Aldene Lorene Birkey

Notes:

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Heart Attack

Notes:

Obit:
Birkey.- Silas Daniel, son of Valentine and Phoebe (Good) Birkey, was born in Fisher, Ill., May 21, 1897; died of a heart attack at Pontiac, Ill., Mar. 12, 1984; aged 86 y. On Dec. 19, 1917, he was married to Amanda Stalter, who survives. Also surviving are 6 daughters (Leota Springer, Marie Oyer, Velda Birky, Norma Nafziger, Joan Litwiller, and Carolyn Kutzner), one son (Lowell), 26 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 2 brothers (Joe and Joel), and 3 sisters (Katie Zehr, Ada Foley, and Edna Schertz). He was preceded in death by one son (Aldine Birkey). He was a member of Waldo Mennonite Church, where funeral services were held on Mar. 14, in charge of Lester Zook; interment in Waldo Cemetery.

Resided Flanagan, IL

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Silas married Amanda Mae Stalter on 19 Dec 1917. Amanda (daughter of Henry Stalter and Mary Stalter) was born on 10 May 1897 in Gridley, Pike Twp., McLean Co., IL; died on 1 Oct 1991 in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: Peoria Journal Star (Oct 2, 1991):
Flanagan- Amanda M. Birkey, 94, of Flanagan died at 1:25 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, 1991, at Mennonite Hospital in Bloomington. Born May 10, 1897, in Pike Township, Livingston County, to Henry and Mary Stalter Stalter, she married Silas Birkey on Dec. 19, 1912, in Gridley. He died March 12, 1984. One daughter, one brother and one grandchild also preceded her in death.

Surviving are six daughters, Leota Springer, Norma Nafziger and Joan Litwiller, all of Minier, Marie Oyer of Roanoke, Veida (sic) Birky of Delavan and Carolyn Kutzner of Bloomington; one son, Lowell Birkey of Flanagan; two sisters, Ada Springer of Chenoa and Anna Springer of Hopedale; s6 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was a life member of Waldo Mennonite Church in rural Gridley.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at her church, the Rev. Lester Zook officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan. Burial will be in Waldo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church.


Obit: Gospel Herald
Birkey, Manda Mae Stalter, 94, Flanagan, Ill. Born: May 10, 1897, Pike Twp., Ill., to Henry and Mary (Stalter) Stalter. Died: Oct. 1, 1991, Bloomington, Ill. survivors - children: Lowell, Leota Springer, Norma Nafziger, Joan Litwiller, Marie Oyer, Veida Birkey, Carolyn Kutzner; 26 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren; sisters: Ada Springer, Anna Springer. Predeceased by: Silas Birkey (husband). Funeral and burial: Oct. 4, Waldo Mennonite Church, by Lester Zook.

Died:
Mennonite Hospital

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
Obit gives year as 1912

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Little formal education, but a degree in life’s experiences
• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 14
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Cancer (See Obit)
• Residence: 1887, Decatur Co., KS
• Residence: 1895, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 9 Feb 1910, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 26 Feb 1910, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 27 Dec 1920, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Oct. 4, 1928 Gospel Herald
Birkey. - Valentine Birkey, son of Joseph and Mary Birkey, was born near Morton, Ill., Feb. 2, 1858; died Sept. 18, 1928; aged 70 y. 7 m. 16 d. He was united in marriage to Phoebe Good about 47 years ago. Surviving him are his wife, 4 sons, 5 daughters, 2 sisters, 1 brother, 31 grandchildren, and a large number of old relatives and friends. His parents, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, and 2 grandchildren preceded him to the spirit world. For several years his health seemed to be failing and later cancer developed, which caused his death. He was confined to his bed from June 15 until death. At times, his suffering and pain was very great, but he was very patient through it all. His condition did not seem to alarm him, and he was fully given up to Him who does all things well. He united with the Mennonite Church in his youth and proved faithful until the end. Funeral services were conducted at the home by Bro. S. S. Zehr and at the church by the Bros. Jake Zehr and Ezra Yordy. Text, 1 Cor. 13:12. Interment was made in the cemetery nearby.


Read at the Centennial Celebration of the East Bend Mennonite Church in 1989, in Fisher, IL
“My name is Valentine Birkey. My father was Joseph of the “Big Black” Birkeys, and my mother was Mary of the “Little Red” Birkeys. They both came from Germany to Tazewell County where they met and married. I was born in 1858 near Morton, Illinois, but my parents later moved to near Hopedale. It was at Hopedale that Phoebe Good and I were married in 1882. Here our two daughters Mollie and Bertha were born.

