Aaron Litwiller

Aaron married Lena Egli in 1906. Lena was born on 6 Sep 1886 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 29 Jun 1970 in Peoria, Peoria Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, Vol XV, No 19, 10 Aug 1922

Litwiller.--John Litwiller was born in Butler Co. Ohio, Feb. 27, 1841; died very suddenly July 15, 1922; aged 81 y. 4 m. 18 d. His mother died when he was six years old. At the age of ten he with his father, brothers and sisters moved from Ohio to Tazewell Co., Ill., settling near Hopedale. He united with the Amish Mennonite Church in his youth and remained faithful to the end. He was united in marriage to Fanny Birky Nov. 8, 1863. To this union were born six sons and five daughters; two dying in infancy. He leaves his aged companion, 9 children, 55 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, one sister (Mrs. Nichols Martin) to mourn his sudden departure. "The Lord has given, the Lord has taken, Blessed be the name of the Lord." Funeral services July 17 at the home by Daniel Nafziger, and at the A. M. Church near Hopedale by Jonas Litwiller and Samuel Gerber. Text, Phil. 1:21.
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Census records taken from FAG https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83518337/john-litwiller

1850 Milford Twp, Butler Co,OH - Litwell, Jos 50 France, Barbary 19 OH, Catharine 16 OH, Christian 15 OH, Jos 14 OH, Peter 11 OH, John 9 OH, Fanny 7 OH

1880 Dillon Twp, Tazewell Co,IL - Letweller, John 39 OH (both parents b France), wife Anna 35 IL (parents b Bavaria,France), daughter Lydia 13 IL (parents b OH,IL), daughter Catherine 11 IL (parents b OH,IL), son Benjamin 8 IL (parents b OH,IL), daughter Elizabeth 6 IL (parents b OH,IL), son Amos 4 IL (parents b OH,IL), daughter Mary 2 IL (parents b OH,IL) & widowed father Joseph 80 France (both parents b France)

1900 Dillon Twp, Tazewell Co,IL - Litwiller, John 59 OH (both parents b Germany & married 36 yrs), wife Fannie 55 IL (both parents b Germany & married 36 yrs & 11 children, 9 living), daughter Lizzie IL (parents b OH,IL), son Simon 19 IL (parents b OH,IL), son John E 17 IL (parents b OH,IL) & son Aaron 14 IL (parents b OH,IL)

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite

John married Veronica (Fannie) Birky on 8 Nov 1863 in Tazewell Co., IL. Veronica (daughter of Christian Bürcky (Birky) and Catherine Mosimann) was born on 16 Nov 1845 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 21 Dec 1930 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, Vol XXIII, No 42, 15 Jan 1931

Litwiller - Fannie Birky was born near Tremont, Ill., Nov 16, 1845; died at the home of her daughter (Lydia Nafziger) in Hopedale, Ill., Dec. 21, 1930; aged 85 y. 1 m. 5 d. In the 1863 she was united in marriage to John Litwiller who preceded her in death. To this union were born eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. She leaves five sons and two daughters to mourn her departure, as follows: Mrs. Lydia Nafziger, Mrs. Valentine Springer, Ben, Amos, Mrs. J. W. Springer, Simon, John E., Aaron and Mrs. Andrew C. Birky; also one brother (A. D. Birky), and Two sisters (Mrs. Mary Egli and Lizzie Birky). She also leaves fifty-nine grandchildren and forth-nine great-grandchildren. She united with the Amish Mennonite Church in her youth and remained faithful to the end. Funeral services were held at Hopedale Mennonite Church Dec. 24, conducted by Bro. J. A. Hieser assisted by Bro. Ben Springer. Text, I Cor. 15:55. Burial in Mennonite Cemetery.
"Mother's gone to live beyond this vale
Of sorrow, pain, and care;
And if through life we live for Him,
We'll meet her over there."

