Mary A. Springer

Notes:

Obit:
Weaver.- Mary A. Springer Oyer, 91, Eureka, Ill. Born: June 16, 1901, Rantoul, Ill., to Valentine and Amelia Unzicker Springer. Died: Dec. 26, 1992, Eureka, Ill. Survivors-sons: Wilmer Oyer, Clifford Weaver, stepchildren: Don Weaver, Marjorie Morton, Phyllis Jantz, Joan Deltz; brothers and sisters: Elmer, Victor, and Ervin Springer, Clara Nafziger, Dora Oyer; 20 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by: Lester Weaver (second husband), John R. Oyer (first husband), two infant sons and two infant daughters. Funeral: Dec. 29, Metamora Mennonite Church, by Robert Harnish. Burial: Waldo Cemetery.

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Mary married John R. Oyer on 6 Dec 1921. John (son of Christian Oyer and Katherine Zehr) was born on 7 Jun 1896 in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL; died on 4 Oct 1930 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Wilmer Valentine (Bud) Oyer was born on 26 Sep 1922 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; died on 27 Jul 2001 in Normal, McLean Co., IL; was buried in Metamora, Woodford Co., IL.
2. Darlene Oyer died in 1925.
3. Lyle Oyer died in 1927.
4. Milton? Oyer died in 1929.
5. Virginia Oyer died in 1930.

Family/Spouse: Lester Weaver. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Springer, Valentine, son of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Springer, was born in Alsace Lorraine, France, March 15, 1869; died at Fisher, Ill., Dec. 3, 1961; aged 92 y. 8 m. 18 d. On Oct. 3, 1895, he was married to Emillia K. Unzicker, who survives. Also surviving are 10 children (George, Theodore, Mary--Mrs. Lester Weaver, Mrs. Clara Naffziger, Dora--Mrs. Elmer Oyer, Elmer, Victor, Raymond, Clarence, and Ervin), 33 grandchildren, and 36 great- grandchildren. One son preceded him in death. He was a member of the East Bend Church, where funeral services were held Dec. 6, in charge of J. Alton Horst and Ivan Birkey.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Valentine married Emelia (Millie) Katherine Unzicker on 3 Oct 1895 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. Emelia (daughter of August K. Unzicker and Elizabeth Birky) was born on 21 Jul 1874 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 19 May 1964 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Springer, Emelia K., daughter of August and Elizabeth (Birkey) Unzicker, was born at Morton, Ill., July 21, 1874; died at Fisher, Ill., May 19, 1964; aged 89 y. 9 m. 28 d. On Oct. 3, 1895, she was married to Valentine Springer, who died Dec. 3, 1961. Surviving are 10 children (Theodore, George, Elmer, Victor, Ervin, Clarence, Raymond, Mary - Mrs. Lester Weaver, Mrs. Clara Naffziger, and Dora - Mrs. Elmer Oyer), 2 sisters (Mrs. Andy UIlrich and Mrs. Lena Heppard), one brother (Julius), 32 grandchildren, and 42 great-grandchildren. She was a member of the East Bend Church, where funeral services were held May 22, in charge of J. Alton Horst and Ivan Birkey.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By Bishop Peter Zehr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: Metamora, Woodford Co., IL
• Immigration: 1891, Metamora, Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Buried:
Stewart-Harmony Cemetery

Valentine married Marie Esch on 25 Aug 1861 in Saint-Médard, Moselle, FR. Marie (daughter of Jean Esch and Barbe Suisse) was born on 27 Jun 1843 in Bisping, Moselle, Lorraine, FR; died on 10 Jan 1934 in Metamora, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Metamora, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Birth:
Obit says St. Medard is birthplace

Buried:
Stewart-Harmony Cemetery

Notes:

Parents John & Elizabeth Esch

wife of Valentine Springer
married 1861 France

8 children:
Peter
John
Joseph
Benjamin
Andrew
Valentine
son & daug. passed in France

immigrated 1891 with children & Marie's Mother Elizabeth

Marie Springer, daughter of John and Elizabeth Esch, was born June 27, 1843, in St. Medard, Alsace Lorraine, France; died Jan. 10, 1934; aged 90 y. 6 m. 13 d. Her father having passed away before her birth she and her mother lived at the home of her grandfather. In the year 1861 she was married to Valentine Springer of St. Medard, France. To this union were born 8 children. In 1891 she with her family came to America and settled in the vicinity of Metamora, Ill. They were engaged in farming here for a time and then moved to Fisher, Ill. When she and her husband retired they returned to Woodford County and resided in Metamora. In 1913 her husband passed away and 7 years later she made her home with her children. Her last years were spent in the home of her son, Peter Springer, near Metamora. She was preceded in death by her husband, a son, and a daughter who died in France, another son John and grandson Benjamin of Fisher, Ill. Those who remain are her 5 sons Andrew, Joseph, and Peter of Metamora; Valentine of Fisher; Benjamin of Washington, 24 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren. Sister Springer united with the Mennonite Church in her youth and remained a constant and faithful follower of her Savior throughout her entire life. She was of a lively personality and had a kind heart that won many friends for her. Children and grandchildren will ever remember her devotion and tenderness for her own.
"Mother's gone beyond this world of sorrow, pain and care,
Gone to be with Jesus; Oh, will we miss her there?"
Services were held at the home of her son Peter Springer on Friday, Jan. 12, in charge of A. A. Schrock and at the Metamora Mennonite Church in charge of H. R. Schertz. Text, Rev. 6. Burial Harmony Cemetery.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
Gospel Herald, Nov 1939
Unzicker.-August, son of Peter and Katherine Unzicker, was born near Morton, Ill., Sept. 25, 1849; died at the home of his son (S. E. Unzicker), Roanoke, Ill., Sept. 27, 1939, after an illness of seven weeks; aged 90 y. 2 d. On Dec. 20, 1870, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Birkey. To this union were born 7 sons and 6 daughters. He was preceded in death by his wife, 3 sons (Daniel, John, and August), also 2 daughters (Emma and Elizabeth). There remain 4 sons (Oscar and Peter of Low Point, Samuel E. of Roanoke, and Julius of Morocco, Ind.), also 4 daughters (Mrs. Val Springer of Foosland, Mrs. Frank Welts of Cazenovia, Mrs. Prosper Heppard of Roanoke, and Mrs. Andrew Ulrich of Shelbyville), 64 grandchildren, 116 great-grandchildren, 1 brother (Julius of Foosland), and a host of other relatives and friends. He received Christ in his youth and for the past eleven years held his membership in the East Bend Mennonite Church of Fisher, Ill. Funeral services were conducted at the Roanoke Mennonite Church with J. A. Heiser of Fisher, Ill., in charge. Text, Psalm 23. Burial in the Roanoke Cemetery.

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

August married Elizabeth Birky on 10 Dec 1870 in Tazewell Co., IL. Elizabeth (daughter of Johannes Bircky (Birky) and Elisabeth Bircky (Birky)) was born on 25 Dec 1847; died on 13 Apr 1898; was buried in Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Obituary gives marriage date as 20th of Dec.

Married:
Tazewell Co. Records D/19. By Christian Nafziger

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 1803
• Residence: 1813, Sarrebourg, Moselle, FR

Notes:

The couple raised a large family at Rothuhle, their last child born there in 1838, then they moved to Saint-Medard near Dieuze where they died. With the departure of Andre Springer, it was the end of the era of the Virkler and Springer families at the mills of Sarrebourg. For more than half a century the Virkler family and their descendants were at the head of mill Mattmuhle. First the patriarch Rudolph Virkler, at least since 1774, followed by his son-in-law George Springer until 1803. The pupil was taken by his grandson Joseph Engel and his wife until 1831. At the same time another grandson , Andre Springer, made Rotmuhle mill from 1813 to 1840. Between 1813 and 1831, the same family was at the head of two mills Faubourg de France.

