Samuel S. Zehr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer And Deacon
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1856, Tazewell Co., IL
• Baptism: 2 Feb 1886, Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL
• Residence: 1889, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 18 Apr 1891, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: Jun 1906, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, April 1943:
" Samuel S., son of Peter and Elizabeth (Oyer) Zehr, was born near Goodfield, Ill., Feb. 24, 1870; departed this life March 31, 1943, at the home of his son, Sam M., near Fisher; aged 73 y. 1 m. 7 d. He had been in failing health for the past 18 months and for the last 10 months has been bedfast. He lived in this vicinity for the past 53 years. In his early youth he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and united with the Mennonite church, of which he was a faithful and consistent member until the time of his death. He was united in marriage to Lena Unzicker Sept. 27, 1892, who preceded him in death March 1, 1939. He was the youngest of a family of thirteen, one sister Pheobe Zehr, Manson, Iowa, surviving him; also three sons (Aaron E., Foosland; Sam M., Fisher; and Albert R., Foosland) and six grandchildren. He was ordained to the office of deacon June 1906 at the East Bend Mennonite Church in which capacity he served in the Church, also assisting in the ministry until his health failed and he asked to be relieved from this responsibility. Funeral services were conducted at the home of his son by Bro. Harold Zehr, and at the East Bend Mennonite Church by Bro. J.A. Heiser. Text, Job 14:15. Burial in the East Bend Cemetery. The room is quiet, all is still; the place is vacant, 'tis God's will. Soon long you have waited for your rest, our blessed Lord knows what is best."

(Read at East Bend Mennonite Centennial)
“I am Deacon Samuel Zehr. I was born in Tazewell County in 1870 and am the youngest of 13 children, but mother and father had to part with six children before they were two years old. Only seven of us became adults. Father was Peter Zehr, mother was Elizabeth Oyer. Mother was born in Lorraine, France and came to America when she was two years old with her parents and eleven brothers and sisters.

“Father and Mother met near East Peoria where they were married. A little later, Father bought a farm near the Mackinaw River where I was born. We lived near the rocky ford of the river and our house stood on a high hill overlooking the valley. I loved to play along that river. I would set some fishing lines at night and the next morning I would usually find some nice catfish. I would stay close to home at night, frightened at the sound of the prairie wolves howling in the woods nearby. Our farm lay where three counties met. I lived in Tazewell County. On my way to school I would walk past Uncle Jake Zehr’s farm in Woodford County, to the schoolhouse where I got my limited education in McLean County.

“The many Amish Mennonites in the area were all part of the Mackinaw Meeting District. Later, it became three groups; the North Danvers Church, the Roanoke Church, and the Goodfield Church. We were part of the Goodfield Church and my Uncle Jacob Zehr was bishop.

“I’ll never forget the year 1886. In April my Father died and we buried him in the Slabtown Cemetery on that high hill. Also, my sisters Phoebe and Mary, and brother David were married, leaving Mother and me alone in the family home. And that year I made the most important decision of my life. I accepted Christ as my Savior and was baptized at the Goodfield church by my Uncle Jacob.

“In 1889, brother Peter who lived near us, decided to move to Champaign County to start a new church. Mother and I felt still more lonely and soon I became interested in Champaign County as well. Sister Mary, who had married Joseph Beacher, had moved to East Bend Township too, so now mother was also ready to move. In 1891 I found 80 acres of land that I could buy for $42.50 an acre. I had to borrow $1500 to purchase the land from Morris Lateer. There was no house on the land so I moved a small house from nearby and started living there.

“I was interested in a young lady I saw at church. Her parents had died so she and her brother, originally from Germany, came to America to live with their aunt, Mrs. Daniel Grieser and family. I asked Rev. Grieser to ask Lena Unzicker if she’d marry me and was joyful when she accepted. We were married in the Grieser home on September 17, 1892 by bishop Christian Nafziger of Hopedale and we started housekeeping on my farm.

“It was in 1896 that my mother died. She was the second burial in the East Bend Cemetery.

“Our Amish Mennonite settlement grew very fast. In 1892, eleven families moved into the community and in 1895 we built our first church house. Later, I served as Sunday School superintendent and also as chorister. One song I led very often was, “Jesus, Jesus”--in German of course. In 1906 the church choose me to serve as deacon and I took this new responsibility very seriously. Among my duties as deacon, I was to visit the sick, look after the welfare of the widows and needy, and talk to those who lived their Christian lives carelessly.

