hegnauer.family
H0169 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Christian Hirschi Sr.

Born at Uebeschi in 1814, emigrated to France in 1850, and died at Highland in 1885.

born 18 Aug 1814 at Uebeschi, Bern died 14 Nov 1885 at Highland, Madison

Also written Christian Hirschy, Chas Herschi

Christian Hirschi was born on 18 August 1814 at Uebeschi, in the parish of Thierachern in Canton Bern, Switzerland, the son of Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann.1–2 A Küher, or dairyman, he married Magdalena Stocker in 1833 and raised ten children in the parish of Amsoldingen, and in 1850 he took them, with his father, to Highland, Illinois, where he farmed for the rest of his life. His daughter Susanna Katharina married Leonhard Hegnauer.3–4

Canton Bern

Christian was baptised at Thierachern on 28 August 1814. His godparents were his mother's brother Christen Stutzmann, his father's brother Jakob Hirschi and a Susanna Stutzmann of Uebeschi, and his family were citizens of Schangnau, in the Emmental.1 He was fourteen when his mother died at Amsoldingen in November 1828.5 He was confirmed at Amsoldingen in 1831, and like his father and his elder brother Peter he became a Küher, one of the dairymen whose way of life had its centre in the Emmental and who kept their herds on leased alpine pastures in summer and on valley farms in winter.2, 6–7

In the autumn of 1833 Christian, then living at Reutigen, and Magdalena Stocker, the daughter of the late Johannes Stocker, of Boltigen, had their banns read at Reutigen on 29 September and 6 and 13 October, and on 26 October 1833 they were married at Thun, he with his father's consent, she with her guardian's.2, 8 They settled in the neighbouring parish of Amsoldingen, a village beside the Amsoldingersee with about 650 inhabitants in 1850.9 Their first six children were baptised in its church: Christian in November 1834, Magdalena in 1836, Johannes in 1838, Friedrich in 1839, Elisabeth in 1841 and Rudolf in 1843.10–15 The godparents came from both families: Magdalena's brother Johannes Stocker, Stutzmanns and a Feller from Uebeschi, and, for Rudolf, Christian's brother Peter, who lived in Thun.10–11, 15 By 1844 the family was living at Lilachen, a hamlet of the parish, where Margaritha Rosalia was born in September 1844, Susanna Katharina in May 1846, Gottlieb in March 1848 and Jakob on 1 December 1849.16–19 Each baptism was copied into the register of Schangnau, where the family belonged.20

To Highland

From the 1830s the Küher's trade declined quickly as village cheese dairies took over,7 and the farming crisis of the 1840s helped to set off the first mass emigrations from Switzerland to America.21 In the summer of 1850 Christian and Magdalena emigrated with their ten children and his father, Peter, then seventy-one. They sailed from Le Havre on the ship Belmont and landed at New York on 1 August 1850; the clerk entered the thirteen "Hirschy" passengers in family order, but gave the two men each other's names.3, 22 Two weeks later, on 14 August, they reached Highland, in Madison County, Illinois, a town founded by Swiss settlers.22

Within three months Christian very probably bought his first land: on 18 November 1850 a Christian Hirsch took up 160 acres of public land in Township 4 North, Range 5 West, paying with a bounty-land warrant that John McCabe, a private of the 7th U.S. Infantry, had earned in the Mexican War and assigned to him; the patent was signed on 1 May 1851.23–24 According to the family, his father died in the winter of 1851 and was buried on the farm along Sugar Creek.25 Two more children were born in Illinois: Maria, whom the German Evangelical congregation of Highland baptised in April 1854, with a Christian Hirschy, probably her eldest brother, and her sister Magdalena as sponsors, and Gottlieb, in 1856.26–27

Farm and family

In August 1860 the census taker, who wrote him down as "Chas Herschi", found him, forty-seven, farming with real estate worth about $3,000, his wife "Mena", and five of the children at home.27 The older children were marrying: Magdalena married Jacob Kamm in 1854, and in 1860 Elisabeth married Jones Tontz, Johannes married Elizabeth Tontz and the younger Christian married Elizabeth Plocher.28 Rudolf died in November 1861, and Johannes by 1863; on 25 October 1863 Johannes's widow married his brother Christian, whose first wife had died, and on the same day Rosina married Christian Tontz.28–29 On 4 July 1866 Susanna married Leonhard Hegnauer at Highland.4, 30

“, found him, forty-seven, farming with real estate worth about $3,000, his wife”

By 1870 Christian had become an American citizen. That July he was farming in Saline Township with real estate worth about $6,000, and only Mary and Gottlieb were still at home and at school.31 Mary died in 1872, and Elisabeth had died two years before, leaving five children.29, 32 On 3 June 1874, as "Christian Hirschi, senior, of the Town of Highland", he made his will. He left his "beloved wife Magdalena" the use of a third of the income of his estate for her life, and after her the whole to be shared equally among his seven children or their heirs: Christian, Magdalena, Frederick, the heirs of his late daughter Elisabeth, Rosina, Susanna and Gottlieb, with a hundred dollars more for Gottlieb. His sons Christian and Frederick were to be his executors.32

Later years

In 1880 Christian and Magdalena were living in retirement in the town of Highland.33 Magdalena died there in May 1881, and their eldest son, Christian, in July 1882.29, 34 Christian himself died at Highland on 14 November 1885, aged seventy-one, and was buried beside Magdalena in the Highland Cemetery.22, 32 His son Frederick proved the will. When the estate of $14,106 was settled in 1889, each of his five surviving children, Frederick, Gottlieb, Rosina Tontz, Magdalena Kamm and Susan Hegnauer, received a seventh, and the children of Christian Jr. and of Elisabeth Tontz shared the other two.32 His daughter Susanna's death certificate, in Missouri in 1918, names her parents as Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker.35–36

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Uebeschi, 1814
  • Baptism at Thierachern, 1814
  • Confirmation at Amsoldingen, 1831
  • Occupation at Reutigen, 1833
  • Marriage to Magdalena Stocker at Thun, 1833
  • Emigration at Le Havre, 1850
  • and 8 more
  • 7 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Land (probable). The purchase of 18 Nov 1850 is recorded under "Hirsch, Christian" and the patent under "Christian Hirsche".
  • Censuses. 1880: Highland City, retired.
  • Citizenship. citizen by 1870 (census); the naturalization record has not been found.
  • Negative searches (27 Sep 2026). Illinois Statewide Death Index (above); Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales under Hirschi, Herschi, Hirschy and Hers* in Madison and Bond counties (only the 1850 "Hirsch, Christian" purchase is his); the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index for the marriages of Frederick (about 1868) and Gottlieb (about 1878), not found; the 1850 census of Madison County.

Sources

Sources 1–2

1 Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, 1814

Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern (StABE), K Thierachern 8, Taufrodel [baptism register] 1800–1833, p. 170 (online PDF image 88 of 280): baptism of Christian, 28 August 1814, born the 18th, legitimate; parents Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, at Uebeschi; godparents Christen Stutzmann, the mother's brother, Jakob Hirschi, the father's brother, and Susanna Stutzmann née Keller [?] of Uebeschi; citizenship column: Schangnau. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=233184 (register image read 27 September 2026). Indexed by FamilySearch as FamilySearch record 66JX-LDB7

In the archive: O06091 , O05923

2 StABE, K Schangnau 13, 1833

StABE, K Schangnau 13, Eherodel [marriage register] 1831–1857, p. 13, first entry (online PDF image 8 of 146): banns "Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13", married ("copl.") at Thun, 26 October [1833]: "Christian Hirschi, Peters, Küher, zu Reutigen … get[auft] Thierachern 28 Augst 1814 – adm[ittiert] Amsoldingen 1831, mit Einwillig[ung] d. Vaters" and "Magdalena Stocker, Hansen, v. Boltigen … get[auft] [place unread] 18. Dec. 1814 – adm[ittiert] Steffisburg 1831. Einwill[igung] d. Vogts". query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=423422 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06721 , O06722

Sources 3–4

3 New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1850

"New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957," database with images, Ancestry.com, manifest of the ship Belmont, Le Havre to New York, arrived 1 August 1850, lines 70–82, "Hirschy": Christian 71, Peter 36 [the two men's given names transposed], Madeline 36, Christian 10, Madeline 9, Johanna 8, Friedrich 7, Elizabeth 6, Rudolph 5, Rosine 4, Susanna 3, Gotfried 11 months, Jacob 6 months, Swiss; citing NARA M237; image NYM237_91-0216 (ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYM237_91-0216).

