Matilda Sutter

Notes:

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

“Grandpa Sutter was a tall man, over six feet, and his nickname was Shorty. I remember his white hair, his bent-over torso, and his little white beard (chin-whiskers!). ….“

“Christian Sutter died July 22, 1932 in Hopedale, Illinois. He was born August 3, 1853 in Morton, Illinois a son of Christian and Magdalena Nafziger Sutter. He married Fannie Stalter Feb 28, 1876 in Flanagan, Illinois. He died July 22, 1932 in Hopedlae, Illinois. Surviving are his widow Fannie and 13 children. Burial in Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery.”

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Christian married Fannie Stalter on 28 Feb 1876 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. Fannie (daughter of Jacob N. Stalter and Barbara Birky) was born on 17 Apr 1858 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL; died on 25 Mar 1943 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, April 1943:
"Sutter - Fanny, daughter of Jacob and Barbara Stalter, was born near Morton, Ill., April 17, 1858; died at her home in Hopedale, Ill., March 25, 1943; aged 84 y. 11 m. 8 d. While she was a small child her parents moved to the vicinity of Flanagan where she grew to womanhood. She was married to Christian N. Sutter, Feb. 28, 1876, and came to Hopedale, Ill., to make her home. Her husband preceded her in death ten years ago and one son Amos, eight years ago. To this union 13 children were born, twelve of whom survive (Christ, Kouts, Ind.; Sophia Dietz, Chenoa, Ill.; Louisa Zehr, Mackinaw; Julius J., Elwyn, Pa.; Cyrenius and Aaron, Manson, Ia.; Harvey, Peoria, Ill.; Edward, Eureka, Ill.; Barbara Zehr. Levi, Elmer, and Matilda, Hopedale, Ill.). She also leaves one sister, Barbara Roggy, Meadows; one brother Chris, Pontiac; 49 grandchildren, and 50 great-grandchildren. She united with the Mennonite Church in her youth and remained faithful to the end. Besides bringing up her large family, she spent many a night at the home of some sick friend or neighbor. Funeral services were held March 27 in charge of Bro. Simon Littler assisted by Bro. Ben Springer."

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• MILF: Y
• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 1848
• Census: 1860, Hittle Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit:
SUTTER. - On May 11, 1899, Christian Sutter, aged 76 years and 20 days. He leaves a widow, two children, twenty-seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was one of the first Amish Mennonites to settle in this neighborhood, and he could see how the small membership grow to a large congregation, and how many a one, who came after him, was called away before him. He was married twice. With his first wife, Magdalena Nafziger, he lived in matrimony twenty-one years; with his second wife, Barbara Augsburger, twenty-six years. He was a member of the Amish Mennonite Church since his youth, and died in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., Ill., trusting in the mercy of the Lord. Buried on the 14th. Funeral services by Samuel Gerber and J. C. Birky. C.
—————————————————
Christian's barn was used for the 1875 Amish ministers conference. It has been dismantled and rebuilt at the site of the Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society Heritage Center in Metamora. An old Amish saying of his time was “A good barn will pay for a good house, but a good house will not pay for a good barn.”
—————————————————
The restored barn

Birth:
Forsthof in Dittenfeld, royal court district of Neuburg in Schwaben-Neuburg

Census:
Farmer Christian Suter, 57, Bavaria; Barbara, 50, Bavaria; Annie Augsberger, 17, stepdaughter born in Illinois; Daniel, 13, stepson born in Illinois; and Fannie, 10, stepdaughter born in Illinois.

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery with first wife

Christian married Magdalena Nafziger on 17 Mar 1850 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. Magdalena (daughter of Christian Nafziger and Veronica Burkey) was born in 1819 in GR; died on 25 May 1871 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By Bishop Andrew Ropp

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:

• Occupation: Estate manager/Minister/farmer - Bauer in Dittenfeld
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: 1825-27, Probfeld, Bavaria, GR
• Ordained: 19 May 1824, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 11 Nov 1851, New York, NY
• Census: 1860, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Birth:
One history has the year 1795. Source #360 gives birthplace as Münchweiler (probably Münchweiler an der Rodalbe.

Residence:
John and Barbara were born there

Immigration:
From Le Havre. After 36 day voyage on the Samuel L. Fox (left Le Havre about 5 Oct 1851).
https://www.immigrantships.net/v3/1800v3/samuelmfox18511111_01.html

Census:
pg. 149 farmer John Sutter, 65, Germany; Barbara, 61; Andrew, 19; Andrew Buky [son-in-law Andrew Birkey], 29; Fanny [Veronica], 22; and Barbara, 1, born in Illinois.

Buried:
Birky-Landes Mennonite Cemetery - Grave #36 on printed plot map, or Plot #2 on the 8/12/2013 version.

Johannes married Barbara Oesch on 31 Oct 1819 in Hanfeld, Bavaria, GR. Barbara (daughter of Christian N. Oesch and Katharina Burki) was born on 24 Jun 1799 in Saarbuckenheim, Alsace, FR; died on 10 Sep 1884 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Birth:
(Sarre-Union) Day could be read Jun 23 or 27 just as well.

Buried:
Landes Cemetery - Grave #10 on printed plot map dated 8/12/2013.

Notes:

Married:
Near Lake Starnberg, below Munich. They were first cousins.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1839, Unterweilbach, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: Abt 1848
• Census: 1860, Hittle, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Birth:
According to gravestone year is 1792

Residence:
Christian served as an overseer for the estate of a Count von Sprety.

Census:
Farmer Christian Suter, 57, Bavaria; Barbara, 50, Bavaria; Annie Augsberger, 17, stepdaughter born in Illinois; Daniel, 13, stepson born in Illinois; and Fannie, 10, stepdaughter born in Illinois.

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery (hers was the first burial)

Christian married Veronica BurkeyBavaria, GR?. Veronica (daughter of Christian Birki (Bircki) and Barbe Koch) was born on 4 Oct 1796 in Bitche, Moselle, FR; died in 1855 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in 1855 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
First: the birth entry of Veronica Burcky, who came to Hopedale, Tazewell County with her husband Christian Nafziger. Created at Bitche 15 Brumaire V - Oct. 4, 1796 (we had circa 1797). Today 13 Brumaire V at 1 p.m. came before me Jean Jacques Hetzel, municipal agent of the communty of Bitche to record these acts... the citizen Christel Burcky anabaptist of thla cense de la Rosselle called Freydenberg age 38, witnessed by the citizen Jacques Derquilbet, secretary of the municipality age 35, and citizen Joseph Durner, policeman of the brigade at Bitche age 58, also living here, and declared...ETC ... wife/mother of the child Barbe Koch...daughter Frony. Signature looks like 'Christian Bi.'



Died:
Date from gravestone

Buried:
Veronica's was the first burial in the Hopedale Mennonite Church cemetery.

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.