Caspar Schrag

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist/Amish
• Residence: Abt 1733
• Residence: 1744, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1750, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR
• Residence: 1761, Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR

Notes:

On the Ernstweilerhof.

Named on the Ingweilerhof near Zweibrücken in 1761.The Schrags were part of the Amish “Haftler” (those who believed buttons were a luxury and instead wore hooks and eyes), along with families Stalter, Hauter, Oesch, Eyer, Gut, Nafziger, Gungerich, etc. This group formed their own congregation at Ixheim where they built their own “praying house.” This was separate from the Mennonite congregation who were following “Knopfler” (those who wore buttons); Bachmann, Lehmann, Steinmann, etc.

Birth:
or Jebsheim, Alsace

Residence:
Ingweilerhof, according to LDS info

Residence:
Ingweilerhof

Caspar married Elisabeth Weiss in 1730. Elisabeth was born in 1708 in Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: A Mennonite tailor
• Occupation: Miller And Tailor Of Clothes In Rhodes
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1771, St. Avold, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1772, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1773, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1775, Bistroff, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1783, St. Avold, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1787, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1788, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1794, Rhodes, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Andréas has been included as a child of Caspar by several researchers. However, his birth date seems not to fit with being Caspar’s son, but perhaps Andréas’ birth date is incorrect. It could also be that Caspar’s birthdate is incorrect or that he had a wife before Barbe Rouvenac.

Gondrexange is situated at the edge of a lake with the same name, between Rechicourt le Chateau and Heming. Eight km from Rechicourt le Chateau, twelve km from Sarrebourg and 72 km from Nancy. In 1836 there were 1027 people living in the village. By 2001 that number had dwindled to 464. A farm 2 km away called Ketzing had 18 inhabitants in 1836.

“At the edge of the village (Gondrexange), next to a large recreational lake, a narrow lane named ‘rue de la vieux moulin,’ or ‘old mill street,’ winds down below the edge of the main highway. Here can be seen the trace of a small mill stream and the ruins of a small stone mill structure, overgrown with weeds. Though not conclusively documented, this site seems a likely candidate for the Schrag residence and site of Joseph Oyer’s marriage (to Catherine Schrag, daughter of second wife, Marie Blazer).”


(also found on French documents as 'Caspard' and 'Gaspard'), was born circa 1744 and died on Sommerhof at Neuviller, Lower Alsace March 15, 1794. He was a miller at Bischwald Mill and a cultivator on Belgrade farm at Bistroff after 1772, and at the time of his death was a tailor at Rhodes. His civil death entry from Neuviller described him as a 50-year-old Anabaptist living at Rhodes (it is likely that he was visiting the Sommers on Sommerhof at the time of his death). Witnesses were tenant farmer Jean Sommer, 63, and day laborer Jean Müller, 59 (Jean Sommer, born circa 1731, was the father of Joseph Sommer, and grandfather to the Sommers who came to Tazewell County in 1834). “ }




  

Birth:
Ingweilerhof

Residence:
Cultivator at Belgrade farm, and miller at Bischwald Mill.

Residence:
Son Joseph was born at Bellegrade Ferme near Bistroff

Residence:
At time of Catherine’s birth

Residence:
At time of Anne’s birth

Residence:
Domiciled at Bachats at the time of his death.

Died:
On Sommerhof. 25 Ventose 2. Caspar Schraag, 50 year old Anabaptist living at Rhodes. Witnesses: Tenant farmer Jean Sommer of Sommerhof, 63, and day laborer Jean Muller.
The witnesses may not have known the exact date of Caspar’s birth, and gave a nice round number as what they thought was a probable age. Witnesses were Jean Sommer, 63 (tenant farmer) and Jean Muller, 59 (day laborer). Jean, b. abt. 1731 was the father of Joseph Sommer and grandfather to the Sommers who arrived in Tazewell Co., IL in 1834.

Buried:
There are remains of a Sommers cemetery at Sommerhof, so Caspar could have been buried there, or the body removed back to Rhodes. There are no identifiable stones at either place.

Family/Spouse: Barbe Rouvenac (Rüfenacht). Barbe (daughter of Jean Rouvenac and Barbe Ringenberg) was born in 1730; died in 1773. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Caspar married Marie Blaser (Blaiser) about 1774. Marie was born in 1749; died on 27 Nov 1792 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“It is strongly suspected that Anna Chraque was a daughter of Caspar Schrag and Elisabeth Weiss.

Anne Chraque's proposed family relationship is based on circumstance. Though there may have been other Swiss Schrags in Lorraine that we have not identified, only one branch of one family has been identified as Amish Mennonite. Caspar Schrag and Elisabeth Weiss had a son Caspar (circa 1744-1794) who married Barbe Rouvenacht and Marie Blaser. He worked as a miller at Bischwald Mill and a cultivator on Belgrade farm at Bistroff. Thus he was a business partner with the Engel family.

Their son Joseph Schrag (1772-1830) was born on Belgrade farm but lived at Gondrexange. He married Marie Engel (1774-circa 1800)…. Note that Anne's son Joseph Cachot/Gascho also lived at Gondrexange. This is a coincidence in a tiny community (though the population has grown in two centuries to its present 490). Note also that Joseph Cachot/Gascho's immigration companions in 1831 included Peter Engel. If Anne was a sister to Caspar (circa 1744-1794), the only documented Amish Mennonite Schrag in her age bracket in the region, then her parents were Caspar Schrag and Elisabeth Weiss.“

Family/Spouse: François Gascho (Cachot). François (son of Simon Gascho (Cachot) and Sarah Leibrock) was born before 1750; died before 1797. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Aft 1779, Dernbach, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR

Notes:

Of Ernstweilerhof near Zweibrücken.

In the 18th century this area was home to a Mennonite congregation. It merged in the 1930s with the Amish congregation and today constitutes Zweibrücken’s Mennonite congregation. Ernstweilerhof estate, home of Nikolaus, is now a restaurant incorporated into the city of Zweibrücken. Nearby is a tree planted in honor of Kaiser Wilhelm by Jakob Stalter in honor of “peace.”

Birth:
Ernstweiler estate

Residence:
Pfalzhof

Nikolaus married Barbara Güngerich in 1779 in Zweibrücken, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR. Barbara (daughter of Christian Güngerich and Barbara Jutsi) was born about 1750 in Dernbach, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR; died in 1784. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller In Gondrexange and Imling, And At Rhodes (Bachat) At The Time Of Death
• Occupation: Unskilled Laborer In 1827 At Time Of Peter’s Marriage
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1797, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1799-1807, Gondrexange, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1811, Imling, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1822, Rhodes, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1826, Rhodes, Moselle, FR

Notes:

At the time of Joseph’s brother Jean’s marriage in 1797, he was living at Moulin Les Bachats near Rhodes. Bachats is attached to Rhodes, 9 km north of Gondrexange. There is a walled Anabaptist cemetery at the edge of town, bordering a cow pasture, where Pelsy, Esch, Abresol families, and more, are buried.

The 'ferme des Les Bachats' at Rhodes is still operational and maintains an inn. It is located on a peninsula in L'Étang de Stock (Stock Pond). A bachat is a feeding trough for cattle, indicating that it may have once been a dairy farm.