4 German Evangelical congregation, Highland, 1866

German Evangelical congregation, Highland, Illinois (now Evangelical United Church of Christ), register 1860–1870, marriages by Pfarrer Nicolas Schupbach, p. 363, 1866 no. 2: Leonhard Hegnauer, farmer, of Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland, and Susanna Katharina Hirschi, of Amseldingen, Kanton Bern; witnesses Johann Zimmermann and Jungfer Elisabeth Mollet; married 4 July 1866; licence sent back 5 July 1866; Family History Library film 1433226, item 4 (DGS 8198847, image 594), image read 27 September 2026. FamilySearch image 3Q9M-CSLL-QPR4

In the archive: O06754 , O06753

Source 5

5 StABE, K Amsoldingen 12, 1828

StABE, K Amsoldingen 12, Totenrodel [burial register] 1808–1851, p. 41, 1828 no. 24 (online PDF image 22 of 105): "Maria Hirschi v. Schangnau, geb. Stutzmann, Peters des Kühers Ehefrau", died 16 and buried 19 November 1828, of consumption, age "49. Jahr". query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241391 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06720

Sources 6–7

6 StABE, K Amsoldingen 10, 1826

StABE, K Amsoldingen 10, Eherodel 1807–1837, p. 75, no. 509 (online PDF image 39 of 120): banns of Peter Hirschi of Schangnau, Küher, son of Peter, then living in Reutigen parish, and Magdalena Oesch of Amsoldingen, daughter of Johannes, 10, 17 and 24 September 1826; married at Reutigen 6 October 1826 (Schangnau's copy, K Schangnau 12 p. 161, gives the groom's baptism at Thierachern, 24 April 1803). query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241389 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06092 , O06723

7 Küherwesen, 1998

Anne-Marie Dubler, "Küherwesen," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 1998 (print-edition article, updated 4 December 2008), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/013867/2008-12-04 (accessed 28 September 2026).

Source 8

8 StABE, K Reutigen 7, 1833

StABE, K Reutigen 7, Eherodel 1827–1875, p. 19, no. 15 of 1833 (online PDF image 12 of 102): banns of Christian Hirschi, [son] of Peter, of Schangnau, Küher [dairyman], and Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of Johannis, of Boltigen, living "am Gand" [?], read on 29 September and 6 and 13 October 1833; the wedding column is blank. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=230825 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06090

Source 9

9 Amsoldingen (Gemeinde), 1997

Anne-Marie Dubler, "Amsoldingen (Gemeinde)," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 1997 (print-edition article, updated 11 November 2016), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/000520/2016-11-11 (accessed 27 September 2026).

Sources 10–15

10 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1834

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel [baptism register] 1832–1862, p. 36, no. 45 of 1834 (online PDF image 19 of 187): baptism of Christian, Sunday 9 November 1834, born 28 October; parents Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, of Schangnau, at Amsoldingen, and Magdalena Stocker, of Boltigen, daughter of the late Johannes; godparents Rudolf Hürner [?], law agent in Thun, Christian Feller, district judge, at Uebeschi, and Rosina Hirschi née Schnürer [?]. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06724

11 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1836

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 52, no. 11 of 1836 (online PDF image 27 of 187): baptism of Magdalena, 21 February 1836, born 4 February; parents Christian Hirschi, son of Peter, of Schangnau, at Amsoldingen, and Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of the late Johannes, of Boltigen, married at Thun 26 October 1833; godparents Johannes Stocker, the child's mother's brother, Susanna Stutzmann née Simon, of Uebeschi, and Magdalena Hirschi née Oesch, the child's aunt. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06089

12 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1838

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 76, no. 3 of 1838 (online PDF image 40 of 187): baptism of Johannes, Sunday 21 January 1838, born 2 January; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker; godparents Johannes Indermühle of Amsoldingen, Jakob Werren [?] of Zweisimmen, and Anna Stutzman, Peter's daughter, of Uebeschi. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06725

13 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1839

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 94, no. 32 of 1839 (online PDF image 49 of 187): baptism of Friedrich, Sunday 1 September 1839, born 21 August; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker [written "Maria Stoker"]; godparents Christian Brunnenschwander [?], Johannes Stutzmann of Uebeschi, and Maria Gassner, the Ammann's daughter. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06726

14 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1841

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 110, no. 16 of 1841 (online PDF image 57 of 187): baptism of Elisabeth, Sunday 11 April 1841, born 24 March; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker; godparents Jakob Feller, son of Christian the district judge, at Thun, Elisabeth Bieri of Schangnau, at the Egg in Thierachern, and Elisabeth Dähler [?] née Indermühle. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06727

15 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1843

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 130, no. 5 of 1843 (online PDF image 67 of 187): baptism of Rudolf, Sunday 12 February 1843, born 8 January; parents Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, of Schangnau, in Amsoldingen, and Magdalena Stocker, of Boltigen; godparents Peter Hirschi, "des Vaters Bruder, in Thun", David Moser, law agent in Thun, and Margaritha Indermühle née Wittwer [?]. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06728

Sources 16–19

16 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1844

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 151, no. 46 of 1844 (online PDF image 77 of 187): baptism of Margaritha Rosalie [or Rosalia], Sunday 13 October 1844, born 1[2 or 8] September 1844 [Schangnau's copy, K Schangnau 9 p. 23, reads the 12th]; parents Christian Hirschi, [son] of Peter, of Schangnau, at Lilachen, and Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of Johannes, of Boltigen, married at Thun 26 October 1833. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06088

17 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1846

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 167, no. 16 of 1846 (online PDF image 85 of 187): baptism of Susanna Catharina, Friday 5 June 1846, born 15 May 1846; parents Christian Hirschi, [son] of Peter, of Schangnau, at Lilachen, and Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of Johannes, of Boltigen, married at Thun 26 October 1833. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06087

18 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1848

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 182, no. 12 of 1848 (online PDF image 93 of 187): baptism of Gottlieb, Friday 19 May 1848, born 31 March; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker, at Lilachen; godparents Samuel Gassner, schoolmaster, Christian Hirsig "beim Stürli" [?] and Rosina Indermühle née Indermühle. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06729

19 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1850

StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 199, no. 1 of 1850 (online PDF image 101 of 187): baptism of Jakob, Friday 4 January 1850, born 1 December 1849; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker, at Lilachen; godparents Christian Indermühle "in der Au" [?], Friedrich Rolli of Thierachern and Elisabeth Schneiter née Althaus, at Lilachen. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06730

Source 20

20 StABE, K Schangnau 8, 2026

StABE, K Schangnau 8, Auswärts Getaufte [citizens baptised elsewhere] 1827–1843, pp. 90, 229 and 241 (online PDF images 47, 117 and 123 of 147), and K Schangnau 9, 1841–1860, p. 23 no. 91, p. 68 no. 45, p. 108 no. 34 and p. 149 (online PDF images 12, 36, 57 and 79): the home-parish copies of the Amsoldingen baptisms of all ten children of Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, of Schangnau, and Magdalena Stocker, Johannes's daughter, of Boltigen, 1834–1850. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=423416 and query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=423418 (register images read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06731 , O06732 , O06733 , O06817 , O06818 , O06734 , O06735 , O06736 , O06737 , O06738

Source 21

21 Auswanderung, 1997

Anne-Lise Head-König, "Auswanderung," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 1997 (print-edition article, updated 15 October 2007), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007988/2007-10-15 (accessed 27 September 2026).

Source 22

22 Find a Grave, memorial 52693825, 1814

Find a Grave, memorial 52693825, Christian Hirschi Sr., born 14 August 1814, Schangnau, Emmental, Bern; died 14 November 1885, Highland, Madison County, Illinois; Highland Cemetery, Block 4, Lot 14, #5; biography by the memorial's creator, R. Marti (a great-grandchild): came from Le Havre on the ship Belmont with his wife, ten children and his father, landing at New York on 1 August 1850 and arriving at Highland on 14 August 1850; son of Peter and Maria Stutzmann Hirschi (findagrave.com/memorial/52693825) (memorial read in the survey of his daughter's records, September 2026).

Sources 23–24

23 Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales database, 1850

Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales database (Illinois State Archives), purchaser "Hirsch, Christian", residence not given, 18 November 1850, 3rd Principal Meridian, Township 4 North, Range 5 West: E½NE¼ of section 14 (80 acres), NW¼NW¼ of section 13 (40 acres) and NW¼NE¼ of section 14 (40 acres); price "warrant", sale type FD; vol. 351, p. 62, purchase nos. 0169807–0169809 (apps.ilsos.gov/isa/landsrch.jsp, searched 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06773

24 Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, 1847

Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, military bounty-land warrant patent to Christian Hirsche, assignee of John McCabe, private in Captain Whiting's company, 7th Regiment U.S. Infantry; warrant no. 65,556 under the Act of 11 February 1847; Edwardsville land office; the same three tracts in Township 4 North, Range 5 West, 160 acres; signed 1 May 1851; accession MW-1062-051, document 65556 (glorecords.blm.gov, patent image read 27 September 2026).

In the archive: O06774

Source 25

25 Find a Grave, memorial 156890155, 1779

Find a Grave, memorial 156890155, Peter Hirschi, born 6 August 1779, Schangnau, Emmental, Bern; died 1851, Madison County, Illinois; created by R. Marti, 9 January 2016, with a biography: he married Marie Stutzmann in Canton Bern, who died in Switzerland; he came to America with his son's family on the ship Belmont, landing at New York on 1 August 1850; his eldest son, Peter Hirschi Jr., born 24 April 1803, remained in Switzerland; he died in the winter of 1851 and was buried at the farm along Sugar Creek (findagrave.com/memorial/156890155) (read 27 September 2026).

