Fannie Stalter

Notes:

This child is named on the 1880 Census, so must be one of the “3 or 4 children who died in infancy”. Death date not known. Birth year is estimated from the Census report of age - 1 year.
This child is here labeled as “Twin” because of information on a hand made chart from a Stalter Reunion in Illinois. Chart #001 - my label. dk,

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: S21246
• Religion: Amish Mennonite Church
• RWDN: S21246
• Immigration: 1855
• Naturalization: 26 May 1877, Livingston Co., IL
• Census: 1900, Livingston Co., IL

Notes:

OBIT: Gospel Herald

STALTER. ­ Daniel, son of John and Elizabeth Stalter, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, July 14, 1843; died at the home of his son Simon, near Flanagan, Ill., April 2, 1930; aged 86 y. 8 m. 18 d. At the age of eleven years he came to America with his parents and located near Hamilton, Ohio, after two years they moved to Pekin, Ill. In 1865 they came to this vicinity where he spent the greater part of his life. On March 2, 1873, he was married to Katie Stalter. To this union ten children were born, four of whom died in infancy. His companion preceded him in death; also one son (John D.) and two daughters (Mary and Lydia, wife of Debolt Risser). He leaves two sons (Daniel D. and Simon D.) one daughter (Mrs. Sarah Roth), one sister (Mrs. Jacob Rocke), 30 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren, besides many relatives and friends. He confessed Christ as his Savior and united with the Mennonite Church in his youth, and was a faithful member at the time of his death. His health had been failing for several years, but he was only confined to his bed for three days previous to his death. He was blessed with a clear mind up to the time when he peacefully passed away. Funeral services were conducted at the home by Bro. J. D. Hartzler and at the Waldo Mennonite Church by Bro. D. W. Slagel. Text, Deut. 32: 29. Interment in Waldo Cemetery.

Daniel Stalter rearranged part of his home in Meadows, Illinois, to care for a number of older people and urged the Mennonites to start some kind of elder care. He then donated 20 acres for the establishment of Meadows Mennonite Retirement Home.

Immigrated from Lorraine, France.
US CENSUS - 1910 - McLean Co., Chenoa Township
US CENSUS - 1900 - Livingston Co., Pike Township
US CENSUS - 1880 - Livingston Co., Waldo Township
US CENSUS - 1870 -- Livingston Co., Waldo Township, with father Johannes
US CENSUS - 1860 -- ???

Birth:
Nassenwald farm. Another date is 1849.

Immigration:
With parents, at the age of 11

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Daniel married Katherine Stalter on 2 Mar 1873 in Pike Twp., Livingston Co., IL. Katherine (daughter of Jacob N. Stalter and Barbara Birky) was born on 20 Mar 1855 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 20 Dec 1918 in Pontiac, Livingston Co., IL; was buried on 23 Dec 1918 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite
• USR1: Dropsy (heart failure)

Notes:

OBIT: Gospel Herald Volume XI, Number 40 - January 2, 1919 - pages 718, 719

Stalter. - Catharine Stalter was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., Mar. 20, 1855; died of dropsy at St. James hospital, Pontiac, Ill., Dec. 20, 1918; aged 68 y. 9 m. In her youth she united with the A. M. Church and lived the life of a true Christian. Mar. 2, 1873, she was married to Daniel Stalter. This union was blessed with 10 children, 6 of whom preceded her to the better world. She leaves husband, 2 sons, 2 daughters, 25 grandchildren, 2 brothers, 2 sisters and many relatives and friends. One son living in Alberta and one daughter living in Oregon were permitted to visit with her before she died. But what made it sad was that nearly all the children and grandchildren were taken down with the influenza and could not attend the funeral services which were held Sunday, Dec. 22. at the Waldo Church by Bro. George Summer and Bro. D. W. Slagel. Buried in the Waldo cemetery.


Obituary: Katie Stalter - from the local paper

Mrs. Daniel Stalter of Near Meadows, Dead

Mrs. Daniel Stalter, for many years a resident of Near Meadows, died at St. James hospital in Pontiac at 7:30 o'clock Friday night, following a long illness, death being due to dropsy.