Joseph married his first wife, Marie Engel at Alzing farm near Gosselming in 1798. Very soon after they were living at Gondrexange, for their first and only child (Joseph, who lived only 5 years) was born there. Marie died there, possibly as a result of child birth complications. A second time Joseph went to Alzing to marry his second wife, Marie Neuhauser, but returned to Gondrexange to live and work. Their first three sons and one daughter (Anne, who evidently died as an infant) were born between 1801 and 1806.

Joseph and his wives could have lived at Domaine Ketzing for a time, a nobleman’s possession, who hired workers to farm and run the mill, blacksmith workers, brick kilns, etc., but this isn’t documented. Living quarters were provided in the woods some distance from the main chateaus. Today one can find a few foundation stones of buildings, and the remains of a well that served the workers. (2012) There was no persecution of Anabaptists during this time at Ketzing, as the Duke of Lorraine protected them. Today Ketzing is owned by an insurance company: a newer building is used for training seminars. The domaine is part of the forestry department and the chateaus provide lodging for hunters.

But more than likely the family lived at the mill in Gondrexange, since Joseph was the miller there for a number of years from about 1800 to 1811.

By 1811 the family had moved to Imling near Saarebourg. They lived at one of the three mills along the Saare River, Remeling, when their first daughter was born. The other two mills were Rimling, and Rot (Roth) (also called Rotmuhle). All three mills were situated side by side along the banks of the Saare. Eleven years later Joseph and Marie were back at Bachats, and were there in 1826. No doubt they lived there continuously until Joseph’s death in 1830. Marie was still living in 1826, but what happened to her after that is still unknown.

“Joseph Schrack, 33, miller, ...witnessed the civil birth record of Johannes Gascho, Born on 8 Jan, 1806, son of Joseph Gascho, lease-manager of the agricultural property called Canardiere in Gondrexange, and Katharina Swalter.”

“Gondrexange had two mills, one was sacred for the construction of the Marne-Rhine canal. It is logical that in a given period an Anabaptist was a miller. Joseph Schrag from Bellegarde, commune of Bistroff, had the mill turned from about 1800 to 1807. He was married to Marie Neuhauser who gave him several children in Gondrexange. Did he then go to Rhodes where he died in 1830?

“His sister Catherine, born in Oderfang, Saint-Avold, married the mill boy Joseph Oyer in 1804 and went to Niderhoff's mill. Joseph Schrag was probably replaced or was he in competition with André Schertz enumerated in 1809 as head of the family. He was the son of Christian Schertz and Elisabeth Reitiger. The only act that reveals his presence is his testimony at the death of his father at the age of 55 years.”

Birth:
Belgrade farm. Commune of Grostenquin. Belgerade (Bellegarde) farm was built around 1818 according to Jean-Claude Koffel.

Residence:
Living at Moulin les Bachats at time of brother Jean’s marriage.

Residence:
At the mill in Gondrexange where four children were born.

Residence:
Lived at the mill Remeling near Imling at the birth of Magdelaine in 1811, was still there in 1813 according to source 1056.

Residence:
Living at the mill at Bachats at time of Johannes and Catherine’s marriage

Died:
“On Apr. 5, 1830, Joseph Serack, 58, miller, a native of the farm called Belgrade [canton of Bistroff], Moselle, husband of Maria Neuhauser, died in Rhodes. The death was reported by son Peter Serack, 27, miller at Dompcevrin, Meuse.”
(Translation by NASL)


Buried:
Most probably in a burying ground on the farm/mill Bachats.

Joseph married Maria Engel on 13 Aug 1798 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR. Maria (daughter of Christian Engel and Catherine Marie Ritzieker (Regsecker) (Lithzieker)) was born in 1774 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died about 1800. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Maria Neuhauser about 1800 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR. Maria (daughter of Nicolas Christian Neuhauser and Catherine Marie Ritzieker (Regsecker) (Lithzieker)) was born about 1772-1773 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died after 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Worked a the mill of Bischval near Bistroff. Cultivator.
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Lived at the Moulin de Bischwald at the time of his marriage to Anna Engel.
Lived at the cense called Ville in Marsal, Moselle, at the time of his marriage to Anna Farni.

Birth:
At Belgrade/Bellegarde. Perhaps at Bischwald Mill?. At his birth, Jean’s father was 29 years old.

Died:
His death entry described him as cultivator Jean Gerack, 66, born at Belgrade, Canton de St. Avold; the widower of Anne Engel, who had died at Marsal, and husband of Anne Farny, 51, a resident of Vic-sur-Seille. It was witnessed by son André Gerack, 27, a cultivator. (At the village of Vic-sur-Seille was the ruins of the Castle of Bishops of Metz, built in the 12th century. Two large towers and moat remain.)

Johannes married Anna Barbe Engel on 4 Feb 1797 in Bistroff, Moselle, FR. Anna (daughter of Christian Engel and Magdelaine Schertz (Chertz)) was born on 28 Feb 1772 in Kerprich-Aux-Bois, Moselle, FR; died on 8 Aug 1810 in Marsal, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johannes married Anne Madeleine Farni on 27 Dec 1810 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR. Anne (daughter of Joseph Jean Farni and Anne Schertz (Chertz)) was born on 30 Nov 1785 in Bisping, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died after 1856 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Emigration: 1831, NY

Notes:

Anna and her husband are buried in the Rinkenberger Family Cemetery. It was established before 1859 on the 160-acre farm in Section 25 of Fond du Lac Township in Tazewell Co., about a mile north of Farmdale, IL, which immigrant Peter Rinkenberger purchased in 1837. It can be found in a clump of trees at the top of a hill, at 3550 East Washington St. in East Peoria, IL.

Birth:
Bachats? Headstone gives year as 1790

Died:
At age 71

Buried:
Family cemetery on their land in East Peoria: 3550 East Washington St.- Robein neighborhood

Anna married Pierre Ringenberg (Ringenberger) (Rinkenberger) on 13 Jan 1810 in Haute-Clocher, Moselle, FR. Pierre (son of Christian (Christophe) Ringenberg and Catherine Kempf) was born on 12 Jun 1786 in Linstroff, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died on 5 May 1861 in East Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in East Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1804, Gondrexange, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Catherine died a few weeks following the birth of Mary (Marie). During 1807-1830 Joseph and Catherine lived at Niderhof, Lorraine, France.

Birth:
Oderfang Mill. Year calculated from marriage record.

Residence:
Ketzing. Living there at the time of her marriage

Died:
At age 40.

Catherine married Joseph, Sr. Oyer on 27 Dec 1804 in Gondrexange, Moselle, FR. Joseph, (son of Johannes (Hans) Oyer and Jakobine Regle’ (Ruschli, Roeschly)) was born about 1774 in Wilgartswiesen, Palatinate, GR; died about 1845 in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller at Badonviller, (20 miles south of Gondrexange), then as a day laborer and domestic servant at Imling. Also a miller.
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: Badonviller, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR
• Residence: Imling, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1797, Desseling, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Earliest mention of Andre is in records from the civil marriage entry of Magdalena Zwalter and Christian Neuhauser. They were married at Gondrexange April 20, 1794. He is listed as witness Andre Cachon, 26, brother-in-law of the bride. Andre signed that entry “Andres Gascho.”