Sources 26–27

26 German Evangelical congregation, Highland, 1854

German Evangelical congregation, Highland, Illinois (now Evangelical United Church of Christ), baptism register "Lit. B" 1840–1860, p. [46–]47, 1854 no. 15: 16 April [1854], Marie; parents "Herr Christ. Hirschy, Fr. Magdalena Stocker"; sponsors "Herr Christ. Hirschy, Miss Magd. Hirschy"; Family History Library film 1433226, item 5 (DGS 8198847, image 626), image read 27 September 2026. FamilySearch image 3Q9M-CSLL-QPKK

In the archive: O06756

27 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Township 4 North Range 5 West, 2061

1860 U.S. Federal Census, Township 4 North Range 5 West, Madison County, Illinois, post office Highland, page 285, dwelling 2061, family 2037, enumerated 25 August 1860: Chas [Christian] Herschi (47, farmer, born Switzerland), Mena [Magdalena] (47), John (28), Susan (16, housekeeper, attended school), Rudolph (18), Mary (6, Ill.) and Gaudeloup [Gottlieb] (4); citing NARA M653; database with images, Ancestry.com (images 4213713_00735–00736).

Source 28

28 Illinois, County Marriages, 2026

"Illinois, County Marriages, 1810–1940," database with images, FamilySearch, Madison County Marriage Register vol. 6 (images read 27 September 2026): Jacob Kamm and Magdalena Hersche, 30 December 1854, p. 124 FamilySearch record QK9L-7SVK; Jones Tontz and Elizabeth Hirschi, 4 July 1860, p. 169 FamilySearch record QK9L-7ML6; John Hirsche and Elizabeth Tontz, 14 October 1860, p. 170 FamilySearch record QK9L-QV9Q; Christian Hirsche and Elizabeth Blocher [Plocher], 29 November 1860, p. 171 FamilySearch record QK9L-QVST; Christian Hirschi and Elizabeth Hirschi, and Christian Tontz and Rosine Hirsche, both 25 October 1863, p. 187 FamilySearch record QK9L-7WDS FamilySearch record QK9L-7WD7.

In the archive: O06759 , O06760 , O06761 , O06762 , O06763 , O06764

Source 29

29 Find a Grave, memorial 52693920, 1814

Find a Grave, memorial 52693920, Magdalena Stocker Hirschi, born 5 December 1814, Boltigen, Obersimmental, Bern; died 11 May 1881, Highland, Madison County, Illinois; Highland Cemetery, Block 4, Lot 14, #6; "Married on 26 Oct 1833 in Amsoldingen, Canton Bern. Mother of twelve children."; with links to the memorials of her children (findagrave.com/memorial/52693920).

Source 30

30 Duplicate marriage certificate of Leonhard Hegnauer, 1866

Duplicate marriage certificate of Leonhard Hegnauer of Kanton Graubünden and Susane K Hirschi of Amseldingen [Amsoldingen], Kanton Bern, married at Highland, Illinois, 4 July 1866, by Rev. Nicolas Schupbach; drawn from the church records and sworn at Highland, 21 April 1917, for the widow's pension claim (original in the NARA pension file); photograph shared by jnel126, "Hegnauer - Hirschi Marriage," Ancestry member tree 154982007, 10 November 2018.

Source 31

31 1870 U.S. Federal Census, 1630

1870 U.S. Federal Census, Township 4 Range 5 [Saline Township], Madison County, Illinois, post office Saline, page 5 (stamped 37), enumerated [2 or 3] July 1870, dwelling 1630, family 1698: "Kirshi" [Hirschi] Christian, 53, farmer, real estate $[6?],000, personal estate $500, born Switzerland, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or over; Magdalene, 57, keeping house; Mary, 17, and Gottlieb, 14, born Illinois, at school; citing NARA M593, FHL film 545750; "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (indexed "Kershi"; image read 27 September 2026). FamilySearch record M6H4-781

In the archive: O06740

Source 32

32 Madison County, Illinois, 1874

Madison County, Illinois, Probate Court, estate of Christian Hirschi [Sr.] of Highland, deceased, case file (box 152): last will and testament dated 3 June 1874 (to "my beloved wife Magdalena" the use of one third of the interest of his estate for life; the remainder in equal shares to his children Christian, Magdalena, Frederick, the heirs of his deceased daughter Elisabeth, Rosina, Susan[na] and Gottlieb; witnesses Charles Boeschenstein and Joseph Harnisch); affidavit of the executor Fridrich Hirschi, 4 December 1885, that Christian Hirschi died on or about 14 November 1885, leaving no widow, and naming the surviving children "Magdalena Kamm, Frederick, Rosina Tontz, Susanna Hegnauer, Gottlieb" and the children of Christian Hirschi Jr. and of Elisabeth Tontz, deceased; letters testamentary, 8 December 1885; inventory (land in T4N R5W, lots in Highland, 27 acres in Bond County) and notes (including a note of Leonhard Hegnauer for $600, 31 May 1884); final account and distribution, 13 March 1889, approved 11 April 1889, recorded in Admr. Acc. Rec. A, pp. 291–295; in "Illinois, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1772–1999," database with images, Ancestry.com, images 007658310_01384–01411.

Source 33

33 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Highland City, 2026

1880 U.S. Federal Census, Highland City, Madison County, Illinois, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 32, page 26, dwelling 232, family 263: "Hirshi, Chris", 66, married, retired, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland; Madeline, 66, wife, keeping house, born Switzerland; citing NARA T9, roll 234; "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (image read 27 September 2026). FamilySearch record MXVP-S4Q

In the archive: O06744

Source 34

34 Illinois, Deaths and Burials, 1882

"Illinois, Deaths and Burials, 1790–1950," database, FamilySearch, Christian Hirsche, died 13 July 1882, Leef Township, Madison County, buried 14 July 1882, aged 47, born 1835 in Switzerland, farmer FamilySearch record HPSN-RMT2; also Illinois Statewide Death Index, pre-1916, "Hirsch, Christian", 13 July 1882, Leef Township, certificate 891.

In the archive: O06772

Sources 35–36

35 Missouri State Board of Health, 1918

Missouri State Board of Health, certificate of death no. 4170, Susanna Katharina Hegnauer, died 12 February 1918, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County; born 15 May 1846, Switzerland; father Christian Hirschi, mother Magdalena Stocker, both born Switzerland; informant Mrs. Mary Hammer, Rockville; Missouri State Archives, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910–1975 (sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00004307.PDF).

In the archive: O04067

36 History of Bates County, Missouri, 1918

[W. O. Atkeson], History of Bates County, Missouri (1918), pp. 719–721, sketch of Christian Hegnauer, including his mother Susan K. (Hirschi), "a daughter of Christian Hirschi," born in Switzerland 15 May 1846.

Life in time

18 Aug 1814

Birth , Uebeschi, Bern, Switzerland

proven Sources 1, 2, 3, 22, 27, 37

How we know

Born 18 Aug 1814 according to the Thierachern baptism register; his parents then lived at Uebeschi, in Thierachern parish. Schangnau, given by Find a Grave, was the family's place of citizenship.

The Thierachern baptism register (original, image read) records Christian, born 18 Aug and baptised 28 Aug 1814, son of Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, at Uebeschi, citizen of Schangnau. The Schangnau marriage register of 1833 (original, image read) identifies the groom, Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, as the child baptised at Thierachern on 28 Aug 1814. The register gives the parents' home, not a birthplace, so Uebeschi is inferred. Find a Grave gives 14 Aug 1814 at Schangnau; the register image reads 18, and Schangnau was the place of citizenship.

  1. 1814 Birth 18 Aug 1814 · Uebeschi, Bern · proven

    Born 18 Aug 1814 according to the Thierachern baptism register; his parents then lived at Uebeschi, in Thierachern parish. Schangnau, given by Find a Grave, was the family's place of citizenship.

    The Thierachern baptism register (original, image read) records Christian, born 18 Aug and baptised 28 Aug 1814, son of Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, at Uebeschi, citizen of Schangnau. The Schangnau marriage register of 1833 (original, image read) identifies the groom, Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, as the child baptised at Thierachern on 28 Aug 1814. The register gives the parents' home, not a birthplace, so Uebeschi is inferred. Find a Grave gives 14 Aug 1814 at Schangnau; the register image reads 18, and Schangnau was the place of citizenship.

    Sources 1, 2, 3, 22, 27, 37

  2. 1814 Baptism 28 Aug 1814 · Thierachern, Bern · proven

    Parents Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, at Uebeschi; citizenship Schangnau; godparents Christen Stutzmann, the mother's brother, Jakob Hirschi, the father's brother, and Susanna Stutzmann of Uebeschi.

