Lydia B. Schrock

Notes:

Buried:
Trinity Lutheran Cemetery

Lydia married Fred Denzin on 17 May 1915. Fred was born on 23 Jan 1891 in Bruning, Thayer Co., NE; died on 22 Jun 1961 in York, York Co., NE; was buried in Bruning, Thayer Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Dale Denzin
2. Ida Lydia Denzin
3. Evelyn Caroline Denzin
4. Edna Irene Denzin
5. Hazel Marie Denzin

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Minister/Bishop
• Residence: Decatur Co., KS
• Immigration: Abt 1855, Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Obit:
Schrock.-Christian C. Schrock was born in France June 13, 1847; died Aug. 9, 1926; at Shickely, Nebr.; aged 79 y. 1 m. 27 d. He was a member of the Mennonite Church. He was united in holy matrimony to Cathrine Birky at Hopedale, Ill., and lived in matrimony 53 years. To this union were born 13 children, 6 sons, and 7 daughters. He leaves to mourn his departure his loving companion, 6 sons, 7 daughters, 60 grandchildren (7 have preceded him in death), 21 great-grandchildren, 2 brothers, 2 sisters, and a host of friends. Funeral services by Bro. Fred Reeb of Shickley and Bro. W. M. Eicher of Milford.


In 1855, family came from Ugny-sur-Meuse, France, to Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL. Moved to near Oberlin, Decatur Co., KS, about 1892; to Vernon Co., MO about 1902. Ordained as a deacon in spring of 1877 for the Roanoke congregation (now Roanoke Mennonite Church). Served at Roanoke, 1877 to about 1892; at the Decatur, KS, congregation, about 1892-about 1902; and at the Stotesbury congregation, Vernon Co., MO, about 1902-1907.

Residence:
Later to Ft. Scott, KS

Immigration:
from Ugny-sur-Meuse

Buried:
Salem Cemetery

Christian married Catherine Birky on 27 Feb 1873 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. Catherine (daughter of Joseph Bürcky (Birki) and Maria (Mary) Bircky (Birky)) was born on 28 Jan 1852 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 1 Jan 1931 in Davenport, Thayer Co., NE; was buried in Shickley, Fillmore Co., NE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Schrock - Catherine Birkey Schrock was born at the Morton, Ill., Jan 28, 1852; died Jan. 1, 1931, at the home of her daughter (Mrs. Dan Lichti) near Davenport, Neb.; aged 78 y. 11 m. 3 d. She was united in marriage to Christian C. Schrock in 1873. 13 children were born to this union. She leaves 7 daughters, 6 sons, 70 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 1 sister, 1 brother, and a host of other relatives and friends. Her husband and 8 grandchildren preceded her in death. She accepted Christ in her youth and was a faithful member of the Mennonite Church till her death. Funeral services were held at the home and at the church, Jan. 3, by Bros. Peter R. Kennel, Ben Schlegel and Fred Reeb. Burial in the Salem Cemetery near Shickley, Nebraska.
"We have no dear mother now.
There will be one vacant chair,
We shall long to caress her
When we breathe our evening prayer."

Buried:
Salem Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller
• Residence: 1855, Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL
• Immigration: 20 Jun 1855, New York, NY
• Census: 1860, Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL
• Census: 1880, Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

The family immigrated to central Illinois in 1855, “to seek refuge, to find protection, and to have a settlement among ourselves.”

Residence:
Farm one half mile east of Roanoke Mennonite Church.

Immigration:
Aboard the John Hancock.

Census:
They lived next door to David Schertz, 54.

Census:
One house removed was farmer Joseph Schrock 28, and Elisabeth, 23, born in Illinois to parents from Arnstead.

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Christian married Elizabeth Cender (Zentner) on 9 Dec 1845 in Dombrot-sur-Vair, Vosges, FR. Elizabeth (daughter of Christian Cender and Magdalena Eymann) was born on 24 Jun 1821 in Niedernai, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 26 Apr 1892 in Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
(1821-1878) says Levine.

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
Witnesses included miller and brother-of-the-groom André Gerard of Robecourt, 32; miller and friend-of-the-groom Joseph Roquit of Chatillon-sur-[illegible]; brother-of-the-bride and miller Chrétien Cender, 22, of Rigny-la-Salle; and uncle-of-the-bride Jean Cender, 40, a cultivator and resident of Écrouve.