“About this time many families were moving west. In northwest Kansas land could still be homesteaded. We kept hearing there had been lots of rain the last few years and things were looking good. Some of my relatives were moving there, so my parents decided they would move too. It sounded like a good chance to own land, and Mother insisted that all her married children move too.

“So in April 1887, Phoebe and I packed for the long train ride. After arriving we stayed with my parents until September when Joe was born. We had taken out a timber claim which meant we had to plant 500 trees, live on the land and then the 160 acres would become ours. So that summer the men cut sod and built our sod house on the claim. the walls were two feet thick, which kept it really warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It was the roof that gave US trouble--the sod and tree branches always seemed to let the rain through. And I really didn’t like having the rattlesnakes living in the walls. My family had all taken claims very close by. The stagecoach form Oberlin to Colby, Kansas crossed over part of our farm.

“We had a large church congregation in Decatur County. Our services were held in the Swedish Covenant sod church on Sunday afternoons until we finished building our own sod church. The cemetery was 1/2 mile north of the church and that’s where we buried by brother Dan.

“After we got settled in Kansas it forgot to rain. Year after year we had crop failures. the corn would look beautiful in the spring and then the hot, dry winds came and in just a few days the field of corn would be ruined. One year the wheat headed out, but since it was only six inches tall it was too short to cut with the binder. Our only choice was to turn the pigs into the field to do the harvesting. We seemed to get poorer every year. Joe, Alvin and Kate were born in our sod house. We had to divide our potatoes and it was hard to have to feed the children “thick and thin” for supper. What was that? It was thick sour milk to which Phoebe added some fresh sweet milk. We gathered buffalo chips to burn in our stove. Those were hard years on the prairie.

“Families started moving away. Some of my cousins moved by covered wagon to Beemer, Nebraska to help start the church there. some moved back to Hopedale. Two of my sisters moved to Shickley, Nebraska, and eventually my brother Joe moved to Oregon, my brother Jake to Montana. One summer my cousin Christian J. Birkey came to visit. He was married to Phoebe’s sister, so he was my brother-in-law as well. Then he saw how bad things were, he urged US to sell out and come back to Illinois. I told him if I sold everything I owned it wouldn’t be enough to pay our way back.

“On our way to church every Sunday we would stop at the home of the Lund family to collect our mail. One Sunday morning there was a letter from Chris. Phoebe couldn’t wait till after church to read it. Chris said he had bought a farm in Champaign County were a new church had been started. He offered to send US money for the train fare. Chris was like that--he helped many people. It was very difficult for Phoebe and I to get much out of the church service that day.

“Well, we soon made plans to move to Illinois and it was a glad day when we got there. It was almost dark, and as we got near the house I said, “Oh, look at all the sheep out there in the pasture.” Well, when I looked out the next morning, I got a surprise! I saw it was tree stumps instead, and that meant I had a lot of work to do. But we had 20 good years there. East Bend church was building its first building, so I got to help with that. There was no bridge across the Sangamon River north of the church so we had to ford the river. About ten years later, John Naffziger and Chris Good put together a petition and we got a new bridge built across the river.

“After returning to Illinois, Silas, Joel, Ada and Edna joined our family. I was finally able to buy the farm 1/2 mile north of the church. I built a house and barn which are both still standing in 1989.

“I didn’t have much education, but I had a degree in life’s experiences. Looking back on the good and bad times I think we need the bitter lessons to better appreciate the good ones.”

Residence:
Went to Kansas for a homestead claim.

Residence:
After difficult years in Kansas moved back to Illinois.

PURC:
From C.C. and Lena Gut for $4,785. W1/2 of NE1/4, and East 25 acres of NW 1/4 of SW1/4, and W1/2 of W1/2 of NW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 17 Twp 22N R8E

PURC:
From John Cender. Five acres-W 1/2 of E 1/2 of W 1/ of NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 17, Township 22N, Range 8E of 3rdPM

PURC:
From Cora A. and H. W. Baker for $8,100. SW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 17 Twp22 N, R8E--”except a portion leased to the Ommish Mennonite Church Society.”

Died:
At his farm home.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery. Funeral by J. A. Heiser.

