Peter Schrock b. 15 Jun 1802 Gondrexange, Moselle, FR d. 7 Sep 1887 Trenton, Butler Co., OH: The Schrock-Birkey Connection

Peter Schrock

Male 1802 - 1887  (85 years)


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  • Name Peter Schrock  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Birth 15 Jun 1802  Gondrexange, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    • Probably at the mill in Gondrexange. (26 prairial an 10)
      “The birth of Pierre Schrack, son of Joseph Schrack, miller, and Marie Neuhauser, took place on 26 Prairial X which should be converted to June 15, 1802, according to the most reliable conversion chart. The boy was born at 3 a.m., and the father dutifully registered the birth with local civil authorities later that very same day by carrying the newborn to the mayor's office. The two mandatory witnesses were not Anabaptists, and neither was a miller like the father. This tells me that the Schrack family may have been recruited to town to run the local mill -- there had to be a good source of water available -- and found themselves isolated from fellow believers, who, if available, would have been recruited by preference to witness the document. (Neil Ann Stuckey Levine)

    Gender Male 
    Residence 1828-1830  Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • First two children were born here
    Immigration 1831  Baltimore, MD Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • Arrived in the spring with wife and first two children, along with brother Johannes and his family, and the Michael Salzman family. Included in the group was Jacob and Betsy (perhaps Barby?) Zimmerman, who were likely his wife’s parents.
    Ordained 1832  Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Amish congregation, served after Bishop Krehbiel retired.
    Residence 1832  Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Find all individuals with events at this location 
    PURC 22 Mar 1845  Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    • After fulfilling two lease agreements for the then Ministerial Lands (first leased the south 81+ acres on 5 Jan 1829, then leased the north 81+ acres on 23 Mar 1833) Peter purchased from the State of Ohio the 162 76/100 acres he called Fairview Farm. This farm was sold in 1988 and no longer exists. It was on Rt. 63 (Formally R.R. #1 and the Hamilton Lebanon Rd.), Middletown, Lemon Township, once in view of LeSourdsville that lay to the west.
    Census 1850  Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • John Forney was living with the Peter Schrock family.
    CLER
    Naturalization 8 Oct 1855  Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Occupation Apprentice Miller At Robert-Espagne 1827. Miller At Cheppe Near Dompcevrin, Meuse 1828  [10
    Occupation Farmer In Butler Co., OH 
    PURC 1 Apr 1856  Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 9
    • Purchased 210 acres from Samuel and Susan Hull that was Woodsdale farm. The presend day address is 4870 Augspurger Rd., Hamilton, St. Clair Township. The home and bank barn can be seen from the highway on high ground overlooking the Great Miami River.
    Religion Amish Mennonite 
    USR1 Paralytic Stroke 
    Death 7 Sep 1887  Trenton, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • Gravestone date. Probate recording of his will says he died the 10th day of September 1887
    Burial 9 Sep 1887  Trenton, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Mennonite Cemetery #20 (Date supplied by Jim Schrock)
    Person ID I471  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 23 Aug 2022 