Birth:
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/41654453/person/19895026069

Residence:
In the Dieuze Ponds area of Moselle from 1797 to 1805

André married Anna Zwalter before 1794. Anna (daughter of Christian Zwalter and Marie Risser) was born in 1769; died on 14 Feb 1839 in Pellheim, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller at Merlebach
• Immigration: 1831, Baltimore, MD

Notes:

Immigration:
With son Joseph and nephew Jean

Died:
Perhaps in Somerset Co. PA

Joseph married Anne Catherine Zwalter on 7 Aug 1797 in Gondrexange, Moselle, FR. Anne (daughter of Christian Zwalter and Marie Risser) was born in 1768; died before 1831. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

“Today, 19 Prairial VII of the Republic [or June 7, 1799], before me, municipal agent of the commune of Gondrexange, canton of Réchicourt, department of Meurthe, appeared Joseph Scarg [sic], miller at the said Gondrexange, who, assisted by Jean-Baptiste Molnoy [spelling from signature], 44, and Pierre Adrian, 32, also of Gondrexange, declared that Marie Eingle, his wife, gave birth today, at 1 a.m., in his house in the said Gondrexange, to a male infant which he presented to me and to whom he has given the first name of Joseph.  After this declaration, which Jean-Baptiste Molnony and Pierre Adrian have certified conforms to the truth of the presentation of the infant named above, I, by virtue of the powers vested in me, have prepared the present document which Joseph Scrag [sic], the baby’s father, and the two witnesses have signed with me.  Done at Gondrexange, the year and day as given.  Signatures: Joseph Schrag, Adrian, J.B. Molnoy, and thiébeau.”
(Kindly note that the spelling of the first bureaucrat put in charge of civil record keeping at Gondrexange is atrocious, for common French words as well as for given names and surnames that are Germanic in origin. NASL)

“37. Year XIII of the Republic, the 20th day of the month of Pluviôse [20 Pluviôse XIII = Feb. 9, 1805], before us [the editorial we], mayor of the commune of Gondrexange, officer in charge of civil recordkeeping in the said commune, department of Meurthe, canton of Réchicourt and municipality of the said Gondrexange, appeared Joseph Schrack, the father, and François Thiebeau, who have declared to us [the editorializing plural again] that, the 20th of the current month, Joseph Schrack, aged five years and six months, son of Joseph Schrack and of Marie Eingle, living at Gondrexange, died the 20th of the present month of Pluviôse, about 4 p.m., in the house of the said Joseph Schrack, and those making the declaration signed the present document with us [ditto], after it had been read aloud to them.
Signatures: Joseph Schrag, François Thiebeau.”

Birth:
Probably at the mill in Gondrexange. 19 Prairial VII of the Republic (translated by NASL)

Died:
At age 5 yrs. 6 mo. (20 Pluviose XIII)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: In French
• Occupation: Farmer In Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL 1850-1875
• Occupation: Miller At Cheppe Near Dompcevrin In 1829
• Occupation: Miller In Butler Co., OH (And Perhaps Farmer?) 1832-1850 (Possibly worked with the Flenner mill, since his brother Peter lived at one time near the Flenner family.)
• Religion: Amish, Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1826, Blâmont, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1829, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR
• Residence: 1829, Cheppe, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR
• Immigration: Spring 1831, Le Havre to Baltimore
• Residence: 1831, Lancaster Co., PA
• Census: 1840, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Naturalization: Sep 1844, Butler Co., OH
• Census: 1850, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1832-1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Census: Oct 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Residence: Oct 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Residence: Nov 1850, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 11 Aug 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

“John Schrock, a native of Lorraine, was of German ancestry, but was educated in French, which he spoke like a native. He was wedded to a lady of Lorraine, Miss Catherine Saltsman, and when the couple were the parents of two children, Joseph and his sister Catherine, they came to America in 1831 leaving the port of Havre in the spring. The passage across the boisterous Atlantic consumed forty-four days. They at length disembarked in Baltimore, Md., very much fatigued from the hardships they had endured during the long journey. From there they went to Lancaster, Pa., and a year later, in 1832 removed to Ohio, and located on a farm which the father operated, and in connection with it rented a mill, which he managed very successfully, it being the business in which he was most proficient. While living in Butler County, Ohio, the family was increased by the addition of three children, namely: John, Peter and Magdalena, who were bright and intelligent, and their mature years have not disappointed the fond expectations, which their parents conceived of the little French-Americans. In the autumn of 1850, Mr. Schrock and his family removed to Tazewell County, Ill., and located near Pekin, taking up wild land, but subduing it by patient industry until at their decease they were surrounded by numbers of broad acres well cultivated and supporting numerous fine domestic animals. During life they were members of the old Amish Church, and died in that communion. The father entered into his rest in his seventy-fourth year and the mother in her fifty-seventh."

(Although the newspaper article said Johannas rented a mill, I’m wondering if in fact he might have managed a mill owned by the Flenner family. Daniel Flenner bought a mill site in 1812 and sold it in 1853, according to the book “Woodsdale’s Story” by Doris Page. Johannas and his family lived in that area during that time. Amishmen Iutzi and Augspurger are mentioned also in connection with the mill. (DB)
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Newspaper article 20 Apr 1935 (at event of son John’s death)
“...Back in Ohio lived Johannes Schrock, German born and also a follower of Menno. Schrock found Ohio pretty well settled, but from the Mennonites in mid-Illinois he heard of a growing new land where acres were cheap and crops were abundant. So Johannes Schrock with three horses, pushed through from Trenton, Ohio, to Pekin and looked at this new west. He liked it. He left one horse here and drove the other two back to the Buckeye state. Arriving, he told the anxious wife, who had been Katharina Salzman in her girlhood days in Germany, that they were moving to Illinois. To Joe, the oldest youth, was given the task of driving through with the horses and cattle and what goods they had. The father and mother took the rest of the family to Cincinnati where they took a boat down the Ohio to Cairo and up the Mississippi and Illinois to Pekin.

Joseph’s son, Jonathan, was later able to point out to his family an American elm tree along the road west of Bloomington where Joseph had camped under his wagon the last night of his trip from Ohio. He had the reputation of being an excellent marksman.
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“The [Johannes Schrock] family located in a log house on what is now the Allen Miller farm five miles east of Pekin. They were made at home by the Mennonites here and kindly neighbors; and because they were honorable and thrifty, they prospered.” ,
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Johannes and his family were counted in the 1850 Butler Co. census and were still there in October. They turn up in Tazewell in November. Land records seem to indicate John made a trip to Illinois prior to taking the family in November, since he had made arrangements to purchase land from the Niewkirk family before arriving. The sale was completed in December 1850. He likely stayed with the Christian Ackerman family and happened to be there when the census taker knocked and was counted again—twice in 1850!
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From John Garber information, Walter Ropp records:
“Danny Garber, whose death by blood poisoning followed a threshing accident, should come in about here. My old Uncle Christ Ropp, who remembered everything that ever happened around there, said that his grave was the first one in the Railroad Cemetery. John Schrock, six months older and much like him said, "I know your Uncle 'Crysthel' had an awful good memory but there's one time when he was mistaken. It was the third one." And now that they are both gone these twenty years, who is going to settle it!”

Bishop Samuel Gerber many times officiated at weddings and funerals of East Bend Mennonite Church members in the early 1900s. While living in Tazewell County, the Schrocks were surrounded by Gerbers and Ropps, including Bishop Samuel Gerber and Bishop Andrew Ropp. The families were obviously close neighbors and friends, and attended church together. So it was natural for both Bishops to be involved in the marrying and burying of these people, even after they had moved to Champaign County.