Died:
30 Dec 1923 date given by Cathlene Landes material

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite

Notes:

Married:
by Michael Mosiman, cousin of the bride’s mother

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Wheelwright (Carter/charron)
• Immigration: 1831, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Joseph and Barbe sailed from Le Havre with Barbe's brother Peter in May 1830, arriving at New York in July. They raised their family in Butler County. After Barbe's death Joseph brought his children to Dillon, where Joseph appears on the census in 1860 and 1880.

Joseph married Barbara Ulrich on 19 Sep 1829 in Hirsingue, Haut-Rhin, FR. Barbara (daughter of Peter Ulrich, Jr. and Katharina Lauber) was born on 20 Mar 1804 in Walheim, Upper Alsace, FR; died on 29 Dec 1847 in Butler Co., OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish

Notes:

Like her father and brother, she was illiterate, could only pen marks, not signatures, at the bottom of their marriage record.

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Brewer in Germany
• Reference Number: 195
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 12 Oct 1839, Le Havre to New York
• Residence: Abt 1840, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1841, Dillon Creek, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: Abt 1859-1860, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 18 Jun 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Lived for a number of years in Oberlin, KS. In 1900 the family lived near Beemer, NE, then moved to Hopedale again, and finally lived in Kouts, IN. Jacob was ordained to the ministry in 1895 and was named bishop in 1902. He served 31 years in the ministry.

According to page 147 of 18 Jun 1860 Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., census, Christian Burkey, age 49, was born in Germany and was listed with his wife Catherine, age 40, born in France. Children (all born in IL): Catherine 17; Fanny 15; Christian 13; John 11; Joseph 9; Andrew 7; Jacob 5; and Valentine 3.

1880 census gives birthplace of Christian’s father and mother as Bavaria.

Their household appears on the 1850 census of Tazewell County as Christian Burkie, 38, Germany; Christian, 27, Germany [marked as a female, almost certainly meant to be Catherine]; Catharine, 6, Illinois; Fanny, 4 Illinois; Christian, 2, Illinois; and John, 1 Illinois. They are described on the 1880 census of Little Mackinaw as Christon Birky, 70, farmer from Bavaria; Katherine, 60, from France; and four children ranging in ages 22-15. They are buried at Mennonite Cemetery in Hopedale.

Birth:
Born Bavaria, Germany according to 1860 and 1880 census

Immigration:
Aboard the Burgundy. Passenger list shows J. Burky, 24, and C. Burky, 31.

Residence:
Don’t know the source for this date

Residence:
Page 147 18 Jun 1860 census

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Christian married Catherine Mosimann on 30 Aug 1841 in Tazewell Co., IL. Catherine was born in 1820 in Azoudange, Moselle, FR; died on 13 Feb 1909 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 196
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 1830, New Orleans, LA
• Residence: 1830, Butler Co., OH

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald - Vol. I, No. 49 - March 6, 1909, page 783, 784

Birky - Catherine Mosiman was born in Germany in the year 1820 and came to this country with her parents when about ten years old. She was married to Christian Birky in 1841, who died Sept. 26, 1885. To this union were born six sons and four daughters; one son died Sept. 12, 1900. Sister Birky was converted in early life and lived a consistent Christian life. She died Feb. 13, of the infirmities of old age; aged 89 y. She leaves to mourn her death, 9 children, 80 grandchildren, 96 great-grandchildren. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Buried near Hopedale, Ill., Feb. 16. Services by Daniel Nafziger and A. H. Leaman.

Immigration:
Ship Superior

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1819, Repaix, Moselle, FR

Notes:

No doubt part of the Hochburg congregation on the Hochburg estate in Baden-Durlach, Germany before 1800.