    Father Joseph Schrag (Schrack),   b. 17 Mar 1772, Bistroff, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Apr 1830, Rhodes, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 58 years) 
    Mother Maria Neuhauser,   b. Abt 1772-1773, Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1826 (Age ~ 54 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1800  Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR Find all individuals with events at this location  [11
    • Alzing?
    Family ID F3199  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Marie Zimmerman,   b. 17 Apr 1801, Emmendingen, Baden-Württemberg, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 31 Dec 1862, Trenton, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 61 years) 
    Marriage 25 Aug 1827  Robert-Espagne, Meuse, FR Find all individuals with events at this location  [12, 13
    • The bride was described as a 26-year-old day laborer born at Emmendingen, Baden April 7, 1801, a daughter of laborer Jacob Zimmerman and Elisabeth Becher, who were present and consenting. Witnesses included miller Joseph Engel, 50, a friend of the groom and resident of Robert-Espagne
    Notes 
    • Translation of marriage record by Neil Ann Stucky Levine:
       Here's what the marriage record says, with a few comments added.  I've used German spellings.  On Aug. 25, 1827, Peter Schrag, apprentice miller (compagnon meunier), 25, b. at Gondrexange, Meurthe [Moselle today], June 15, 1802, living in Robert-Espagne, son of majority age of Joseph Schrag, unskilled laborer (manoeuvre) and Maria Neuhauser, living at Rhodes, who did not attend the civil ceremony in Robert-Espagne but instead forwarded official notice of their consent via a royal notary at Sarrebourg in a document dated Aug. 22, 1827, married Maria Zimmermann, a day worker, 26, b. in Emmendingen, [Grand] Duchy of Baden, Apr. 17, 1801, daughter of majority age
      of Jacob Zimmermann, unskilled laborer, and Elisabeth Becher [?Bächer or perhaps ?Baechler], his wife, both living in Robert-Espapgne, both of whom attended the civil ceremony.  
      Banns at Robert-Espagne on Sundays, Aug. 12 and 19, at noon, and at Rhodes and Blâmont [?why here] on the same dates. All being in order, Peter Schrag and Maria Zimmermann are man and wife.  The four mandatory witnesses [the first two customarily for the groom, the second two for the bride]:
      1) Joseph Engel, miller, 50, living in Robert-Espagne, friend of the couple;
      2) Jean Pierre Olivier, locksmith (serrurier), 31, living in Robert-Espagne,
      friend of the couple;
      3) Jean Baptiste Hirat, tobacco retailer (débitant de tabac), 32, living in Robert-Espagne, friend of the couple; and
      4) Hilaire Joseph Remy, operator of a boarding house (maître de pension), 29, living in
      Robert Espagne.

      Comments: No one of the four witnesses was a relative of either the bride or the groom, which indicates that there were likely no other relatives or fellow believers in town.  You will know the first witness, Joseph Engel, from my work on the Lange letters. The other three men just happened to be available in Robert-Espagne, and they were probably paid something to perform this civic duty.
      -------------------------------------------
    Children 
     1. Peter Schrock, Jr.,   b. 5 Dec 1828, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Mar 1905, Trenton, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years)
     2. Magdalena Schrag,   b. 7 Jun 1830, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Jan 1878, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 47 years)
     3. Maria (Mary) Schrag,   b. 6 Sep 1836, Lemon Twp., Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 May 1874, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 37 years)
     4. Anna Schrag,   b. 6 Dec 1839   d. 6 Sep 1864 (Age 24 years)
     5. Frana Schrag,   b. 17 Jun 1841   d. 29 Mar 1860 (Age 18 years)
     6. John Schrock,   b. 28 Aug 1844, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Mar 1886, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 41 years)
     7. Elizabeth Schrag,   b. 15 Aug 1846   d. 1 Apr 1862 (Age 15 years)
     8. Christian Schrock (Schrack),   b. 6 Sep 1849   d. 5 Apr 1867, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 17 years)
    Family ID F205  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 1 Feb 2018 

    Family 2 Magdalena Rediger,   b. 25 Oct 1829, Hengstbach, Zweibrücken, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Apr 1896, Gridley, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 66 years) 
    Marriage Aft 1868  Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • After her immigration date
    Family ID F206  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 5 Apr 2019 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 15 Jun 1802 - Gondrexange, Moselle, FR Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 25 Aug 1827 - Robert-Espagne, Meuse, FR Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1828-1830 - Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1831 - Baltimore, MD Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOrdained - 1832 - Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1832 - Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPURC - 22 Mar 1845 - Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1850 - Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsNaturalization - 8 Oct 1855 - Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPURC - 1 Apr 1856 - Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - Aft 1868 - Butler Co., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 7 Sep 1887 - Trenton, Butler Co., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 9 Sep 1887 - Trenton, Butler Co., OH Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • Obit: HERALD OF TRUTH - October 15, 1887 - pp 318,319
      SCHROCK. - At his home in Trenton, Butler County , Ohio, father Peter Schrock of a paralytic stroke brought on by old age, aged 85 years, 2 months and 20 days. He was faithful member of the Amish Mennonite Church, whose biblical teachings were his delight and guide until the close of a life which had reached beyond the scriptural limit. He leaves a wife, one son, eighteen grandchildren and one great - grandchild. His former wife, two sons and five daughters preceded him. The funeral services were held at the Mennonite Church by Pre. Werri, J. Yoder and P. Kinsinger.