When Johannes and his family first lived in Tazewell Co., they probably worshipped in the old Railroad School just across the road from Johannes’ land. W. A. Ropp writes about the school: “This school was begun about 1840 and continued to operate until 1872 or 1873 ... about the year 1835, a company was organized to build a railway eastward from Pekin--the grade was finished nearly to Tremont when the panic of 1837 stopped the work. A primitive log school house was built near the newly-graded roadway and was named the Railroad school, altho there was no railroad within a hundred miles.

“Most of the land already had been taken up by settlers, for it consisted of some small, rich, open glades just lying round to let the sunshine in, and a good grade of timberland covered by a magnificent growth of hardwoods and elms--tall, straight and clean-trunked--that gave the township the name Elm Grove.

“The first settlers were families from a number of eastern states and several German families, immigrants from the Upper Rhine country... they said they were Amish. These folks came rapidly and bought out the earlier eastern settlers, so that by 1845 the neighborhood was predominantly German. Some of the early families were the Youngs, the Hodgsons, the Griggs, several Nieukirk families, three Garber families, six Ropp families, and the Unsickers, Sommers, Schrocks, Heisers, Kings, Yordys, Litwillers, Hochstettlers, Birkeys and a few others.“
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The only known photo of Johannes has sometimes been purported as his passport photo. However, according to Wikipedia: “In Europe, general peace between the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1815) and the beginning of WWI (1914), and development of railroads, gave rise to international travel by large numbers of people. Passports were not usually required; there were limited wars which caused some exceptions.” And, photos would not have been used in 1831--photography in its infant form came later--about 1839.
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Joseph Staker, in his discussion of the Schrock family, describes the land on which they settled: “The Schrocks (and Salzmans) lived on ‘ministerial’ land they had purchased from the State of Ohio. On Jan. 7, 1796, the Ohio Company set aside Section 29 in each of the ten townships of its second purchase for the support of religion. This set a precedent. When John Cleves Symmes made the Miami Purchase on Oct. 15, 1788, it included parts of Hamilton, Butler, and Warren counties. Congress approved his purchase but followed the earlier model by reserving Section 29 in each of the three counties for religious purposes. The State of Ohio was authorized by Congress in 1833 to sell or rent unused parts of each Section 29. The money from sales was invested, and churches within the boundaries of the original township received the interest and rent income until 1968.”
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In Ohio, the family worshipped with the Augspurger congregation, where Johannes’ brother, Peter, was a minister. This group was the more conservative of the two congregations near Trenton (the other being made up mostly of Hessian Christians who were more “liberal,” using buttons on their clothes rather than hooks and eyes). No doubt the Augspurger group followed the customs of kneeling for prayer and foot washing with communion, since the East Bend Mennonite Church in Champaign Co., Illinois, continued these customs well into the 1940s.
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John and his brother Peter, and Catherine’s father, Michael Salzman, purchased adjoining land in Section 29 of Lemon Township. In 1855 John sold 81+ acres to John Shertz.










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With regard to John Schrock in their household, John and his family were counted in the 1850 Butler Co. census and were still there in October. They turn up in Tazewell in November. Land records seem to indicate John made a trip to IL prior to taking the family in November, since he had made arrangements to purchase land from the Niewkirk family before arriving. The sale was completed in December 1850. He likely stayed with the Ackermans and happened to be there when the census taker knocked, and was counted twice in 1850.
Donna }

Birth:
Date is according to marriage record. Aug 17, 1801 has been used by Willard Smith.

His father Joseph was the miller at Gondrexange during the birth years of his first children, so Johannes was likely born at the mill in the village. No birth document has been found. Nearby Ketzing estate housed many Anabaptist farm workers, so there were probably connections between the Schrag family and other Anabaptists living at the estate, and perhaps products from the farm were processed at the Gondrexange mill.

Residence:
At time of his marriage was living in Blâmont

Residence:
Miller at Cheppe, Commune of Dompcevrin. The mill was destroyed in 1914 during the war, only ruins remain. More than likely lived at the farm Chanteraine.

Residence:
48°56'11.53'' N / 5° 29' 35.00'' E A small village next to Dompcevrin that included Cheppe mill.

Immigration:
On ship list name recorded as Jno. Gerrard. Family lore says the trip lasted 44 days.

Residence:
No information found about the family’s time in Lancaster Co., PA

Census:
#155 (Brother Peter was listed also at #155)

Naturalization:
Two men vouched for John Schrock: Michael Saltzmann and Jacob Taylor.


Census:
Counted again, John Shrock, age 50, being in the household of Christian Ackerman

Census:
House #1175, Family #1316

Residence:
Living with wife Catherine, Joseph, Catharine, Peter, John; next to the Michael Saltzman family

Residence:
Left Ohio to settle in Illinois

Census:
Page 176: John Shrock, age 60, farmer, b. France; John age 17, farmer, b. OH; Magdalene age 16, b. OH.

Census:
Page 18: John Schrack, age 70, farmer; Jacobine, age 53, keeping house, born in Baden.

The information below doesn’t belong to Johannes. Does it belong to his son John?
Real Estate valued at $8000, Personal Estate at $2000. Living in the same dwelling were John, Jr., age 30, farmer; Phoebe, age 24, keeping house; Peter 3; Catharine 2, and Daniel 5/12. This family was living next to Peter Unzicker family in dwelling 119.

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery (not documented, but the most likely)

Johannes married Catherine (Elisabeth) Salzman on 8 Apr 1826 in Blâmont, Moselle, FR. Catherine (daughter of Michael Salzman and Catherine Hirschy (Hergi Hirschine)) was born on 27 Oct 1804 in Sarralbe, Moselle, FR; died in Mar 1858 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johannes married Jacobina (Phebe) King on 1 Feb 1861 in McLean Co., IL. Jacobina (daughter of Johannes King and Jacobina “Phoebe” Reidiger) was born on 14 Sep 1814 in Baden, GR; died on 21 Mar 1896 in Livingston Co., IL; was buried on 23 Mar 1896 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Apprentice Miller At Robert-Espagne 1827. Miller At Cheppe Near Dompcevrin, Meuse 1828
• Occupation: Farmer In Butler Co., OH
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Paralytic Stroke
• Residence: 1828-1830, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR
• Immigration: 1831, Baltimore, MD
• Ordained: 1832, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Residence: 1832, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• PURC: 22 Mar 1845, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Census: 1850, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• Naturalization: 8 Oct 1855, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH
• PURC: 1 Apr 1856, Butler Co., Lemon Twp., OH

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).

Birth:
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)



Residence:
First two children were born here

Immigration:
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:
Amish congregation, served after Bishop Krehbiel retired.

PURC:
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:
John Forney was living with the Peter Schrock family.

PURC:
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.

