Jakob Schrag b. 1753 Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR d. 25 Apr 1838 Wilmot Twp., Ontario, Canada: The Schrock-Birkey Connection

Jakob Schrag

Male 1753 - 1838  (85 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All

  • Name Jakob Schrag  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Birth 1753  Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
    • Gersbergerhof.
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1837  Tavistock, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    • Front sheet of document on hand (Herbert Holly)
      1) Jakob Schrag age 84, Farmer live since years in Giesing , his children
      2) Magdalena Schrag , Maidservant by a farmer Haslinger in Giesing
      3) Katharina Schrag, at home withe the father
      4) Joseph Schrag, servant in cloister Scheuern
      5) Joahnn Schrag, a brandy burner
      6) Daniel Schrag, servant by farmer Glkaser in Freimann near Munich
    Occupation Farmed on both Freudenbergerhof and Kaplaneihof estates near Ernstweiler. Also at Gradhof.  [13
    Residence Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Kaplaneihof
    Residence 1837  Munich, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    • Giesing-At the time of immigration
    Death 25 Apr 1838  Wilmot Twp., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [14, 15
    Burial Baden, Waterloo Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 16
    • (Old Baden) Kropf Baden Cemetery
    Person ID I1976  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 19 Jan 2024 

    Father Ulrich Schrag,   b. 1714, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Elizabeth Mayer,   b. 1712 
    Marriage 6 Jun 1735  Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 17
    • Ernstweilerhof
    Family ID F392  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Magdalena Holly,   b. 1762, Nehwiller, Reichshoffen, Bas-Rhin, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Oct 1828, Johanneskirchen, GR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 66 years) 
    Children 
     1. Magdalena Schrag,   b. 11 Nov 1797, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1881, Wilmot Twp., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years)
     2. Christian Schrag,   b. 23 Dec 1798, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Aug 1831, Unterföhring, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 32 years)
     3. Barbara Schrag,   b. 25 Mar 1801, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Mar 1804, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 2 years)
     4. Katherina Schrag,   b. 7 May 1802, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 1851, Wilmot Twp., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age < 48 years)
     5. Joseph Schrag,   b. 12 Jan 1803, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Mar 1880, East Zorra Twp., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years)
     6. Johannes H. Schrag,   b. 7 Feb 1806, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Oct 1861, East Zorra Twp., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 55 years)
     7. Elisabeth Schrag,   b. 25 Mar 1808, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 1837, Koesching, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age < 28 years)
     8. Daniel Schrag,   b. 23 Apr 1813, Koesching, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Nov 1891, Seathorpe Twp., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years)
    Family ID F1401  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1753 - Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1837 - Tavistock, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - ? - Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1837 - Munich, Bavaria, GR Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 25 Apr 1838 - Wilmot Twp., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Baden, Waterloo Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • This couple farmed on the Freudenbergerhof estate near Zweibrücken. The family moved to Bavaria where Daniel was born in 1813. When the family applied for permission to emigrate, Jacob and daughter Catherine were living at Gradhof, Giesing, Munich.

      In 1837, Daniel was at Freimann and father Jacob and daughters Magdalena and Catherine were at Giesing.

      All of the family except wife Magdalena emigrated to Canada.
      —————————————
      The Schrag family lived on different farms as tenants in Bavaria. The last place was in Giesing / Munich 1837.
      In the state archive in Munich I found under Fazikel RA 1730 following entry:
      From here, the familie applied for emigration to Upper Canada. Six family members filed for emigration in March 1837. Their fortune was 1000 Guldiers. The family came from the “Bavaria Rhine circel“ also Palatinate.
      —————————————
      Regarding the military discharge certificates for the Schrag brothers, I have found a relevant and interesting paragraph in Hermann Hage's German dissertation on Amish Mennonites in Bavaria: Translation by Sem Sutter, 2020

      “The three brothers Josef, Johann and Daniel Schrag, born on the Kaplaneihof in Pfalz-Zweibrücken or in Bavaria, performed their military service in the Bavarian army before 1835, although the family had lived since 1812 on the Gradhof, today in Kösching, Eichstatt, which would have included them in the exemption from military service for colonists from the left bank of the Rhine. Apparently they did not have the knowledge or the means to protect their sons from military service. In 1838 they were finally able to emigrate from Munich to Canada.”

