Duane C. Litwiller

Emery married Florence Nolder on 12 Feb 1928. Florence was born on 7 Jan 1904. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Litwiller. - Joseph B. Litwiller was born Dec. 27, 1864, near Hopedale, Ill.; died Jan. 16, 1921, at his home near Minier, Ill.; aged 56 y. 20 d. He united with the Amish Mennonite Church in his youth and was a faithful member until death. In 1888 he was united in marriage to Barbara Birkey. To this union were born 7 children. He leaves his sorrowful companion, 5 sons, 1 daughter, mother, 3 sisters, 5 brothers, and a host of relatives and friends. His sudden death was caused from hemorrhages of the stomach. Brethren Samuel Gerber and Simon Litwiller conducted the funeral services.
 "Father, thou hast left us lonely,
  And our loss we deeply feel;
  But we hope some day to meet thee,
  In that heavenly home beyond."

Joseph married Barbara Birky on 9 Oct 1888 in Seldon, KS. Barbara (daughter of Joseph Bürcky (Birki) and Maria (Mary) Bircky (Birky)) was born on 3 Dec 1867 in El Paso, Livingston Co., IL; died on 22 May 1942 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit:
Egli. - Barbara Birkey Litwiller Egli was born Dec. 3, 1867 near El Paso, Ill.; died at her home in Hopedale, Ill., after a lingering illness. On the morning of May 21 she suffered a stroke, passing away in the evening of May 22, aged 74 y. 5 m. 19 d. She united with the Mennonite Church in youth, and remained a faithful member until death. She was a Sunday-school teacher since Sunday school started, whenever her health permitted. Oct. 9, 1888, she was united in marriage to Joseph Litwiller. Seven children were born to this union (Joseph of Armington, William of Winamac, Ind.; Roy, Emery, and Alma of Hopedale). She also leaves 29 grandchildren. Her husband preceded her in death twenty-one years ago, also 2 sons (Eli and an infant son) and a daughter-in-law. She was again united in marriage to Jacob Egli, Feb. 19, 1928. She leaves her husband, 4 stepchildren (Mrs. Aaron Litwiller, Armington, Mrs. Asa Nafziger, Minier, John and Simon Egli of Hopedale), 29 step-grandchildren, and 15 step-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held May 24 at the Hopedale Mennonite Church, conducted by Bros. Ben Springer and Simon Litwiller. Interment in the Mennonite Cemetery.

"Her longing wish is granted,
Her pain and misery are ended.
Into Heaven's mansions she entered,
Never to sigh or to weep.
Mother has fallen asleep."

Notes:

Obit:
LITWILLER. - Joseph Litwiller was born in Butler Co., O., Dec. 12, 1836; died at his home near Hopedale, Ill., Mar. 28, 1914; aged 77y. 3m. 16d. At the age of 14 years he came to Illinois with his parents. He was united in marriage with Katharine Birky Mar. 9, 1863. To this union were born 7 sons, and 3 daughters, 1 son dying in infancy. He leaves to mourn his departure a sorrowing widow, 6 sons, 3 daughters, 36 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. He accepted his Savior in his youth and united with the Amish Mennonite Church and was faithful to the end. He was buried at the A.M. burying ground Mar. 31, 1914. Sermons by Joseph Egli, Jonas Litwiller, and Samuel Gerber. Rest in peace. C.

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Joseph married Catherine Birky on 9 Mar 1862 in Tazewell Co., IL. Catherine (daughter of Christian Bürcky (Birky) and Catherine Mosimann) was born on 13 Mar 1843 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 30 Dec 1923 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth Dec 1876
Litwiller. - Catherine (Birky) Litwiller was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., March 13, 1843; died Dec. 30, 1923; aged 80 y. 9 m. 17 d. She was united in marriage to Joseph Litwiller, March 9, 1862. To this union were born nine children, namely: Mary Oswald, Beemer, Nebr., Salome Eichelberger, Emden, Ill., Katie, at home, Christian A., John W., Daniel and Louis of Hopedale, Ill., and Ben F., Lakeworth, Fla. Her husband and two sons preceded her to the great beyond. She is also survived by 3 brothers, 3 sisters, 36 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren, besides many relatives and friends. She united with the Amish Mennonite Church in her youth and remained faithful and loyal to the end. Funeral services were held Jan. 2, at the A. M. Church near Hopedale, Ill., conducted by Samuel Gerber, of Tremont, Ill.

Just a rest for weary footsteps,
Just a folding of tired hands;
Just a glimpse across the river,
Where the holy city stands.
By a granddaughter.

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
by Andrew Ropp

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