Christian R. King b. 22 Dec 1819 Baden, GR d. 15 Jan 1904: The Schrock-Birkey Connection

Christian R. King

Male 1819 - 1904  (84 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All

  • Name Christian R. King  [1, 2, 3
    Birth 22 Dec 1819  Baden, GR Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4
    • Glasthalerhof
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1847  [1
    Death 15 Jan 1904  [1
    Burial Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Waldo Cemetery
    Person ID I6499  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 23 Feb 2024 

    Father Johannes King,   b. 24 Jun 1791, Pirmasens, Palatinate, GR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Jul 1860, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years) 
    Mother Jacobina “Phoebe” Reidiger,   b. 23 Oct 1794, Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Jul 1869, Carlock, Dry Grove Twp., McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years) 
    Family ID F655  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary Catharina Sommer Baechler,   b. 4 Apr 1829, Bisping, Moselle, Lorraine, FR Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 May 1920, Pontiac, Livingston Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 91 years) 
    Marriage 24 Jun 1852  Butler Co., OH Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 5
    Children 
     1. Kathrine (Katie) B. King,   b. 19 Oct 1858, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Feb 1918, Eureka, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years)
     2. Joseph R. King,   b. 25 May 1854, Hudson, McLean Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Aug 1943, Eureka, Woodford Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 89 years)
    Family ID F4521  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 9 Nov 2018 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 22 Dec 1819 - Baden, GR Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 24 Jun 1852 - Butler Co., OH Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Flanagan, Livingston Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • Obit:
      Christian was born on the Glasthalerhof in Baden Germany.

      Christian immigrated with his brother, Nicholas. He landed in Philadelphia in 1847, and originally settled in Pennsylvania, and from there went to Ohio in 1848. In 1850, he was employed as a farm laborer for Edward Mills in Summit County, Ohio (listed as "Christian Kong". In Ohio, he met Maria Baechler. In 1851, he took a trip to Iowa looking for a place to settle. Christian and Maria married in Butler County in 1852 and left shortly thereafter for central Illinois. They settled initially in McLean County. In March, 1865, they moved to Livingston County.

      Christian purchased land located 2 miles south, and one half mile west of Flanagan. On 8/22/1864 Christian purchased 160 acres in Nebraska Township, Livingston County (SW 1/4 of Section 34 - located two miles due south of Flanagan). The Illinois Central Railroad reserved a 200' easement "where the tracks of said railroad now lie". (Livingston County Deed Record Book 26, p. 244). On the same day, Christian's brother, Daniel King, bought 80 acres nearby on land that is today owned by the Salem Children's Home (E 1/2 of SE 1/4 of Section 34). Then on 3/31/1869, Christian bought an additional 40 acres adjacent (SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Section 34 : LCDR Book 38, p. 584), and on 2/28/1871, he purchased the NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 34 (LCDR Book 52k p. 347). Thus, by 1871, Christian and Daniel owned the entire southern half of Section 34 of Nebraska Township. Christian added other properties to his holdings, including a number of properties in Manson, Iowa. Chris and Mary gave all of their land away to their children as they aged and thus, they had no wills or estates.

      Christian anglicized his surname to "King" and was affectionately known as "Curley", "Smiley", and "Smilin' Christ" because of his happy demeanor.

      According to "A History of Livingston County" Vol. 2, Chris was a Democrat and served as a school director (member of the school board) for a number of years. [4]

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

    2. [S460] Donald Roth, Rediger Family.

    3. [S1313] Neil Ann Stuckey Levine, (Masthof Press).

    4. [S1060] Find-A-Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32221206/christian-r.-king.

    5. [S614] Gary L. Yordy, Maria Sommer Baechler King.


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