Andrew Nafziger

Notes:

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Church

Andrew married Anna Roszhart in 1890. Anna died on 23 Sep 1895 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried on 25 Sep 1895 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Nafziger
2. Lizzie Nafziger

Andrew married Katherine J. Roth on 31 Jan 1897 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. Katherine was born in 1879; died in 1953 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
By J.C. Birky

1. Clara Mae Nafziger was born in 1898; died in 1988.
2. Ralph Nafziger was born in 1902; died in 1972.
3. Eldon R. Nafziger was born in 1904; died in 1983.
4. Lester Nafziger was born in 1906; died in 1970.
5. Arthur William Nafziger was born on 4 Nov 1908 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 20 Dec 1999 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried on 23 Dec 1999 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL.

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Farmer, Minister
• Religion: Mennonite
• USR1: Pneumonia
• PURC: 1846, Tazewell Co., IL
• Residence: 1846, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL
• Immigration: Oct 1846, New Orleans, LA
• Ordained: 1855, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL
• Ordained: 1860, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: The Herald of Truth - April 1, 1899 - pages 108-110
NAFZIGER. - Bish. Christian Nafziger departed this life on the 6th of March, 1899, aged 79 years and 10 months. He bore the sufferings of his last illness, which lasted about eight days, with Christian fortitude. He organized the congregation near Hopedale, Ill., to which he was called as minister in 1855. In 1861 he was ordained to the office of elder (bishop), in which capacity he served faithfully until his end. May his faithful admonitions be long remembered. He leaves his bereaved widow, two sons, nine grandchildren and a large congregation that was warmly attached to him to mourn their loss. Yet we mourn not as those who have no hope, for we feel that though our loss is deep, it is his eternal gain. The remains were laid to rest on the 8th of March. Funeral services were held by Samuel Gerber from Heb. 13:12-14, by Daniel Grieser from Philippians 1:21-23, and by Daniel Orendorf from 2 Cor. 5:1-7. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. C.

———
Bishop Christian Nafziger acquired his release from the Castle Weibach estate in Germany on May 4, 1840 , and together with his brother John, Christian sailed for America that year. The crossing was made by sail and approximately 43 days later they set foot in America at New Orleans. He and John traveled by foot along the Mississippi River via Peoria to Tazewell County. Christian was 21 or 22 years old and John was 14 or 15 years old when the journey was made. The boys worked for $8 a month so that the rest of the family could join them in America.

Christian organized the Hopedale Amish congregation and began as minister there in 1855 and served until his death in 1899. In 1861 he was made the first Bishop. (Nafziger Family Cookbook, 1988, info from Art and Verna Nafziger) Also,

PURC:
80 acres

Residence:
Delevan Prairie

Immigration:
with brother John

Ordained:
Minister

Ordained:
Bishop

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Christian married Elizabeth Zehr on 25 Aug 1851 in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. Elizabeth (daughter of Johannes Zehr and Madeleine Stepp) was born on 1 Nov 1828 in Alsace Lorraine, FR; died on 28 Apr 1900 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried on 29 Apr 1900 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Wife, Mother
• Religion: Mennonite
• Immigration: 1846, NY

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
NAFZIGER - Elizabeth Zehr, widow of the late Bish. Christian Nafziger, departed this life April 28, 1900, aged 71 years, 5 months, 27 days. She lived in matrimony nearly 48 years and leaves two sons and nine grandchildren. Buried on the 29th in the A. M. burying ground. Funeral services by Daniel Grieser of Dewey, Ill., and Samuel Gerber of Groveland, Ill. She was a faithful member of the church and enjoyed the love and esteem of all who knew her. We mourn not as those who have no hope. C.

Birth:
Date from Ardys Serpette

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery @71-5-27 (with children)

Notes:

Married:
By Andrew Ropp

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 Madeleine Stepp on 9 Feb 1825. Madeleine was born in 1793; died on 6 Apr 1846. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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