Elizabeth Nafziger

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

Elizabeth married Johann Springer in 1857 in Tazewell Co., IL. Johann (son of David Springer and Elizabeth Guth (Good)) was born on 28 Aug 1834 in Munich, Bavaria, GR; died on 13 May 1896 in Little Mackinaw Twp., Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elizabeth Springer was born on 29 Feb 1860 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 20 Mar 1934 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
2. Mary Nellie Springer was born on 25 May 1862 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 13 Oct 1950 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
3. Christian Springer was born in 1866 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died in 1874 in Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL.
4. Lydia Springer was born on 7 Jul 1867 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 3 Aug 1945 in East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
5. Barbara Springer was born on 12 Sep 1868 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 25 May 1939; was buried in Tiskilwa, Bureau Co., IL.
6. Fannie Springer was born on 16 Mar 1872 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 5 Jul 1932 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
7. David Valentine Springer was born on 24 Feb 1875 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 20 Aug 1954 in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL.
8. John A. Springer was born on 24 Dec 1877 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Feb 1924 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried on 21 Feb 1924 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL.
9. Lena Springer

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.

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

Notes:

Peter also first married Marie Schenk, third married Barbara, then Elisabeth Ehrismann, and finally, Barbara Ehrismann.

Peter + Barbara. Barbara was born in 1740 in Uetendorf, Thun, Bern, SW; died in 1758 in Essingen, GR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
FR?

Notes:

“Burcki” came from Giebel near Langnau in the Emmenthal. The name is listed in the 1798 Bürgerverzeichnisse (census) of Canton Bern, Switzerland. Hans Burcki was an early Taufer (Anabaptist) leader who left Switzerland before the Amish movement began. He was exiled to Holland, but escaped at Breisach in Baden. Since he had twelve children it is suspected that many of the Amish Mennonite Berkey, Burkey, and Birkey families descend from him. (See http://www.gerberfamily.org/giebel_haus.php)

Notes:

  

Birth:
15 Pluvoise 6

Christian + Madeleine Martin. Madeleine (daughter of Martin) was born in 1733 in Zilling, Moselle, FR; died on 11 Apr 1805 in Hanviller, Moselle, FR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]