Johannes (Jean) Roeschley b. 7 Jun 1812 Moussey, Vosges, FR d. 19 May 1881 Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL: The Schrock-Birkey Connection
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Johannes (Jean) Roeschley

Male 1812 - 1881  (68 years)


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  • Name Johannes (Jean) Roeschley  [1, 2] 
    Birth 7 Jun 1812  Moussey, Vosges, FR Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    • The name of the newborn was given as 'Joseph Richely' in the entry and the index. His parents were described as cultivator Jean Rechely, 45, and Elizabeth Vocker. (Moussey is 10 km west of Strasbourg)
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 20 May 1854  Le Havre to New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4] 
    • Sailed on the Mercury, shown as Joh. Roschli, 43, along with sister Barbe, age 44.
    Residence 1863  Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6] 
    • Moved with their two sons from Spring Bay to Roanoke Township.
    PURC 27 Oct 1863  Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    • 80 acres from John Stitt
    PURC 1866  Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    • From Josephus Burton for $2,320.
    Naturalization 12 Apr 1872  Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    • Vol. -A Pg. -317 (R - 240)
    Census 1880  Washington, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Occupation Farmer And Miller 
    Religion Amish Mennonite 
    Residence Spring Bay, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 19 May 1881  Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Burial Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery
    Person ID I584  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 14 Jan 2023 

    Father Johannes (Jean) Roeschli,   b. 15 Aug 1761, Harcholet, Saulcy, Vosges, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Dec 1828, Marcholsheim, Bas-Rhin, FR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years) 
    Mother Elisabeth Wagler,   b. 25 Mar 1777, St. Marie-aux-Mines, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Dec 1842, Marcholsheim, Bas-Rhin, FR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years) 
    Marriage 30 Dec 1801  Bindernheim, Bas-Rhin, FR Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    • north of Marckolsheim
    Notes 
    • Marriage document reports she was 24 years, 9 mo. at the time of marriage and was born at Zollberg, Haut-Rhin (perhaps Schielberg, near Ste Marie.
    Family ID F258  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth Saltzman,   b. 11 Sep 1826, Neufmaisons, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Jan 1891, IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 64 years) 
    Marriage 28 Jan 1856  Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    • A /287 2689
    Children 
     1. Jacob D. Roeschley,   b. Mar 1857, Washington, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1909 (Age ~ 51 years)
     2. Magdalena (Malinda) Roeschley,   b. 29 Mar 1858, Washington, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Apr 1899, Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 41 years)
     3. John D. Roeschley,   b. 25 Aug 1859, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Nov 1947, Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 88 years)
     4. Elizabeth A. Roeschley,   b. 20 Jul 1862, Spring Bay, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Feb 1953, Eureka, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years)
     5. Mary Catharine Roeschley,   b. 9 Aug 1869, Eureka, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Oct 1928, Bloomington, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years)
    Family ID F253  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Sep 2013 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 7 Jun 1812 - Moussey, Vosges, FR Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 28 Jan 1856 - Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1863 - Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPURC - 27 Oct 1863 - Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPURC - 1866 - Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsNaturalization - 12 Apr 1872 - Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1880 - Washington, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - Spring Bay, Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 19 May 1881 - Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • “John died May 19, 1881. His headstone in Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery says, "John Roeschley, starb. May 19, 1881, 69 Jahre, 5 Monat, und 11 Tag alt." This would yield a birth date Dec. 8, 1811. The longevity stated on the headstone must have been an incorrect guess made from the best available information. Someone who did not know his true date of birth simply took the date of his arrival in America (May 20, 1854) and deducted 43 years (the passenger list age) to guess his birth date, then calculated the longevity. Elizabeth's headstone in Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery says, "Elizabeth Roeschley, gest. d. 7 Jan. 1891, 60 Jahre alt."

      There is a Warranty Deed dated 31 Aug 1866 recorded for land transferred from Josephus Burton to John Roeschley. And the Atlas of Woodford County (1873) shows John Roeschley as a farmer on 160 acres in Section 31 of Roanoke, Worth Township, Woodford County.

      The 1880 census of Roanoke shows the family as retired farmer John Roschelz, 68, France; Elisabeth, 53, France; Jacob, 23; Lena, 22; John, 20; Elisabeth, 18; and Mary, 10; all children born in Illinois.

      In the French records this child born in 1812 is listed as Joseph, but erroneous registrations were not rare at this time--but it is also possible that Jean was born around 1810 in a temporary residence to these parents during their stay at Mussig and Moussey. Records received from Maurice J. Yordy put John's birth date at Dec. 8, 1811, but records from Germany give his date as July 6, 1812. The difference could be attributed to the change in the calendar.

      Johannes operated Hoser Mill at Spring Bay, IL, [1854 to 1863?] then farmed near Roanoke after 1863. The historical mill wheel now rests in front of the old courthouse in Metamora, IL, according to Maurice Yordy. https://www.historicmetamora.com/Mills.htm

      The story is told of Johannes being excommunicated from the church for working on Sunday. A customer arrived from a number of miles away on a Saturday when it was too late to grind the grain before dark, so Johannes told him to come back early Sunday morning and he would grind the grain so the customer wouldn’t need to make a second trip. Word of this got to the elders of the church, who were very displeased. Johannes would not back down since he felt he had done nothing wrong--only helped someone in need. Eventually the elders softened and reinstated him.

      [ [1, 8]

  • Sources 
    1. [S398] Joseph Staker, Amish Mennonites in Tazewell Co.

    2. [S177] Minnie Roeschley, Roeschley Family 1744-1979.

    3. [S227] Steven R. Estes, Living Stones: a History of the Metamora Mennonite Church.

    4. [S398] Joseph Staker, Amish Mennonites in Tazewell Co., {See ship list in Roeschley digital file}.

    5. [S227] Steven R. Estes, Living Stones: a History of the Metamora Mennonite Church, p.145.

    6. [S363] Kenneth Ulrich, History of the Roanoke Mennonite Church...125 years, P. 12.

    7. [S371] Warrenty Deed John Stitt to John Roeschly.

    8. [S369] Warranty Deed, Josephus Burton to John Roeschly.

    9. [S873] Johannes Roeschley Naturalization Record.

    10. [S18] Gravestone name and dates, Photo in file.

    11. [S382] Marriage Record of John Reshley and Elizabeth Saltzman.


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