The remains were taken to Meadows by train Sunday and from there conveyed to the family home. Burial will occur in the Waldo cemetery this afternoon.

Katie Stalter was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Stalter. She was born in Tazewell County, Illinois, March 20, 1855, where she remained until 1865, when she removed with her parents to Nebraska township, Livingstone County. There she grew to young womanhood, and was united in marriage to Daniel Stalter March 7, 1873. For a time she and her husband resided on a farm in Nebraska township. Then they removed to Poke township and later to their home for many years near Meadows in McLean county. Mrs. Stalter had been in poor health for a number of years and more recently her condition gradually grew worse. She was brought to St. James hospital here on last Monday.

She leaves by her death her husband, two daughters and two sons, viz: Mrs. Debold Reesor of Pike township; Mrs. Sarah Roth of the state of Oregon; Daniel, of Pike township, and Simon residing in Canada,. She also leaves twenty grandchildren, two sisters and two brothers. The sisters are Mrs. Phoebe Sutter of Hopedale and Mrs. Barbara Rocke of Meadows.

Early in life Mrs. Stalter became a member of the Mennonite Church and had faithfully and consistently followed its teachings.


Cemetery tombstones for four graves in the Daniel Stalter plot, small white stones, no dates or names, the following writing in German, translated here:

On one stone:
“The heavenly kingdom Jesus blood ?? frees??”
On the second stone:
“Keep them not come to me”
On the third stone:
“Jesus spoke let the children come to me”
On the fourth stone:
“Such is the kingdom of heaven”, , ,

————————————
14 years old on 1870 Census, Livingston Co., Illinois
The 1910 US Census says Katie had 10 children, 5 still living. Of 10 children, four died in infancy, one other, Mary died in 1908.

Died:
Many of her family could not attend the funeral because of their illness of Spanish flu.

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: S2124
• Religion: Amish Mennonite Church
• Residence: Bitche, Moselle, FR
• RWDN: S2124
• Immigration: 1853
• Residence: Abt 1853, Hamilton, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: Abt 1855, Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1860, Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL
• Residence: 1865, Meadows, McLean Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Livingston Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Livingston Co., IL
• Naturalization: 26 May 1887, Livingston Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, July 1897
"On the 18th of May 1897, in Livingston Co., Ill., of the infirmities of old age, Bro. John Stalter, aged 84 years, eight months and three days. Like a weary pilgrim, longing for home and rest with Jesus, our dear aged brother passed from us, and we think of him as having gone where his soul so often longed to go. Bro. Stalter was born in Monbijou in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany and was thrice married. Eight children blessed the first union, of whom two sons and two daughters remain. His youngest sister, widow Susanna Petter Schmitt, residing in Alsace, Germany, also survives. His oldest daughter has been a hapless invalid for over twenty years, which weighed heavily on him at times, yet he ever did what could be done for his child. God graciously provided ample means and faithful servants, so that their home was one of peace and plenty. His remains were laid to rest on the 20th in the Waldo graveyard.
A large concourse of friends assembled to pay their last respects to the departed. Funeral services by Joseph Kinsinger at the house and by Chr. Zimmerman at the church, from 2 Tim. 4:7, 8 and by J.P. Schmitt from Isa. 38:3, and by D. Orendorff from 2 Cor. 5:10, and from 1 Cor. 15:44 to end. Bro. Stalter was a faithful member in the Old Amish branch of the Mennonite church."


