Maria (Mary) Birky

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• Immigration: 17 Jun 1844, Le Havre to New York

Notes:

The book 'The Past and Present of Woodford County' spells Mary's name Burkey. Mary is the Maria Birkey Yordy, of whom Myrna Slagell Park says , "During pioneer days in Tazewell County, Illinois, Maria Birkey Yordy (1816-1903) cooked a mixture she called 'pap,’ given to sickly infants with feeding problems. This remedy supposedly saved some babies not expected to survive. The recipe was handed down within the family."

Mary Birky had a son before she married Peter Yordy--named John. (John b. Oct 23, 1838. He married Magdalena King (b. 1842) in 1862. They had 13 children.) She arrived in New York on the ship Baltimore on June 14,1844 with her son from a previous relationship, Johann Horn (who would later be known as John Birkey Yordy)." 

Peter and Mary can be found on the 1880 census of Roanoke as 'Peter Yordie,' a 65- year-old farmer born in France, of parents born in France; and Mary, 64, born in Bavaria, of parents born in France; and four children. Mary can be found as an 84-year-old widow on the 1900 census of Roanoke, living with children Peter, 44, and Barbara, 39. Mary stated that she was born in Germany of French parents, and that she came to America in 1847 [actually it was 1844].

“On February 9, 1847, two and one-half years after arriving in America, Mary married Peter Yordy. That marriage occurred within the Dillon Creek Amish Congregation in Tazewell County, Illinois. A recently identified 1845 Tazewell County Census sheds light on her life between her arrival in Illinois and her marriage to Peter.

In 1845, thirty-year-old Mary “Burgie” resided with a male under 10 years of age (John Horn Birkey) as the head of the household in Tazewell County. Also in the household are a female aged 10-20 and a female under 10 years of age.24 The identity of these two females is unknown. It is probable that the two women were boarders. The listing of Mary as the “Head of Household” suggests that Mary emigrated with significant funds consistent with the relative wealth of her father, Christian Birki. Triangulation of neighbors suggests that after their marriage, Peter and Mary lived in the home where Mary was living in 1845.

Peter Yordy’s wife, Maria Birki (Mary Birkey), and her six-year-old son, John Horn, emigrated in 1844. They traveled with Mary’s brother, Joseph, their cousin, Catherine Kettner, and Peter Zehr on the ship, Baltimore, which arrived in New York from Le Havre on June 14, 1844.23

Immigration:
Mary “Burge” with son Johann Horn on the ship Baltimore (New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, 1844, June 17, Baltimore, p.4)
Also on the ship were Peter Zerr 25; Jospeh Burger 26; Catharina Kunder 27.

Buried:
Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery

Family/Spouse: Horn. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Birkey Yordy was born on 23 Oct 1838 in Bavaria, GR; died on 31 Dec 1906 in Milford, Seward Co., NE; was buried in Milford, Seward Co., NE.

Maria married Peter Yordy on 9 Feb 1847 in Tazewell Co., IL. Peter (son of Jakob Jordy and Catharina Schantz) was born on 26 Jul 1815 in Jaegerthal, Niederbronn-Les-Bains, FR; died on 2 Jul 1897 in Roanoke Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Jul 1897 in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
In the Amish Dillon Creek congregation.

1. Christian Yordy was born on 29 Jul 1848 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 10 Jul 1922 in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL.
2. Mary Yordy was born on 19 Oct 1849 in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 8 Feb 1923 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL; was buried in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL.
3. Magdalena Yordy was born in Jun 1851 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; died in 1854 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL.
4. Jacob K. Yordy was born on 8 Mar 1853 in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 29 Nov 1930 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL; was buried on 1 Dec 1930 in Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL.
5. Elizabeth Yordy was born on 6 Dec 1854 in Pekin, Groveland Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 28 Jan 1928 in Cazenovia Twp., Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Metamora, Woodford Co., IL.
6. Peter Philip Yordy was born on 29 Feb 1856 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 4 Jun 1909 in Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL.
7. Joseph P. Yordy was born on 7 Nov 1857 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 19 Feb 1925 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Feb 1925 in Roanoke, Woodford Co., IL.
8. Barbara Yordy was born on 18 Dec 1860 in Elm Grove Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; died on 20 Sep 1943 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried in Roanoke, Woodford 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.