Bishop Christian Nafziger b. 1819 GR d. 6 Mar 1899 Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL: The Schrock-Birkey Connection
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Bishop Christian Nafziger[1]

Male 1819 - 1899  (80 years)


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  • Name Christian Nafziger  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 
    Prefix Bishop 
    Birth 1819  GR Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    CLER Y 
    PURC 1846  Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 80 acres
    Residence 1846  Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Delevan Prairie
    Immigration Oct 1846  New Orleans, LA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • with brother John
    Occupation Farmer, Minister 
    Ordained 1855  Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Minister
    Ordained 1860  Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Bishop
    Religion Mennonite 
    USR1 Pneumonia  [7] 
    Death 6 Mar 1899  Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery
    Person ID I558  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 22 Oct 2021 

    Father Christian Nafziger,   b. 3 Apr 1794, Illbach, Hesse, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Mar 1873, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years) 
    Mother Veronica Burkey,   b. 4 Oct 1796, Bitche, Moselle, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1855, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 58 years) 
    Marriage Bavaria, GR? Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F243  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth Zehr,   b. 1 Nov 1828, Alsace Lorraine, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Apr 1900, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 71 years) 
    Marriage 25 Aug 1851  Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • By Andrew Ropp
    Children 
     1. Magdalena Nafziger,   b. 1852
     2. Elizabeth Nafziger,   b. 1854
     3. Christian Nafziger,   b. 1856
     4. Joseph Nafziger,   b. 4 Jan 1860   d. 26 Sep 1895 (Age 35 years)
     5. Christian B. Nafziger,   b. 1862   d. 1950 (Age 88 years)
     6. Andrew Nafziger,   b. 1864, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1945, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
    Family ID F246  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 25 Oct 2006 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsPURC - 1846 - Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1846 - Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - Oct 1846 - New Orleans, LA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 25 Aug 1851 - Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOrdained - 1855 - Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOrdained - 1860 - Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 6 Mar 1899 - Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • 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, [4]

  • Sources 
    1. [S108] Art and Verna Nafziger, Nafziger Family Cookbook.

    2. [S103] Steven R. Estes, Illinois Ministers Attending Amish Ministers’ Meetings of 1862-1878.

    3. [S87] Ardys Serpette, Zehrs From Europe to Illinois.

    4. [S227] Steven R. Estes, Living Stones: a History of the Metamora Mennonite Church.

    5. [S519] Arthur Nafziger and Richard Hassan did the interview, Interview with Christian E. Martin.

    6. [S538] Photo courtesy of fArthur W. Nafziger, Hopedale, Old Mennonite Homes.

    7. [S550] Ardys Serpette, Tombstones Symbols.


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