Residence:
Rotmuhle

Andre married Catherine Esch on 25 May 1809 in Bourscheid, Moselle, FR. Catherine (daughter of Nicolas Oesch and Barbe Madeleine Baechler) was born in 1789 in Bourscheid, Moselle, FR; died on 1 Sep 1866 in Saint-Médard, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Phalsbourg

Notes:

Married:
Phalsbourg
Witness: Christian Nafziger b. 1771

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Cultivateur at Alzing

Jean married Barbe Suisse on 7 Jan 1842 in Gosselming, Moselle, Lorraine, FR. Barbe (daughter of Christophe Suisse and Marie Farni) was born on 12 May 1806 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Oct 1847, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1849, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 1856, Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1870, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Apparently joined the Hessian congregation in Butler Co., OH.

Birth:
Offentaler estate

Census:
farmer Peter Unsenker, 44, Germany; Catharine, 28, Germany; August, 10, Illinois; Magdelin, 9, Illinois; Anna Eliza, 5; and laborer Louis Greene, 25, Germany. The 1864 plat map shows 'P. Unzicker' living in woodland just above the Roberts, Roth, and Staker farms in the northwesst corner of Morton.

Census:
farmer Peter Unsicker, 56; Catharine, 45; Augusta [August], 26; Magdalena, 19; Amelia [Emilie], 16; Magdalena Kennel, 79; farm laborer Benedict Hauger, 38; and Julia [Julius] Unsicker, 26 [6].

Census:
farmer Peter Unsicker, 64; Catherine, 54; and farmer Julius, 36, born in Illinois to a father from Wiesbaden and a mother from Bavaria.

Buried:
Hirstein Cemetery

Peter married Katharina Kennel on 30 Dec 1848 in Butler Co., OH. Katharina (daughter of Johannes Kennel and Magdalena Katharina Naffziger) was born on 1 Oct 1822 in Dreisen, Palatinate, GR; died on 11 Jan 1898 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1830

Notes:

Birth:
Kirchheimbolanden

Immigration:
With her family on ship De Rham

Buried:
Hirstein Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer/Deacon; A Horseman In Germany
• Reference Number: 182
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1839, Butler Co., OH
• Immigration: 12 Oct 1839, Le Havre to New York
• Residence: 1840/44, Tazewell Co., IL
• Ordained: 1847 and 1864, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1860, Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

“Big John,” “Black John”, lived in Tremont. A deacon in the Dillon Creek Congregation by 1864. Attended the 1875 conference of Amish ministers in the Sutter barn.

“In Germany....John was a horseman and a good horseman he was, as I found out for myself when I stayed with him in the spring of 1868-69, when he was breaking four-year old colts to work that had been raised in the woods, wild and vicious.”

The 1850 census of Tazewell County shows the households of Valentine, Andrew, John (with Jacob and Joseph), and Christian in consecutive order on one page.
Their household on the 1850 census of Tazewell County: farmer John Burkie, 35, Germany; Elizabeth, 25, Germany; Elizabeth, 2, Illinois; John, 1, Illinois; laborer Jacob, 25, Germany; and laborer Joseph, 22, Germany. John is found as a 65-year-old retired farmer on the 1880 census of Elm Grove, living with three children. He stated that his father was born in France, his mother in Hesse.

Birth:
Near Augsburg

Residence:
With brother Christian

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

Residence:
Along Dillon Creek

Ordained:
Served Dillon Creek, later Delavan Prairie congregations

Census:
Page 168:
John Bergy age 45, farmer b. Bavaria; Elizabeth age 31 b. Bavaria; Elizabeth age 12 b. IL; Christian age 9, b. IL; Valentine age 5, b. IL.

Johannes married Elisabeth Bircky (Birky) on 7 Jan 1847 in Tazewell Co., IL. Elisabeth (daughter of Valentin (Valentine) Bircky (Birky) and Elisabeth Unzicker (Hunsiker)) was born on 19 Nov 1826 in Nymphenburg, Bavaria, GR; died in Oct 1866 in Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 169
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: Oct 1846, NY

Notes:

Birth:
Weibach Castle, No. 17, normal birth at 7:30 am with midwife N. Gunzler in Nymphenburg.

Immigration:
On Ship Kilby: Joseph, 29; Catherine Augustein, 21; Barbara Augustein, 20 (Joseph’s wife-to-be); and Valentine Burkey, 26, Joseph’s brother. Catherine Augustein later married a John Burkey.