Magdalena Birky

Notes:

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Church Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• HIST: 10. JOHN C.4 BIRKY (CHRISTIAN3, CHRISTIAN2, CHRISTIAN1) was born 04 Feb 1849 in Elm Grove Township, Tazewell County, Illinois, and died 19 Apr 1920 in Hopedale, Tazewell County, Illinois. He married (1) MAGDALENA ZIMMER 25 Jan 1874 in Tazewell County, Illinois, daughter of ZIMMER and KATE. She was born 03 Oct 1853 in Canada, and died 19 Oct 1893 in Oberlin, Decatur County, Kansas. He married (2) ELIZABETH GRIESER 24 Sep 1896 in Hopedale, Tazewell County, Illinois. She was born 08 May 1864, and died 30 Sep 1940 in Hopedale, Tazewell County, Illinois. Children of JOHN BIRKY and MAGDALENA ZIMMER are: i. BENJAMIN5 BIRKY, b. 1875. ii. SAMUEL Z. BIRKY, b. 06 Jan 1876, Tazewell County, Illinois; d. 1962, Zion, Lake County, Illinois; m. ANNA M. BURKEY, Abt. 1901, Walnut, Bureau County, Illinois; b. 13 Jun 1880, Bureau County, Illinois; d. 28 May 1942, Zion, Lake County, Illinois. More About SAMUEL Z. BIRKY: Burial: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Zion, Lake County, Illinois More About ANNA M. BURKEY: Burial: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Zion, Lake County, Illinois iii. EMMA BIRKY, b. 1878. iv. JACOB Z. BIRKY, b. 17 Jul 1880; m. EMMA OSWALD, 20 Jan 1907. v. KATHERINE BIRKY, b. 10 Jun 1882; m. WILLIAM ROTH. vi. CHRISTIAN BIRKY, b. 17 Jan 1884; m. LYDIA STOLZFUS; b. 16 Nov 1892. vii. MAGDALENA BIRKY, b. 22 Jul 1887; m. CARRON KAUFMAN; b. 01 Aug 1886. viii. BERTHA BIRKY, b. 04 Sep 1890; m. NOAH KIPFER. ix. LEVI BIRKY, b. 03 Jun 1893; m. LIZZIE BECHLER. Children of JOHN BIRKY and ELIZABETH GRIESER are: x. MENNO5 BIRKY. xi. ELIZABETH BIRKY, b. 17 Dec 1897. xii. ALBERT BIRKY, b. 12 Jan 1900; m. KATIE MILLER; b. 23 Oct 1904. xiii. JOHN G. BIRKY, b. 17 Jun 1902; m. GERTRUDE KATHRYN NAFZIGER; b. 28 Dec 1912. xiv. SIMON BIRKY, b. 1907; m. RUTH MILLER.
• Occupation: Farmer, minister, bishop
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: early 1800s, Decatur Co., KS
• USR1: Uremic poisoning (some form of kidney infection) after a week of suffering.
• Ordained: Sep 1877, Decatur Co., KS
• Ordained: Jul 1890, Decatur Co., KS

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald - May 6, 1920 - page 111
Birky. - Bishop John C. Birkey died from a complication of diseases Apr. 19, 1920, at his home near Hopedale, Ill.; aged 71 y. 2 m. 15 d. He was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., Feb. 4, 1849. Married to Magdalena Zimmer, Jan. 25, 1874, who died near Selden, Kans., Oct. 29, 1893. September 24, 1896, he was married to Lizzie E. Nafziger, who survives him. His descendants are 4 daughters, 8 sons, and 19 grandchildren. He was received into the Amish Mennonite Church in 1866, ordained to the ministry in September, 1877, and Bishop in July, 1890. The burial services were held Friday, Apr. 23, conducted by Samuel Gerber, of Pekin, Ill., and others. He was loved and esteemed by all who knew him, being of a meek disposition, and untiring in his efforts for the good of his fellowman. His faithful service, devotion to Christ and the Church, are well worth patterning after. He was well known throughout the churches of the Middle West and his counsels in congregation and Conference were always respected as wise and worthy. To know him was to love him. While he will be greatly missed, we cherish his memory and believe that his helpful influence in the Church will continue to live for years to come.


John C. Birky, ordained a bishop in 1890, was for many years a leader in the Western District Amish Mennonite Conference. He served as bishop of the Hopedale, IL. congregation from 1896 to 1924.