Buried:
Repaix Cemetery, (Association Francaise d’Histoir)

Johannes + Francoise (Veronica) Zehr (Serre). Francoise (daughter of Christian Zehr and Veronique (Frenni) Elisabeth Martin) was born in 1766 in Diane-Capelle, Moselle, FR; died on 9 Aug 1819 in Repaix, Moselle, FR; was buried in Repaix, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Weaver

Notes:

The ship France sailed from Le Havre and arrived at New York July 12, 1833. Gary L. Yordy found the passenger list, which includes this grouping from France:

Pete Ulrich 30 carpenter [Christian Wagler]
Catherine Ulrich 23 [his wife, Catherine Ulrich]
Peter Ulrich 2 [their son, Peter Jacob Wagler]
Ludwick Schoften 28 [unknown]
Peter Ulrich 60 [Christian's father-in-law Peter Ulrich]
Catherine Lowber 55 [Christian's mother-in-law Catherine Lauber
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The 'Christian Wogler' household appears on the 1840 census of Ross, Butler County. It is checked off as two males under 5 [Christian H. and Joseph]; one male 5-10 [Peter]; one male 10-15; one male 30-40 [Christian]; one female under 5 [Barbara]; one female 5-10 [Katharina/Catherine]; and one female 30-40 [Catherine Ulrich]. Christian worked as a finishing carpenter in Ohio.

The family came to Tazewell County in 1844. The household appears on the 1850 census of Tazewell County as farmer Christian Wagler, 51, France; Catharine, 54, France; Peter, 17, France; Catharine, 16, Ohio; Christian, 14, Ohio; Barbara, 13, Ohio; Joseph, 12, Ohio; and Isaac, 10, Ohio. From the names of their next door neighbors, it is apparent that they were already living on Allentown Road at Elm Grove: Valentine, Andrew, and Joseph Birky were holding land awaiting the arrival of their father Valentine from Bavaria.
By 1860 the Elm Grove household consisted of oldest son Peter Wagler, 27, France; Catherine, 21; Illinois; and Christian, 7 months, Illinois. On the 1870 census Peter's family has moved to Morton, while the parents and two sons have return to the Elm Grove farm: farmer Christian Wagler, 67, France; Catharine, 71; Joseph, 35; and Christian, 34. The 1880 census shows Catharine, 83, living with her son Joseph, 42, at Elm Grove.

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Taken from "Roanoke Centennial History”:

The first newspaper in Roanoke was published in 1884, and was called the Era. The publisher was George Holton. It was published in the basement of the Audi building which today houses Lorene's.
It was established at the time of the county seat contest in 1883 and, when the election failed to remove the county seat from Metamora to Roanoke, its publication was abandoned. It did not continue over one year. There is one issue of the Era in existence today.

June 28, 1895 - Quite an exciting runaway occurred on our streets this afternoon. About 4 o'clock Peter Ulrich, Jr., was coming up Broad Street when his team became unmanageable, throwing him out just before they passed The Call office. They turned too short at the corner of Main Street upsetting Theo Herbst's buggy, breaking a wheel. After running down Main a block they turned west, passed the post office and ran into a tree at the Brubaker corner, where they were caught. Mr. Ulrich had barely started them up, when away they went for another spin. At Rapp's corner he was again thrown out, the neck yoke broke, letting the tongue down and things began to look serious, when they turned into A. Rapp's yard, and were again brought to a stand still by a catalpa tree. By this time the whole town was out. Mr. Ulrich had a small bone in his hand broke, but escaped very fortunate.

Died:
Langweiserhof

Peter married Katharina Lauber on 24 Aug 1794 in Bourg-Bruche, Bas-Rhin, FR. Katharina (daughter of Christian Lauber and Katharina Schwartz) was born about 1775 in Mussig, Bas-Rhin, FR; died after 1831/1833 in USA; was buried in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Katharina lived in Bourg-Bruche with her mother and stepfather, a miller, at the time she married Peter Ulrich, Jr. in that community in 1794, at the age of 18.

Catherine Ulrich was baptized on the Birkenhof farm at Ruederbach, Upper Alsace Nov. 27, 1812. The farm is associated with the Rich, Hirschi, and Ropp families (Andréas Ropp lived only 4 miles away at Largitzen, and his brother's children lived on the Birkenhof).