An obituary:
TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN BY A. LLOYD SWARTZENDRUBER (1962)

STALTER- On May 18,1897 in Livingstone County, Illinios, Brother John Stalter fell asleep in the Lord, of infirmities of old age, at the ripe age of 84 years, 8 months, and 3 days. So it pleased the Lord of life and death to bring our beloved brother and tired pilgrim out of this wearisome life into eternal home and rest. His earth life has departed but he has arrived where he will remain eternally. Brother Stalter was born on the farm Monbijon, in the Rhineland-Pfalz, Bavaria, Germany. He came to the U.S.A. in 1857. He was married three times: (#1 Elizabeth Rediger, #2 Jacobina Rediger, #3 Katherina Scherz) and had eight children in the first marriage; four preceding him in death. He leaves two sons, Joseph and Daniel, and two daughters, Lena Rocke and Elizabeth Bartonville. He also leaves behind his youngest sister in Alsace, Germany (this is now in France), namely Widow Susanna (Stalter) Peter-Schmitt. (There are still Peter-Schmitts living around the Colmar and Mulhouse areas.).The oldest daughter of our brother was bed-fast for 20 years and needed to be cared for like a child, which caused a great burden for the old father. But the means did not fail to have her cared for because the Lord richly blessed him in life. In a wonderful way the Lord cared for the old Brother's household until the end, through the faithful service of his children and a faithful maid who had lived with them while his last wife was living. She remained with him until his death and cared for his sick daughter and kept the house in good order. He also had a faithful hired man, so he often said he could not thank God enough for such help.

His earthly body was laid to rest on May 20, in the Waldo Cemetery. A large number of his friends and acquaintances accompanied his body to the grave. The funeral messages were given at the house by Joseph Kinsinger and at the church by Christian Zimmerman speaking on II Timothy 4:7-8 and by John Peter-Schmitt from Isiah 38:1-3; and II Chorinthians 5:10, and by Daniel Orendorf at the grave from I Corinthians 15:44 to the end of the chapter. Brother Stalter was a faithful member of the Old Order Amish Mennonite Church.

Children you are still in rich mercy
Your father has gone to eternal rest
By him there is also room for you
God calls you daily.


Tombstone in Waldo Cemetary. near Waldo, Illinois confirms these dates for birth and death.
On the 1870 census John is 58 years old. On the listing is a Josephine Stalter, also 58 years old, listed in the place where a wife is usually listed. This must have been a housekeeper. ddk, , , ,

In 1835 Joseph Stalter gave the lease of the Kirschbacher Hof to both of his sons, Joseph and Johannes. Joseph stayed on this farm and Johannes soon moved to the Nassenwald estate in Lorraine. In 1849 Joseph and John emigrated to the United States.



{Centennial History of the Mennonites of Illinois 1829-1929: "'The region about Farnisville on the Mackinaw river was settled almost entirely by Germans, many of whom had been there for as long as twenty years (before
Amish Mennonites in Tazewell County, Illinois 1858-1864). They were almost exclusively Mennonites (Amish, as they were usually called), who had immigrated from Bavaria, Rhenish Bavaria, Switzerland, Wuerttemberg, Baden, Alsace, and Lorraine. They were good farmers and otherwise fine people, most all of whom attained prosperity and many of whom became wealthy.... In the vicinity of Gridley the situation was similar. In the township in the southwest corner of Livingston County, Waldo Township, the Germans were in the majority. Children of the German settlers around Farnisville moved here, and we find the same names here as there. For instance, Ehresman, Mueller, Ulrich, Neuhauser, Klopfenstein, Schlegel, Sommer, Rich, Farni, etc. This township was called 'the German township' at that time. New settlers from Germany also settled here, such as: George Wurst, Heinrich Otto, John Lukert, John Stalter (who had first lived for several years in Tazewell County), Joseph Cloudon, John, Christian and Jacob Koenig who came from McLean County, and many others."

Joseph and his brother John received the Kirschbacherhof 4 Mar 1835. Both later went to America. They fell into debt and migrated in 1849 to (where?). After John was in America he sent a photo of himself and his wife (he was married three times) and a letter written by a friend. Both items still exist. John was homesick, but his brothers who had paid the debts of John and Joseph no longer wanted contact with them.