      Eight children were born to Peter and Magdalena, none to the second wife, Magdalena Rediger.

      Peter served as a minister while living in Butler Co., OH. When the local church divided in 1835 over friction brought about by German Hessians arriving on the scene, Peter Schrock and Jacob Augspurger remained with the Augspurger group. Peter held meetings in his brick home and his descendants still call the front room of the home the “church room.” In 1863 a meeting house was built in St. Clair Township on Gephart Road. At about the same time the Hessian group was incorporated as the Apostolic Mennonite Society and they purchased land on Wayne-Madison road from John Good to be used for a church site and cemetery. Both meeting houses stood into the 1900s and the cemetery is still used today. After separating in 1835, the two congregations merged again in 1897.

      In 1862 Peter attended the first Diener-Versammlung in Wayne Co., OH, where 400-500 people from up to 900 miles apart attended. On the agenda was the proper manner of baptism, the role of deacon, and the particular Butler County friction about luxurious dressing, musical instruments and worldly entertainment--all of which were voted as not permitted.

      Peter's grandson, Homer, gave Willard Smith information about Peter's descendants. He is known as H.H. Schrock Implement Dealer, 801 Yankee Road, Middletown, Ohio, living in Butler County Ohio, where Peter first made his home. According to descendant, Jim Schrock, Peter established Fairview Farm (on SR63 between Monroe and LaSwordsville) about 1833, as that date was on the barn at the property. The farm and buildings no longer exist.

      Among the records kept by Peter’s descendants, there appears the following 1916 recipe for beer:
      5 gal water 6 oz hops Boil 1 hr. - 5 gal water 2 qts malt extract and 2 lb sugar Boil 20 min and cool to 60 add 3 cakes of year and ferment 48 hrs. Bottle as soon as fermented color w/2 oz carmel to 5 gal.

      Peter had requested in his will that no appraisement be made of his estate, but on 1 Oct 1887, Executor’s Letters from the Judge of Butler Co. ordered that an appraisement be made. Among other items in Peter’s personal estate and property (made by John Good, F. Weaver, and Joseph Eicher) were the following:

      Buggy, wagon jack, wheel barrow and ladder; tools; barrels, boxes and kegs; 19 bushel ear corn at .40 cts per bu. and 11 bu oats at .30 cts.

      Loans due the estate included $370 from Sam’l Augspurger, with the notation “doubtful collection.”
      Peter Schrock, Jr. and John Augspurger each owed $5000 (being a part of the purchase money on real estate sold by order of court). [5, 11, 14, 15]

  • Sources 
    1. [S476] Doris L. Page, The Amish Mennonite Settlement in Butler County, Ohio.

    2. [S528] Steven R. Estes, Peter Naffziger: An Amish Apostle.

    3. [S526] Steven R. Estes, John and Louisa Forney Family.

    4. [S745] Neil Ann Stuckey Levine, Promised Followup re Robert-Espagne Schrocks.

    5. [S4] Willard Smith, Johannes Schrock: His Children and Grandchildren.

    6. [S248] Pierre Schrack - Birth record.

    7. [S136] Eugene C. Schrock, editor (1996), The Schrag-Schrock Family, beginning with Joseph Schrag Sr.

    8. [S713] Jim Schrock, The Chrisholm Times--A Newsletter for Friends of Chrisholm.

    9. [S600] Journals of Peter Schrock, Sr. and Peter Schrock, Jr.

    10. [S247] Death record of Joseph Schrag (Schrack) (Serack).

    11. [S398] Joseph Staker, Amish Mennonites in Tazewell Co.

    12. [S740] Marriage Record of Peter Schrock and Marie Zimmerman.

    13. [S136] Eugene C. Schrock, editor (1996), The Schrag-Schrock Family, beginning with Joseph Schrag Sr., Year was given as 1825.

    14. [S144] Doris L. Page, Amish Mennonite Settlement in Butler County, OH.

    15. [S384] Neil Ann Stuckey Levine, The Mantle of Tradition: Cameo Portraits of Four Related Ministers Named Nicholas Augspurger.


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