Died:
Gravestone date. Probate recording of his will says he died the 10th day of September 1887

Buried:
Mennonite Cemetery #20 (Date supplied by Jim Schrock)

Peter married Marie Zimmerman on 25 Aug 1827 in Robert-Espagne, Meuse, FR. Marie (daughter of Jacob Zimmermann and Elisabeth Becker (Becher,baechler?)) was born on 17 Apr 1801 in Emmendingen, Baden-Württemberg, GR; died on 31 Dec 1862 in Trenton, Butler Co., OH; was buried in Trenton, Butler Co., OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Peter married Magdalena Rediger after 1868 in Butler Co., OH. Magdalena (daughter of Christian Reidiger and Magdalena Stalter) was born on 25 Oct 1829 in Hengstbach, Zweibrücken, GR; died on 23 Apr 1896 in Gridley, McLean Co., IL; was buried on 26 Apr 1896 in Gridley, McLean Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Cholera
• Residence: 1828, Dompcevrin, Meuse, FR
• Immigration: 1830
• Residence: Abt 1835-1840, Butler Co., OH
• Census: 1850, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Andrew was in America by 1835 when his first child was born, but even though various descendants give his immigration date as either 1830 or 1831, Andrew’s name is not on the Baltimore ship list as traveling with his brothers Johannes and Peter in 1831.

“Andrew and Anna lived about four miles west of Washington (Section 18?), Tazewell Co., IL. They had to drive or walk approximately ten miles to take a ferry to get to Peoria. He started to build a large brick home, but passed away before it was finished. Children Andrew and Mary, who were young, carried all the brick for this home, which is still standing with little repair.

“One night Andrew, Sr. stayed with a neighbor who had cholera. The same night he became sick with cholera and died before morning, leaving a family of small children, the oldest sixteen, the youngest was born after his death. One of the children in later years finished the large brick home, using the original plans, half of the second story was planned to be used for church services.

“The Schick farm joined the Schrock farm and near these farms lies an old cemetery where the Andrew Schrocks and Joseph Schicks are believed to be buried.”


The guardianship bond (for $10,00) for Andrew’s children, dated 10 Aug 1857, reads as follows:
Know all Men by these Presents, That we Anna Schrock, Peter Guth, Johannes Schrock and Joseph Schrock...for the use of Anna Schrock, Andrew Schrock, Mary Schrock, Peter Schrock and Madaline Schrock, minor heirs of Andrew Schrock, late of said County, deceased....

Document contains signatures of Peter Guth and Johannes Schrag (Anna’s brothers-in-law), Joseph Schrock, her nephew; and the mark of Anna Oyer Schrock.

Birth:
Probably at the mill in Gondrexange. NASL: Messidor XII or July 3, 1804. Witness to Andrew’s birth record: Antoine Bouquely 36 years old, maçon (stone mason); second witness Hubert Barthelemy 40 years old, both living in Gondrexange.

Translation of birth document by Neil Ann Levine: (confirmed 18 Apr 2011):

Mayor's office in Gondrexange, arrondissement of Sarrebourg, 14 Messidor XII of the French Republic [July 3, 1804], birth certificate of André Schrack, born the same day, about 8 a.m., son of Joseph Schrack, miller, and Marie Neyehouser, living at the said Gondrexange. The sex of the infant has been recognized to be male. The baby has been presented to me by the witnesses, Antoine Honquet [spelling taken from the man's signature], 36, mason, and Hubert Barthelemy, 40, school teacher, both living in the said Gondrexange. And following the declaration made to me by Joseph Schrack, father of the child, they have signed [the document]. Prepared according to law by me, Joseph Thiébeau, mayor of the community (commune) of Gondrexange, serving as public official for recording vital statistics of citizens (l'état civil).

Residence:
Was witness there to birth of brother Peter’s son Peter.

Immigration:
according to F. S. Unzicker letter to H. H. Schrock

Residence:
The first four children were born in Ohio, but the fifth was born in 1843 in Illinois.

Census:
#203 Andrew Schrock, age 45, born Germany, farmer, $2000
Ann, age 35, b. Germany; Joseph 15, b. OH; Susan 13, b.OH; Anna 10, b. OH; Andrew 7, b. IL; Mary 5, b. IL; Peter 1, b. IL.

Buried:
Guth Cemetery (located along the road in Sunnyland Plaza) Sunnyland, 8 Bridgate St, on Route 8. Guth Cemetery
http://graveyards.com/graveyard/?id=3497
http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/tazewell/zGuth.html
(See Mennonite Heritage December 1976 for list of interments)

André married Anna Oyer in 1830 in Turquestein, Meurthe, FR. Anna (daughter of Jacob Oyer and Suzanne Shertz) was born on 31 Aug 1815 in Niderhoff, Moselle, FR; died after 1877. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Although no death document has been found to date, Anne could have died as a child, but she also could have been on the immigration ship to Baltimore, as there is a 27-year-old Anne on the manifest with Marie. There is no information in America about them up to this point that has been found.

Birth:
Birth record gives names of parents as Joseph Serach and Marie “Reiscker.”

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Cholera
• Immigration: 1831, Baltimore, MD
• Residence: Abt 1832, Wayne, Ashtabula Co., OH
• Residence: Aft 1832, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1838, Congerville, Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Magdalena and Christian lived in the country near what became Congerville, Woodford Co., IL. They had eight children.The parents and three children died of cholera, five survived. (One source includes a daughter Nancy, b. 1840 in Congerville, who died of cholera.)

“Early medical works and other accounts unite in stating that its (cholera) characteristic symptoms were first, extreme and greatly offensive purging, soon followed by vomiting and severe muscular cramping, rapidly terminating in a complete physical collapse, which very few of its victims ever survived. It was said if the patient could survive the collapse stage, his chances for recovery were very good, but only an extremely small number withstood this terrible physical strain. the pioneer physicians applied the name ‘rice-water evacuations’ to the first stage.”

Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, April 1930: “…Then came next the worst and most extensive of all the local cholera outbreaks, that of July and August, 1855. The total number of deaths of this period will never be known, and can only be approximated.”
——————————————————
"Husband, Christian, died 2 Aug 1855 of cholera, in his log cabin home. Three days later Magdalena died, 5 Aug, followed by the death of her nineteen year old daughter Barbara, and a few hours later by her six year old son John. These deaths left four orphaned children, who were placed in separate homes. What trauma the surviving children must have suffered.

“Grandfather’s brother, Joseph, was made administrator over the family and at various times the children related the good care they received from their Uncle Joe...Uncle Joe Smith looked after the needs of the family often supplying them with choice meats which commanded very little price on the market. Their Uncle Valentine Maninger, being a cobbler, provided boots for the family and their clothing was largely home-spun.”

"The Lydia Oyer material says that Magdalena Schrock Smith died on the Saturday following her husband's death. The perpetual calendar shows that to be August 4. There has been much discrepancy about these dates of death. This family is listed on p. 124 of Milo Custer's Asiatic Cholera in Central Illinois, 1834-1873". Journal of Illinois State Historical Society 23 (April 1930): 113-162. Others who died in the same community were John Lantz (August 5), Jonas Kaufman (August 6) and Bishop Daniel Zehr (August 11).


From the Magdalena Schrock presentation June 2010 at Schrock Immigrant Day in Metamora, IL: Great Great Grandma Mary Oyer's account:

“…all four [died] of cholera in a short space of time, from Wednesday afternoon when Grandpa [died.] [He] contracted it in Bloomington the day before. There was a funeral for him on Thurs. - the rest all well yet, but by Sat. night Grandmother went at 12 o'clock and Barbara a half hour later and John, 6 yrs. old Monday morning at 3 o'clock. No funeral held for them. The rest all sick with cholera. Those who took sick at Grandpa's funeral were Andrew Schrock, Grandma's brother and Mrs. Ulrich. …This is the way my father gave it more than once and said how sad it was for them.”