Herald of Truth - July 1, 1897 - Page 206, 207
STALTER - On the 18th of May 1897, in Livingston Co., Ill., of the infirmities of old age, Bro. John Stalter, aged 84 years, 8 months and 3 days. Like a weary pilgrim, longing for home and rest with Jesus, our dear aged brother passed from US, and we think of him as having gone where his soul so often longed to go. Bro. Stalter was born in Monbijon in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany and was thrice married. Eight children blessed the first union, of whom two sons and two daughters remain. His youngest sister, widow Susanna Petter Schmitt, residing in Alsace, Germany, also survives. His oldest daughter has been a hapless invalid for over twenty years, which weighed heavily on him at times, yet he ever did what could be done for his child. God graciously provided ample means and faithful servants, so that their home was one of peace and plenty. His remains were laid to rest on the 20th in the Waldo graveyard. A large concourse of friends assembled to pay their last respects to the departed. Funeral services by Joseph Kinsinger at the house and by Chr. Zimmerman at the church, from 2 Tim. 4:7, 8 and by J.P. Schmitt from Isa. 38:3, and by D. Orendorff from 2 Cor. 5:10, and from 1 Cor. 15:44 to end. Bro. Stalter was a faithful member in the Old Amish branch of the Mennonite church.

Birth:
Monbijon in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany (see obit)

Residence:
Nassenwaldhof

Residence:
At one time tenant of Kirschbacherhof

Immigration:
Ship Samuel L. Fox

Census:
res#131, US Census

Census:
res#123, US Census

Naturalization:
“John Stalter of Bavaria”

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Johannes married Elizabeth Reidiger on 18 Feb 1835 in GR. Elizabeth (daughter of Sebastian Reidiger and Magdalena Güngerich) was born about 1812 in Ichenheim, Baden, GR; died before 1853 in GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Otteneweierhof estate

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 112
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Palsey/Dropsy
• Immigration: 1849, Le Havre to New York
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Nebraska Twp., Livingston Co., IL

Notes:

Translated from German Obituaries by A. Lloyd Swartzendruber (1962)

STALTER -- June 8, 1998 in Livingstone Co., Illinois from palsey, JACOB STALTER at the age of 74 years, 9 months, and 20 days. The deceased was born in Bavaria (Germany) in 1823. In 1849, April 30, he married Barbara Birky. In this marriage union he lived for 35 years. Six sons and six daughters were born to this union. Three sons and one daughter preceded him in death. He was laid to rest on June 10, in a funeral of large attendance. In the house of mourning Christian Zimmerman spoke and in V.H. (probably Versammlungs Hause,which could be an assembly house or church) Stephen Stähly, Chr. Zimmerman, and John P. Schmitt from Isiah 38:1-3. Joseph Kinsinger then spoke from I Thess. 4:13. The deceased was a member of the Amish church and stood in high esteem. Besides his eight children, he left 50 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, one brother and two sisters.

"He has now arrived.
We journey there also.
He has now been received.
Death to him was a victory"

(He left”one brother and two sisters” probably is an error. It should read “two brothers and one sister.”)
Brothers: Chris and Henry
Sister: Mrs. Joe Good
All died in Hopedale, Illinois and buried in Hopedale Cemetery.
-------
Jacod died in the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Mrs. Joseph (Mary) Stalter. His wife Barbara(Birky)Stalter died March 31, 1885 at daughter Fanny Sutter's home in Hopedale, Illinois.

Birth:
Byron, according to census info
FAG: Munich (München), Stadtkreis München, Bavaria (Bayern), Germany

Immigration:
Arrival: 21 Jan 1849. On the ship Minnesota, along with a larger group. He was listed as Jacob Stalder, age 24. His wife, Barbara and her illegitimate son Jacob (listed as Inf), are listed separately.

Census:
Farmer Jacob Stalter, 27; Barbara, 26; Jacob, 6, and Mary 2 mo.

