Katherine Burkey

Notes:

Buried:
Walnut Cemetery

Family/Spouse: William A. Schertz. William was born on 21 May 1872; died in 1950. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Sausage maker and meat cutter in the Zion, IL store
• Religion: Mennonite, then Bowie’s Christian Catholic Church in Zion, IL
• USR1: Anthrax, carbuncles

Notes:

Obit: Waukegan Daily Sun, Tuesday, February 21, 1928

Andrew J. Burkey of Zion passed away at his apartment in Zion Home Sunday evening about eleven o'clock. Mr. Burkey has been a highly respected member of the community for more than twenty years and his death from anthrax, commonly called carbuncles, is a loss to the community. He leaves behind to mourn his loss his wife, Lena, and five sons and five daughters, three of whom reside in Zion. They are, Mrs. Fred Fleeger, Mrs. Burton Innes and Sam Burkey. Another son, Simon, lives in North Chicago, where he is the proprietor of a butcher shop. Services will be held from the branch tabernacle number eight Thursday afternoon at two thirty, Apostle Neal officiating. The body will be laid to rest in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
——————————————————
“Si Burkey was born into a Mennonite family 91 years ago, 1894, one of 12 children. His family were farmers around Pekin (Tazewell County), Illinois. They moved to Kansas where Si was born, after a number of years and following a four year drought and the loss of crops, the family moved to Walnut (Bureau County), Illinois. It was during these years that a younger sister, Marie, became ill. The family had heard of a healing minister in Chicago, named John Alexander Dowie. Marie elected to go to Chicago and be healed, which she was. She had an Uncle who lived in Zion when Dowie built the city, Peter Ropp, he was also made an elder in the original church, Marie came to Zion and lived with them. Elder Ropp appealed to Andrew Burkey, Si's father, to come to Zion. Andrew after his wife, Lena's urging, moved his family to Zion around 1905. They were members of the Christian Catholic Church where Si sang in the choir and was employed in the Zion Industries.

“Si's father became disenchanted with some of Zion's practices and decided to take his family to Warren, Wisconsin. Si was then 12 years old, where they lived for 3 to 4 years. After which the family moved back to Walnut, Illinois where they farmed for 5 to 6 years and later returned to Zion. Si worked as a sausage maker and meat cutter in the Zion Store, where he met Eva Brown. After a few years Si courted Eva, who now lived on the family farm outside of Zion near Wadsworth, Illinois.”
——————————————————
Andrew and Lena were originally Amish-Mennonite. They were married 29 Jan 1871 in Tazewell County, Illinois. They farmed many years in the area around Pekin, Illinois. They moved for a time to Decatur County, Kansas, but after several years of farming there and four years of continual drought the moved their family to Walnut, Bureau County, Illinois.

Sometime after moving to Walnut, their daughter Marie became ill. The family had heard of a healing minister in Chicago name John Alexander Dowie. Marie elected to go to Chicago and be healed, which she was. Marie had an uncle, Peter Ropp, her mother's sister Anna's husband, who lived in Zion when Dr. Dowie built the city (Peter also became one of the original elders of the Zion church). Marie came to Zion and lived with her aunt and uncle. Elder Ropp appealed to Andrew Burkey to come to Zion. Upon Lena's urging, Andrew moved his family to Zion around 1905. They became members of the Christian Catholic Church in Zion and Andrew was employed in the Zion Industries.

(Some of this information provided to Cathlene J. Landis by Andrew's granddaughter, Lorna Burkey Bieneman.)

In addition to the eleven children listed here at Find A Grave for Andrew and Lena Burkey, they had another son who lived to adulthood, John Fred Burkey, born 12 Sep 1884, in Tazewell County, Illinois and died 22 July 1974 in Alameda, Alameda County, California. His place of burial is unknown at this time.

Census records indicate that Andrew and Lena were the parents of 15 children, 12 of them living to adulthood. The names of their other three children are unknown at this time.

Buried:
Mount Olivet Memorial Park

Andrew married Magdalena Staker on 29 Jan 1871 in Tazewell Co., IL. Magdalena (daughter of Nicholas Staker (Steker) and Magdalena Eimer) was born on 10 Oct 1851 in Butler Co., OH; died on 28 Oct 1936 in Zion, Lake Co., IL; was buried in Zion, Lake Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
FAG: Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH

Buried:
Mount Olivet Memorial Park

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer In 1860 Census; In Germany, A “Cow-Man”
• Reference Number: 198
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Naturalization: 25 and 28 Jan 1856, Tazewell Co., IL
• Immigration: Abt 1840, New York
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 18 Jun 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Boynton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit:
BUERKY - On the 27th of January, 1892, in Tazewell Co., Ill., Pre. Andrew Buerky, aged 75 years and 3 months. Funeral services were conducted by Pre. Egli and Noah Augspurger from I Cor. 15.