Birth:
Father, Joseph Schrag, living at the mill Remeling, between Saarebourg and Imling. Mother’s name given as Marie Rixsiker (surname of her stepmother, Catherine Marie Rugsegger.) Jean-Claude Koppel in his 2017/18 book says Magdalena was born at the Rotmhule in Sarrebourg, but birth record says the family was living at the mill Remeling. Perhaps they are one and the same.

Immigration:
The ship list with Johannes and Peter and families lists Madeleine Gerrard, 19, within the Schrag families that arrived in Baltimore in 1831.


Residence:
Lived on the acreage of her brother Peter

Buried:
Probably on unnamed cemetery on their land. (Congerville, McLean Co?)

Magdalena married Christian Smith (Schmitt) about 1833 in Wayne, Ashtabula Co., OH. Christian (son of Joseph Schmitt and Freni (Veronique) Gerber) was born on 31 May 1810 in Bisping, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died on 2 Aug 1855 in Congerville, Montgomery Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Joe Staker Says Cholera. I Find No Source For That. Could be from child birth.

Notes:

From an unpublished manuscript written by Verna Belsly in the 1980-90s. }

Birth:
Before 1819. Birth date could be earlier than 1815 if she married in France, but the probability is that they married in Ohio.

Buried:
Belsley-Kamp Cemetery

Barbara married Joseph “Red Joe” Belsly before 1834 in Butler Co., OH?. Joseph (son of Christian Pelsy and Catherine Verkler (Wirckler)) was born on 28 May 1802 in Hellocourt, Maizieres-les-Vic, Moselle, FR; died on 24 Dec 1872 in Spring Bay, Washington Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Worth Twp., Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
(57)

Died:
Her civil death entry described her as Marie Gerard, 43, the wife of Christophe Gerard, and a daughter of Jean Gerard and Anne Angville [Engel] born at Marsalle, Meurthe [Marsal, Moselle]. Witnessed by husband and cultivator Christophe Gerard, 48, a resident of Vouthon-Bas; and brother-in-law and miller Pierre Gerard, 46, a resident of Beaupre?, Chassey.

Marie married Christophe Schrag (Gerard) on 30 May 1830 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR. Christophe (son of André Schrag and Susanne Christine Hirschy (Hirschi)) was born on 26 Oct 1797 in Grostenquin, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died on 26 Dec 1850 in Chassey Beaupré, Meuse, FR; was buried in Chassey Beaupré, Meuse, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
At age of 5 years

Notes:

Barbe married Christian Dellenbach on 20 Nov 1836 in Woodford Co., IL. Christian died in Dec 1849. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
At age 9 months

Notes:

Birth:
(57)

Died:
(57) at age 19

Notes:

Birth:
(57) Cense de Ville

André married Marie Abresol on 11 Jun 1841 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR. Marie (daughter of Joseph Abresol and Barbe Schertz) was born on 8 Feb 1819 in Morhange, Moselle, FR; died on 20 May 1901 in Juvreourt, Meurthe-Et-Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Catherine married Jacob Kremer on 17 Sep 1844 in Vieux-Lixheim, Moselle, FR. Jacob was born in 1815; died in 1903. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Joseph Roth. Joseph (son of Joseph Roth and Marie Sommer) was born on 25 Apr 1814 in Métairies-Saint-Quirin, Moselle, FR; died on 19 May 1885 in Vaux-Sur-St. Urbain, Haute-Marne, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Eighth child of Jean and third child of Anne. At his birth his father was 41 and mother was 28 years.

Références:
1. Maurice Hébert, raised from Marsal in 24/06/1814
2. Maurice Hébert, Census 1841, at time of his marriage, he was 29-year-old.

Birth:
Marsal

Joseph married Barbe Fonkennel on 2 May 1844 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR. Barbe (daughter of Nicolas Fonkennel and Madeleine Engel (Ringle)) was born on 16 Mar 1809 in Vergaville, Dieuze, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
(57)

Died:
(57) at age of 10

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller

Notes:

Birth:
(57) Salival

Jean married Catherine /Muller Miller on 15 Mar 1846 in Diane-Capelle, Moselle, FR. Catherine (daughter of Pierre /Muller Miller and Barbe Elisabeth Mosiman) was born on 4 Jan 1821 in Vosges, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
(57)

Notes:

Died:
(57) at age of 76 years

Madeleine married Pierre Saltzmann on 20 Apr 1858 in Vic-sur-Seille, Moselle, FR. Pierre (son of Joseph Saltzmann and Barbara Litwiller (Lidviller)) was born on 29 Sep 1804 in Denting, Moselle, FR; died on 12 Dec 1879 in Dieuze, Moselle, FR; was buried in Haraucourt-Sur-Seille, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
(57) At the age of 6 years

Notes:

Birth:
Marsal

Notes:

Birth:
Grostenquin

Died:
Grostenquin

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, FEBRUARY 15, 1887, pages 62,63
RINGENBERGER.-In Livingston county, Ill., of the infirmities of old age, John Ringenberger, in his 75th year. Services by John P. Schmidt from John 5:24-25. Deceased united with the Amish Mennonite church in his youth.

After coming to IL he went to Ohio. There he met and married Anna and returned to IL to take up farming. They lived in a log house at Slabtown near the present location of Mackinaw Dells and had five children. (The 1850 Woodford Co. census lists John as single.) By 1870, John and Anna had divorced and she was living with the children near Flanagan, IL.

Birth:
Hingsange (Dec. 12? Byron Schrock)

Census:
John Ringenberger, born ca. 1810, France, single, near Panola, IL

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Jean married Anna Garber before 1844 in OH, and was divorced before 1870. Anna (daughter of Garber) was born on 15 Mar 1817 in OH; died on 1 Feb 1902 in Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Gridley, McLean Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jean married Magdalena Kettner on 8 Feb 1876 in Tazewell Co., IL. Magdalena (daughter of Georg Kettner and Suzanne Stalter) was born on 31 Jul 1811 in Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Lena Beck. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Hingsange farm

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Katie was a sister of Anna, Peter’s brother John’s wife. Peter and Katie lived with her parents for a while and then moved to South Pekin, IL. Later, they moved to Slabtown where Peter built a house of logs hewn from trees which had grown on his farm. In 1882, the family moved to a farm near Gridley, IL.

Peter and son Gideon were early land owners southwest of Gridley, IL. Jerry Funk of Bloomington, IL is a descendent of Peter. One of Gideon Rinkenberger’s farms is still in Jerry’s family today.

After the 1860 census the family used the spelling “Rinkenberger.”
“The 1873 plat map of Montgomery shows P. Rinkenberger as the owner of 160 acres in the northwest corner of upper Section 11.”

Birth:
Hinsange farm

Census:
Peter age 35 born Germany, a farmer; Seba his wife was 23 born in Ohio.

Census:
Peter born in Bavaria; Phoebe(?); children Catherine age 9, Joseph age 8, Jacob age 3 and Daniel age 5/12

Census:
Peter age 60, farmer, born Bavaria; Sibilla age 44, keeping house, born Ohio; children Joseph age 18, farmer; Jacob age 10; Emily age 9; and Mary age 6.