Census:
; Barbara, 38; and six children

Census:
Listed as farmer born in Byron, Bavaria, Germany, age 74; with wife Barbara age 64 born in same place; children Lizzie 17, Catherine age 14, Fanny age 11, Joseph age 9, Henry age 5 and Christian age 2; all born in IL

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Jacob married Barbara Birky on 30 Apr 1849 in GR. Barbara (daughter of Christian Birki and Maria Anna Gascho) was born on 19 Feb 1824 in Arzbach, Bavaria, GR; died on 31 Mar 1885 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried on 1 Apr 1885 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 113
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 1849, Liverpool To New York

Notes:

Obit:
STALTER - On the 31st of March, near Hopedale, Tazewell Co., Ill., of a lingering illness, Sister Barbara (Burkey), wife of Jacob N. Stalter, aged 61 years, 1 month and 12 days. The deceased was a faithful member of the Amish Mennonite Church. She died in the full assurance of faith and was buried on the 1st of April, leaving a sorrowing husband, nine children and twenty-nine grandchildren. Three of the children died before her. Funeral services by Noah Augspurger, Daniel Grieser and Joseph Springer.
————
The couple is found on the 1850 census of Tazewell County as farmer Jacob Stalder, 27, Germany; Barbara, 26, Illinois [Bavaria]; Jacob, 6, Illinois; and Mary, 2 months, Illinois.
They are found on the 1860 census of Tremont as farmer Jacob Stalter, 38; Barbara Stalter, 38; and six children including oldest son Jacob, 16.

The surname BIKE is used on the certificate of death. Other sources use Birky.

Birth:
10 a.m. at Pellheim estate. (born in Byron according to census info)
FAG: Pellheim, Landkreis Dachau, Bavaria (Bayern), Germany

Immigration:
On ship Minnesota, with her Uncle Valentine Birkey (1794), her child and others

Died:
Home of daughter Fanny Sutter

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer on Monbijou estate, assisting his father-in-law, the estate manager and leaseholder.

Notes:

Joseph made experiments with threshing machines powered by water. After his sons fell into debt, Joseph had to sell his farm Stuppacherhof (previously owned by Jakob Dettweiler) to pay the debt of his sons. He was a broken man and died in 1851.

Tenant on Kirschbacherhof and Monbijou, preacher of the Zweibrücken congregation. Lived on Ottenweierhof in 1822.

The Kirschbacher Hof was reconstructed and after 1822 was again leased to the Stalters who were still living in the Zweibrücken region. Joseph Stalter was for a time a leaseholder on the Kirschbacher Hof. For a time he was owner of an estate Stubbach Hof. In 1835 he moved to the “Montbijou” estate and gave the lease of the Kirschbacher Hof to both of his sons, Joseph and Johannes.

Joseph Stalter was a respected preacher of the Amish congregation.,

Birth:
Bickenaschbacherhof

Died:
Monbijou estate

Joseph married Susanna Hauter on 24 Jul 1806. Susanna (daughter of Nikolaus Hauter and Elizabeth Maurer) was born in 1787; died on 11 Nov 1820 in Dietrichingen, Rheinland-Pfalz, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Monbijou estate

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1791-1814, Alsace Lorraine, FR

Notes:

See Source for description of properties.

Daughter Elisabeth probably belongs in this family, based on the statement in Guth that she is of the Ottenweierhof, and based on Stewart’s chart which shows her a sister of Katherina, wife of Joseph Stalter (1807) and also a sister of Barbara who is Joseph Stalter’s (1786) second wife. Some speculation here. dk

Birth:
Ottenweierhof

Residence:
Managed and lived at Ottenweierhof

Died:
Ottenweierhof

Sebastian + Magdalena Güngerich. Magdalena (daughter of Christian Güngerich and Anna Holly) was born on 27 Jun 1773 in Steinseltz, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 24 Mar 1835 in Mahlberg, Waldeck, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Ottenweierhof

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer, restaurant leaseholder
• Reference Number: 42
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• PURC: 1860, Weilheim, Bavaria, GR

Notes:

Jacob Stalter owned Hemerten at one time. His daughter Katharina Stalter Guth (Good) was born there. Two subsequent families owned Hemerten, then in 1885 a baron named Legg bought it and his family still lived on the farm in 1984.