Birth:
Naturalization paper states birthplace as Willbach, Bavaria (Below Munich).

Immigration:
Information from Naturalization papers.

Census:
Farmer, Andrew Burkie, 33, Germany; Madeline, 26, Germany; Caroline, 5, Illinois; Christian, 3, Illinois; and Andréw3, 6 months, Illinois.

Census:
Page 144: Andrew Birkey, age 44, farmer, R&P born Bavaria; with wife Madaline, age 33, born Bavaria; and children Christian 13, b. IL; Andrew 10, b. IL; John 7, b. IL; Valentine 4, b.l IL; Magdaline 1, b. IL; and a girl named Pheobe, age 12, b. IL also living with the family.

Census:
Farmer, Andrew Berky, 63, born in Bavaria to parent from France and Hesse; Magdalene, 54, born in France to French parents; and two children born in Illinois.

Buried:
Presumably in the Mennonite Cemetery

Andreas married Marie Madeleine Gerber in Oct 1842 in Tazewell Co., IL. Marie (daughter of Jean Louis Gerber and Louise Goyer) was born on 22 Jan 1823 in Barr, Lower Alsace, FR; died on 12 Jun 1912 in Dewey, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 199
• Immigration: 14 Jul 1844, New York, NY
• Census: 1850, Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: Jan 1856, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: (Gospel Herald)
Birkey - Magdalena Birkey, nee Gerber, was born in Germany, Dec. 22, 1823; died at her home near Dewey, Ill., of infirmities of old age, June 12, 1912; aged 88 y. 5 m. 20 d. Mother Birkey united with the A.M. Church in her younger years and remained a faithful member to the end. She united in marriage with Andrew Birkey. This union was blessed with 6 children. She lived in matrimony with her husband 48 years and lived a widow about 20 years. She leaves 5 children, 30 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and many friends to mourn her departure. Her husband and 1 daughter preceded her to the world beyond. Funeral services at the home by Peter Zehr in German and at the church by Daniel Greiser and J.C. Birkey in German and Peter Zehr in English. Texts, Psa. 90, Deut.31:14, II Cor. 5:1, and II Tim. 4:6-8. Buried in cemetery near by.

(Note: Her date of death was June 12, 1912.  Knowing her correct birth date was Jan. 22, 1823, we can calculate her age count as 89 years, five months, and 20 days.  So the author must have known her correct birth date Jan. 22, 1823 but misstated it as Dec. 22, 1823; then miscalculated her age count by one year as well. )

Immigration:
Aboard the ship Cotton Planter, with her brother Louis, 25 (born 9 May 1819 at Barr; and Lena, 21.

Census:
Farmer Andrew Burkie, 33, Germany; Madeline, 26, Germany; Caroline 5, IL; Christian, 3, IL; and Andrew, 6 mo., IL

Naturalization:
Applied

Died:
At her home

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Employed as a laborer or miller in the mill at Tragny, on Belgrade farm at Bistroff, in Bening Commune at Harprich (a farm and tile factory), at Linstroff (presumably on Hingsange farm), and finally as a jack-of-all-trades at Bertring.
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: 1859, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL

Nicholas married Magdalena Eimer on 22 Aug 1841 in Hamilton, Butler Co., OH. Magdalena was born on 15 May 1819 in Lorraine, FR; died on 14 Mar 1907 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Children’s birth entry gave occupation as “guard” and “restauranteur.”

Jean + Louise Goyer. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Barbe Farny on 7 May 1802 in Bistroff, Moselle, FR. Barbe (daughter of Christian Farny and Anne Marie Hirchi (Hirschy)) was born on 1 Jul 1777 in Bistroff, Moselle, FR; died on 9 Dec 1836 in Bertring, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Fourth child of her parents.

Birth:
Belegrade farm

Notes:

Married:
Belgrade Farm. Marriage conducted by Amish Mennonite ministers Christian Gingerich, and Christian Engel the 1833 immigrant.