| Notes |
- The biography of a son in The History of McLean County, Illinois describes his father Christian Springer: "From 1812 to 1815, he was in the service of, and member of the body guard of Napoleon the First."
The Sequicentennial History of Washington, "The Springers came from France, where a brother, Christian, served as a personal bodyguard to Napoleon Bonaparte and was in the memorable battle at Waterloo."
Portrait and Biographical Album of McLean County: "Christian Springer was a miller by trade, and with four other brothers, served under Napoleon in the War of 1812, in his native country, for a period of four years and then deserted, for the third time, finally coming to the United States."
On Dec. 21, 1822 at Destry Christian married Magdalena/Magdeleine Engel in a double ceremony with sister Anne Springer and Jean Engel. The civil entry said that he was living at Hoste. Witnesses included Gaspard Gerber, 78, and Joseph Schwendi, 44. She was born Feb. 24, 1798, a daughter of Joseph Engel and Magdalena Gerber.
Portrait and Biographical Album of McLean County gives the birth date Feb. 2, 1796.
The History of McLean County: the Springers "...came to the United States, and landed at New Orleans June 12, 1830; went to Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, July 5, the same year."
Portrait and Biographical Album of McLean County:
Christian "...purchased 206 acres of land, where he resided for sixteen years." Christian appears on the 1830 census of Madison Township as a neighbor of Christian Augspurger, and on the 1840 census of Fairfield Township next door to brother-in-law Christian Gerber ('Christian Garver') who married his oldest sister Catherine.
The Butler County Records Center in Hamilton, Ohio holds a naturalization Declaration of Intent from the September 1840 court term for Christian Springer, 48, from France; and sons Joseph, 16; Peter, 13; Christian, 11; John, 6; and Andrew, 4.
Christian and Magdalena are absent from the 1850 census of Fairfield, Butler County, Ohio. It shows a household with only their children: farmer Joseph Springer, 25, France; Peter, 22, France; Christian, 20, France; Magdalena, 17, Ohio; John, 12, Ohio; Andrew, 10, Ohio; Catharine, 7, Ohio; and Mary, 5, Ohio.
In 1853 sons Joseph and Peter Springer ran a dry goods store at Hamilton, Butler County. It was destroyed by fire in February 1954. Joseph remained in Butler County, while his parents and siblings moved on to McLean County. They arrived at Danvers Nov. 10, 1854, and resettled at Allin in 1856.
On Sept. 26, 1865, three of the younger brothers obtained public land in Allin. The names Christian W., John S., and Andrew J. Springer appear on the purchases of two parcels in Section 10: 107 acres and 53 acres, at $10 per acre.
On the 1870 census of Allin, McLean County Christian is described as an 82-year-old retired farmer from France and 'Magdaleine' as a 77-year-old from France; the household also includes Andrew, 34, Ohio; Mary, 24, Ohio; and servant Mary Sherbine, 16, Ohio.
Magdalena/Magdeleine Engel died at Stanford Sept. 29, 1870.
Gospel Herald, November 1870: "On the 29th of September, in McLean county, Illinois, Magdalena Springer, aged 72 years, 2 months and 7 days. She lived 48 years in the bonds of matrimony, and leaves a deeply afflicted husband, 8 children, and 11 grand-children. She was a member of the Mennonite church since she was 14 years old, and trusted in God unto the end. She was buried on the 2nd of October, and many friends and relations followed her to the grave. Funeral discourses were delivered by Pre. Harris and the writer in English, and by Michael Linsinger in the German language. Chr. Gingerich."
Christian Springer died at Stanford Oct. 3, 1879, at age 87. They are buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Stanford.
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1792 - 1879 (86 years)
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