Amelia Alberta Zehr b. 6 Oct 1891 East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL d. 19 Sep 1965 Gibson City, Ford Co., IL: The Schrock-Birkey Connection

Amelia Alberta Zehr

Female 1891 - 1965  (73 years)


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  • Name Amelia Alberta Zehr  [1, 2, 3
    Birth 6 Oct 1891  East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    • W. K. Newcomb attendant (according to Urbana Free Library index) See Book 1, page 145, Reel 1295930 #7986
    Gender Female 
    Baptism 21 Oct 1906  Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    • East Bend Church by Peter Zehr
    Education Six grades at Dixon School, then dropped out to work at home 
    Occupation Minister’s Daughter,farm Wife And Mother 
    Reference Number
    Religion Amish/Mennonite, her father was first Bishop of East Bend Amish/Mennonite Church 
    USR1 Liver Cancer 
    Death 19 Sep 1965  Gibson City, Ford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    • Gibson City Community Hospital
    Burial 22 Sep 1965  Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 5
    • East Bend Mennonite Cemetery
    Person ID I7  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 11 Aug 2023 

    Father 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) 
    Mother Barbara Heiser,   b. 1 Nov 1857, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Nov 1934, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years) 
    Marriage 8 Jun 1876  Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F5  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Alvin Rudolph Birkey,   b. 13 Nov 1891, Oberlin, Decatur Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Jan 1973, Champaign, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years) 
    Marriage 29 Jan 1913  East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 7
    • By Samuel Gerber of Tremont, a Minister of the Gospel, at home of P. Zehr
    Notes 
    • Witnesses to the marriage were Lizzie B. Cender and Katie S. Birkey.
    Children 
     1. Ellis Leslie “Turk” Birkey,   b. 4 Dec 1913, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Dec 2003, Gibson City, Ford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years)
     2. Viola Elizabeth Birkey,   b. 28 Dec 1914, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Sep 2010, Champaign, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 95 years)
     3. Marvin Alvin Birkey,   b. 9 Aug 1916, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Nov 1996, Champaign, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years)
     4. Floyd Daniel Birkey,   b. 20 Nov 1918, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Nov 2009, Paxton, Ford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years)
     5. Ivan Leland Birkey,   b. 27 Jan 1921, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Jan 1995, Champaign, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years)
     6. Roy Emery Birkey,   b. 29 Aug 1923, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Oct 1923, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
     7. Margaret Vera Birkey,   b. 19 Sep 1924, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Jul 2010, Meadows, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
     8. Carroll Duane Birkey
     9. Delmar Gene Birkey,   b. 16 Feb 1933, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 May 2009, Winfield, DuPage Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years)
    Family ID F4  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 1 Feb 2020 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 6 Oct 1891 - East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBaptism - 21 Oct 1906 - Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 29 Jan 1913 - East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 19 Sep 1965 - Gibson City, Ford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 22 Sep 1965 - Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Amelia Alberta Zehr (1891-1965)
    Amelia Alberta Zehr (1891-1965)

  • Notes 
    • Obit:
      Birkey, Amelia A., daughter of Peter and Barbara (Heiser) Zehr, was born near Fisher, Ill., Oct. 6, 1891; died at the Gibson (Ill.) Community Hospital, Sept. 19, 1965; aged 73 y. 11 m. 13 d. On Jan. 29, 1913, she was married to Alvin R. Birkey, who survives. Also surviving are 6 sons and 2 daughters (Ellis, Marvin, Floyd, Ivan, Carroll, Delmar, Viola-Mrs. Harvey Stacey, and Margaret-Mrs. Verle Oyer), 24 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. She was a member of the East Bend Mennonite Church, where funeral services were held Sept. 22, in charge of Alton Horst and J. A. Heiser.

      ———————————————————

      Amelia Zehr, the daughter of Bishop Peter and Barbara Heiser Zehr, was born in East Bend Township, Champaign County, Illinois, on October 6, 1891. The Peter Zehr homestead was located approximately 5 1/2 miles northeast of Fisher, Illinois. Amelia attended Dixon School where she was only allowed to finish six grades. She dropped out of school at this age to work at home. In those days it was not considered necessary, especially for girls, to go to school after they reached working age.
      On January 29, 1913 Amelia was married to a neighbor boy, Alvin Birkey; both were 22 years of age. Amelia attended the East Bend Mennonite Church; her father was the first bishop. Being a minister's daughter, she was exposed to many of the church problems and also met many church officials and ministers who stopped at their home.
      Amelia had a large family to look after, a garden to tend, and yet she was a person who saw the beauty in the things around her. She had artistic abilities that she expressed in many ways. She was an avid gardener and lover of plants. She also had a deep faith in her Lord and a great love for all her children. It must have been difficult for her to bury her sixth child, Roy Emery, when he died after being in the family only a few weeks. His casket nameplate told the story: Our Darling. Amelia also enjoyed reading and taught Sunday school classes at East Bend Mennonite Church.
      About mid-life Amelia contracted diabetes and learned to inject herself with insulin when needed, but it was cancer of the liver that brought her death. After a lingering illness, Amelia passed away at the Gibson City Community Hospital on September 19, 1965. Her funeral was held at the East Bend Mennonite Church and she is buried in the East Bend Cemetery. Amelia was carried to her grave by the six sons she so dearly loved.

      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.}

  • Sources 
    1. [S21] Margaret and Verle Oyer, Alvin R. and Amelia Zehr Birkey.

    2. [S11] Obituaries of Individuals.

    3. [S1] Donna Schrock Birkey, Personal knowledge and family records.

    4. [S225] Peter Zehr, East Bend Mennonite Church Records.

    5. [S1060] Find-A-Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28759279/amelia-alberta-birkey.

    6. [S225] Peter Zehr, East Bend Mennonite Church Records, #3543, Urbana Free Library.

    7. [S230] Marriage Record of Alvin Birkey/Amelia Zehr.


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