    The Thierachern baptism register (Staatsarchiv Bern, K Thierachern 8, p. 170; original, image read). Identification proven: the Schangnau marriage register of 1833 gives this baptism for the groom, Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, Küher, at Reutigen, who married Magdalena Stocker.

    Sources 1, 2, 37

  3. 1831 Confirmation Amsoldingen, Bern · proven

    Admitted to communion ("admittiert") at Amsoldingen in 1831.

    The Schangnau marriage register of 1833 (original, image read) gives, as Bernese marriage entries did, the place and year of the groom's admission to communion.

    Source 2

  4. 1833 Occupation Reutigen, Bern · proven

    Küher (dairyman or herdsman), living at Reutigen, at the banns of his marriage.

    The Reutigen marriage register, 1833, no. 15, and the Schangnau marriage register of 1833 (originals, images read) describe the groom as a Küher; the Schangnau entry adds "zu Reutigen".

    Sources 2, 7, 8

  5. 1833 Marriage, with Magdalena Stocker 26 Oct 1833 · Thun, Bern · proven

    Married at Thun, after banns on 29 Sep and 6 and 13 Oct 1833 (in the Reutigen register, and the same dates in Schangnau's); he was a Küher (dairyman) at Reutigen and married with his father's consent, she with her guardian's. The marriage ended with her death in 1881.

    The Schangnau marriage register (the groom's home parish; original, image read) gives the banns of 29 Sep, 6 and 13 Oct and the wedding ("copl.") at Thun on 26 Oct [1833]. Three baptisms of the couple's children in the Amsoldingen register (1836, 1844, 1846) each state "copuliert Thun 26. Oct. 1833". The Reutigen register records only the banns, with the wedding column blank; FamilySearch's "1833, Reutigen" indexes that entry. Find a Grave's 26 Oct 1833 at Amsoldingen has the right day and the wrong place. Thun's own register for 1833 is not online.

    Sources 2, 8, 11, 16, 17, 29, 32, 41

  6. 1834 Residence between 9 Nov 1834 and 12 Feb 1843 · Amsoldingen, Bern · proven

    Living "zu Amsoldingen" at the baptisms of his children Christian (1834), Magdalena (1836), Johannes (1838), Friedrich (1839), Elisabeth (1841) and Rudolf (1843).

    The Amsoldingen baptism register, 1834–1843 (originals, images read).

    Sources 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

  7. 1834 Son born: Christian Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  8. 1836 Daughter born: Magdalena Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  9. 1838 Son born: Johannes Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  10. 1839 Son born: Friedrich Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  11. 1841 Daughter born: Elisabeth Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  12. 1843 Son born: Rudolf Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  13. 1844 Residence between 13 Oct 1844 and 4 Jan 1850 · Amsoldingen, Bern · proven

    At Lilachen (today Lilache), a hamlet of Amsoldingen, at the baptisms of Margaritha Rosalia (1844), Susanna Katharina (1846), Gottlieb (1848) and Jakob (1850).

    The Amsoldingen baptism register, 1844–1850 (originals, images read), places the parents "im Lilachen".

    Sources 16, 17, 18, 19

  14. 1844 Daughter born: Margaritha Rosalia Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  15. 1846 Daughter born: Susanna Katharina Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  16. 1848 Son born: Gottlieb Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  17. 1849 Son born: Jakob Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  18. 1850 Emigration before 1 Aug 1850 · Le Havre, Seine-Maritime · proven

    Sailed from Le Havre on the ship Belmont with his wife, his father and ten children.

    The passenger list of the Belmont, from Le Havre, lists the Hirschy family; his Find a Grave biography names the same ship.

    Sources 3, 22

  19. 1850 Immigration 1 Aug 1850 · New York, New York · proven

    Arrived at New York on the ship Belmont from Le Havre: thirteen "Hirschy" passengers, Swiss (lines 70–82). The clerk transposed the given names of the two men: the 71-year-old is his father Peter, the 36-year-old is Christian. With them were his wife "Madeline" [Magdalena], 36, and ten children.

    The thirteen Hirschy passengers match his family in number, names and order (the children's ages run low), and his Find a Grave biography, written by a descendant, independently gives the ship Belmont and the landing at New York on 1 Aug 1850.

    Sources 3, 22

  20. 1850 Residence 14 Aug 1850 · Highland, Madison · proven

    Arrived at Highland, a town founded by Swiss settlers, two weeks after landing (Find a Grave biography).

    His Find a Grave biography gives the arrival at Highland on 14 Aug 1850. The family has not been found in the 1850 census.

    Source 22

  21. 1850 Land 18 Nov 1850 · Madison, Illinois · proven

    160 acres of public land in Township 4 North, Range 5 West (NW¼NW¼ of section 13, E½NE¼ and NW¼NE¼ of section 14), bought at the Edwardsville land office with a Mexican War bounty-land warrant (no. 65,556) that John McCabe, a private of the 7th U.S. Infantry, had assigned to him; patent issued 1 May 1851. Probable identification.

    The Illinois public land sales database records the purchase by "Hirsch, Christian" on 18 Nov 1850, paid by warrant, and the federal patent (image read) grants the same tracts to Christian Hirsche, assignee of John McCabe. The tract lies in the township where Christian Hirschi farmed in 1860 and 1870 and where his estate held farm land in 1885; the other Hirsch buyers in that township (1842–1849) were a family from Baden. Probable, because neither record names his origin.

    Sources 23, 24

  22. 1854 Residence 16 Apr 1854 · Highland, Madison · proven

    Named as the father ("Herr Christ. Hirschy", with "Fr. Magdalena Stocker") at the baptism of his daughter Marie by the German Evangelical congregation of Highland; the sponsors were a "Herr Christ. Hirschy", probably his eldest son, and "Miss Magd. Hirschy".

    The congregation's baptism register "Lit. B", 1854 no. 15 (original, image read).

    Source 26

  23. 1854 Daughter born: Maria Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  24. 1856 Son born: Gottlieb Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  25. 1860 Residence Highland, Madison · proven

    Township 4 North, Range 5 West, post office Highland (enumerated 25 Aug 1860). "Chas Herschi", 47, farmer, born Switzerland, real estate $3,000 [or $2,000], personal estate $600, with his wife "Mena" [Magdalena], 47, and the children John, Susan, Rudolph, Mary and "Gaudeloup" [Gottlieb].

    His wife's name, the children Susan, Rudolph, Mary and Gottlieb (all named in his will or on Find a Grave) and Highland identify the household; "Chas" is the census taker's abbreviation.

    Source 27

  26. 1860 Occupation Highland, Madison · proven

    Farmer (1860 and 1870 censuses). His estate in 1885 held farm land in Township 4 North, Range 5 West, town lots in Highland and 27 acres in Bond County.

    The 1860 and 1870 censuses and the inventory of his estate.

    Sources 27, 31, 32

  27. 1870 Residence Saline Township, Madison · proven

    Township 4 Range 5 [Saline Township], post office Saline: "Kirshi" [Hirschi] Christian, 53, farmer, real estate about $6,000, personal estate $500, born Switzerland, a U.S. citizen; with Magdalene, 57, keeping house, and Mary, 17, and Gottlieb, 14, at school.

    The names, ages and Swiss birth of the couple and the two youngest children identify the household (census image read); FamilySearch indexes the name as "Kershi".

    Source 31

  28. 1870 Naturalisation before 1870 · Illinois, United States · proven

    A citizen of the United States by July 1870, when the census marked him a male citizen aged 21 or over. The naturalization record has not been found.

    The 1870 census column for male citizens of the United States aged 21 and over is ticked for him (image read).

    Source 31

  29. 1874 Will 3 Jun 1874 · Highland, Madison · proven

    "I, Christian Hirschi, senior, of the Town of Highland": to his wife Magdalena the use of one third of the interest of his real and personal estate for her life; the rest, after her death, in equal shares to his seven children or their heirs, Christian, Magdalena, Frederick, the heirs of his deceased daughter Elisabeth, Rosina, Susanna and Gottlieb, with $100 more to Gottlieb; his sons Christian and Frederick to be executors. Signed in German script; witnesses Charles Boeschenstein and Joseph Harnisch.

    The will, recorded in his probate file in the Madison County Probate Court (images read in the survey of his daughter Susanna's records).

    Source 32

  30. 1880 Residence Highland, Madison · proven

    Highland City: "Hirshi, Chris", 66, retired, born Switzerland, with his wife "Madeline", 66, keeping house.

    His and his wife's names, ages and Swiss birth identify the couple (census image read); they had retired from the farm to the town of Highland.

    Source 33

  31. 1885 Death 14 Nov 1885 · Highland, Madison · proven

    "Late of the County of Madison", departed this life "on or about the 14th day of Nov. A.D. 1885" (executor's affidavit). He left no widow.

    The executor's affidavit of 4 Dec 1885 in the probate file gives the date; Find a Grave gives 14 Nov 1885 at Highland. The affidavit states that he left no widow, which agrees with his wife's death in 1881. The Illinois Statewide Death Index has no entry for him.