Valentine married Phoebe (Bena) Good on 15 Jan 1882 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. Phoebe (daughter of Josef (Joseph ) Guth (Good) and Katharina Stalter) was born on 5 Sep 1863 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Dec 1962 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried on 18 Dec 1962 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer’s wife and mother of ten (nine living).
• Reference Number: 15
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Old Age
• Residence: 15 Jan 1882, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
Birkey, Phoebe, daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Good, was born at Hopedale, Ill., Sept. 5, 1863; died at Eureka, Ill., Dec. 16, 1962; aged 99 y. 3 m. 11 d. On Jan.15, 1882, she was married to Valentine Birkey, who died in Sept., 1928. Surviving are all their 9 children (Mrs. Mollie Zehr, Mrs. Bertha Heiser, Joe, Alvin, Mrs. Katie Zehr, Silas, Joel, Mrs. Ada Foley, and Mrs. Edna Schertz), 3 sisters (Mrs. Sara Beller, aged 93; Mrs. Kate Horsch, aged 91; and Mrs. Mary Birkey, aged 88), 40 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were also 2 sisters, 2 brothers, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. She was a member of the East Bend Church, where funeral services were held Dec. 19, in charge of Ivan Birkey and J. Alton Horst.

Obit: Fisher Reporter
Funeral services were held at East Bend Mennonite Church with Rev. Ivan Birkey and Rev. J. Alton Horst officiating. Phoebe died at Maple Lawn Home in Eureka where she had been a resident for eleven years.


Obit: Mennonite Weekly Review
10 Jan 1963 p. 8
Mrs. Phoebe Birkey

Mrs. Phoebe (Good) Birkey was born near Hopedale, Ill. on Sept. 5, 1863, the daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Good. On Jan. 15, 1882 she was married to Valentine Birkey. They lived near Hopedale for five years. In 1877 [sic; 1887?] they homesteaded on the prairie in Decatur County, Kan. There they built and lived in a sod house where three of their children were born. They lived in Kansas for eight years.

In 1895, with the help of a sister's husband, they moved to a farm near Fisher, Ill. In 1917 they built the house north of the East Bend Mennonite Church and lived there until Mr. Birkey died in September 1928. She then lived with her children until 1951 when she moved to the Maple Lawn Homes in Eureka, Ill., spending the rest of her days there. Here she made many friends. She moved on to her eternal home on Dec. 16, 1962.

Surviving are her nine children, Mrs. Mollie Zehr, Mrs. Bertha Heiser, Joe Birkey, and Alvin Birkey, all of Fisher, Mrs. Katie Zehr of Ludlow, Ill., Silas Birkey of Flanagan, Ill., Joel Birkey of Ludlow, Mrs. Ada Foley of Norwalk, Calif., and Mrs. Edna Schertz of Saybrook, Ill.; three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Beller, 93, of Maple Lawn Homes, Mrs. Kate Horsch, 91, of Washburn, Ill., and Mrs. Mary Birkey, 88, of Sunset Rest Home, Geneva, Neb.; 40 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, two sisters, two brothers, four grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren preceded her in death.

In her youth she gave her heart to the Lord, remaining a member of the Mennonite church. She lived a long life, and her mind remained clear to the last. Her life was a quiet one marked by great concern for all members of her family. She will be missed by many.

The funeral service was held at the East Bend Mennonite Church near Fisher, Ill. on Dec. 19, 1962, with Rev. Ivan Birkey, a grandson, and Rev. J. Alton Horst officiating. Burial was made in the church cemetery. Six grandsons carried the casket.

Died:
Maple Lawn Home

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Valentine and Phoebe were married in the Hopedale Mennonite Church by Christian Nafziger. Joseph Good was a witness.
Valentine was 23, a farmer, and living in Hopedale, IL at the time of marriage. Phoebe was 18.