      (From Herbert Holly on 8 Nov 2019: In the folder from the state archive Munich 11.8.2019:
      Faszikel Mennoniten:
      Military discharge certificate: No. 82 - Johann Schrag, Joseph Schrag, Daniel Schrag.
      Report from the captain of the ship “Altona” from the death of Peter Schrag of Palatinate.)

      Widower Jacob emigrated in 1837. According to Holly, his application for emigration documents was dated May 26, 1837. A National Archives list of passengers arriving at Baltimore from foreign ports in September 1837 shows Jacob Schrag, 84; John, 32; Daniel, 24; Magdalene, 36; Catherina, 34; and Catherina Miller, 13. An archives index card says they arrived Oct. 1, 1837.



      From Joe Staker
      The Schrags of Kösching

      Ulrich Schrag and Marie Stalter were the parents of Jacob Schrag. He was born on the Gersbergerhof estate (three miles northeast of the city of Zweibrücken) in July 1760, and died at Wilmot, Ontario April 25, 1838.
      Jacob married Magdalena Holly. She was born at Nehwiller-près-Woerth, Lower Alsace in 1767, and died at Wilmot Oct. 29, 1838, a daughter of minister Jörg/Georg Holly and Barbara Bürki. They farmed on the Freudenbergerhof estate near Zweibrücken.

      Their son Christian Schrag was born there Dec. 24, 1798. He married Elizabeth Bürki/Birkey, who was born circa Jan. 24, 1802. They farmed at Kösching, above Ingolstadt. Kösching is adjacent to Hellmannsberg, where the Sutters leased an estate in 1811.
      Christian died at Unterföhring (a suburb on the northeast side of Munich) Aug. 26, 1831.
      Christian's parents [s/b father only], brothers, and sisters went to Canada in 1837. Elizabeth also emigrated from Europe with her children, arriving at New Orleans in 1846. At first they lived in Butler County, where Barbara may have met and become engaged to Joseph Heiser.
      Heiser went to Dillon to work on railroad tracks in 1848. He labored on the rails to Peoria until 1850, but came away with little savings. Joseph and Barbara married Feb. 4, 1851, and lived at Elm Grove.
      Elizabeth lived to be 90, and died Jan. 24, 1892. She is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery as 'Elizabeth Schrag.' Herald of Truth, February 1892: "On the 24th of January, 1892, near Pekin, Ill., of the infirmities of old age, Elizabeth, widow of Christian Schrag, aged 90 years. She had been a widow for 31 years [61 years]. She leaves four children, 23 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren. Her last words were, 'Come, Lord Jesus.' Buried in the Pleasant Grove graveyard. Funeral services by D. Roth, P. Ropp, Em. and Joseph Litwiller, and Joseph Buercky, of Tiskilwa, Ill."
      The children of Christian Schrag and Elizabeth Bürki/Birkey include:

      1. Elizabeth Schrock was born circa March 30, 1814, and died at Hopedale March 19, 1899. Circa 1849 she married Michael Saltzman. They are found on the 1870 census of Chenoa, McLean County as day laborer Michael Salsman, 53, France; Elizabeth, 47, France; Mary, 22; Eliza, 21; Mike, 18; John, 16; Joseph, 13; and Christian, 6; all children born in Louisiana. Herald of Truth, April 1899: "On the 19th of March, 1899, near Hopedale, Ill., Elizabeth Schrack, wife of Michael Saltzman, aged 78 years, 11 months and 19 days. She lived in matrimony over 50 years, and leaves her aged companion, four sons and two daughters, 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren and many friends to mourn their loss. She was a faithful member of the Amish Mennonite congregation and was deeply interested in the spiritual welfare of her children and of the church. Buried on the 21st of March. Funeral services by Joseph and John Egli, Daniel Nafziger and J .C. Birky. C."
      2. Magdalena Schrock was born March 24, 1824, and died at Hopedale Nov. 9, 1914. On July 8, 1855 in Tazewell County she married Noah Augsburger. He was born in Bavaria Nov. 30, 1819, and died at Boynton July 17, 1903, a son of Noé Augspurger/Noah Augsburger and Elisabeth Eyer. See AUGSBURGER for more on this couple.
      3. Christian Schrag/Schrock was born in Bavaria April 24, 1826, and died at Flanagan, Livingston County Oct. 29, 1917. On March 14, 1852 in Tazewell County he married Maria/Mary Zimmerman. She was born at St. Valentin, Indre Oct. 5, 1835, and died Dec. 20, 1920, a daughter of Michael Zimmerman and his second wife Magdalena Erb. Gospel Herald, November 1917: "Christian Schrock was born in Bavaria April 24, 1826; died at his home near Flanagan, Livingston Co., Ill., Oct. 29, 1917; aged 91 y. 6 m. 5 d. He emigrated to New Orleans, La., in 1846, and in 1850 came to Pekin, Tazewell Co., where in 1852 he married Mary Zimmerman. They resided at this place until 1868 when they moved to Nebraska Twp., being of the earliest settlers. Twelve children were born to them. He united with the Amish Mennonite Church when a young man and remained a faithful member. He leaves a devoted wife and seven children, also 25 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the house by Bro. D. M. Slagle and at the Church by Bro. Dan Orendorff in German and Bro. Geo. Sommer in English. Buried in the Waldo Cemetery." Gospel Herald, January 1921: "Mary Zimmerman was born near Paris, France, Nov. 5, 1835; died from the effects of a fall (pneumonia also setting in causing her much suffering which she bore patiently) Dec. 20, 1920; aged 85 y. 1 m. 15 d. She was converted in her youth, was received into the A.M. Church, and remained faithful. She had a smile and a pleasant word for all. Sh e came to America with her parents in 1838 locating near Canton, Ohio, where they resided until 1841, when they came to Pekin, Ill. In 1852 she was married to Christian Schrock. In 1868 they came to Livingston Co. near where Flanagan is now situated. Twelve children were born to them. Six of them with the husband preceded her. She leaves 6 children, 24 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 1 brother. Funeral services were held at the Waldo A.M. Church by the home ministers, Dec. 22. Burial in the Waldo Cemetery."
      4. Barbara Schrock was born at Kösching Aug. 17, 1828, and died in Tazewell County Oct. 30, 1911. On Feb. 4, 1851 in Tazewell County she married Joseph Heiser. He was born in Bavaria March 1, 1818. His headstone at Pleasant Grove Cemetery says he died Nov. 9, 1892 at 71 years, 8 months, 8 days. [5, 9, 16, 18, 19]

  • Sources 
    1. [S111] Yvonne M. Zaher, Letter to Donna Birkey re: Schrag family.

    2. [S763] Jacob Schrag Family.

    3. [S1060] Find-A-Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59514668/jacob-schrag.

    4. [S1285] Herbert Holly, Preacher Heinrich Stalter---Head of the Amish Mennonite Congregation of Munich.

    5. [S1122] Holly-Schrag Connection.

    6. [S1143] Lorraine Roth-Bruce Jantzi.

    7. [S805] GeneaNet Family Tree of Peter Schrag.

    8. [S763] Jacob Schrag Family, Gives birth date as July 1753.

    9. [S783] Stalter Family Tree Update.

    10. [S1060] Find-A-Grave, Gives birth year as 1753.

    11. [S1122] Holly-Schrag Connection, 1753.

    12. [S398] Joseph Staker, Amish Mennonites in Tazewell Co., 1760.

    13. [S1120] Migrations of the Schrag Family of Leumberg Switzerland from Adam to Adams County (Part 1-to the 20th Century), Added Gradhof.

    14. [S615] Heinrich Stalter History.

    15. [S1122] Holly-Schrag Connection, 1838.

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

    17. [S313] J. Virgil Miller, Both Sides of the Ocean: Amish-Mennonites From Switzerland to America, (Masthof Press, Morgantown, PA).

    18. [S944] Emigration documents of Jacob Schrag b. 1760 {22 pages total}.

    19. [S922] Joseph Staker, Schrags (Bavaria).


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