“If one were to put into a single sentence what folks remember most about him [John] it would be: his long, beautiful gray beard; his love for the brother; his ability to settle disputes and his sense of humor. His life is best summarized by the last statements of his obituary in the May 6, 1920 Gospel Herald:
He was loved and esteemed by all who knew him, being of meek disposition, and untiring in his efforts for the good of his fellow man. His faithful service, devotion to Christ and the church, are well worth patterning after....To know him was to love him. While he will be greatly missed, we cherish his memory and believe that his helpful influence in the church will continue to live for years to come.”

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

John C. Birky, the fourth child of Christian and Katherine, was born on February 4, 1849 in Elm Grove Township, Tazewell County, Illinois. This has been called the Dillon Creek area. This is near the present town of Tremont.

On January 25, 1874, John married Magdalena Zimmer. Information on her family is not at hand. She was born October 3, 1853. They lived in the southern part of Elm Grove Township until 1884, when they moved to Kansas. During this time these children were born to them: Benjamin (lived only two years), Samuel, Emma (died in 1901), Jacob and Katrina.

As with other pioneers of their day, lands to the west seemed to offer greater opportunities for them and their children. In 1884 a number of families including some of John's brothers moved to Decatur County, Kansas, locating near the town of Oberlin. At that time there was a town called Lund where they settled, but the only remains of Lund was an old church building and a nearby cemetery,as of 1960 when we tried to trace their travels.

On September 6, 1887, Brother Birky was called by lot to serve as minister of the Sheldon American Mennonite Congregation. This was the beginning of a special ministry for which he is remembered and loved, a ministry filled with love, suffering and searching. He was ordained to this special and high calling by Brother Joseph Slagel of Milford, Nebraska. In July of 1890, he was chosen by lot to be bishop, and was ordained to this office by Brother David Zook. It was this office which demanded so much of his patience, love, energy and time. From this time onward, he was known as Bishop Birky by the churches surrounding the church which he served each Sunday.

In the years that he lived in Kansas, six children were born to him and Maggie. They were; Magdalena, in 1887; Christian, in 1889; John (lived only five days); Bertha; and last a set of twins, of which only the boy, Levi, survived.

On October 29, 1893, Brother Birky was again painfully reminded of the insecurity of this life. His young wife, forty years of age, the mother of eight living children, departed from this earthly home. It must have been a time of real heart-searching and the seeking of God's will.

Meanwhile the Lord was working out His purposes in Illinois. In the church at Hopedale, Illinois, Bishop Christian Nafziger was getting older. His days of service to the church were drawing to a close. Realizing this fact he believed it would be good if another was ordained. In 1896 he requested that John C. Birky come and serve with him.

Brother Birky responded to the request of Bishop Nafziger and in the same year he came to Hopedale by himself. It was in the first few months at Hopedale that he courted and married Lizzie E. Grieser Nafziger whose first husband, Joseph Nafziger, had previously passed away. They were united in holy matrimony on September 24, 1896, by the bride's first father-in-law, Bishop Christian Nafziger. Brother Birky not only gained a wife and mother, but three additional children as well, Christian, Daniel B. and William.

Immediately following the wedding Brother Birky left for Kansas by train to get the rest of his family of six children, Sam and Jake having returned to Illinois in 1894.

For the trip back to Illinois, Brother Birky prepared a covered wagon with all the necessary provisions they could take. He decided that the four oldest children, Emma, Katy, Maggie and Christian along with their uncle Sam Zimmer would make the trip in this wagon while he and the two youngest children, Bertha and Levi, would go by train. The wagon party took with them dried meat, pickles, crackers and various foodstuffs and an oil stove to cook on. This supply lasted for only a few days and the food used after this had to be bought. Sleeping facilities were made out of a spring and mattress on different parts of the wagon for the girls and Chris and Uncle Sam. During the day a road cart pulled by a pony was used by the girls to ride in. A supply of six horses kept the wagon moving toward Illinois.

Back in Illinois the family was getting anxious. Time was drawing out, three weeks, four weeks, five weeks. Everyone was becoming uneasy. No one knew how they would receive word even if something did happen. Everyone knew that there was nothing to do but wait patiently upon the Lord. Finally one day in October the weary travelers arrived. The family praised and thanked God for His goodness and protection since their beginning in September.