Birth:
Gersbergerhof

PURC:
Purchased the Lindauer farm in Ammerhöfe community where the Christner family lived.

Died:
At the time of Jakob’s death he was a leaseholder of a beer restaurant at Fu?rsteinried, a hunting lodge built to look like a baroque palace. It was constructed for Elector Maximilian II Emanuel in 1715, bordering the Fu?rsteinried Wald (forest) on the southwest outskirts of Munich.

Jakob married Katharina Stalter on 27 Apr 1816. Katharina (daughter of Jakob Stalter and Magdalena Nafziger) was born in 1800 in Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR; died on 17 Jan 1847 in Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 43
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Married her cousin.

“Marrying of cousins was NOT a an unusual occurrence in the past. In the general population, 'It is estimated that 80% of the marriages in history were between second cousins'. The population base was smaller. People lived in small communities and migrated within those same small communities. Transportation was slow and dangerous; by walking or by horse and people seldom, if ever traveled beyond the boundaries of the area in which they were born without some sort of armed escort. Our Amish ancestors had even more reasons to restrict their marriage-partner choices. They were a minority group within the general population. Amish principles forbid marriage with those of other faiths , the marriage partner always had to come from the community of Amish believers. Often a suitable partner could not be found among the limited number of members of the home congregation, so, in spite of the dangers of long-distance travel contacts had to be established over long distances. When a wedding did occur under these circumstances, it often happened that other potential marriage partners were discovered among the siblings of the bride and groom. Such doubled unions frequently took place and created a strong bond between two families. Pressure to marry within the Amish group came also from outside the group. There were rules from the local authorities forbidding the Amish/Mennonites from adding people from the communities to their congregations. They could not baptize others into their faith, other than those born into Mennonite families. Church leaders were chastised for baptizing and drawing young unmarried maids into their faith. (Davis, Richard Warren) With all of these restrictions it is understandable that our ancestors chose 'cousins' as their marriage partners in many cases.”

Birth:
Full name may have been Katharina Magdalena.
https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-1-422579201-1-561056/katharina-magdalena-stalter-in-myheritage-family-trees

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: In Europe A Bauer (Farmer), In USA Farmer
• Reference Number: 97
• Religion: Mennonite
• Residence: Bef 1800, Völlerdingen, Alsace, FR
• Residence: 1811, Flugelsberg, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 10 Nov 1815, Arzbach, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1818-1824, Pellheim, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 13 Mar 1851, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 7 Jun 1851, Le Havre to New York
• Census: 1860, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Of Kirshstockach, Bavaria. Lived first in Odenstockah, near Munich, Bavaria, then moved to Neukirchstock, also near Munich.

According to Hermann Guth's 1989 research, “at 62 years of age Christian applied to emigrate to Illinois on 13 Mar 1851, with his second wife Elizabeth Stalter, age 37. He had 10,000 fl of assets and his wife had an additional 2,225 fl. This was much more than most immigrants had. Traveling with them were Elizabeth 23, Andréas 29, Anna 28, Katharina 17, Veronika 15, from his first wife, and, Jakobine 5, Heinrich 4, Jakob 3, and Helena 6 mo. from his second wife. Christian noted to authorities that several older children were already in America.

Christian's daughter, Barbara Birki, from Kirchstockach (unmarried, but with child, Jacob, whose father was Thomas Luiderer from Putzbrunn) applied on 29 Feb 1849 for permission to emigrate to Illinois. Her father gave approval because she wished to travel with his brother, Valentine Birki from Gern, who was the child's guardian. The document indicated that three brothers/sisters were already in America. Barbara and Valentine planned to travel via Mannheim-Le Havre-New York, with ship agent Karl Dick from Augsburg, but evidently plans changed since they are on the ship list of the Minnesota sailing from Liverpool, England to New York in 1849. Included were Valentine Birki (1794) with niece Barbara and her illegitimate son; Valentine's daughter, Mary Burkey Birky (1833); and Daniel Zehr. “
—————————————————————————————
“Christian Birkÿ, farmer at Mair in KIrchstockach and widower, intends to marry Elisabeth Stalter, forestry farmer’s daughter from Gern, and sought reception into and consent of the community. Since Christian Birkÿ possesses an entire estate, and his future bride brings a dowry of 800 guilders, and their advancement is adequately assured, and they are liable for insignificant debts, we agree to this marriage on behalf of the entire community.
In confirmation of this, Brunnthal the 13th of August 1841, the local authorities of Brunnthal:
Andreas Zimmermann, Georg Fischer[?], Johann Heiss[?]”