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: Meunier (Miller) at la Gravier
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: 1805, Vergaville, Dieuze, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1813, Assenoncourt, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1814-1817, Baccarat, FR
• Residence: 1818-1819, Deyvillers, Vosges, FR
• Residence: 1823-1848, Dombrot-sur-Vair, Vosges, FR

Notes:

This family picked up the surname Gerard in occasional use. We suspect it began with the birth of daughter Christine, the first child born in the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. The clerk at Baccarat called both father André and his witness Joseph ‘Gérard.’ While André signed with an ‘x’, indicating he was illiterate, Joseph very clearly signed ‘Joseph Schrag.’
x
This mixup of Gerard for Schrag would continue until April 11, 1863, when Christophe Schrag (a son of André’s brother Christian/Christophe) made a grievance at a public meeting of the civil tribunal in District 2 of the department of Meuse. He explained that the persistent error could only be explained by poor pronunciation of the word Gerard. This resulted in a lengthy remark inserted in the civil records of Chassey, detailing all the family events that had been misidentified because of it.

Birth:
Mittelbach-Hengstbach

Residence:
Lived in Vergaville in 1809 at the time of his father’s death. ?

Residence:
(F 54039)

Residence:
(F 88132)

Residence:
(F 88141) At the mill Graviere.

Died:
Death certificate states André was a son of the late André’ Schrag, a miller at Mittelbach, and a woman whose name was not known to the witnesses, one of whom was David Schertz, husband of Catherine Schrag and son-in-law of the deceased.?

Andréas married Anne Pelsy (Pelzel, Bellesley) on 20 Feb 1805 in Oberstinzel, Fenetrange, Moselle, FR. Anne (daughter of Rudolf Pelsy and Catherine Swalter (Zwalter)) was born on 9 Nov 1783 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR; died on 3 Dec 1843 in Robecourt, Lamarche, Vosges, FR; was buried on 8 Jan 1784 in Rhodes, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist

Notes:

She was the third child of Christian Bellesley (“Pelsel”) and Catharina Swalter.

Died:
Moulin Froid, Home of son André, at age 57.

Notes:

Married:
Moulin Sarreck

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 100
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1815-1832, Niedernai, Bas-Rhin, FR
• Residence: 1832-1835, Saverne, FR
• Residence: 1836-1855, Rigny-la-Salle, Meuse, FR
• Immigration: 20 Jun 1855, Le Havre to New York

Notes:

“Christian Cender (1786-1861), a native of Belmont, Bas-Rhin, son of Ulrich Zehender (1761/62-1835), the principal lease-manager of the farm called Riedhof or Täuferhof near Niedernai in 1815, and Barbara Sommer (1765-1827), and himself a farmer assisting his father on that property. From the time of marriage until at least 1831, Magdalena Eymann and Christian Cender lived in Niedernai. From 1832 to 1835, they were near Saverne, Bas-Rhin. Then for two decades theirs was the sole Anabaptist family in the tiny village of Rigny-la-Salle, Meuse, near Vaucouleurs. To America in 1855...

“Christian Cender's notebook is in the hands of Alva Cender. He left no doubt as to who owned the book. On the first page he entered, "This housebook is mine, Christian Cender, whoever takes it is a thief, whoever brings it back is kind to me." The book contains mostly business transactions. On April 11, 1852, he recorded that "I settled my accounts with my son-in-law Christian Schrag."

Birth:
Schonenberg

Residence:
The family residence was the farm called Taüfferhoff-within the farm Reidhoff or Reith.

Immigration:
Arrival date on the “John Hancock” - The passenger list shows farmer Christian Zender, 58, France; Madelaine, 58; Madelaine, 35; Barbara, 28; Jean, 25; Cathrine, 21; Madelaine, 9; farmer Christophe Gerard, 35; Elise, 34; Christian, 4; Cathrine, 2; Joseph, eleven months; and Joseph [Cender], 29. Note that most of the stated ages were nearly correct except for those of Christian and his wife Magadlena/Madeleine: they were stated to be 58 when they were actually 65 and 58.