A new home was begun. For the Birky children it meant a new mother and new brothers. For the Nafziger children it meant a new head of the household and new brothers and sisters. For Father it meant added mouths to feed; but there was the great blessing of a mother to nurse and kiss the knocks of the daily struggle of their children. For Mother, it too was added responsibility, but there was the joy of a new relationship which makes the family complete.

To seal the new family more closely together the Lord added a girl and four boys. They belonged just as much to the Nafzigers as to the Birkys and just as much to the Birkys as the Nafzigers. They were Elizabeth, Albert, John, Menno and Simon.

In thinking back over the life of this man who was my father, I am tremendously impressed again with the Christian motives and principles that governed his life and guided his decisions. I can certainly praise the Lord for such an inheritance.

-Simon G. Birky

Ordained:
Minister

Ordained:
Bishop

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

John married Magdalena Zimmer on 25 Jan 1874 in Tazewell Co., IL. Magdalena (daughter of Jacob Zimmer and Katherine Beckler) was born on 25 Jan 1853 in Canada; died on 29 Oct 1893 in Lund, KS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• USR1: Consumption

Notes:

Obit:
BIRKEY - On the 29th of Oct. 1893, near Lund, Decatur Co., Kansas, of consumption, Lena, maiden name Zimmer, wife of Bish. John C. Birkey, aged 40 years and 20 days. She complained little of pain and was very patient to the end. Her husband and eight children survive her; 4 sons and 4 daughters. Three have preceded her. She was universally loved and respected and was a faithful follower of our Lord, in our denomination. We mourn not as those who have no hope, for we have a living hope that she is with Jesus. When she saw that death was near she said God be praised, the hour has come. She was buried on the 31st at the Martin M.H. at which time the largest funeral assembled that was ever in that meeting-house. Funeral services by Jacob Roth and Joseph Schlegel of Colorado. Text, 1 Cor. 15:445.
"We miss thee from our home, dear mother,
We miss thee from thy place,
A shadow o'er our life is cast
We miss the sunshine of thy face."

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

Notes:

Obit:
Zimmer. - Jacob Zimmer died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Birky, May 2, 1915, of infirmities of old age; aged 94 y. 3 m. 5 d. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, and when a young man came to this country, settling in Canada. Feb. 14, 1851, he was married to Kathryn Baechler, and to this union were born 11 children all of whom are dead but 2. Mrs. Zimmer passed away April 2, 1912. The 2 children surviving are Samuel Zimmer, and Catherina, wife of J. H. Birky. Besides these, 20 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren survive him.
He came to Cuming Co., Nebr., in 1901. He was a faithful, consistent Christian man, being a member of the Mennonite Church. Having joined this Church in his youth he lived a beautiful Christian life throughout the major portion of his earthly career. Throughout this long journey from his youth up he feared and obeyed his God and Master, living a most consistent life.
For the last six months he has been confined to his bed.
Short services were held at the house, conducted by Preacher Schantz, after which services were held at the Mennonite Church conducted by Bro. J. D. Birky, assisted by Bro. Peter Oswald. Text, II Cor. 5:1.

Buried:
Beemer Cemetery

Jacob married Katherine Beckler in 1850. Katherine was born on 2 Feb 1830 in GR; died on 2 Apr 1912 in Cuming Co., NE; was buried in Beemer, Cuming Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
Zimmer.- Katherine Zimmer (nee Beckler) was born in Germany, Feb. 2, 1830; died at her home near Bancroft, Nebr., Apr. 2, 1912, of infirmities of old age; aged 82 y. 2 m. She was united in marriage to Jacob Zimmer Feb. 14, 1850. To this union were born 11 children, of whom 4 daughters, 5 sons, and 1 adopted son preceded her to the spirit world. She leaves to mourn her departure an aged husband, a son, a daughter, an adopted daughter, 20 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. She united with the A. M. Church in her youth and remained faithful until death, and often in her declining years did she express her desire to go home and be with God, leaving us the assurance that all was well with her soul.
Funeral took place April 5. Services at the house by Bro. J. D. Birky and at the A. M. Church by Bros. Peter Oswald and J. C. Birky. Texts, II Cor. 5:1-10; Hev*. 9:27. Interment in Beemer Cemetery.

Transcriber's note: Hev*., written as in the obituary




-------------

Buried:
Beemer Cemetery

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.
—————————————
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.
———————————————————

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)