    Sources 22, 32, 45

  32. 1885 Estate between 8 Dec 1885 and 11 Apr 1889 · Madison, Illinois · proven

    Letters testamentary to his son Fridrich (Frederick) Hirschi, executor, 8 Dec 1885. The estate, $14,106.71, was divided in March 1889 into sevenths: Friedrich, Gottlieb, Rosina Tontz, Magdalena Kamm and Susan Hegnauer each 1/7; the five children of the late Elisabeth Tontz 1/35 each; the ten children of the late Christian Hirschi Jr. 1/70 each. Final account approved 11 Apr 1889. A note of his son-in-law Leonhard Hegnauer for $600 (1884) was collected with interest.

    The probate file (Madison County Probate Court, box 152), images read in the survey of his daughter Susanna's records.

    Source 32

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

11 places, in order
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
  1. 1 Uebeschi, Bern Birth 18 Aug 1814
  2. 2 Thierachern, Bern Baptism 28 Aug 1814
  3. 3 Amsoldingen, Bern Confirmation 1831 · Residence between 9 Nov 1834 and 12 Feb 1843 · Residence between 13 Oct 1844 and 4 Jan 1850
  4. 4 Reutigen, Bern Occupation 1833
  5. 5 Thun, Bern Marriage 26 Oct 1833
  6. 6 Le Havre, Seine-Maritime Emigration before 1 Aug 1850
  7. 7 New York City, New York Immigration 1 Aug 1850
  8. 8 Highland, Madison County Residence 14 Aug 1850 · Residence 16 Apr 1854 · Residence 1860 · 5 more
  9. 9 Madison County, Illinois Land 18 Nov 1850 · Estate between 8 Dec 1885 and 11 Apr 1889
  10. 10 Saline Township, Madison County Residence 1870
  11. 11 Illinois, United States Naturalisation before 1870

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

Father Peter Hirschi 1779–c. 1851 Mother Maria Stutzmann 1779–1828
This page Christian Hirschi Sr. 1814–1885
Wife · m. 26 Oct 1833 Magdalena Stocker 1814–1881
Son Christian Hirschi 1834–1882 Daughter Magdalena Hirschi 1836–1903 Son Johannes Hirschi 1838–bef. 1863 Son Friedrich Hirschi 1839–1907 Daughter Elisabeth Hirschi 1841–1870 Son Rudolf Hirschi 1843–1861 Daughter Margaritha Rosalia Hirschi 1844–1924 Daughter Susanna Katharina Hirschi 1846–1918 Son Gottlieb Hirschi 1848–aft. 1850 Son Jakob Hirschi 1849–aft. 1850 Daughter Maria Hirschi 1854–1872 Son Gottlieb Hirschi 1856–1950
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Records

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Births and baptisms 12 records · 1814–1854
  • 28 Aug 1814 probable Baptism “Christian Hirschi” Thierachern, Bern 2 index entries: FamilySearch O05923 · Staatsarchiv Bern O06091
  • 9 Nov 1834 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06820
  • 21 Feb 1836 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06821
  • 21 Jan 1838 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06822
  • 1 Sep 1839 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06823
  • 11 Apr 1841 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06824
  • 12 Feb 1843 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06825
  • 13 Oct 1844 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06826
  • 5 Jun 1846 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06827
  • 19 May 1848 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06828
  • 4 Jan 1850 confirmed Baptism “Christian Hirschi”, father Staatsarchiv Bern · O06829
  • 16 Apr 1854 probable Baptism of daughter Marie “Christ. Hirschy”, father Highland, Madison County FamilySearch (image) · O06756
Marriages 3 records · 1833
  • 1833 confirmed Marriage “Christian Hirschi”, groom Reutigen, Bern FamilySearch · O05924
  • 29 Sep 1833 confirmed Marriage banns “Christian Hirschi”, groom Reutigen, Bern Staatsarchiv Bern · O06090
  • 26 Oct 1833 confirmed Marriage “Christian Hirschi”, groom Schangnau, Bern Staatsarchiv Bern · O06721
Deaths and burials 1 record · 1874
  • 3 Jun 1874 probable Probate “Christian Hirschi” Ancestry · O06831
Census, land and residence 6 records · 1850–1880
  • 18 Nov 1850 probable Land purchase (public domain) “Christian Hirsch”, purchaser Madison County, Illinois Illinois State Archives · O06773
  • 1 May 1851 probable Land patent (military warrant) “Christian Hirsche”, patentee (assignee) Madison County, Illinois Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office · O06774
  • 1860 probable Census “Chas [Christian] Herschi” Township 4 North Range 5 West, Madison County Ancestry · O06830
  • 1865 possible Census (state) “Christian Hirsch”, head Township 4 North Range 5 West, Madison County FamilySearch · O06746
  • 1870 probable Census “Christian Kershi” Township 4 North Range 5 West, Madison County FamilySearch · O06740
  • 1880 probable Census “Chris Hirshi”, self Highland, Madison County FamilySearch · O06744
Newspapers 1 record · 1881
  • 22 Apr 1881 probable Social item (visit) “Chris, Sr. Hirschi”, father-in-law Greenville, Bond County Newspapers.com · O06441
Also cited as evidence: 36 records filed under relatives
The evidence 21 facts with their grades, 45 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth 18 Aug 1814 Uebeschi, Bern, Switzerland proven 1 , 2 , 3 , 22 , 27 , 37
Baptism 28 Aug 1814 Thierachern, Bern, Switzerland proven 1 , 2 , 37
Confirmation 1831 Amsoldingen, Bern, Switzerland proven 2
Occupation 1833 Reutigen, Bern, Switzerland proven 2 , 7 , 8
Marriage with Magdalena Stocker 26 Oct 1833 Thun, Bern, Switzerland proven 2 , 8 , 11 , 16 , 17 , 29 , 32 , 41
Residence between 9 Nov 1834 and 12 Feb 1843 Amsoldingen, Bern, Switzerland proven 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15
Residence between 13 Oct 1844 and 4 Jan 1850 Amsoldingen, Bern, Switzerland proven 16 , 17 , 18 , 19
Emigration before 1 Aug 1850 Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France proven 3 , 22
Immigration 1 Aug 1850 New York, New York, United States proven 3 , 22
Residence 14 Aug 1850 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 22
Land 18 Nov 1850 Madison, Illinois, United States proven 23 , 24
Residence 16 Apr 1854 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 26
Residence 1860 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 27
Occupation 1860 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 27 , 31 , 32
Residence 1870 Saline Township, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 31
Naturalisation before 1870 Illinois, United States proven 31
Will 3 Jun 1874 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 32
Residence 1880 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 33
Death 14 Nov 1885 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 22 , 32 , 45
Estate between 8 Dec 1885 and 11 Apr 1889 Madison, Illinois, United States proven 32
Burial Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 22

