Elizabeth Springer

Notes:

Obit:
Birky.-Elizabeth (Springer) Birky was born near Hopedale, Ill., Feb. 29, 1860; died at her home near Fossland, Ill., March 27, 1934; aged 74 y. 26 d. She was united in marriage with Valentine B. Birky on March 4, 1877. He preceded her in death on Feb. 16, 1924. To this union were born 9 children. She leaves the following children: John A. Birky of Fossland, Ill.; Mrs. Lizzie E. Slagell of Delavan, Ill.; Mrs. Lydia A. Heiser of Morton, Ill.; Mrs. Mary E. Ioder of Tiskilwa, Ill.; and Valie and Elsie at home; also 10 grandchildren, 4 sisters, and 1 brother. Her husband and the following children preceded her in death: Mrs. Ida A. Heiser, Amos and Martha. She united with the Mennonite Church in her early youth and remained faithful to the end. She was a kind and loving wife and mother, and was dearly loved by her family and all who knew her. Funeral services were held at the home and at the East Bend Mennonite Church, conducted by Bros. J. A. Heiser and Harold Zehr. Text, Job 14:15. Interment in East Bend Cemetery.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Elizabeth married Valentine B. Birky (Birkey) on 4 Mar 1877. Valentine (son of Johannes Bircky (Birky) and Elisabeth Bircky (Birky)) was born on 14 Apr 1854 in Pekin Heights, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Feb 1924 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
From Obituary

1. Ida Dalla Birkey was born on 22 Feb 1878 in KS; died on 18 Dec 1920 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL.
2. John A. Birkey was born on 16 Nov 1880 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 23 Dec 1942 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
3. Lydia A. Birkey was born on 22 Dec 1882; died on 23 Feb 1940; was buried in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL.
4. Elizabeth E. Birky was born on 22 Dec 1883.
5. Amos Birky (Birkey) was born on 11 Jan 1895; died on 24 Oct 1912; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
6. Mary Ellen Birky was born on 19 Apr 1888 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 4 Dec 1957 in Spring Valley, Bureau Co., IL; was buried in Tiskilwa, Bureau Co., IL.
7. Martha Birky was born on 17 Oct 1894; died on 15 Jun 1911.
8. Valie J. Birky (Birkey) was born on 18 Jun 1898; died in 1976; was buried in Champaign, Champaign Co., IL.
9. Elsie Birky was born on 3 Sep 1900.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Liver complaint
• Immigration: 1849

Notes:

Birth:
(Prussia)

Immigration:
settled in Hopedale area

Johann married Elizabeth Nafziger in 1857 in Tazewell Co., IL. Elizabeth (daughter of Christian Nafziger and Veronica Burkey) was born on 1 May 1836 in Unterweilbach, Bavaria, GR; died on 2 Feb 1908 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Attack of la grip, but had heart problems for some time
• Baptism: 9 May 1836, Bavaria, GR

Notes:

Baptism:
Fischach Geburten

Died:
At residence of son, John A. Springer

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 21 Jun 1849, Solln To NY
• Naturalization: 11 Jan 1855, Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1857, Minier, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

The only child of Catherine and Johannes to have migrated to America. David lived at Solln, a southwestern Munich suburb, and sailed with his wife Elizabeth Guth on the Minnesota in 1849.

On 1 Apr 1844, Elisabeth Springer authorized her husband in Solln to realize the real estate.

Immigration:
via Liverpool, on ship Minnesota, with members of his family

Residence:
(David)

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

David + Elizabeth Guth (Good). Elizabeth (daughter of Christian Guth and Barbara Güngerich) was born on 31 Jan 1803 in Busenberg, Palatinate, GR; died on 10 Sep 1849 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 133
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Birth:
Weissenb

Died:
Died shortly after arriving in Tremont

Buried:
Hirstein Cemetery

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
• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Wife and five children (and one Domestique) receive passports on 16 Feb 1820. They are coming from Struth (with all Zehrs) near Strasbourg. He is born in Asweiler.

Birth:
Near Asswiller

Johannes married Katharina Zehr on 27 Jan 1798 in Struth, Bas-Rhin, FR. Katharina (daughter of Daniel Zehr and Catherine Zehr) was born on 15 Apr 1778 in Struth, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 10 Sep 1849 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer’s Daughter
• Residence: 1819, Bavaria, GR

Notes:

Residence:
Solln, near Munich

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: To America
• Reference Number: 44
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: Palatinate, GR
• Residence: 1802, Augsburg, Bavaria, GR

Notes:

Christian, from Mehlingen, married into the Gingrich family and thus lived at the Gingrich family home of Bärenbrunnerhof for some time. This farm is still owned by the Guth family (in 1984 and yet in 2020).
------
BÄRENBRUNNERHOF, PALATINATE, Germany

Christian Guth, Sr. (b. 1771) from Mehlingen, Germany, married into the Gingrich family that lived in their family home, Bärenbrunnerhof, in the Palatinate.

After Christian married Barbara Gingrich they moved in 1802 to Bavaria, near Augsburg, and from there they immigrated to the U.S. They had five children, two of whom were Christian and Elizabeth. These two, at least, emigrated to America and the immigrant Christian is Del's great great grandfather.

Residence:
Barrenbrunnenhof--after marriage into the Gingrich family

Residence:
Schweinbach and Burgwalden near Augsburg, after marriage to Barbara Gingerich.

Christian married Barbara Güngerich on 11 Dec 1801 in Busenberg, Palatinate, GR. Barbara (daughter of Christian Güngerich and Elizabeth Roggi) was born in 1780 in Mehlingen, Palatinate, GR; died in 1837. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 45
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Barbara was from the Bärenbrunnerhof. Moved to Burgwalden near Augsburg, Bavaria, in 1802 from Mehlingen in the Palatinate.

Birth:
Bärenbrunnerhof

Notes:

Marriage record found in village of Niederschettenbach, Palatinate, Germany.

Johannes married Katharina Spring on 25 Feb 1777 in Darmstadt, Hesse, GR. Katharina was born in Rheinland-Pfalz, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Rosenthalerhof

Notes:

Married:
Rheinfelderhof

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