John J. Birky

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 154

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald - August 13, 1942 - pages 430,431
Birky. - John J., youngest son of Jacob and Magdalena (Hochstettler) Birky, was born Feb. 12, 1868 near Tremont, Ill; died at his home in Shickley, Nebr., July 28, 1942; aged 74 y. 5 m. 6 d. At the age of 7 he moved with his parents to Cass Co., Mo., then in January 1891, he went to Kansas. At an early age he accepted Christ as his Saviour and was a faithful member of the Mennonite Church. Dec. 22, 1891 he was married to Nancy Jane Lantz at Oberlin, Kans. To this union were born 3 sons and 4 daughters. April 8, 1907 his wife passed away. In March, 1910, he with his family moved to Shickley, Nebr., where he has lived ever since. Feb. 14, 1915 he was married to Mary Good of Hopedale, Ill. He leaves his companion and 5 children (Mrs. Lulu Boshart of La Junta, Colo.; Mrs. Elsie Roth of South English, Iowa, Mrs. Ella Augustine and Elmer of Shickley; and Mrs. Ruth Horsch of Foosland, Ill.), 21 grandchildren, 3 sisters (Katie, Mary and Elizabeth Birky of Shickley), 1 brother (Chris of Eureka, Ill.), 3 nephews, and 2 nieces. He was preceded in death by 2 grandsons, 2 infant sons, 3 brothers, 1 sister, and, 2 nephews. He was much interested in the work of the Lord, always willing to do his part wherever he was needed, and always attended church services when health permitted. He took sick Dec. 6, 1939, and has been failing ever since. He was bedfast the last 7 weeks and often during that time wished he could go home. Funeral services conducted by the home ministers. Text, Mark 13:33. Interment in the adjoining cemetery.

"Our lives will be lonely, dear Father,
Without your sweet smile and your cheer;
Words fail to express how we'll miss you,
And those prayers in behalf of US here."

Buried:
Salem Cemetery - Shickley Mennonite: http://doyourememberthese.com/Gallery/Shickley-Mennonite-Cemetery

John married Nancy Jane Lantz on 25 Dec 1891. Nancy was born on 14 Jan 1873 in West Liberty, Logan Co., OH; died on 8 Apr 1907 in Oberlin, Decatur Co., KS; was buried in Dresden, Decatur Co., KS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lulu Myrtle Birky was born on 7 Oct 1892.
2. Elsie May Birky was born on 13 Dec 1895.
3. Ella Irene Birky was born on 8 Sep 1901.
4. Elmer Solomon Birky was born on 4 Sep 1903; died in 1977.
5. Ruth Sarah Birky was born on 19 Aug 1905 in Seldon, KS; died in 1991.

John married Mary Good on 14 Feb 1915 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. Mary (daughter of Josef (Joseph ) Guth (Good) and Katharina Stalter) was born on 28 Oct 1874 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 10 Jul 1966 in Geneva, Fillmore Co., NE; was buried on 13 Jul 1966 in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish
• USR1: Typhoid fever
• Immigration: Abt 1840, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: Abt 1853, Cass Co., MO

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, July 1883:
"Buercky.- On the 4th of July, in Cass Co., Mo., of typhoid fever, Bro. Jacob Buerky, aged 59 years. He leaves a wife and 6 children. But they need not mourn as those who have no hope. He was a faithful brother in the Amish Church. We trust he has entered the rest that remaineth for the children of God. Peace to his ashes. Funeral services by John Hertzler and Jacob C. Kenagy."


In about 1853 this family moved to Cass Co., MO, where there was an Amish settlement. “An Amish Mennonite church was organized there in the spring of 1866. This congregation held their meetings for about two years in private houses, then for several years in the Smith school house. In the year 1870 they built the church known as the Clear Fork church, where they worshipped until 1883, when the Sycamore church was built, and it is their present place of worship. In 1894 there were 350 members, but by 1917 the congregation had depleted to about 250.”

http://patrimoine-de-france.com/bas-rhin/voellerdingen/ferme-lutterbacherhof-9.php

Birth:
Lutterbacherhof, near Saar-Union

Jacob married Magdalena Hochstettler on 10 Dec 1850 in Tazewell Co., IL. Magdalena (daughter of Joseph Hochstettler and Jacobina (Phoebe) Gingerich) was born on 7 Feb 1829 in Meringerau/Siebernbrunn, Bavaria, GR; died on 28 May 1888 in Garden City, Cass Co., MO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
14 Mar 1832 in the Berkey Book

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:

• Immigration: Aft 1844, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Buried:
Landes Mennonite Cemetery (Birky/Landes), Plot #22 on cemetery map dated 8/12/2013

Joseph + Jacobina (Phoebe) Gingerich. Jacobina was born about 15 Jun 1803 in Lauterbacherhof, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, FR; died on 7 Dec 1856; was buried in Groveland, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Landes Mennonite Cemetery, Plot #31 on cemetery map dated 8/12/2013

Other Events and Attributes:

• EARL: Y
• Reference Number: 35
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: Unterdiessen, GR
• USR1: From A Fall

Notes:

The grandfather of the Big Birkeys (who immigrated to Illinois) died at Bitche  at 7 a.m. 26 Thermidor 5 - Aug. 13, 1797 (we had circa 1800). The 10 a.m. entry describes him as Christian Bircki, 38, husband of Barbe Koch, of la cense de la Rosselle. Witnesses were his father-in-law Christian Koch, anabaptiste de Gendersberg, 65; and Jacques Berguste, secretary of the municipality, 36.

Christian and Barbara/Barbe were residents of a 297-acre farm called Freydenberg in the neighborhood/parish of La Rosselle within Bitche [Fr. la cense de la Rosselle dit Freydenberg]. Up until the early 20th century potatoes were raised there and processed through a distillery.   

BITCHE
Bitche is the site of an historic fortress [Fr. Citadelle de Bitche], standing 250 feet over the town.  It was constructed in 1624. Beginning in 1744 army officer Louis de Cormontaigne rebuilt it to be self-sustaining with its own water supply.  On Nov. 17, 1793 a 739-man garrison held off an assault by 1,200 Prussian troops.  The siege is found in military histories as an engagement in the First Battle of Wissembourg. 

During the Napoleonic wars the citadel was used to confine prisoners of war.  It was common to see them marched to the citadel in chain gangs.  Officer prisoners under guard were routinely permitted to leave the citadel and purchase food at the town's markets.  Accounts of imprisonment there can be found online in Edward Fraser's Napoleon the Gaoler; Personal Experiences and Adventures of British Sailors and Soldiers during theGreat Captivity (1914).   During Napoleon's 100 days in 1815, the French commander repulsed a siege by Austrian troops. 

Residence:
Tafernwirt

Died:
Petite-Rosselle (La-Rosselle) Christian died at Bitche at 7 a.m. 26 Thermidor 5 - Aug. 13, 1797. He is described as Chistian Bircki, 38, husband of Barbe Koch, of la cense de la Rosselle. Witnesses were his father-in-law Christian Koch, anabaptiste de Gendersberg, 65; and Jacques Berguste, secretary of the municipality, 36.

Christian married Barbe Koch about 1781. Barbe (daughter of Christian Koch and Madeleine Martin) was born about 1768; died on 28 Dec 1834 in Heimberg, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Notes:

Married:
bei Augsburg

Notes:

Died:
near Augsburg

Peter + Magdalena Unzicker. Magdalena (daughter of Joseph Unzicker and Barbara Elizabeth Holly) was born in 1774 in Lauterbacherhof, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, FR; died in 1839. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]