Buried:
Railroad Cemetery

Notes:

Four relatives served as official witnesses--for the groom, 1) Peter Ulrich, his father, and 2) Johannes Ulrich, his brother, a weaver in Lubine, and, for the bride, 3) George Risser, her stepfather, miller in Bruche, and 4) the husband of Barbara Lauber, the bride’s brother-in-law, Jacob Peterschmidt.

Married:
LDS film 0745903, marriages for year II fol.2r-v.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 34
• Religion: Mennonite
• USR1: Pneumonia, per Dr. Heelbast from Augsburg
• Residence: 1804-1813, Geretsried, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 22 Jun 1829, Unterdiessen, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 1830, Abstried, near Diessen, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 13 Feb 1832, Heimberg, Bavaria, GR

Notes:

Previously from Freudenbergerhof near Bitche in Lorraine.
Later at Heimberg, near Augsburg.

Harry F. Weber, in his book "Centennial History of the Mennonites of Illinois" reports them as the Big Burkeys and listed them along Dillon Creek in 1841. Reference is made to them as the Big Birkeys because of their large stature. Joseph was the youngest of the six sons and the smallest, and he was a man of over 6 feet in height and weighed over 200 pounds. In 1850, according to U.S. census files, Joseph Birky was 22 years old and his brother Jacob was 24, and they were living with their brother John Birky in Tazewell County, Illinois.
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While in Bavaria, Christian was one of the signatories to a letter sent March 18, 1811, to King Maximilian I. Joseph (ruler from 1806-1825). In it the “Elders of the Menonists” of the dairy farm Oberndorf, appealed to the King for permission to hire their own private instructors to educate their children in their own catechism, since he had allowed them freedom of religion. But “some of the community have received legal orders to send their children to school a good half hour away.”

The answer came to them on Sept. 11, 1811, that “attendance of the local school remained compulsory, but the Mennonite children were not compelled to participate in religious instruction.”

Other signing the letter were: Christian Güngerich, Heinrich Stalter, Daniel Zehr, Johannes Bächler.
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Following are the memories of Valentine Birky (recorded in 1935) of his grandfather Christian Birki (1781-1840).

“The son, who was my grandfather, grew to manhood in France. He, being of more than ordinary strength, was wanted for the army, so he fled to Germany, settling in Bavaria near the town of Augsburg. The French hunted for him in the hay and grain with their bayonets. His mother and sister came to Bavaria later.

“In Bavaria, Christian set up housekeeping. He raised a family of six sons and two daughters.... They tell me the Birkys were of the nobility, whatever that may mean. The Birky brothers were large men; they stood six feet tall and over. None of them fleshy, as I remember them--large frame bone and muscle.

“One thing we must give them credit for: none of them were drinkers, which was a trouble with some of the German people in those days when liquor flowed so freely. I knew the brothers well, all but my own father, which I regret very much not knowing. I have always heard him highly spoken of. Their father was considered the strongest man in Bavaria, I am told. “

The following taken from "A Brief Account of the History, Ancestry & Descendants of the John C. Birky Family."

“The son [of Christian Birki [b. abt 1700], also named Christian, grew to manhood and was constantly sought for service in the military. Eventually he escaped back into Germany. There he was married and raised a family six sons and two daughters. The names of the children in order of age were: Katherine, Christian, John, Andrew, Valentine, Jacob, Joseph and Elizabeth.

Between 1830 and 1840, when the older sons were approaching manhood, plans were made for the Christian Birky family to move to America, but the father suddenly became ill and died. Even so, loyalty to their faith of non-resistance caused them to continue plans to go to America. The two older sons, Christian and John, went to America alone first and settled in Butler County, Ohio. About a year later the other four brothers joined them in Ohio, and a short time later all six went west and located along Dillon Creek in Tazewell County, Illinois. This was in the year 1839 or 1840. The sister Elizabeth, who had married Jacob Eichelberger, came to America with her family and settled in the vicinity of her brothers. The mother and older sister, who married a man by the name of Jacob Rogie, remained in Germany.”