“Christian’s assets at the time of immigration were 10,000 fl. and the assets of his children’s mother was a further 2,225 fl. for the children of his first marriage. He emigrate from Bavaria to the New World with one of the higher known fortunes. His brother Valentine also left the Europe with 10,000 fl. Many immigrants left with only a few hundred.”

“In the 1860 Illinois census, Christian and Elizabeth "Berky" are found in Groveland Township where Christian had purchased 120 acres of land in Section 22. Seventy two year-old Christian and 48 year old Elizabeth lived with their children, Henry, Jacob, Helena, Jacobina, and John (born in Illinois after the family arrived). Upon arriving in Illinois, Christian purchased 80 acres of farmland just north of Groveland in Tazewell County. Christian died on February 14, 1866 and was buried on his farm next to Heinrich Stalter, his father-in-law. His son Joseph was appointed administrator of his estate. The estate was valued at $2050.75 plus 120 acres of land valued at $4400. Each child received $264.13 from the estate settlement on 4/15/ 1868. Elisabeth received her widow's share. The last documentation of Elizabeth Stalter "Burky" is in the 1870 Census when she was living in Groveland, Tazewell County with her 5 children, Jacobine, Henry, Jacob, Helena, and John. Elisabeth died on September 24, 1872 and was buried next to her husband and father. In 1875 the children sold the land to Meinrad Biender, reserving one quarter of acre where the cemetery lay. It is now referred to as the “Birki Cemetery”.

Birth:
Near Diemeringen

Residence:
Lutterbacherhof. This is assumed because we know his brother Valentine lived there before going to Bavaria.

PURC:
Near Dachau, borough Rohrmoos. A half farm, the “Pasten estate,” house No. 8. Purchased from Jakob Hiser (Heiser) from Hanfeld, Country Court Starnberg. Size of the half farm was 84 days work and included a potato distillery.

Residence:
Mennonite and partial leaseholder on the grounds of the Pellheim estate of major general Maximilian Graf von Spreti at Arzbach, Bavaria, a few miles north of Dachau.

Immigration:
Applied for emigration

Immigration:
On French Bark, Adhimary (Adhema?), with his second wife and nine children, and Christian’s brother-in-law, Georg Kettner and his family (husband of Maria Birki).
Traveling with Christian and Elisabeth were Andréas (29), Anna (18), Elizabeth (23), Katharina (17) and Veronika (15) -children of Christian and his first wife - and Jakobine (5), Heinrich (4), Jakob (3), and Helena (6 mo.) - children of Christian and Elisabeth. He left capital of10,000 guilders. He deposited 2225 guilders for the children of his first marriage.

Census:
Listed as age 72 with wife Elizabeth, age 48.

Died:
Estate document from Tazewell Co. on file. Burial site is in Section 22 of Groveland Two., Tazewell Co., IL.

Buried:
Birki Cemetery - https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2596053/birki-cemetery/map#share_email

Christian married Maria Anna Gascho about 1815 in Pellheim, Bavaria, GR. Maria (daughter of André Gascho and Anna Zwalter) was born in 1798 in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR; died between 1840-1841 in Bavaria, GR. [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”)

Notes:

Married:
Arzbach was the name of an estate outlying the village of Pellheim (about 1.7 miles north of the center of Pellheim. It was the site of Schloss Pellheim, the house or palace of a count. The house is now a restaurant. Pellheim was administratively incorporated into Dachau in 1972.