Research notes

  • Sources: His Swiss life rests on the original registers of Thierachern, Reutigen, Schangnau and Amsoldingen, read on the images that the Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern publishes online (27 Sep 2026). In Illinois: the Belmont passenger list, the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses, the land sale and patent, the Highland church registers (FamilySearch film 1433226), the Madison County marriage register and his probate file, all read on the images. His wife's birth date and place and the burials come from Find a Grave (memorials created by a great-grandchild, with a biography).22, 29 The context is from the Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz.
  • Parents (proven, 28 Sep 2026): The Schangnau marriage register of 1833 gives the groom as "Christian Hirschi, Peters, Küher, zu Reutigen", baptised at Thierachern on 28 Aug 1814, admitted to communion at Amsoldingen in 1831, and married with his father's consent to Magdalena Stocker, Hansen, of Boltigen.2 The Thierachern baptism of that date is of Christian, son of Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, at Uebeschi, citizen of Schangnau; FamilySearch indexes the same entry.1, 37 One record thus joins Christian to his baptism, his father and his wife. Four more registers call him "Peter's son, of Schangnau" (the Reutigen banns of 1833 and his daughters' baptisms of 1836, 1844 and 1846),8, 11, 16, 17 his father, then 71, travelled with the family in 1850,3, 22 and his Find a Grave biography names his parents as Peter and Maria Stutzmann Hirschi.22 The grade was "probable" until the Schangnau entry was read.
  • Birth: 18 Aug 1814 (register); Find a Grave and the FamilySearch tree gave 14 Aug 1814 at Schangnau, from Julius Billeter's genealogy;38 the FamilySearch birth was changed to 18 Aug 1814, Uebeschi, on 27 Sep 2026.39 Schangnau was the family's place of citizenship, which a Swiss child took from its parents, not the birthplace.40
  • Marriage: At Thun on 26 Oct 1833, as the Schangnau marriage register and three Amsoldingen baptisms state; the banns dates, 29 Sep and 6 and 13 Oct 1833, are in both the Reutigen and the Schangnau registers.2, 8, 11 FamilySearch's "1833, Reutigen" indexes the banns, and Find a Grave's "26 Oct 1833, Amsoldingen" has the right day and the wrong place.41, 29 Thun's own marriage register for 1833 is not online (the Staatsarchiv's Thun series begins in 1839). At the Reutigen banns Christian was living at a place read "an der B…schmaan" [?].8
  • Siblings: Peter (bapt. Thierachern 24 Apr 1803; a Küher, he married Magdalena Oesch at Reutigen on 6 Oct 1826 and was living in Thun in 1843) and Johannes (bapt. 1 Jan 1805; very probably the Johannes, son of Peter Hirschi, who died aged 3 in Dec 1807).42, 6, 15, 43 See Peter Hirschi's profile.
  • A namesake: Another Christian Hirschi of Schangnau, son of the late Johannes, living at Kiesen, also married at Thun in 1833, on 10 Aug, to Christina Kammbühl [?]; their children were baptised at Wichtrach. He is not this Christian, but the two are easily confused in index searches.
  • Children (all twelve now have H-IDs): Christian (born 28 Oct, bapt. 9 Nov 1834; died 13 Jul 1882), Magdalena (born 4 Feb 1836; Mrs Jacob Kamm; died 1903), Johannes (born 2 Jan 1838; died before 25 Oct 1863), Friedrich (born 21 Aug 1839; died 1907), Elisabeth (born 24 Mar 1841; Mrs Jones Tontz; died 1870), Rudolf (born 8 Jan 1843; died 1861), Margaritha Rosalia, called Rosina (born 12 Sep 1844; Mrs Christian Tontz; died 1924), Susanna Katharina (born 15 May 1846; Mrs Leonhard Hegnauer; died 1918), Gottlieb (born 31 Mar 1848), Jakob (born 1 Dec 1849), Maria (born 1854, Illinois; died 1872) and Gottlieb (born 1856, Illinois; died 1950).10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 29 The ten Swiss baptisms were all read in the Amsoldingen register and in Schangnau's copies.
  • The passenger list and the two youngest: The Belmont list's children's ages run two to six years low ("Christian 10" was 15). "Gotfried 11 months" and "Jacob 6 months" are Gottlieb (born Mar 1848) and Jakob (born Dec 1849), so both were alive on the list of 1 Aug 1850, and Find a Grave's death years for them (1849 and 1850) need checking in Illinois; neither is in the 1860 census, and a second son born in 1856 was named Gottlieb.3, 18, 19
  • Which son married Elizabeth Tontz (settled, probable): "John Hirsche" married Elizabeth Tontz on 14 Oct 1860 and Christian Hirsche married Elizabeth Plocher six weeks later, on 29 Nov 1860, so the John of 1860 was Johannes, not Christian Jr.; after Johannes's death his widow, Elizabeth Hirschi, married Christian Jr. on 25 Oct 1863.28 Johannes had therefore died before 25 Oct 1863: Find a Grave's 9 Jan 1869 cannot be right, while the FamilySearch tree's 9 Jan 1861 fits (the stone has not been seen). Christian Jr.'s son Christian G., born Oct 1860, gave his parents as Christian Hirschi and Elizabeth Plocker at his own marriage in 1893.
  • Land (probable): The purchase of 18 Nov 1850 is recorded under "Hirsch, Christian" and the patent under "Christian Hirsche".23, 24 It is taken to be his because the tracts lie in Township 4 North, Range 5 West, where he farmed in 1860 and 1870 and where his estate held farm land in 1885, and because the Hirsch buyers of 1842–1849 in that township (Johann, Felix, Bernhard) were a family from Baden. The farm along Sugar Creek where his father was buried was probably this tract; that has still to be checked on a plat.25
  • Censuses: 1850: not found. 1855: a "G Hershey" household of ten in Townships 3–5 Range 5 (FamilySearch 61F8-DN2) may be the family; the image can be seen only at a FamilySearch Center. 1865: "Christian Hirsch", 2 males and 3 females, T4N R5W, fits Christian, Gottlieb, Magdalena, Susanna and Maria (possible; index only).44 1870: "Kirshi", Saline Township, indexed "Kershi"; FamilySearch wrongly joins the family to the Zuger household on the previous page.31 1880: Highland City, retired.33
  • Citizenship: A U.S. citizen by 1870 (census); the naturalization record has not been found.31
  • Death: 14 Nov 1885 (the executor's affidavit and Find a Grave). The Illinois Statewide Death Index has no entry for him or for his wife; it does list his son Christian (13 Jul 1882, Leef Township, certificate 891).32, 22, 45, 34 The unsourced old Ancestry tree gives 11 Nov 1885.
  • Negative searches (27 Sep 2026): Illinois Statewide Death Index (above); Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales under Hirschi, Herschi, Hirschy and Hers* in Madison and Bond counties (only the 1850 "Hirsch, Christian" purchase is his); the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index for the marriages of Frederick (about 1868) and Gottlieb (about 1878), not found; the 1850 census of Madison County.
  • Leads: the Highland church registers of 1874–1890 (FamilySearch film 1433227) for the burials of 1881 and 1885, and "Lit. B" for his father's burial in 1851; the Highland Cemetery lot register and the gravestone photographs on Find a Grave; Brink's History of Madison County (1882), the 1873 county atlas and Norton's history (1912); the naturalization record; the Bond County deed for the 27 acres; Highland newspapers of Nov 1885.
  • Name: In 1836 the pastor first wrote "Hirsig", then corrected it to Hirschi.11 WikiTree has him as Hirschi-19, linked to his wife Stocker-364.
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study, as the father of Susanna Katharina Hirschi, wife of Leonhard Hegnauer.

Working notes

  • Father of Susanna (H0038); will 3 Jun 1874, probate Madison Co., Ill.; m. Magdalena Stocker 1833 Reutigen/Amsoldingen; emigrated 1850 (Belmont)
  • Probably born 18 Aug, bapt. Thierachern 28 Aug 1814, son of Peter Hirschi x Maria Stutzmann (66JX-LDB7); Find a Grave's 14 Aug 1814 at Schangnau conflicts; Schangnau probably the Heimatort
  • Amsoldingen registers: 'Peter's son, of Schangnau' in the banns (Reutigen 1833, Kueher) and three daughters' baptisms (Amsoldingen 1836, 1844, 1846); married Thun 26 Oct 1833 (stated in the baptisms; banns Reutigen 29 Sep-13 Oct 1833, K Reutigen 7 p. 19 no. 15); bapt. Thierachern 28 Aug 1814, born 18 Aug, family at Uebeschi, citizen of Schangnau (K Thierachern 8 p. 170, image read): identification very probable, father's name Peter proven
  • M1 (28 Sep 2026): parentage PROVEN - the Schangnau marriage register (K Schangnau 13 p. 13, O06721) gives the groom of 26 Oct 1833 at Thun as 'Christian Hirschi, Peters, Kueher, zu Reutigen', baptised at Thierachern 28 Aug 1814, confirmed at Amsoldingen 1831, married with his father's consent; ten Swiss-born children baptised at Amsoldingen 1834-1850 (O06724-O06730, O06087-O06089) and two in Illinois; land: 160 acres in T4N R5W bought 18 Nov 1850 with an assigned Mexican War bounty-land warrant (patent 1 May 1851; O06773, O06774); 1870 census T4N R5W, US citizen (O06740); 1880 retired in Highland (O06744)

Sources

  1. 1

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern (StABE), K Thierachern 8, Taufrodel [baptism register] 1800–1833, p. 170 (online PDF image 88 of 280): baptism of Christian, 28 August 1814, born the 18th, legitimate; parents Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann, at Uebeschi; godparents Christen Stutzmann, the mother's brother, Jakob Hirschi, the father's brother, and Susanna Stutzmann née Keller [?] of Uebeschi; citizenship column: Schangnau. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=233184 (register image read 27 September 2026). Indexed by FamilySearch as FamilySearch record 66JX-LDB7

    In the archive: O06091 , O05923

  2. 2

    StABE, K Schangnau 13, Eherodel [marriage register] 1831–1857, p. 13, first entry (online PDF image 8 of 146): banns "Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13", married ("copl.") at Thun, 26 October [1833]: "Christian Hirschi, Peters, Küher, zu Reutigen … get[auft] Thierachern 28 Augst 1814 – adm[ittiert] Amsoldingen 1831, mit Einwillig[ung] d. Vaters" and "Magdalena Stocker, Hansen, v. Boltigen … get[auft] [place unread] 18. Dec. 1814 – adm[ittiert] Steffisburg 1831. Einwill[igung] d. Vogts". query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=423422 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06721 , O06722

  3. 3

    "New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957," database with images, Ancestry.com, manifest of the ship Belmont, Le Havre to New York, arrived 1 August 1850, lines 70–82, "Hirschy": Christian 71, Peter 36 [the two men's given names transposed], Madeline 36, Christian 10, Madeline 9, Johanna 8, Friedrich 7, Elizabeth 6, Rudolph 5, Rosine 4, Susanna 3, Gotfried 11 months, Jacob 6 months, Swiss; citing NARA M237; image NYM237_91-0216 (ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYM237_91-0216).