Christian married Magdalena Eymann on 2 Sep 1815 in Niedernai, Bas-Rhin, FR. Magdalena (daughter of Johannes Eymann and Anna Barbe Goldschmidt) was born on 20 Nov 1789 in Lubine, Vosges, Bas-Rhin, FR; died on 13 Feb 1873 in Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 101

Notes:

Birth:
near Saales

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: In Europe A Bauer (Farmer), In US A Farmer
• Reference Number: 36
• Religion: Amish
• Residence: Bef 1803, Völlerdingen, Alsace, FR
• Residence: ? 1803, Riedenburg, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1813, Dachau, Munich, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 1825, Dachau, Munich, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1815 - 1828, Dachau, Munich, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 31 May 1828, Dachau, Munich, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1830, Pellheim, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 8 Mar 1833, Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 15 Apr 1841, Ludwigsfeld, Bavaria, GR
• Death: 12 Aug 1848, Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1831-1849, Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 21 Jun 1849, NY
• Census: 1850, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1860, Morton, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Valentine, father of thirteen children, all of whom emigrated to America, although not all at the same time, lived in Gern, Bavaria, when his children were born. The year after his wife died, Valentine, with some of his family came to America. He left Gern near Munich, Bavaria with five children, and with 10,000 fl., one of the larger amounts taken out of the country--much more than most immigrants. His brother Christian took the same amount. Valentine was of the "Little Red" Birky's. The family’s emigration is documented in Friedrich Blendinger’s material (the emigration to North America from the governmental district Upper Bavaria in the years 1846-1852, in: ZBLG (magazine for Bavarian national history) 27 (1964), p. 431-487. The magazine is on line with full text.

Birth:
Probably born at either Lutterbacherhof or Buscherhof (both near Sarre-Union and Rimsdorf). Lutterbacherhof is now a part of the Cultural Heritage Inventory Department Palais du Rhin. See https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/IA67006033

Residence:
Lutterbacherhof, near Saar-Union/Saarbrücken, FR

Residence:
Lived on rented farms with brother Andreas (Country court Riedenburg [Flugelsberg]), and with Christian (in County Court Munich.
Google translation :
Gern and Riedenburg
lt. deed of citizenship of
In 1828 he stayed until about 1815
with his brother on the
Wing mountain.

Residence:
Unterweilbach tenant, of Court Spreti, near Dachau.

PURC:
Purchased an estate in Arzbach from his brother Christian.

Residence:
Tenant at Unterweilbach.

Immigration:
Received France to Bavaria immigration permit. ”Here appears Valentin Bircky from Lutterbach in Alsace, 34 years old, father of seven children, five boys, and two girls, the oldest 13 years of age, the youngest two years of age, asking for permission to emigrate.”

Residence:
Arzbach estate (about 2 miles north of the center of Pellheim) called Schloss Pellheim.

PURC:
Purchased Kandler farm estate, house No 3 from Joseph Stalter, Elisabeth’s step-father.

PURC:
Mayerrhof, house No. 8, called “Wurzer estate in Ludwigsfeld near Munich, and Dachau.

Death:
Death of wife Elisabeth Unzicker

Residence:
Valentin moved with his family to his father-in-law living in Gern near Munich

Immigration:
Via Liverpool on ship Minnesota. Evidently the family was originally booked to depart with ship agent Karl Dick from Augsburg via Mannheim-LaHavre-New York. Plans must have changed since they ultimately arrived on the ship Minnesota, via Liverpool to New York.

Census:
Age 67, living with son Joseph and Barbara (Eigsti) Birky; also living there was Christian Springer, laborer.

Residence:
Year of his death

Buried:
Birky-Landes Cemetery, personal visit, Plot #36 on cemetery map dated 8/12/2013

Valentin married Elisabeth Unzicker (Hunsiker) in 1812 in Munich, Bavaria, GR. Elisabeth (daughter of Unzicker (Hunsicker) and Magdalena Nafziger) was born in 1796 in Breimthal, Heidelberg, Bavaria, GR; died on 12 Aug 1848 in Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR; was buried on 15 Aug 1848 in Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 37
• Religion: Mennonite
• USR1: Stroke

Notes:

Unzicker, originally Hunzicker= from Hunzicken, Canton Bern. The initial H was probably lost during a stay in France where an H is not pronounced at the beginning of a word.

















More likely, Elizabeth could have been a sister to Daniel b. 1798 who married Magdalena Kahn.}

Birth:
Near Wieslock and Heidelberg

Died:
Farmer’s wife, at age 54, on her father’s farm

Buried:
Gern Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Settlement of Valentine’s estate lists Joseph first and Jacob seond--the rest in the same order as here.

Married:
about 1812-1813 - 2,500 Guilders given to the bride and groom on the occasion of their marriage by the bride’s family.