Census:
Peter, widower, age 69, born Germany; Katie, dau. divorced, age 29, born in IL, keeping house; Mary, dau. age 16, born IL; Katie Saltons, granddau, age 8, born in IL; Jacob, son, age 23, born in IL; Sam Rahler, farm workers, age 20. (FHL Film #1254253, NA film # T0-0253; page 497C

Buried:
Gridley Cemetery

Peter married Katie Garber in 1844 in OH. Katie (daughter of Garber) was born in Jun 1813 in Alsace, FR; died on 24 Apr 1901; was buried in Gridley, McLean Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer

Notes:

Birth:
Hingsange farm

Buried:
Rinkenberger Family Cemetery

Chrisitian married Jacobina Kettner (Kiddner) on 14 Mar 1852 in Tazewell Co., IL. Jacobina (daughter of Georg Kettner and Suzanne Stalter) was born on 27 Apr 1828 in Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR; was buried in Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Hingsange farm

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Anna married Joseph Detweiler on 6 May 1841 in Peoria Co., IL. Joseph was born in 1818. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Joseph Burkey on 25 Oct 1846 in Tazewell Co., IL. Joseph (son of Johannes Bircki (Burkey) and Veronica (Freni) Zwalter) was born on 26 Apr 1816 in Bavaria, GR; died on 12 Dec 1887 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Barbara married Jacob Albrecht, who was skilled in household arts. They had seven children.

Birth:
Hingsange farm. Joe Staker says 25 Sep 1821, as does Ardys in source 181.

Buried:
Red Oak Cemetery

Barbara married Jacob Albrecht on 7 Jan 1844 in Tazewell Co., IL. Jacob (son of Christian Albrecht and Elisabeth Engel) was born on 9 Dec 1805 in Hochspeyer, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR; died on 11 Feb 1878 in Princeton, Bureau Co., IL; was buried in Princeton, Bureau Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

While living on a farm several miles southwest of Washington, IL, seven children were born to them. In about 1865 they bought a farm of 80 acres a mile northeast of the present village of Flanagan. The youngest child was born there.

Birth:
Hingsange farm

Buried:
Mt. Zion Cemetery

Mary married Jacob J. Zimmerman on 15 Oct 1844 in Tazewell Co., IL. Jacob (son of Michael Zimmerman and Barbe Roggy) was born on 19 Apr 1818 in Chateau-Le-Vannes, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR; died on 15 Oct 1849 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co
• Census: 1860, Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Birth:
Hingsange farm

Census:
John Schrock, 77, Germany; Catherine [Oyer], 57, Germany;farmer Joseph Schrock, 27, Germany; and Catherine [Ringenberger], 23, Germany.

Census:
Catherine Schrock, 34-year-old widow; Anna, 7; Peter, 3 mo. They were living next door to Catherine’s widowed father, Peter Ringenberger.

Buried:
Probably Guth Cemetery (no stone)

Catherine married Joseph Schrock (Oyer) on 20 Nov 1849 in Tazewell Co., IL. Joseph (son of John Schrock and Catherine Oyer) was born about 1823; died on 28 Dec 1851 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Catherine married Joseph Schrock on 12 Jun 1859 in Tazewell Co., IL. Joseph (son of Andréas /Schrag (Gerard Serach) and Anne Pelsy (Pelzel, Bellesley)) was born on 30 Dec 1825; died in 1860. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Catherine married Jean Springer (Spring) on 7 Nov 1869 in Tazewell Co., IL. Jean (son of Christian Springer and Suzanne Farny) was born on 24 Feb 1817 in Sturzelbronn, Moselle, FR; died on 25 Jan 1891 in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Could be the first wife of Joseph Wittrig (Vitrich).

Birth:
Hingsange farm

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Mennonite
• Residence: 1837, Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

The couple set up housekeeping on the Rinkenberger Homestead which he had bought from his father: 80 acres for $1,500. He kept buying property from friends and family members until at one time he owned almost 400 acres. In 1865 he built the stone house that was still standing in 1961. All of his children were born there.

Buried:
Family cemetery

Abraham married Barbara Stalter on 19 May 1859 in Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of Magdalena Stalter) was born on 18 May 1835 in Trippstadt, Palatinate, GR; died on 15 Jan 1922 in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in East Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Magdalena and Peter had one child, named Magdalena.

Birth:
Possibly at Gondrexange

Buried:
Slabtown Cemetery

Magdalena married Peter Farny on 20 Nov 1841 in Tazewell Co., IL. Peter (son of Joseph Farny and Anne Risser) was born on 16 Dec 1797 in Bisping, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died on 15 Dec 1873 in Woodford Co., IL; was buried on 16 Dec 1873 in Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On the 1850 census of Tazewell Co. with five children.

Buried:
Apostolic Christian Cemetery. Buried as Catherine Oyer Gerber.

Catherine married John Gerber on 7 Aug 1838. John was born about 1802; died on 15 Oct 1856; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• USR1: Cholera

Notes:

Buried:
Most probably at Guth Cemetery in Washington, Il.

Anna married Peter J. Ulrich, Iii in Sep 1837 in Butler Co., OH. Peter (son of Peter Ulrich, Jr. and Katharina Lauber) was born on 10 Jul 1811 in Hirsingue, Haut-Rhin, FR; died on 8 Feb 1904 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Joseph is found on the 1850 census of Tazewell County, living in the household of his brother John. Their home was in Farmdale, a railroad junction that once held a post office and store.

Joseph, married Anna Peterschmidt on 7 Sep 1851 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL. Anna (daughter of Jacob Peterschmidt and Barbara Lauber) was born on 25 Jun 1814 in Ruederbach, Haut-Rhin, FR; died on 11 Jan 1892 in Farmdale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1860, Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

A Catharine Shrock age 64, widow, born France, was living with John and Ann at the time of the 1860 Tazewell Co. census.

Evidently became part of the Egli Amish and was part of the Salem church, according to Steve Estes at 140th Anniversary of the church.

Birth:
Serpette says 1818

Census:
Page 134:
John Oyer, 41, farmer born France
Ann 33, born France
Children: Joseph, Catharine, Ann, Peter, John, Christian, Madaline, Mary;
and Catharine Shrock 64, widow, born France

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Johannes married Anna Farni on 18 Mar 1844 in Tazewell Co., IL. Anna (daughter of Peter Farny and Anne Kempf) was born on 8 Jul 1827 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died on 9 Jul 1897; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Peter married Jacobine Ehresman on 10 Jun 1850 in Tazewell Co., IL. Jacobine (daughter of Jacob Ehresman and Katherine Ehresman) was born on 19 Sep 1830 in Mannheim, Palatinate, GR; died on 12 Jan 1900 in Gridley, McLean Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Salem Evangelical Mennonite Church

Notes:

This couple had no children of their own.

Died:
Gravestone gives date as 9 Jul 1894, aged 83 yrs. and 6 mos.

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Christian married Magdalena Grabill (Krebiehl) on 20 Aug 1854 in Clinton Co., IN. Magdalena was born on 21 Jan 1835; died on 22 Dec 1910 in IL; was buried in Gridley Twp., McLean Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1840, OH

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, December 1893:
"On the 21st of November, 1893, in Tazewell Co., Ill., of the infirmities of old age and epilepsy, Mary, maiden name Oyer, widow of Christian Zehr who died two months ago. Her age was 71 years and 7 months. She leaves 6 children, who were present at her funeral on the 23d. Funeral services by Joseph Stuckey, at the house, and at the Deer Creek M.H. by him and Solomon Yoder from John 11 and 2 Cor. 5. Sister Zehr longed for the end and we have reason to believe she is at rest."