“[Christian] left his wife, one son, and one daughter. The French army sought this one son, Christian, to serve in the army. They often dug in the hay and grain with their bayonets, thinking that they might find him. To avoid this persecution, Christian fled to Germany and then into Bavaria. His mother and sister came later. This took place about 1800 or a little later. In Bavaria, Christian was married and became the father of six sons and two daughters, although it is thought that there was a third daughter who died early in youth. The names of the children were, in order of age: Katherine, Christian, John, Andrew, Valentine, Jacob, Joseph and Elizabeth.

Sons Came Over.
Of the six brothers it was apparent that there were three deacons and one minister. Between 1830 and 1840 this family prepared to come to America, but the father suddenly took sick and died, so it was decided that the two oldest sons, Christian and John, should make the journey alone, which they did.
It was customary for voyagers to take along enough provisions for the journey and also to do their own cooking. There were quite a few Hungarians on the ship and as the Birky boys were the only Bavarians, the Hungarians held the majority. One day John was seasick and Christian went down in the kitchen to do the cooking he found that an Hungarian had a large pot of potatoes on the stove. When Christian came with his kettle, which was small, to cook some soup the Hungarian told him to get out as he couldn't cook.
The boy went upstairs and told his brother John, the story goes, that he must come down to the kitchen, as the Hungarian had insulted them. Christian went down again and tried to put his kettle on but again without success. The Hungarian told him to get out. But Christian, his ire called up, was himself the aggressor this time and seizing the pot of hot potatoes, turned them upside down on the Hungarian's head. In the meantime John came downstairs, and while the Hungarian was trying to get at Christian a seaman tripped him and he fell at John's feet. Thinking the boy had thrown him he left them alone, his fight gone.
About a year later the other brothers came to America and settled in Butler county, Ohio, with the two oldest brothers, but they remained there only a short time and then moved to Tazewell county, Illinois, about 1859 or 1860. The sister Elizabeth, who had married Jacob Eichelberger, came to America with her family and settled in the vicinity of her brothers. The mother and the oldest sister, who married a man by the name of Jacob Rogie, remained in Germany.
The name was formerly spelled Purckey, but has been changed to Burky, Birkey and Birky. The P was changed to B and the C omitted in Switzerland, and other minor changes have been made by the different branches of the family.”

Residence:
South of Munich. Leased Schwaigwall (Gut Wahl/Wolfratshausen-Waal estate), succeeding Joseph Stalter; Joseph rented only 50 days, Christian had a contract for 10 years. A Schwaige was not a ordinary farm, and according to Helmut Gingerich it provided for for a castle or monastery, needing skills such as distilling and cattle raising and a knowledge of business processes. Christian and his people farmed the 240 Bavarian acres of meadows and pastures until 1813.

PURC:
Tafernwirt. Purchased an inn that included 53 acres of farmland. In 1831, Christian is mentioned twice as witness of the Mennonite community, and as innkeeper in Schwabunterdissen.

PURC:
Heimberg estate, near Daniel Unzicker

PURC:
Bought farm estate near Fischach and 25 km S.W. of Augsburg, from Baroness von Grimmenstein for 4,000 Guilders. This farm was also near Daniel Unzicker’s Abstried Schwaige.

Died:
At 11:00 am in the house of Peter Hochstetler while visiting the family. Services at his funeral were conducted by minister Peter Hochstettler (1814-1884), a resident of Meringerau. Hermann Hage says he died at “Siebenbrunn b. Augsburg.” This is 20 miles east of Fischach, Christian’s home since 1838.

Buried:
At the wall from the chapel, in the presence of Stephan Klughammer the priest in the parish of St. Georg, near the Hochstetler family “the oldest from the Mennonite Peter Hochstetler, tenant to the Brik’schen farm.” Peter was in charge of the burial. (Haunstetten equals Siebenbrunn: they are very close together.)

Christian + Katharina Nafziger. Katharina was born in 1776/1777; died on 3 Apr 1861 in Ehingen, Bavaria, GR; was buried on 5 Apr 1861. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Schaffhauserhof, home of her daughter Katharina Burcky Rocke. (Schaffhauser Farm by Nördlingen)