Andrew (Andréas) S. Birky

Other Events and Attributes:

• DESC: At Time Of Death Owned Land As Follows: The SE 1/4 Of The NE 1/4 Of Section 19 Town 22N, R8E Of 3rdPM (40 Acres At $70 Per Acre =$2800)
• DESC: At Time Of Death Owned Land As Follows: The W 1/2 Of The NE 1/4 Of Section 19 Town 22N, R8E Of 3rdPM (Excet One Acre In NE Corner Thereof, Deeded For Cemetery Purposes (79 Acres At $80 Per Acre=$6320)
• DESC: At Time Of Death Owned Land As Follows: The W 35 1/2 Acres Of The SW 1/4 Of The NW 1/4 Of Section 20, Town 22N, R8E Of The 3rdPM (35 1/2 Acres At $70 Per Acre = $2485) Purchased From Cora Baker
• Occupation: Farmer
• PURC: Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: Champaign Co., IL
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Residence: 1872, Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 16 Feb 1888, Tazewell Co., IL
• Naturalization: 3 Mar 1890, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1892, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

“After Andrew and Veronica married, they probably soon moved into the [Johannes] Sutter home, after the elder Sutters moved into the smaller house just across the garden. Their home was about eighteen feet long and sixteen feet wide. Its one room was divided into a kitchen and bedroom by a curtain. The hired man had to climb a ladder to his bed in the loft. Later an addition was built to the house for use as a kitchen in the summer. It could not be used during the winter because it was not built very warm and was floorless. The pole barn was eight feet high, sixteen feet wide, and eighteen feet long. In the wall in front of the horses was a flap door, which was opened at feeding time. The haystacks were just outside. Oats was kept in a rail pen nearby.”

Andrew and Veronica bought 80 acres of the Sutter land in 1882 for $50 an acre. In 1891 they sold the land for $95 an acre and moved to Fisher. He bought some land in the same section where daughter Mary and her husband had purchased land and built a house.

Birth:
Perhaps Arzbach. Birthdate on gravestone is 31 Mar 1830

PURC:
Section 19 portion purchased from George W. Mathews, who had himself derived title by patent from the United States.

PURC:
35 1/2 acres in Section 20 purchased from Cora A. Baker, who had derived title indirectly from the United States by patent.

Residence:
Daughter Mary lived in Morton as a child

Naturalization:
Intent to become a citizen

Naturalization:
Final certificate signed

Residence:
Moved from Tazewell Co., IL

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery (First burial)

Andrew married Veronica (Fannie) Sutter on 25 Mar 1858 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL. Veronica (daughter of Johannes Sutter (Suttor) and Barbara Oesch) was born on 11 Nov 1838 in Neuberg-an-Donau, Bavaria, GR; died on 16 Apr 1927 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Apr 1927 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Infant Birky was born before 1863.
2. Infant Birky was born before 1863.
3. Mary Birky was born on 19 Sep 1862 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 24 Mar 1954 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 26 Mar 1954 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
4. Andrew F. (Lame) Birky was born on 19 Jun 1864 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 31 May 1928 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried on 3 Jun 1928 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
5. Peter Samuel Birky (Birkey) was born on 25 Apr 1867; died on 26 Jul 1946; was buried in Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.
6. John W. Birky was born on 21 Nov 1871 in Morton, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 29 Jun 1941 in Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL.
7. Amos E. Birky was born on 15 Feb 1880; died on 20 Jan 1914 in Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: In Europe A Bauer (Farmer), In USA Farmer
• Reference Number: 97
• Religion: Mennonite
• Residence: Bef 1800, Völlerdingen, Alsace, FR
• Residence: 1811, Flugelsberg, Bavaria, GR
• PURC: 10 Nov 1815, Arzbach, Bavaria, GR
• Residence: 1818-1824, Pellheim, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 13 Mar 1851, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 7 Jun 1851, Le Havre to New York
• Census: 1860, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Of Kirshstockach, Bavaria. Lived first in Odenstockah, near Munich, Bavaria, then moved to Neukirchstock, also near Munich.

According to Hermann Guth's 1989 research, “at 62 years of age Christian applied to emigrate to Illinois on 13 Mar 1851, with his second wife Elizabeth Stalter, age 37. He had 10,000 fl of assets and his wife had an additional 2,225 fl. This was much more than most immigrants had. Traveling with them were Elizabeth 23, Andréas 29, Anna 28, Katharina 17, Veronika 15, from his first wife, and, Jakobine 5, Heinrich 4, Jakob 3, and Helena 6 mo. from his second wife. Christian noted to authorities that several older children were already in America.

