Phoebe (Bena) Good b. 5 Sep 1863 Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL d. 16 Dec 1962 Eureka, Woodford Co., IL: The Schrock-Birkey Connection
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Phoebe (Bena) Good

Female 1863 - 1962  (99 years)


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  • Name Phoebe (Bena) Good  [1, 2] 
    Birth 5 Sep 1863  Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Gender Female 
    Occupation Farmer’s wife and mother of ten (nine living). 
    Reference Number 15 
    Religion Amish Mennonite 
    Residence 15 Jan 1882  Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    USR1 Old Age 
    Death 16 Dec 1962  Eureka, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    • Maple Lawn Home
    Burial 18 Dec 1962  Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • East Bend Mennonite Cemetery
    Person ID I15  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 12 Jun 2023 

    Father Josef (Joseph ) Guth (Good),   b. 19 Jan 1831, Burgwalden, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Feb 1909, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years) 
    Mother Katharina Stalter,   b. 9 Jan 1832, Hemerten, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Oct 1919, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years) 
    Marriage 2 Mar 1856  Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F13  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Valentine Birkey,   b. 2 Feb 1858, Dillon Creek, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Sep 1928, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years) 
    Marriage 15 Jan 1882  Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5] 
    Notes 
    • Valentine and Phoebe were married in the Hopedale Mennonite Church by Christian Nafziger. Joseph Good was a witness.
      Valentine was 23, a farmer, and living in Hopedale, IL at the time of marriage. Phoebe was 18.
    Children 
     1. Mollie Ann Birkey,   b. 25 Nov 1882, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Sep 1969, Gibson City, Ford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years)
     2. Bertha Ellen Birkey,   b. 27 Mar 1885, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Oct 1970, Bloomington, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
     3. Joseph Christian Birkey,   b. 3 Sep 1887, Oberlin, Decatur Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 May 1988, Gibson City, Ford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 100 years)
     4. Alvin Rudolph Birkey,   b. 13 Nov 1891, Oberlin, Decatur Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Jan 1973, Champaign, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
     5. Kate Elizabeth Birkey,   b. 25 Apr 1894, Decatur Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Nov 1987, Meadows, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 93 years)
     6. Silas Daniel Birkey,   b. 21 May 1897, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Mar 1984, Pontiac, Livingston Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years)
     7. Joel Levi Birkey,   b. 15 May 1899, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Apr 1994, Meadows, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 94 years)
     8. Infant Son Birkey,   b. Abt 1901   d. 15 Mar 1901 (Age ~ 0 years)
     9. Ada Lillian Birkey,   b. 15 Aug 1903, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 May 1984, Gibson City, Ford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years)
     10. Edna Phoebe Birkey,   b. 6 Mar 1907, Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Apr 1984, West Liberty, Logan Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years)
    Family ID F6  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 24 Aug 2018 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 5 Sep 1863 - Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 15 Jan 1882 - Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 15 Jan 1882 - Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 16 Dec 1962 - Eureka, Woodford Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 18 Dec 1962 - Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Phoebe 'Bena' Good Birkey (1863-1962)    		Phoebe "Bena" Good Birkey (1863-1962)

  • Notes 
    • Obit: Gospel Herald
      Birkey, Phoebe, daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Good, was born at Hopedale, Ill., Sept. 5, 1863; died at Eureka, Ill., Dec. 16, 1962; aged 99 y. 3 m. 11 d. On Jan.15, 1882, she was married to Valentine Birkey, who died in Sept., 1928. Surviving are all their 9 children (Mrs. Mollie Zehr, Mrs. Bertha Heiser, Joe, Alvin, Mrs. Katie Zehr, Silas, Joel, Mrs. Ada Foley, and Mrs. Edna Schertz), 3 sisters (Mrs. Sara Beller, aged 93; Mrs. Kate Horsch, aged 91; and Mrs. Mary Birkey, aged 88), 40 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were also 2 sisters, 2 brothers, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. She was a member of the East Bend Church, where funeral services were held Dec. 19, in charge of Ivan Birkey and J. Alton Horst.

      Obit: Fisher Reporter
      Funeral services were held at East Bend Mennonite Church with Rev. Ivan Birkey and Rev. J. Alton Horst officiating. Phoebe died at Maple Lawn Home in Eureka where she had been a resident for eleven years.


      Obit: Mennonite Weekly Review
      10 Jan 1963 p. 8
      Mrs. Phoebe Birkey

      Mrs. Phoebe (Good) Birkey was born near Hopedale, Ill. on Sept. 5, 1863, the daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Good. On Jan. 15, 1882 she was married to Valentine Birkey. They lived near Hopedale for five years. In 1877 [sic; 1887?] they homesteaded on the prairie in Decatur County, Kan. There they built and lived in a sod house where three of their children were born. They lived in Kansas for eight years.

      In 1895, with the help of a sister's husband, they moved to a farm near Fisher, Ill. In 1917 they built the house north of the East Bend Mennonite Church and lived there until Mr. Birkey died in September 1928. She then lived with her children until 1951 when she moved to the Maple Lawn Homes in Eureka, Ill., spending the rest of her days there. Here she made many friends. She moved on to her eternal home on Dec. 16, 1962.

      Surviving are her nine children, Mrs. Mollie Zehr, Mrs. Bertha Heiser, Joe Birkey, and Alvin Birkey, all of Fisher, Mrs. Katie Zehr of Ludlow, Ill., Silas Birkey of Flanagan, Ill., Joel Birkey of Ludlow, Mrs. Ada Foley of Norwalk, Calif., and Mrs. Edna Schertz of Saybrook, Ill.; three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Beller, 93, of Maple Lawn Homes, Mrs. Kate Horsch, 91, of Washburn, Ill., and Mrs. Mary Birkey, 88, of Sunset Rest Home, Geneva, Neb.; 40 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, two sisters, two brothers, four grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren preceded her in death.

      In her youth she gave her heart to the Lord, remaining a member of the Mennonite church. She lived a long life, and her mind remained clear to the last. Her life was a quiet one marked by great concern for all members of her family. She will be missed by many.

      The funeral service was held at the East Bend Mennonite Church near Fisher, Ill. on Dec. 19, 1962, with Rev. Ivan Birkey, a grandson, and Rev. J. Alton Horst officiating. Burial was made in the church cemetery. Six grandsons carried the casket.

  • Sources 
    1. [S16] Edna Schertz, Joseph and Catherine Stalter Good.

    2. [S2] Ruth Berkey Reichly, The Berkey Book, (Arlington, VA).

    3. [S18] Gravestone name and dates.

    4. [S215] Marriage Record of Valentine Birkey and Phoebe Good.

    5. [S1058] Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900, Valentine Birkey and Phoebe Good - Marriage Record Vol 1 , page 87.


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