Christian Birky (Christopher) Schrock

Notes:

“Christopher’s middle initial “B” stands for “Burkey,” his mother’s maiden name. We are told that all of the boys of that family used that same initial, apparently proud of the Burkey name.
His parents were Amish. In later years his father became an invalid. This grandfather is remembered by his grandchildren as sitting in his wheelchair by the window so he could look outside. He was a very large person, eventually weighing over 300 lbs; his helpful slightly-built wife had a hump in her back. As was the way in those days, the grandchildren were sent to help these grandparents when they grew older.
They lived in Nebraska which is considered part of the Midwest “Heartland.” At that time small farms raised most of the food products for the nation. The frontier was considered closed in 1890 when Chris was about nine years old. At the close of Civil War, farmers constituted 60 percent of the work force. The farmers settled land in a westward movement; these frontier people did hand labor and used horses to pull simple equipment in contrast to the present corporate farms with huge expensive machinery.
I understand that Grandpa Schrock did not own land but farmed land owned by others. He owned a combine and was hired to work in fields. He was a very tall, handsome person who enjoyed life, but it is said he did not accumulate much money. He was strict with his children. Mother said if one of his children got a spanking in school, Grandpa Schrock would deliver another spanking with a belt at home. If a teacher checked the space titled “Talks too much,” this also meant a spanking at home.
“We have a copy of the Public Sale Notice for the auction that was held by Chris when selling his home. The auction notice states, “Two bedroom, full basement, 3 lots one block west and one block north of the schoolhouse, Lots l, 2, and 3, Block 10. Remodeled only a few years ago, furniture, canned fruit and fruit jars, wash tubs, snow shovel.”
He then moved to the town of Geneva to be nearer his children as he was in ill health because of cancer.
“There was a reunion in the 1980’s of the Christian C. Schrock family, Christ B. Schrock’s parents, at the Geneva Lion’s Club Building in Geneva with about 260 people attending. This family had become widespread as relatives arrived from California, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, and Arizona. This was the first time many had seen each other for a number of years, and some had never met previously. “

Buried:
Salem Mennonite Cemetery

Christian married Mary Roth on 19 Feb 1903 in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE. Mary (daughter of Christian Roth and Magdalena Wittrig) was born on 15 Mar 1884 in Milford, Seward Co., NE; died on 2 May 1961 in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE; was buried in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“Lena was born November 26, 1903, in Milford, Nebraska, the oldest child of Mary and Chris. She married Isaac Schelkopf on November 29, l922. Isaac was born January 24, l898, the son of Martin L. and Elma R. Schelkopf, neighboring farmers. He was their only son; they had four daughters. He was a graduate of the College of Agriculture in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Isaac’s father saw Lena when he went to the Schrock home to speak with Chris. Upon arriving home he said to Isaac, “I found you a wife today.” Isaac went to talk to Chris on a ruse, saying he had to talk about threshing but hoping to see Lena. Lena was barefoot and scrubbing the floor when he arrived. He decided after meeting her that his father was right. They were married about two years later. Lena was nineteen, and Isaac was twenty-eight. Following the wedding the celebration included dancing in the Schrock’s living room. Her mother was upstairs crying; she felt dancing was wrong and she didn’t want “that” in her home.
They were blessed with a fine family. Their five boys in order of birth were named Dean, Robert (Bob), Russell, Sterling, Stanley, and Conly. Their two girls were Sharol and Mary.

Magdalena married Isaac Schelkopf on 29 Nov 1922. Isaac was born on 24 Jan 1898 in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE; died on 26 Feb 1965 in Geneva, Fillmore Co., NE; was buried in Geneva, Fillmore Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• USR1: Blood clot

Notes:

“The Klines were living in a home that was partially destroyed when a fire resulted from a kerosene stove used to heat the upstairs. When it was discovered fuel was leaking, Allen tried to carry the stove out of the house. As he was going downstairs, the wire handle broke off. The stove fell to the stairs, resulting in a bad fire that burned Allen’s face and arms. He had a long recovery and scarring resulted. Pearl was pregnant at the time, but she escaped serious injury by jumping through the large picture window in their living room. “

Pearl married Allen Kline on 29 May 1923. Allen was born on 19 Sep 1897 in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE; died on 29 Apr 1974. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“She was the third daughter born to Chris and Mary. With two brothers and four sisters, there was a wealth of relationships to enjoy in adult years. Without rivalry all seemed happy at the successes of others. She mentioned riding a horse and also driving a horse and buggy to school. After completing her sophomore year in high school, she helped care for her grandparents as her Grandfather Schrock was crippled by arthritis.
Mary Schrock was a Mennonite and Chris’s people were Amish. Mother said the Mennonite women at that time wore aprons and prayer caps. The older girls, Lena, Pearl and Ada went to Mennonite church. Rings or jewelry could not be worn. Their dresses were long, and their underwear entirely covered their legs. “

“Times were difficult in Nebraska due to the dust-bowl conditions caused by the dry soil being blown by winds sweeping the flatlands. With no irrigation on the farms at that time, the crops dried up and were ruined when it did not rain. The citizens of the United States were having a difficult time because of The Great Depression. People were leaving the farming area to seek a better life elsewhere. Lee and Ada decided to go to California to join her two sisters and families there. We have a copy of their “Auction Bill,” advertising for sale what little they had accumulated since marrying. The money they received was used to pay off their debts. They were left with about $75 to pay for the expenses of their trip to California and to begin a new life there. “

Ada married Lee Garland on 21 Feb 1928 in Sidney, IA. Lee was born on 17 Jul 1907. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Eternal Valley Memorial Park

Harry married Mabel Shulte on 16 Dec 1930 in Concordia, KS. Mabel was born on 7 Jun 1906 in Bruning, Thayer Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Hollis Neel. Hollis was born in Jan 1908; died on 14 Nov 1996. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• USR1: Pneumonia

Notes:

???????

Died:
92 years in 2005

Florence married Robert Yates in 1932. Robert was born on 13 Jun 1911 in Ohiowa, NE; died on 2 Jul 1968 in Geneva, Fillmore Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Chester Bowen. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MILF: Y

Family/Spouse: Dorothy Nehring. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Fort Logan National Cemetery

Isaac married Letha Eloise Spencer on 19 Jun 1948. Letha was born on 21 Oct 1925; died on 31 Oct 2007; was buried in Denver, Denver Co., CO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Elizabeth Ann Abbott [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Elmwood Cemetery

Russell married Bernice Nuss on 26 Aug 1951. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sterling married Beverly Joanne Ham [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Stanley married Donna May Koahler [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sharol married Dewain Charles Cisney [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Geneva Cemetery

Mary married Steven James Wythers on 21 Dec 1974. Steven was born on 1 Nov 1949 in York, York Co., NE; died on 11 Jun 2008 in Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE; was buried in Geneva, Fillmore Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]