Notes:

Died:
Tobin Nursing Home

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Henry married Mary Stalter on 1 Mar 1896 in Gridley, McLean Co., IL. Mary (daughter of Joseph R. Stalter and Christina Eicher) was born on 16 Mar 1873 in Livingston Co., IL; died on 28 Sep 1921 in Livingston Co., MO; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: S212436
• RWDN: S212436

Notes:

Obit: --From Gospel Herald - Volume XIV, Number 27 - October 6, 1921 - p. 527 
Stalter.-Mary, daughter of Joseph and Mary Stalter, was born in Livingston Co., Ill., Mar. 16, 1873; died at her late home 3 miles north of Meadows (one mile from the place of her birth) Sept. 28, 1921; aged 48 y. 6 m. 12 d. She was married to Henry Stalter on Mar. 1, 1896. She had been in failing health for over 2 years with lung and heart trouble the after effects of influenza. She leaves her deeply bereaved husband and 4 daughters (Amanda Birkey, Ella, Anna, and Ada), 2 granddaughters, her aged father, two brothers (John and Chris), three sisters (Lizzie Rediger and Barbara and Lena), one son (Edward). Mother and two brothers preceded her. She united with the A. M. Church in her youth and lived a consistent Christian life to the end. She was a kind and loving wife and mother, and expressed herself ready to go whenever the Lord calls her. She was loved and respected by all who knew her. Funeral services were held Oct. 1 by Bro. D. W. Slagel at the house and at the Church by Bro. J. D. Hartzler and Bro. Samuel Gerber. Text, Heb. 4:9. Interment in the Waldo Cemetery.-

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 18
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1844-67, Tazewell Co., IL
• Immigration: Abt 1840, Butler Co., OH
• Residence: 1841, Butler Co., OH
• Census: Jun 1860, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 22 Feb 1865, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: Aug 1870, Gridley, McLean Co., IL
• Residence: 1867-1872, Gridley Twp., McLean Co., IL
• Ordained: 1877, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL
• Census: 10 Jun 1880, Boynton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1882-1889, Boynton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1889-1903, Decatur Co., KS
• Residence: 1906, Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE

Notes:

Obit: (Gospel Witness, December 1906)
BIRKEY.-Joseph Birkey was born in Germany, Mar. 19, 1828, and died near Shickley, Neb., Dec 6, 1906; aged 78y. 8m. 17d. On January 7, 1851, he was married to Mary Birkey. They lived in this relation for over fifty-five years. To this union were born nine children, three of whom have preceded him to the spirit world. Three sons, three daughters, fifty-three grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren are left to mourn their loss, but they mourn not as those who have no hope. Bro. Birkey was deacon in the Mennonite church for twenty-nine years and was faithful to the trust placed upon him. He was laid to rest on the 8th of December in the Salem cemetery. Funeral services were conducted by Christian Beller of this place and Jacob Stauffer and Joseph Rediger, of Milford, Neb. A great many people assembled to show their love and esteem to one who had lived in their midst and also to show their sympathy to the bereaved ones. As his body now rests in the grave we believe his soul is sweetly resting on the shores of eternal deliverance. Peace to his ashes.

“From 1889-1903 he served churches in Decatur and Sheridan Counties in Kansas, and in Nebraska, the Filmore congregation (now the Salem Mennonite Church).”

According to Harry F. Weber in Centennial History of the Mennonites of Illinois,
“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 Birkey was 22 years old and his brother Jacob was 24, and they were living with their brother John Birky in Tazewell County, Illinois.” From “A Brief Account of the History, Ancestry & Descendants of the John C. Birky Family.”

“The “E” (in Joseph’ name) was assumed by Joseph Birky in later years because there were many others with the name Joseph Birky.”

Birth:
Bavaria cited on his naturalization document

Census:
Burket with wife and five children

Naturalization:
Along with his brother Valentine, citing his birthplace as Bavaria

Census:
Burkey with wife and seven children

Ordained:
Deacon in Hopedale Mennonite Chuirch

Census:
Birky with wife and six children (Catherine married)

Residence:
Do not know when Joseph moved to NE

Buried:
Salem Cemetery

Joseph married Maria (Mary) Bircky (Birky) on 7 Jan 1851 in Tazewell Co., IL. Maria (daughter of Valentin (Valentine) Bircky (Birky) and Elisabeth Unzicker (Hunsiker)) was born on 19 Mar 1833 in Bavaria, GR; died on 28 Oct 1908 in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE; was buried in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 19
• Religion: Amish
• USR1: Bright’s Disease
• Immigration: 21 Jun 1849, NY

Notes:

Obit:
Birkey.- Mary Birkey, wife of Joseph Birkey, died at her home near Shickly, Nebr., Dec. 28, 1908; aged 75 y. 9 m. 9 d. Her sickness was Bright's disease. Funeral services were conducted by Joseph Rediger and Jacob Stauffer.