Birth:
Gravestone date: 23 Apr 1823

Buried:
Mt. Zion Cemetery (see photo)

Marie married Christian Zehr on 12 Aug 1844 in Tazewell Co., IL. Christian (son of Daniel Zehr and Magdalena Unzicker) was born on 12 Nov 1812 in Laim, Bavaria, GR; died on 19 Sep 1893 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“Maria Gajou from Nancÿ in Frankreich”

“Christian's first wife was named Mary [Gascho]. On August 10, 1854, Christian Birky petitioned the court to be named legal guardian of his daughter Fronica (Veronica), as follows:

To the County Court Tazewell County Illinois The undersigned respectfully shows that Fronica Birkey aged seventeen years in January last is a minor heir of his wife Mary deceased and that the said Fronica is his daughter, and that heir aforesaid she is entitled to certain property of about the value of $178---- and he preys that letter of Guardianship may issue to him the said Christian Birkey for his said daughter. Affirmed to this ?? (Signed) Christian Birki before me this 10th day of August, 1854 Jno M Bush.

Also in the file is the Court's Order that appointed Christian the legal guardian of Fronica (Veronica) until she reached the age of 18. This suggests that Mary received a bequest (most likely from her father at the time of his death). Since she had apparently pre-deceased the benefactor, her bequest was divided among her natural children (Mary, Joseph, Magdalena, Barbara, Elizabeth, Andrew, Anna, Catharina, and Veronica). All save Veronica were of the age of majority in 1854. In order for her to collect her property, she needed a legal guardian, and that became her father. The person leaving the bequest may have been of some means since Mary's share was $1602, and an equal amount may well have been left to any of Mary's siblings or their issue. The entire process suggests that Mary Birki's father may have died intestate in Illinois in 1853 or 1854 and it thus may be possible to identify him through probate or other guardian records. “ Gary Yordy (Source: Tazewell County Probate Records, File 11 “Fronica Birkey”)

Maria married Christian Birki about 1815 in Pellheim, Bavaria, GR. Christian (son of Johannes (Jean) Bircky (Bircki, Percky) and Barbara Bircki) was born on 14 Mar 1788-1789 in Rimsdorf, Lower Alsace, FR; died on 14 Feb 1866 in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Feb 1866 in Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The couple farmed on the von Spreti estate at Arzbach, Bavaria.

Christian is mentionied as a secondary tenant living at house number 20 on the Pellheim farm near Dachau, Bavaria. Living along with them was the family of Christian Birky and his wife on the Pellheim farm. After leaving Pellheim they rented the farm belonging to the Pirkensee Castle.

Family/Spouse: Maria Güngerich. Maria (daughter of Christian Güngerich and Magdalena Nafziger) was born on 21 Oct 1801 in Freigrricht, Hesse, GR; died on 29 Jan 1869. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer in Bavaria
• Residence: 1851, Probfeld, Bavaria, GR

Notes:

Joseph and Magdalena initially settled at Probfeld in the Donaumoos or Danube Marsh. The family's passport was annulled by the Bavarian government Feb. 19, 1851 because their son Joseph had a military obligation. Medical certificates dated March 20, 1851 and March 31, 1851 declared him fit for service. He was prohibited from emigrating by a court order. The family departed without him. They probably took a coach to Donauworth, then a new rail line from there through Leipzig to Hamburg. We could not identify a passenger list or a date for their arrival in North America, though we found a note that the ship they sailed on was the Neptune. They initially settled at East Zorra, Ontario. 277 Note that they were in the area at the same time as Joseph's cousin Christian Gascho, who had moved up from Pennsylvania to Wilmot in 1848. Joseph and Magdalena later resettled at Zurich, Hay Township, Huron County, Ontario. On the 1881 census of Hay German Mennonite Joseph Gascho, 85, and Lanah, 77, are found in the household of their son John. Herald of Truth, March 1882: "On the 17th of Jan., in Hay, Huron Co., Ont., Joseph Gascho, aged 89 years. He left an aged companion, and four children with large families. He was for many years a faithful member of the Amish Menn. church and an early settler of the township when the surrounding country was yet a wilderness."

Birth:
16 May 1792?

Died:
Obit says he was 89 years.

Buried:
Lakeview Conservative Mennonite Cemetery

Joseph married Magdalena Ingold in Jan 1824 in Arzbach, Bavaria, GR. Magdalena (daughter of Jakob Ingold and Elisabeth Bachman (Baumann)) was born on 1 Nov 1803 in Annweiler, Palatinate, GR; died on 21 Feb 1891 in Zurich, Hay Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried in Blake, Huron Co., Ontario, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite
• Immigration: 7 May 1853, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA

Notes:

She found help in the Amish community in one Johann Springer, who lived nearby. He assumed guardiandship for the minor children, and helped when she sold her property. In December 1852 she applied to emigrate to America. Barbara traveled to Morton, Illinois with her remaining children: 2 adults and 5 minor children, in the spring of 1853.

Birth:
Year IX of the French Republic

Immigration:
Ship City of Glasgow

Buried:
Willow Springs Mennonite Cemetery

Barbara married Nicholas Augustin (Augstin) (Eigsti-Eigstein) in 1822 in Bavaria, GR. Nicholas (son of Christian Augustin (Augsti-Augster) and Elisabeth Eymann) was born in 1779 in Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 1 Feb 1852 in Kirchdorf, Bavaria, GR; was buried on 3 Feb 1852 in Kirchdorf, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His civil birth entry called his parents André Cachot and Anne. He was living at Sickenhausen (next to Reutlingen, 20 miles south of Stuttgart) in 1857. He did not emigrate from Europe. His son Josef moved to Moosach, where he built the neo-Renaissance Gascho Villa at 37 Pelkovenstrasse. The villa has been preserved as a heritage site.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 21 May 1831, Baltimore, MD

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth - Volume VII, Number 12 - December 1870, page 191.

Gasho. - On the 7th of September, in Livingston county, Ill., JOHN GASHO, aged 62 years. He was buried on the 8th, followed by a large concourse of friends and relatives. Funeral sermons were preached by John Egly, John P. Schmitt and Christian Schloegel from I Cor. 15, and I Thess. 4:13-18. He was a pious man, beloved by all and a light in our Church. He observed daily prayer with his family, came regular to meeting and appreciated humility. He often complained about the pride prevailing among our young people. He also said before he expired that he had a desire to depart and to be with Christ. He was a faithful member of the Omish Mennonite Church, where the funeral service was preached, in Livingston county, Ill

Birth:
Gravestone date

Immigration:
Spring Bay, Woodford Co., IL

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Family/Spouse: Magdalena Von Gunden. Magdalena was born on 13 Jan 1810 in Bavaria, GR; died on 21 Apr 1881 in Livingston Co., IL; was buried on 23 Apr 1881 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The couple lived in Somerset County before moving to Wilmot, Ontario.

Christian married Christina Petersheim in 1825 in Lancaster Co., PA. Christina was born on 19 Apr 1806 in Lippe, GR; died on 27 Jul 1882 in Waterloo Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
At the mill