Christian's daughter, Barbara Birki, from Kirchstockach (unmarried, but with child, Jacob, whose father was Thomas Luiderer from Putzbrunn) applied on 29 Feb 1849 for permission to emigrate to Illinois. Her father gave approval because she wished to travel with his brother, Valentine Birki from Gern, who was the child's guardian. The document indicated that three brothers/sisters were already in America. Barbara and Valentine planned to travel via Mannheim-Le Havre-New York, with ship agent Karl Dick from Augsburg, but evidently plans changed since they are on the ship list of the Minnesota sailing from Liverpool, England to New York in 1849. Included were Valentine Birki (1794) with niece Barbara and her illegitimate son; Valentine's daughter, Mary Burkey Birky (1833); and Daniel Zehr. “
—————————————————————————————
“Christian Birkÿ, farmer at Mair in KIrchstockach and widower, intends to marry Elisabeth Stalter, forestry farmer’s daughter from Gern, and sought reception into and consent of the community. Since Christian Birkÿ possesses an entire estate, and his future bride brings a dowry of 800 guilders, and their advancement is adequately assured, and they are liable for insignificant debts, we agree to this marriage on behalf of the entire community.
In confirmation of this, Brunnthal the 13th of August 1841, the local authorities of Brunnthal:
Andreas Zimmermann, Georg Fischer[?], Johann Heiss[?]”

“Christian’s assets at the time of immigration were 10,000 fl. and the assets of his children’s mother was a further 2,225 fl. for the children of his first marriage. He emigrate from Bavaria to the New World with one of the higher known fortunes. His brother Valentine also left the Europe with 10,000 fl. Many immigrants left with only a few hundred.”

“In the 1860 Illinois census, Christian and Elizabeth "Berky" are found in Groveland Township where Christian had purchased 120 acres of land in Section 22. Seventy two year-old Christian and 48 year old Elizabeth lived with their children, Henry, Jacob, Helena, Jacobina, and John (born in Illinois after the family arrived). Upon arriving in Illinois, Christian purchased 80 acres of farmland just north of Groveland in Tazewell County. Christian died on February 14, 1866 and was buried on his farm next to Heinrich Stalter, his father-in-law. His son Joseph was appointed administrator of his estate. The estate was valued at $2050.75 plus 120 acres of land valued at $4400. Each child received $264.13 from the estate settlement on 4/15/ 1868. Elisabeth received her widow's share. The last documentation of Elizabeth Stalter "Burky" is in the 1870 Census when she was living in Groveland, Tazewell County with her 5 children, Jacobine, Henry, Jacob, Helena, and John. Elisabeth died on September 24, 1872 and was buried next to her husband and father. In 1875 the children sold the land to Meinrad Biender, reserving one quarter of acre where the cemetery lay. It is now referred to as the “Birki Cemetery”.

Birth:
Near Diemeringen

Residence:
Lutterbacherhof. This is assumed because we know his brother Valentine lived there before going to Bavaria.

PURC:
Near Dachau, borough Rohrmoos. A half farm, the “Pasten estate,” house No. 8. Purchased from Jakob Hiser (Heiser) from Hanfeld, Country Court Starnberg. Size of the half farm was 84 days work and included a potato distillery.

Residence:
Mennonite and partial leaseholder on the grounds of the Pellheim estate of major general Maximilian Graf von Spreti at Arzbach, Bavaria, a few miles north of Dachau.

Immigration:
Applied for emigration

Immigration:
On French Bark, Adhimary (Adhema?), with his second wife and nine children, and Christian’s brother-in-law, Georg Kettner and his family (husband of Maria Birki).
Traveling with Christian and Elisabeth were Andréas (29), Anna (18), Elizabeth (23), Katharina (17) and Veronika (15) -children of Christian and his first wife - and Jakobine (5), Heinrich (4), Jakob (3), and Helena (6 mo.) - children of Christian and Elisabeth. He left capital of10,000 guilders. He deposited 2225 guilders for the children of his first marriage.

Census:
Listed as age 72 with wife Elizabeth, age 48.

Died:
Estate document from Tazewell Co. on file. Burial site is in Section 22 of Groveland Two., Tazewell Co., IL.

Buried:
Birki Cemetery - https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2596053/birki-cemetery/map#share_email

Christian married Maria Anna Gascho about 1815 in Pellheim, Bavaria, GR. Maria (daughter of André Gascho and Anna Zwalter) was born in 1798 in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR; died between 1840-1841 in Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“Maria Gajou from Nancÿ in Frankreich”

“Christian's first wife was named Mary [Gascho]. On August 10, 1854, Christian Birky petitioned the court to be named legal guardian of his daughter Fronica (Veronica), as follows:

To the County Court Tazewell County Illinois The undersigned respectfully shows that Fronica Birkey aged seventeen years in January last is a minor heir of his wife Mary deceased and that the said Fronica is his daughter, and that heir aforesaid she is entitled to certain property of about the value of $178---- and he preys that letter of Guardianship may issue to him the said Christian Birkey for his said daughter. Affirmed to this ?? (Signed) Christian Birki before me this 10th day of August, 1854 Jno M Bush.