    Ancestry

  4. 4

    German Evangelical congregation, Highland, Illinois (now Evangelical United Church of Christ), register 1860–1870, marriages by Pfarrer Nicolas Schupbach, p. 363, 1866 no. 2: Leonhard Hegnauer, farmer, of Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland, and Susanna Katharina Hirschi, of Amseldingen, Kanton Bern; witnesses Johann Zimmermann and Jungfer Elisabeth Mollet; married 4 July 1866; licence sent back 5 July 1866; Family History Library film 1433226, item 4 (DGS 8198847, image 594), image read 27 September 2026. FamilySearch image 3Q9M-CSLL-QPR4

    In the archive: O06754 , O06753

  5. 5

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 12, Totenrodel [burial register] 1808–1851, p. 41, 1828 no. 24 (online PDF image 22 of 105): "Maria Hirschi v. Schangnau, geb. Stutzmann, Peters des Kühers Ehefrau", died 16 and buried 19 November 1828, of consumption, age "49. Jahr". query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241391 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06720

  6. 6

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 10, Eherodel 1807–1837, p. 75, no. 509 (online PDF image 39 of 120): banns of Peter Hirschi of Schangnau, Küher, son of Peter, then living in Reutigen parish, and Magdalena Oesch of Amsoldingen, daughter of Johannes, 10, 17 and 24 September 1826; married at Reutigen 6 October 1826 (Schangnau's copy, K Schangnau 12 p. 161, gives the groom's baptism at Thierachern, 24 April 1803). query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241389 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06092 , O06723

  7. 7

    Anne-Marie Dubler, "Küherwesen," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 1998 (print-edition article, updated 4 December 2008), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/013867/2008-12-04 (accessed 28 September 2026).

  8. 8

    StABE, K Reutigen 7, Eherodel 1827–1875, p. 19, no. 15 of 1833 (online PDF image 12 of 102): banns of Christian Hirschi, [son] of Peter, of Schangnau, Küher [dairyman], and Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of Johannis, of Boltigen, living "am Gand" [?], read on 29 September and 6 and 13 October 1833; the wedding column is blank. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=230825 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06090

  9. 9

    Anne-Marie Dubler, "Amsoldingen (Gemeinde)," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 1997 (print-edition article, updated 11 November 2016), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/000520/2016-11-11 (accessed 27 September 2026).

  10. 10

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel [baptism register] 1832–1862, p. 36, no. 45 of 1834 (online PDF image 19 of 187): baptism of Christian, Sunday 9 November 1834, born 28 October; parents Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, of Schangnau, at Amsoldingen, and Magdalena Stocker, of Boltigen, daughter of the late Johannes; godparents Rudolf Hürner [?], law agent in Thun, Christian Feller, district judge, at Uebeschi, and Rosina Hirschi née Schnürer [?]. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06724

  11. 11

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 52, no. 11 of 1836 (online PDF image 27 of 187): baptism of Magdalena, 21 February 1836, born 4 February; parents Christian Hirschi, son of Peter, of Schangnau, at Amsoldingen, and Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of the late Johannes, of Boltigen, married at Thun 26 October 1833; godparents Johannes Stocker, the child's mother's brother, Susanna Stutzmann née Simon, of Uebeschi, and Magdalena Hirschi née Oesch, the child's aunt. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06089

  12. 12

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 76, no. 3 of 1838 (online PDF image 40 of 187): baptism of Johannes, Sunday 21 January 1838, born 2 January; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker; godparents Johannes Indermühle of Amsoldingen, Jakob Werren [?] of Zweisimmen, and Anna Stutzman, Peter's daughter, of Uebeschi. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06725

  13. 13

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 94, no. 32 of 1839 (online PDF image 49 of 187): baptism of Friedrich, Sunday 1 September 1839, born 21 August; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker [written "Maria Stoker"]; godparents Christian Brunnenschwander [?], Johannes Stutzmann of Uebeschi, and Maria Gassner, the Ammann's daughter. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06726

  14. 14

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 110, no. 16 of 1841 (online PDF image 57 of 187): baptism of Elisabeth, Sunday 11 April 1841, born 24 March; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker; godparents Jakob Feller, son of Christian the district judge, at Thun, Elisabeth Bieri of Schangnau, at the Egg in Thierachern, and Elisabeth Dähler [?] née Indermühle. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06727

  15. 15

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 130, no. 5 of 1843 (online PDF image 67 of 187): baptism of Rudolf, Sunday 12 February 1843, born 8 January; parents Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, of Schangnau, in Amsoldingen, and Magdalena Stocker, of Boltigen; godparents Peter Hirschi, "des Vaters Bruder, in Thun", David Moser, law agent in Thun, and Margaritha Indermühle née Wittwer [?]. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06728

  16. 16

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 151, no. 46 of 1844 (online PDF image 77 of 187): baptism of Margaritha Rosalie [or Rosalia], Sunday 13 October 1844, born 1[2 or 8] September 1844 [Schangnau's copy, K Schangnau 9 p. 23, reads the 12th]; parents Christian Hirschi, [son] of Peter, of Schangnau, at Lilachen, and Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of Johannes, of Boltigen, married at Thun 26 October 1833. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06088

  17. 17

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 167, no. 16 of 1846 (online PDF image 85 of 187): baptism of Susanna Catharina, Friday 5 June 1846, born 15 May 1846; parents Christian Hirschi, [son] of Peter, of Schangnau, at Lilachen, and Magdalena Stocker, [daughter] of Johannes, of Boltigen, married at Thun 26 October 1833. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06087

  18. 18

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 182, no. 12 of 1848 (online PDF image 93 of 187): baptism of Gottlieb, Friday 19 May 1848, born 31 March; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker, at Lilachen; godparents Samuel Gassner, schoolmaster, Christian Hirsig "beim Stürli" [?] and Rosina Indermühle née Indermühle. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06729

  19. 19

    StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, Taufrodel 1832–1862, p. 199, no. 1 of 1850 (online PDF image 101 of 187): baptism of Jakob, Friday 4 January 1850, born 1 December 1849; parents Christian Hirschi and Magdalena Stocker, at Lilachen; godparents Christian Indermühle "in der Au" [?], Friedrich Rolli of Thierachern and Elisabeth Schneiter née Althaus, at Lilachen. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=241384 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06730

  20. 20

    StABE, K Schangnau 8, Auswärts Getaufte [citizens baptised elsewhere] 1827–1843, pp. 90, 229 and 241 (online PDF images 47, 117 and 123 of 147), and K Schangnau 9, 1841–1860, p. 23 no. 91, p. 68 no. 45, p. 108 no. 34 and p. 149 (online PDF images 12, 36, 57 and 79): the home-parish copies of the Amsoldingen baptisms of all ten children of Christian Hirschi, Peter's son, of Schangnau, and Magdalena Stocker, Johannes's daughter, of Boltigen, 1834–1850. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=423416 and query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=423418 (register images read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06731 , O06732 , O06733 , O06817 , O06818 , O06734 , O06735 , O06736 , O06737 , O06738

  21. 21

    Anne-Lise Head-König, "Auswanderung," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 1997 (print-edition article, updated 15 October 2007), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007988/2007-10-15 (accessed 27 September 2026).

  22. 22

    Find a Grave, memorial 52693825, Christian Hirschi Sr., born 14 August 1814, Schangnau, Emmental, Bern; died 14 November 1885, Highland, Madison County, Illinois; Highland Cemetery, Block 4, Lot 14, #5; biography by the memorial's creator, R. Marti (a great-grandchild): came from Le Havre on the ship Belmont with his wife, ten children and his father, landing at New York on 1 August 1850 and arriving at Highland on 14 August 1850; son of Peter and Maria Stutzmann Hirschi (findagrave.com/memorial/52693825) (memorial read in the survey of his daughter's records, September 2026).

  23. 23

    Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales database (Illinois State Archives), purchaser "Hirsch, Christian", residence not given, 18 November 1850, 3rd Principal Meridian, Township 4 North, Range 5 West: E½NE¼ of section 14 (80 acres), NW¼NW¼ of section 13 (40 acres) and NW¼NE¼ of section 14 (40 acres); price "warrant", sale type FD; vol. 351, p. 62, purchase nos. 0169807–0169809 (apps.ilsos.gov/isa/landsrch.jsp, searched 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06773

  24. 24

    Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, military bounty-land warrant patent to Christian Hirsche, assignee of John McCabe, private in Captain Whiting's company, 7th Regiment U.S. Infantry; warrant no. 65,556 under the Act of 11 February 1847; Edwardsville land office; the same three tracts in Township 4 North, Range 5 West, 160 acres; signed 1 May 1851; accession MW-1062-051, document 65556 (glorecords.blm.gov, patent image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06774

  25. 25

    Find a Grave, memorial 156890155, Peter Hirschi, born 6 August 1779, Schangnau, Emmental, Bern; died 1851, Madison County, Illinois; created by R. Marti, 9 January 2016, with a biography: he married Marie Stutzmann in Canton Bern, who died in Switzerland; he came to America with his son's family on the ship Belmont, landing at New York on 1 August 1850; his eldest son, Peter Hirschi Jr., born 24 April 1803, remained in Switzerland; he died in the winter of 1851 and was buried at the farm along Sugar Creek (findagrave.com/memorial/156890155) (read 27 September 2026).

