marriage record: Joseph Zohr, farmer, age 47 years; Jacob Stepp, farmer, age 54 years, both residing at Windstein; Christian Bock, farmer, age 35 of Windstein; Christian Zohr, farmer, age 45 of Stultzthal.
    Notes 
    • On 17 Parairial 10th year of the Republic (6 Jun 1802), at Windstein, District of Wissembourg, France, Daniel Zohr, age19, sone of Daniel Zehr and Catherina Zohr, married Magdalena Hunzicker, age 17, daughter of Johannes Unzicker and Barbara Uhlmann of Windstein. The following persons were witnesses and signed the marriage record: Joseph Zohr, farmer, age 47 years; Jacob Stepp, farmer, age 54 years, both residing at Windstein; Christian Bock, farmer, age 35 of Windstein; Christian Zohr, farmer, age 45 of Stultzthal.
    Family ID F141  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth Oyer,   b. 23 Apr 1828, Niderhoff, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Mar 1896, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years) 
    Marriage 12 Aug 1845  Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Magdalena Zehr,   b. 15 Sep 1846, East Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Sep 1847 (Age 0 years)
     2. Joseph Zehr,   b. 28 Oct 1847, East Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Sep 1848 (Age 0 years)
     3. Daniel Zehr, Sr.,   b. 9 Mar 1849, East Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Jun 1942, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 93 years)
     4. Bishop Peter Zehr,   b. 24 Aug 1851, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Mar 1922, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)
     5. Christian Zehr,   b. 1 Nov 1853, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Jan 1854, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
     6. Elizabeth Zehr,   b. 2 Feb 1855, Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Jan 1933, Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years)
     7. Jacob Zehr,   b. 15 Jul 1857   d. 16 Nov 1857 (Age 0 years)
     8. John Zehr,   b. 22 Nov 1858   d. 21 Nov 1860 (Age 1 year)
     9. Andrew Zehr,   b. 15 Aug 1860   d. 20 Aug 1860 (Age 0 years)
     10. Mary Zehr,   b. 16 Aug 1861, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Jan 1937, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 75 years)
     11. David D. Zehr,   b. 21 Apr 1864, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Feb 1924, Manson, Calhoun Co., IA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years)
     12. Phoebe Zehr,   b. 3 Dec 1866, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Sep 1949, Manson, Calhoun Co., IA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years)
     13. Samuel S. Zehr,   b. 24 Feb 1870, Lilly, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 31 Mar 1943, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years)
    Family ID F314  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 22 Mar 2007 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 12 Aug 1845 - Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1850 - Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1860 - Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPURC - 30 Apr 1867 - Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1870 - Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1880 - Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 6 Apr 1886 - Slabtown, Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • Peter was born in Manried, near Munich, in the Hofmark at Hilgertshausen. He came to America and settled at Farmdale as a single man. After marrying, Peter and Elizabeth remained at Farmdale until 1856, when they moved to the Mackinaw River's Rocky Ford area near his brother Christian. Their homes stood on the high hill overlooking the Mackinaw Valley.

      Peter had four sons who grew to maturity. All four--Daniel, Peter, David, Samuel--were ordained to the ministry. Of the first nine children of Peter and Elizabeth Oyer Zehr, five died before their first birthday and a sixth before his second. Of the first nine “six never lived to be over two years old. In the year 1860 two small sons died within 3 months.





      It was then used for at least some of the subsequent children, but ventually ended up with Bishop Peter and his wife Barbara. Most likely, all of their children used it, then it was given to Amelia (who married Alvin Birkey). It stayed with that family for many years until thier son, Delmar Gene, was born, and was the last person to sleep in the vintage bed. In July of 2023, the bed was gifted to Del and Donna’s family to keep, protect, and hand down at the appropriate time.} [1, 9]

  • Sources 
    1. [S45] Willard H. Smith, Mennonites in Illinois, (Herald Press, Scottdale, PA, 1983).

    2. [S87] Ardys Serpette, Zehrs From Europe to Illinois.

    3. [S26] Margaret and Verle Oyer, Jacob Zehr, 1825-1898, Mackinaw Meeting Preacher.

    4. [S398] Joseph Staker, Amish Mennonites in Tazewell Co., Gives birthdate as 31 Dec 1818.

    5. [S40] Hermann Guth, Amish Mennonites in Germany: Their Congregations, The Estates Where They Lived, Their Families (English edition), (Masthof Press, Morgantown, PA), 1802.

    6. [S398] Joseph Staker, Amish Mennonites in Tazewell Co., 3 Jun 1802.

    7. [S589] Gern2.doc, Year.

    8. [S14] Marriage records of Windstein, Bas-Rhin, France, 1793-1862 (LDS film #1069483), Gives year as 1803.

    9. [S103] Steven R. Estes, Illinois Ministers Attending Amish Ministers’ Meetings of 1862-1878.


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