Christian Belsly (Belsley) b. 31 Jul 1835 Partridge Twp, Woodford Co., IL d. 5 Mar 1917 Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL: The Schrock-Birkey Connection
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Christian Belsly (Belsley)

Male 1835 - 1917  (81 years)


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  • Name Christian Belsly (Belsley)  [1, 2, 3] 
    Birth 31 Jul 1835  Partridge Twp, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4, 5] 
    • Verna Belsley says 1836 in a letter to H. H. Schrock in 1961. Robert Belsley’s book gives the date as 31 Jul 1835.
    Gender Male 
    Occupation Farmer 
    PURC 1860  Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 6] 
    • Lived on the land and raised nine children
    Religion East Washington Mennonite Church 
    Residence Marshall Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Lived there two years following his marriage
    Death 5 Mar 1917  Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 7] 
    Burial Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    Person ID I475  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 27 Sep 2022 

    Father Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly,   b. 28 May 1802, Hellocourt, Maizieres-les-Vic, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Dec 1872, Spring Bay, Washington Twp., Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years) 
    Mother Barbara Schrock (Schrack),   b. Abt 1815, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1835, Spring Bay, Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 20 years) 
    Marriage Bef 1834  Butler Co., OH? Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • abt 1832-33, either in Ohio or Illinois
    Notes 
    • Could they have married in Wayne Co., OH?
    Family ID F209  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary Magdalene Schertz,   b. 3 Mar 1837, Lemon Twp., Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Nov 1911, Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years) 
    Marriage 28 Oct 1856  Trenton, Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 8, 9] 
    • Witnesses: John Schweitzer, Annie Schrack; Joseph Lehman, Annie Moseman
      Married by Rev. N. Augspurger. (Noah?)
    Children 
     1. Catherine Belsly,   b. 21 Oct 1857, Marshall Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Dec 1857, Marshall Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
     2. Anna Belsly,   b. 1 Oct 1858, Marshall Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Oct 1858, Marshall Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
     3. Catherine Belsly,   b. 17 Apr 1860, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Oct 1926, Washburn, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 66 years)
     4. Joseph Belsly,   b. 3 Dec 1861, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Oct 1937, Metamora, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 75 years)
     5. John Rudolph Belsly,   b. 29 May 1863, Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Jun 1943, Lacon, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years)
     6. Samuel L. Belsly,   b. 11 Nov 1864, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 6 Jul 1928, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 63 years)
     7. Anna Rose Belsly,   b. 18 May 1866, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Aug 1932, Marshall Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 66 years)
     8. Mary Magdaline Belsly,   b. 4 Apr 1868, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Apr 1941, Henry, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years)
     9. Barbara Louise Belsly,   b. 11 Sep 1869, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Jan 1953, Des Moines, IA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years)
     10. Franklin Louis Belsly,   b. 1 Jun 1873, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Jan 1936, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years)
     11. Emma Josephine Belsly,   b. 13 Nov 1877, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Jan 1934, Chillicothe, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 56 years)
     12. Thorasia Victoria Belsly,   b. 20 Aug 1879, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Jan 1880, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
    Family ID F3423  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 21 Dec 2017 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 31 Jul 1835 - Partridge Twp, Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 28 Oct 1856 - Trenton, Butler Co., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPURC - 1860 - Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - Marshall Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 5 Mar 1917 - Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • 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.” [6, 10]

  • Sources 
    1. [S450] John Robert Belsly, The Descendants of Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly (1802-1982 - 180 Years, A Proud Heritage).

    2. [S283] Verna Belsly, Letter to H. H. Schrock, Butler Co. OH.

    3. [S331] Jean Wallace Sauder, Belsley-Sauder, Woodford Co., IL.

    4. [S6] Page 3, Ella Wagler Oyer, Christian and Catherine (Ulerich) Wagler, Tazewell Settlers, Gives birth year as 1835.

    5. [S129] Portrait and Biographical Album of Woodford County, Illinois, (Chapman Brothers, Chicago), p. 220.

    6. [S6] Page 3, Ella Wagler Oyer, Christian and Catherine (Ulerich) Wagler, Tazewell Settlers.

    7. [S6] Page 3, Ella Wagler Oyer, Christian and Catherine (Ulerich) Wagler, Tazewell Settlers, 1915.

    8. [S1022] Marriage Record of Christian Belsly and Mary Schertz.

    9. [S398] Joseph Staker, Amish Mennonites in Tazewell Co., 18 Nov 1856.

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


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