Also in the file is the Court's Order that appointed Christian the legal guardian of Fronica (Veronica) until she reached the age of 18. This suggests that Mary received a bequest (most likely from her father at the time of his death). Since she had apparently pre-deceased the benefactor, her bequest was divided among her natural children (Mary, Joseph, Magdalena, Barbara, Elizabeth, Andrew, Anna, Catharina, and Veronica). All save Veronica were of the age of majority in 1854. In order for her to collect her property, she needed a legal guardian, and that became her father. The person leaving the bequest may have been of some means since Mary's share was $1602, and an equal amount may well have been left to any of Mary's siblings or their issue. The entire process suggests that Mary Birki's father may have died intestate in Illinois in 1853 or 1854 and it thus may be possible to identify him through probate or other guardian records. “ Gary Yordy (Source: Tazewell County Probate Records, File 11 “Fronica Birkey”)

Notes:

Married:
Arzbach was the name of an estate outlying the village of Pellheim (about 1.7 miles north of the center of Pellheim. It was the site of Schloss Pellheim, the house or palace of a count. The house is now a restaurant. Pellheim was administratively incorporated into Dachau in 1972.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite
• Residence: late 1700s, Rimsdorf, Lower Alsace, FR
• Residence: Abt 1803, Gern, Munich, Bavaria, GR
• Immigration: 11 Jun 1803, Dehlingen, Völlerdingen, Alsace, FR
• Immigration: 1804, Dehlingen, Völlerdingen, Alsace, FR

Notes:

An entry from a document in Bern, Switzerland of emigrant families

Jan 1700
Benedikt Bürcky from Trimstein, Switzerland (abt 30 miles SE of Bern) moved to Griesbach, Alsace (Hanau-Lichtenberg)

3 Jun 1710
Christen Bürcky moving out from Switzerland

3 Apr 1727
Niclaus Bürcky from Höchststetten, Germany (Near Karlsruhe and Heidelberg) moved out with his children

19 Sep 1748 (This could be our Johannes)
Johannes Bürcky from Herblingen, Germany, moved to Zweibrücken/Palatinate/Germany.

Birth:
an estimation derived only from the birth year of his second wife

Residence:
Buscherhof, also near Saarewerden

Immigration:
Permission for emigration to Bavaria granted - from Lutterbacherhof

Immigration:
Buscherhof in Alsace to Steingaden, Bavaria

Johannes + Barbara Bircki. Barbara was born in 1748; died on 24 Jan 1826 in Perlach, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist
• USR1: Paralysis of the lungs

Notes:

Died:
At 78 years old

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller at Badonviller, (20 miles south of Gondrexange), then as a day laborer and domestic servant at Imling. Also a miller.
• Religion: Anabaptist
• Residence: Badonviller, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FR
• Residence: Imling, Moselle, FR
• Residence: 1797, Desseling, Moselle, FR

Notes:

Earliest mention of Andre is in records from the civil marriage entry of Magdalena Zwalter and Christian Neuhauser. They were married at Gondrexange April 20, 1794. He is listed as witness Andre Cachon, 26, brother-in-law of the bride. Andre signed that entry “Andres Gascho.”

Birth:
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/41654453/person/19895026069

Residence:
In the Dieuze Ponds area of Moselle from 1797 to 1805

André married Anna Zwalter before 1794. Anna (daughter of Christian Zwalter and Marie Risser) was born in 1769; died on 14 Feb 1839 in Pellheim, Bavaria, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Anabaptist

Notes:

Died:
At home of daughter Barbara and son-in-law Nicholas Augustin

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller at Merlebach (near St. Avold, Moselle)
• Immigration: 21 May 1831, Baltimore, MD

Notes:

Immigration:
Arrived after 44 days at sea

François + Anna Schrag (Chraque). Anna (daughter of Caspar Schrag and Elisabeth Weiss) was born about 1748-1750; died before 1797. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“It is strongly suspected that Anna Chraque was a daughter of Caspar Schrag and Elisabeth Weiss.

Anne Chraque's proposed family relationship is based on circumstance. Though there may have been other Swiss Schrags in Lorraine that we have not identified, only one branch of one family has been identified as Amish Mennonite. Caspar Schrag and Elisabeth Weiss had a son Caspar (circa 1744-1794) who married Barbe Rouvenacht and Marie Blaser. He worked as a miller at Bischwald Mill and a cultivator on Belgrade farm at Bistroff. Thus he was a business partner with the Engel family.

Their son Joseph Schrag (1772-1830) was born on Belgrade farm but lived at Gondrexange. He married Marie Engel (1774-circa 1800)…. Note that Anne's son Joseph Cachot/Gascho also lived at Gondrexange. This is a coincidence in a tiny community (though the population has grown in two centuries to its present 490). Note also that Joseph Cachot/Gascho's immigration companions in 1831 included Peter Engel. If Anne was a sister to Caspar (circa 1744-1794), the only documented Amish Mennonite Schrag in her age bracket in the region, then her parents were Caspar Schrag and Elisabeth Weiss.“

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Died:
Witnessed by Christiane Neyhauser, 29, and Jean Rechely, 27. The Tables Decennale index of death entries describes him as Christianne Zvalteur, 60, husband of M. Richard.

Christian married Marie Risser in 1768. Marie was born in 1736; died on 4 Oct 1800 in Gondrexange, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Réchicourt le Château - Marie's civil death entry describes her as Marie Riseur, 65, wife of Christianne Zvalteur. It was reported by her son-in-law, Jean Perquy [Birki], 23. Christian Neyhouser [1767-1809] was a witness.