  26. 26

    German Evangelical congregation, Highland, Illinois (now Evangelical United Church of Christ), baptism register "Lit. B" 1840–1860, p. [46–]47, 1854 no. 15: 16 April [1854], Marie; parents "Herr Christ. Hirschy, Fr. Magdalena Stocker"; sponsors "Herr Christ. Hirschy, Miss Magd. Hirschy"; Family History Library film 1433226, item 5 (DGS 8198847, image 626), image read 27 September 2026. FamilySearch image 3Q9M-CSLL-QPKK

    In the archive: O06756

  27. 27

    1860 U.S. Federal Census, Township 4 North Range 5 West, Madison County, Illinois, post office Highland, page 285, dwelling 2061, family 2037, enumerated 25 August 1860: Chas [Christian] Herschi (47, farmer, born Switzerland), Mena [Magdalena] (47), John (28), Susan (16, housekeeper, attended school), Rudolph (18), Mary (6, Ill.) and Gaudeloup [Gottlieb] (4); citing NARA M653; database with images, Ancestry.com (images 4213713_00735–00736).

    Ancestry

  28. 28

    "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810–1940," database with images, FamilySearch, Madison County Marriage Register vol. 6 (images read 27 September 2026): Jacob Kamm and Magdalena Hersche, 30 December 1854, p. 124 FamilySearch record QK9L-7SVK; Jones Tontz and Elizabeth Hirschi, 4 July 1860, p. 169 FamilySearch record QK9L-7ML6; John Hirsche and Elizabeth Tontz, 14 October 1860, p. 170 FamilySearch record QK9L-QV9Q; Christian Hirsche and Elizabeth Blocher [Plocher], 29 November 1860, p. 171 FamilySearch record QK9L-QVST; Christian Hirschi and Elizabeth Hirschi, and Christian Tontz and Rosine Hirsche, both 25 October 1863, p. 187 FamilySearch record QK9L-7WDS FamilySearch record QK9L-7WD7.

    In the archive: O06759 , O06760 , O06761 , O06762 , O06763 , O06764

  29. 29

    Find a Grave, memorial 52693920, Magdalena Stocker Hirschi, born 5 December 1814, Boltigen, Obersimmental, Bern; died 11 May 1881, Highland, Madison County, Illinois; Highland Cemetery, Block 4, Lot 14, #6; "Married on 26 Oct 1833 in Amsoldingen, Canton Bern. Mother of twelve children."; with links to the memorials of her children (findagrave.com/memorial/52693920).

  30. 30

    Duplicate marriage certificate of Leonhard Hegnauer of Kanton Graubünden and Susane K Hirschi of Amseldingen [Amsoldingen], Kanton Bern, married at Highland, Illinois, 4 July 1866, by Rev. Nicolas Schupbach; drawn from the church records and sworn at Highland, 21 April 1917, for the widow's pension claim (original in the NARA pension file); photograph shared by jnel126, "Hegnauer - Hirschi Marriage," Ancestry member tree 154982007, 10 November 2018.

    Ancestry

  31. 31

    1870 U.S. Federal Census, Township 4 Range 5 [Saline Township], Madison County, Illinois, post office Saline, page 5 (stamped 37), enumerated [2 or 3] July 1870, dwelling 1630, family 1698: "Kirshi" [Hirschi] Christian, 53, farmer, real estate $[6?],000, personal estate $500, born Switzerland, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or over; Magdalene, 57, keeping house; Mary, 17, and Gottlieb, 14, born Illinois, at school; citing NARA M593, FHL film 545750; "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (indexed "Kershi"; image read 27 September 2026). FamilySearch record M6H4-781

    In the archive: O06740

  32. 32

    Madison County, Illinois, Probate Court, estate of Christian Hirschi [Sr.] of Highland, deceased, case file (box 152): last will and testament dated 3 June 1874 (to "my beloved wife Magdalena" the use of one third of the interest of his estate for life; the remainder in equal shares to his children Christian, Magdalena, Frederick, the heirs of his deceased daughter Elisabeth, Rosina, Susan[na] and Gottlieb; witnesses Charles Boeschenstein and Joseph Harnisch); affidavit of the executor Fridrich Hirschi, 4 December 1885, that Christian Hirschi died on or about 14 November 1885, leaving no widow, and naming the surviving children "Magdalena Kamm, Frederick, Rosina Tontz, Susanna Hegnauer, Gottlieb" and the children of Christian Hirschi Jr. and of Elisabeth Tontz, deceased; letters testamentary, 8 December 1885; inventory (land in T4N R5W, lots in Highland, 27 acres in Bond County) and notes (including a note of Leonhard Hegnauer for $600, 31 May 1884); final account and distribution, 13 March 1889, approved 11 April 1889, recorded in Admr. Acc. Rec. A, pp. 291–295; in "Illinois, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1772–1999," database with images, Ancestry.com, images 007658310_01384–01411.

    Ancestry

  33. 33

    1880 U.S. Federal Census, Highland City, Madison County, Illinois, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 32, page 26, dwelling 232, family 263: "Hirshi, Chris", 66, married, retired, born Switzerland, parents born Switzerland; Madeline, 66, wife, keeping house, born Switzerland; citing NARA T9, roll 234; "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (image read 27 September 2026). FamilySearch record MXVP-S4Q

    In the archive: O06744

  34. 34

    "Illinois, Deaths and Burials, 1790–1950," database, FamilySearch, Christian Hirsche, died 13 July 1882, Leef Township, Madison County, buried 14 July 1882, aged 47, born 1835 in Switzerland, farmer FamilySearch record HPSN-RMT2; also Illinois Statewide Death Index, pre-1916, "Hirsch, Christian", 13 July 1882, Leef Township, certificate 891.

    In the archive: O06772

  35. 35

    Missouri State Board of Health, certificate of death no. 4170, Susanna Katharina Hegnauer, died 12 February 1918, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County; born 15 May 1846, Switzerland; father Christian Hirschi, mother Magdalena Stocker, both born Switzerland; informant Mrs. Mary Hammer, Rockville; Missouri State Archives, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910–1975 (sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00004307.PDF).

    In the archive: O04067

  36. 36

    [W. O. Atkeson], History of Bates County, Missouri (1918), pp. 719–721, sketch of Christian Hegnauer, including his mother Susan K. (Hirschi), "a daughter of Christian Hirschi," born in Switzerland 15 May 1846.

    Ancestry

  37. 37

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Christian Hirschi, 28 August 1814, Thierachern, Bern; born 18 August 1814; parents Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann. FamilySearch record 66JX-LDB7

    In the archive: O05923

  38. 38

    Julius Billeter, "Genealogy of the Hirschi family of Schangnau, Kt. Bern, Switzerland, abt. 1650–1910" (typescript, 1919, 86 pp.), Family History Library microfilm 599705, DGS 8129866; images restricted (not viewable online); not viewed; cited on FamilySearch Family Tree for the family's births.

  39. 39

    FamilySearch Family Tree, Christian Hirschi (1814–1885), LCRV-7DW, with his wife Magdalena Stocker (KCLS-JP3), twelve children, and his parents Peter Hirschi Sr. (LR4Y-6HR) and Maria Stutzmann (LCTS-TSG) (viewed read-only, 27–28 September 2026; compiled data, not checked against the records except where cited here).

  40. 40

    Rainer J. Schweizer and Christina Müller, "Bürgerrecht," Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), version of 2000 (print-edition article, updated 11 January 2021), hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/008969/2021-01-11 (accessed 27 September 2026).

  41. 41

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, marriage of Christian Hirschi (father Peter) and Magdalena Stocker (father Johannis), 1833, Reutigen, Bern [the place of the banns; the wedding was at Thun]. FamilySearch record 68V1-7361

    In the archive: O05924

  42. 42

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Peter Hirschi, 24 April 1803, Thierachern, Bern; parents Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann. FamilySearch record 66JX-K4C3

    In the archive: O06790

  43. 43

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Johannes Hirschi, 1 January 1805, Thierachern, Bern; parents Peter Hirschi and Maria Stutzmann. FamilySearch record 66JX-RDJB

    In the archive: O06791

  44. 44

    "Illinois, State Census, 1865," database, FamilySearch, Christian Hirsch, Township 4 North Range 5 West, Madison County, page 253: 2 white males and 3 white females; FHL film 972758 (index only; image not viewed). FamilySearch record XCKH-M78

    In the archive: O06746

  45. 45

    Illinois Statewide Death Index, pre-1916 (Illinois State Archives, apps.ilsos.gov/isavital), searched 27 September 2026 in Madison County and statewide under Hirschi, Hirschy, Hirsche, Herschi, Hersche, Hirshi, Hershi, Hirsch and ten other spellings: no entry for Christian Hirschi Sr. (Nov 1885) or Magdalena Hirschi (May 1881).