Immigration:
Via Liverpool, on ship Minnesota

Buried:
Salem Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By A. Ropp

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 38
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: Abt 1850
• Census: 1870, Hopedale Twp., Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald - March 1909
Good - Died, Feb. 10, 1909, near Hopedale, Ill., Bro. Joseph Good, aged 78 y. He leaves to mourn his death his aged wife, who has shared the joys and sorrows for 51 years, two sons, six daughters, one brother and one sister, but they mourn not as those who have no hope. Bro. Good was an earnest and humble Christian. For him to live was Christ, and to die was gain. He suffered much pain during his sickness, but we believe that now he is being comforted. Buried Feb. 13. Services by Jos. Egli, John C. Birky and Daniel Nafizger.

Served as first janitor of Hopedale Mennonite Church for about twenty years: 1876-1896. The first six years he received $30 a year for his services.

Census:
Joseph, 37 yrs old, occupation farmer; birthplace Bavaria. Children: Joseph 11, Lizzie 8, Phoebe 6, Barbara 3, and Sarah 1. (Joseph was listed as away at school that day.

Josef married Katharina Stalter on 2 Mar 1856 in Tazewell Co., IL. Katharina (daughter of Jakob Stalter and Katharina Stalter) was born on 9 Jan 1832 in Hemerten, Bavaria, GR; died on 15 Oct 1919 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 39
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 1854, Le Havre to New York

Notes:

Obit: Nov. 6, 1919 Gospel Herald
Good. - Katharine, daughter of Jacob and Magdalena Stalter, was born in Germany Jan. 9, 1832; died at the home of her daughter in Hopedale, Ill., Oct. 15, 1919 ; aged 87 y. 9 m. 6 d. At the age of 14 she united with the A. M. Church, of which she was a faithful member until death. In the year of 1854 she sailed for America. She was united in marriage to Joseph Good in 1856. Her husband died Feb. 10, 1909. To this union were born 10 children. One son and 1 daughter died in infancy. She leaves 2 sons and 6 daughters, (Joseph, Dan, Lizzie Birkey, Phoebe Birkey, Barbara Bachman, Sarah Beller, Katie Horsch, and Mary Birkey); also 40 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren. Funeral services at the home by Bro. J. C. Birkey and the church by Jonas Litwiller and J. C. Birkey.

Grandmother's place in the home is vacant,
Her voice is heard no more,
Yet we hope again to meet her,
0n the blissful evergreen shore."

Immigration:
Arrived 5 Jun 1854 on the ship Cumberland.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: S21211
• RWDN: S21211

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth, October 1893
"On the 1st of September 1893, near Gridley, in Livingston Co., Ill., of stomach trouble and dysentery, Joseph Stalter, aged 62 years, 5 months. He suffered considerably during the last two weeks, but was very patient. His wife preceded him about 20 years, leaving him with four children whom he reared with care, and who now survive him. He was universally loved and respected and was a faithful brother in the Old Amish branch of the Mennonite denomination. Buried on the 3rd at which time the largest funeral assembled that was ever in the meeting-house of that place. Funeral services by D. Orendorff, J. Egly, Jos. Ackerman, John Schmitt and others."

US Census-1870, Illinois, Livingston Co., Waldo Twp, Res # 65
A Barbara Stalter, age 30 is shown on the census record, living with this family.

[FAG shows his spouse as Christina Eicher (1842-1875). Perhaps she was a first or second wife.]

Birth:
Kirschbacherhof estate

Died:
FAG says Livingston Co., IL

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery

Joseph married Christina Eicher on 22 Mar 1866 in McLean Co., IL. Christina was born on 25 Mar 1842 in FR; died on 25 Feb 1875 in Livingston Co., IL; was buried on 28 Feb 1875 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: May 1975, Herald of Truth
Feb. 25th, in Livingston Co., Ill., CHRISTINA STALTER, wife of Joseph Stalter, aged 32 years, and 11 months. The 28th her remains were laid in the grave, in the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends. She was prepared to leave the world. A few hours before she died, she said she could not wait much longer, and at five o’clock she must depart, at which time she was released. She leaves a husband and four children to mourn their loss. Funeral services by Christian Schlagel, Joseph Gascho, and John P. Smith.

Birth date figured from 1870 Census record. Christianna on Census.

It is not clear which Joseph Stalter she was married to.

Buried:
Waldo Cemetery