“I was in charge of the Alms Fund. The money for this fund was given during communion as a special offering for the poor and needy. Although I was only a deacon, I took my regular turn at preaching. One reason for this was that the English language was needed for the benefit of the young people who were learning English in school. I was able to preach in English, so this was a need I could fill. I served with seven of East Bend’s ministers and we loved each other very much.

“One event at East Bend that was an exciting time for me was when the Western District Amish Mennonite Conference was held at the church in September of 1909. About 600 people came, some from as far away as Oregon. The Illinois Central Railroad used a special car to accommodate the Amish Mennonite travelers. One hundred guests came to the depot at Foosland on the first day, and fifty to fisher. We furnished transportation, food, and lodging for all of them. We used two tents on the church grounds, one for the meetings and one for the meals. It was a very busy time, all the traveling to and from church was by horse and buggy.

“One of the last things I helped with during my preaching days was to help organize the Christian Workers Band. We were wanting to help our young people become more involved in church work, so in 1938, J.A. Heiser, Dr. Troyer, Harold Zehr, and I met in the Troyer home with a committee of young people. This was the beginning of the Extension Committee, the Industrial Committee, and so on.

“Lena and I were blessed with three sons born into our family--Aaron, Albert, and Samuel, Jr. We had many good times together with many happy memories. However, it was a sad day for US when Aaron was called to serve in the Army. He went as Conscientious Objector, the way we had been taught. On his discharge papers it says he was a Conscientious Objector who had done no military duty and who had refused to wear a uniform. He left home on Sept. 6, 1918, and served four months.

“I remember very clearly buying my first car. Of course our young sons couldn’t understand my decision to leave the car in the shed that first Sunday for fear of offending someone. In 1936, Lena and I moved to Fisher to live. After she died in 1939, I went to live with my sons. My son Bert and wife Bertha lived on the farm I bought and in the house I moved. I did not ever regret my work in the church. It gave me great satisfaction to serve in God’s Kingdom in this way. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 107:31, “Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

Birth:
near Goodfield. On a farm near Mackinaw.

Residence:
Home near Mackinaw River

Baptism:
by his uncle, Bishop Jacob Zehr

PURC:
Eighty acres two miles west of East Bend Mennonite Church, purchased at the cost of $1500. A small house was moved to the land for their home. The original land deed to War of 1812 veteran Sidney Quinn, was signed by President Franklin Pierce.

Ordained:
Deacon, East Bend Mennonite Church, by Peter Zehr. He was the only person to be ordained a deacon in this particular church.

Died:
at home of son Samuel

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Samuel married Magdalena A. (Lena) Unzicker on 27 Sep 1892 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Magdalena (daughter of Christian Unzicker and Maria Gungerich (Gingerich)) was born on 11 Aug 1870 in Possing, Bavaria, GR; died on 1 Mar 1939 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 19 Feb 1911, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

“Aaron was called into the service (World War I), and he arrived at Camp Forrest in Chattanooga, Tennessee in September 1918. Aaron went as a Conscientious Objector. He was told to put the military uniform on, or dig his own grave. He chose to dig his own grave, at gunpoint. When the men in the military saw that Aaron was willing to die for his convictions, they spared his life. Aaron was allowed to work as a cook for the military, and because of his status, he actually had to pay the military. This experience was difficult, because many of our forefathers had come to America to escape, among other things, military service.”

Baptism:
East Bend Mennonite Church by Peter Zehr

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Aaron married Nina Hensler on 25 Nov 1920. Nina was born on 15 Jan 1899; died on 8 Oct 1981; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
East Bend Memorial Gardens

