Bishop Joseph H. Birky b. 25 Nov 1850 Tazewell Co., IL d. 25 Sep 1927 Beemer, Cuming Co., NE: The Schrock-Birkey Connection
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Bishop Joseph H. Birky

Male 1850 - 1927  (76 years)


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  • Name Joseph H. Birky  [1, 2, 3] 
    Prefix Bishop 
    Birth 25 Nov 1850  Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    CLER Y 
    Religion Mennonite 
    Death 25 Sep 1927  Beemer, Cuming Co., NE Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Beemer, Cuming Co., NE Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    • Beemer Cemetery
    Person ID I2835  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 14 Apr 2021 

    Father Christian Bürcky (Birky),   b. 29 Oct 1810, Bavaria, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Sep 1885, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years) 
    Mother Catherine Mosimann,   b. 1820, Azoudange, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Feb 1909, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 89 years) 
    Marriage 30 Aug 1841  Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F91  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Katherine Zimmer,   b. 11 Oct 1855, Zurich, Hay Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Nov 1941, Bancroft, Cuming Co., NE Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years) 
    Marriage 7 Mar 1875  Delavan, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Children 
     1. Daniel Z. Birky,   b. 18 Feb 1876, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Jan 1958, Geneva, Fillmore Co., NE Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
     2. Amos Z. Birky,   b. 22 Feb 1878, IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Sep 1958, Tangent, Linn Co., OR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years)
     3. Katherine (Katie) Birky,   b. 10 Aug 1880, Delavan, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Feb 1965, Geneva, Fillmore Co., NE Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years)
     4. Elizabeth Birky,   b. 2 Nov 1882   d. 1971 (Age 88 years)
     5. Joseph Birky,   b. 6 Feb 1885   d. Nov 1973 (Age 88 years)
     6. Simon Birky,   b. 7 Jul 1887, Oberlin, Decatur Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 May 1969, Luverne, MN Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
     7. Jacob Birky,   b. 20 Jul 1889   d. Nov 1985 (Age 96 years)
     8. Sarah Ann (Sadie) Birky,   b. 24 Aug 1892, Oberlin, Decatur Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Feb 1962, Pender, NE Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years)
     9. Emma Birky,   b. 3 Oct 1894, Oberlin, Decatur Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Feb 1990, Beemer, Cuming Co., NE Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 95 years)
     10. Alma Birky,   b. 28 Sep 1896, Wisner, Cuming Co., NE Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Jun 1987, Albany, Linn Co., OR Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years)
    Family ID F2000  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 7 Jul 2012 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 25 Nov 1850 - Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 7 Mar 1875 - Delavan, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 25 Sep 1927 - Beemer, Cuming Co., NE Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Beemer, Cuming Co., NE Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • Obit: Mennobits
      Birky.--Joseph H. Birky was born in Livingston Co., Ill., Nov. 25, 1850; died at his home in Beemer, Nebr., Sept.25, 1927; aged 76 y, 19 m. In his youth he accepted Christ as his Savior and became a member of the Mennonite Church, and in this faith he labored on faithfully unto the end. He was ordained to the ministry in Decatur co., Kans., in 1886 and served the Church in that office to the time of his death. On March 7, 1875, he was united in marriage to Catherine Zimmer near Delavan, Ill. To this union were born 5 sons and 5 daughters, all of whom, with their sorrowing mother survive to mourn the loss of a loving husband and father. He also leaves 36 grandchildren, 1 brother, 3 sisters and a large number of relatives and friends. He will be sadly missed from our family circle, but we mourn not as those who have no hope. Funeral services held at the house conducted by Bro. J. W. Oswald, (Teat, Rev. 7:9-17), and at the church by Peter Oswald (Text, Psa. 90 German), and P. O. Oswald (Text, 11 Cor. 5:10 and Psa. 37:37). Interment was made in the Beemer Cemetery.
      ——————————
      “There were four kinds of Birkeys. The Red Birkys and the Black Birkys were called that because of the color of their hair. Then there were the Big Birkys and the Little Birkys. Some of those Big Birkys were also Black Birkys. Our Bishop and that family were among the Big Birkys. They were great big men, some of them six feet two, I imagine.

      “They used to wrestle and one was a champion of the whole community. Emden [a nearby village] had a champion wrestler, too, and he came over one Sunday afternoon and challenged our champion, Big Andrew Birky [no doubt Joseph’s brother who married a Martin]. They went out to a plowed field so they wouldn’t hurt themselves. When they were ready, Big Andrew Birky took this other fellow by the seat of the pants and flopped him head over heels on the ground. That settled that.

      “Bishop Birky would never give you a quick answer. He would always consider it. We used to have Sunday school every two weeks. I was put in as superintendent two or three times and I served for seventeen years, except one year. We younger fellows wanted Sunday school every Sunday, so I said to Brother Birky, ‘Would you entertain a motion to have Sunday school every Sunday?’ He thought it over a minute and said that he would. I made the motion and somebody seconded it. We voted on it and we lost. Well, we waited two years until they put me in for Superintendent again. I went back to Brother Birky and said, ‘Brother Birky, would you entertain a motion to reconsider that question?’ He studied a little while, then said he would. This time the question went over big.” (Interview with Christian E. Martin of the Hopedale congregation in 1974. Mr. Martin was 93 years old at the time.)
      ———————
      Joe Birkey [Bishop Joseph H.] was the first Sunday school Superintendent at Hopedale. [5, 6]

  • Sources 
    1. [S137] Valentine Birky Remembers--1935, P. 10, Title of Bishop.

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

    3. [S1060] Find-A-Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31775578/joseph-h.-birky.

    4. [S11] Obituaries of Individuals.

    5. [S137] Valentine Birky Remembers--1935.

    6. [S137] Valentine Birky Remembers--1935, P.10.


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