Samuel married Esther Mae Teuscher on 12 Oct 1922 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Esther (daughter of John S. Teuscher and Mary Ann Roth) was born on 11 Oct 1902 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; died on 27 Mar 1997 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried on 31 Mar 1997 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Zehr, Albert R., son of Samuel and Lena (Unzicker) Zehr, was born at Foosland, Ill., Feb. 19, 1906; died of a heart attack at his home in Foosland, Ill., Aug. 25, 1980; aged 74 y. On Aug. 18, 1927, he was married to Bertha Reedy, who survives. Also surviving are 3 sons (Carl, Loren, and David), one daughter (Norma-Mrs. Milton Schrock), 18 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and one brother (Sam Zehr). He was a member of East Bend Mennonite Church, where funeral services were held Aug. 28, in charge of Wilbur Nachtigall; interment in East Bend Memorial Gardens.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Albert married Bertha Mae Reedy on 19 Aug 1927. Bertha was born in 1906; died on 25 Dec 2006 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried on 28 Dec 2006 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Eileen married Robert J. Springer on 27 Oct 1944 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Robert (son of Theodore August Springer and Leah L. Naffziger) was born on 4 Jul 1923 in Saybrook, McLean Co., IL; died on 18 Sep 2011 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried on 22 Sep 2011 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Family/Spouse: Wayne (Abu Danny) King. Wayne died on 13 Sep 2019 in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and Northwestern University.
• Occupation: Chemist with Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories for many years, retiring in 1991.

Notes:

Obit: Press Republican Published on September 30, 2017
Carl A. Zehr, 88, of Lake Forest Dr., and formerly of Hendrix Rd., Morrisonville, passed away Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, at CVPH Medical Center.
He was born in Foosland, Ill., the son of Bert and Bertha (Reedy) Zehr.
Carl received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and Northwestern University.
He married Frances Coan on Dec. 21, 1957, in Evanston, Ill.
Carl was a Chemist with Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories for many years, retiring in 1991.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Plattsburgh; he loved his church, singing in the choir and the church community.
He loved being a husband, father and grandfather. Carl enjoyed traveling with his wife, taking many trips and visited many locations around the world including Europe, Asia and Africa, he also enjoyed reading, cooking, fishing and hunting. Carl continuously was learning and being a student of life.
Survivors include one son, Paul Zehr and his wife Mary of California; one daughter, Laura Zehr of North Carolina; four grandchildren, Ryan Zehr, Sam Zehr, Sawyer Zehr and Chloe Zehr; a brother and sister-in-law, David and Doris Zehr of Michigan; a sister, Norma Schrock of Illinois; several nieces and nephews
Carl was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Frances and a brother Loren Zehr.
There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 7th, at the First Presbyterian Church in Plattsburgh.
Donations may be made to a charity of choice to help others in need.
To share a photo, story, or condolence with Carl's family, please visit www.rwwalkerfh.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted into the care of the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Died:
Plattsburg, NY?

Carl married Frances Coan on 21 Dec 1957 in Evanston, Cook Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Norma married Milton J. Schrock [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Medical doctor, pastor of visitation at South Point Church, Punta Gorda, FL

Notes:

Obit:
Dr. Loren Joseph Zehr, 83, Harrisonburg, VA formerly of Cape Coral, FL passed away March 19, 2017 at his home.
           Dr. Zehr was born on February 10, 1934 in Foosland, Illinois and was the son of the late Albert Raymond and Bertha Mae Reedy Zehr.  He was in medical practice in Youngstown, OH and Sarasota, FL. Dr. Zehr, after retirement, served as pastor of visitation at South Point Church, Punta Gorda, Florida and was currently a member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church.  He enjoyed time spent with family, woodworking and traveling.
           On June 12, 1953, he married the former Ethel Bachman Zehr who survives.
           Also surviving are five children, Michael (Mary) Zehr, Lancaster, PA, Susan (Greg) Dean, Harrisonburg, VA, Mark (Julia) Zehr, Punta Gorda, FL, Donald (Heidi) Zehr, Hendersonville, NC, Kay (Jerold) Diller, Cape Coral, FL, 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, two brothers and a sister, Carl Zehr, Plattsburg, NY, Norma Schrock, Foosland, IL, David (Doris) Zehr, Kentwood, MI. He was also preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Fran Zehr and a brother-in-law, Milton Schrock.
           Following a private burial at Weavers Cemetery, a memorial service will be held Saturday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church with Tim Frost officiating.
           There will be no formal viewing and the body will be cremated.
           Memorial contributions may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501 or to the Moody Bible Institute 820 N LaSalle Blvd, Chicago, IL 60610.

Buried:
Weavers Mennonite Church Cemetery

Loren married Ethel Bachman on 12 Jun 1953. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Doris Mae Albrecht [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
East Bend Memorial Gardens