hegnauer.family
hegnauer.family
H0170 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Magdalena Stocker

Born in canton Bern in 1814, emigrated to America in 1850, and died at Highland in 1881.

born 5 Dec 1814 in Bern, Switzerland died 11 May 1881 at Highland, Madison

Also written Madeline Hirschy, Mena Herschi, Magdalena Hirschi

Canton Bern

Magdalena Stocker was born on 5 December 1814, according to the memorial written by one of her great-grandchildren, and was baptised on 18 December 1814 in a Bernese parish whose name in the register has not yet been read. She was a citizen of Boltigen, in the Obersimmental in Canton Bern, Switzerland, and the daughter of Johannes, or Hans, Stocker.1–3

She was confirmed at Steffisburg, near Thun, in 1831. Two years later she was living in the parish of Reutigen when her banns with Christian Hirschi, a dairyman and the son of Peter Hirschi, of Schangnau, were read there on three Sundays; they were married at Thun on 26 October 1833.2–3 Magdalena married with the consent of her guardian, and by the next year her father was "the late Johannes".2, 4 The couple settled in the neighbouring parish of Amsoldingen, a village beside the Amsoldingersee.5 Their first six children were baptised in its church: Christian in 1834, Magdalena in 1836, with Magdalena's brother Johannes Stocker as godfather, Johannes in 1838, Friedrich in 1839, Elisabeth in 1841 and Rudolf in 1843.4, 6–10 By 1844 the family lived at Lilachen, a hamlet of Amsoldingen, where Margaritha Rosalia, Susanna Katharina, Gottlieb and Jakob were born between 1844 and 1849.11–14

The voyage

In the summer of 1850, with her husband, his seventy-one-year-old father and ten children, the youngest a baby of eight months, Magdalena sailed from Le Havre on the ship Belmont. The family landed at New York on 1 August 1850, where the clerk entered her as "Madeline Hirschy", 36.14–15 Two weeks later they reached Highland, in Madison County, Illinois, a town founded by Swiss settlers.16

Highland

Two more children were born in Illinois. When the German Evangelical congregation of Highland baptised the first, Maria, in April 1854, the pastor wrote the mother down by her maiden name, "Frau Magdalena Stocker"; Gottlieb followed in 1856.17–18 In August 1860 the census taker found "Mena" Herschi, forty-seven, keeping house on her husband's farm near Highland, with her sons John, Rudolph and Gottlieb and her daughters Susan and Mary.18 In the years that followed she lost several of her children: Rudolf in 1861, Johannes by 1863, Elisabeth in 1870 and Maria in 1872.1, 19 In 1870 she was keeping house for Christian in Saline Township, with only Mary and Gottlieb still at home, and when her husband made his will in June 1874 he provided first for "my beloved wife Magdalena", who was to have the use of a third of the income of his estate for as long as she lived.19–20

“; Gottlieb followed in 1856.17, 18 In August 1860 the census taker found”

By 1880 she and Christian had retired from the farm to the town of Highland.21 She died there on 11 May 1881, aged sixty-six, and was buried in the Highland Cemetery, where Christian was laid beside her four years later.1, 16, 19 Her daughter Susanna's death certificate, in Missouri in 1918, gives her mother's name as Magdalena Stocker.22

What we know

Proven

  • Birth in Bern, 1814
  • Baptism, 1814
  • Confirmation at Steffisburg, 1831
  • Marriage to Christian Hirschi Sr. at Thun, 1833
  • Immigration at New York, 1850
  • Death at Highland, 1881
  • and 1 more
  • 8 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Sources. Her marriage and her Swiss family rest on the original registers of Reutigen, Schangnau and Amsoldingen, read on the images that the Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern publishes online (27 Sep 2026).
  • Her father (candidates only). ], died on 20 Dec and was buried at Boltigen on 23 Dec 1833, aged about 78; the entry names no wife or children, and he would have been about 59 at her birth.
  • Baptism and birthplace. The Schangnau marriage register gives her baptism on 18 Dec 1814 at a place not yet read (a capital, about ten minims and a final -n).
  • Death. 11 May 1881 is from Find a Grave only. It fits the records: she is in the census of June 1880 and in her husband's will of 1874, and in Dec 1885 his executor swore that he left no widow.
  • Parents. Not yet identified.

Sources

Sources 1–3

1 Find a Grave, memorial 52693920, 1814
2 Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, 1833
3 StABE, K Reutigen 7, 1833

Source 4

4 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1834

Source 5

5 Amsoldingen (Gemeinde), 1997

Sources 6–10

6 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1836
7 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1838
8 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1839
9 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1841
10 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1843

Sources 11–14

11 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1844
12 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1846
13 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1848
14 StABE, K Amsoldingen 5, 1850

Source 15

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

Source 16

16 Find a Grave, memorial 52693825, 1814

Sources 17–18

17 German Evangelical congregation, Highland, 1854
18 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Township 4 North Range 5 West

Source 19

19 Madison County, Illinois, 1874

Source 20

20 1870 U.S. Federal Census

Source 21

21 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Highland City

Source 22

22 Missouri State Board of Health, 1918

Life in time

5 Dec 1814

Birth, Bern, Switzerland

proven Sources 1, 2, 15, 18

How we know

  1. 1814 Birth 5 Dec 1814 · Bern, Switzerland · proven

    The date is from her Find a Grave memorial, created by a great-grandchild; she was baptised on 18 Dec 1814 in a Bernese parish whose name has not been read. Boltigen, in the Obersimmental, was her place of citizenship; its register has no baptism of hers.

    The Schangnau marriage register of 1833 (original, image read) gives her baptism on 18 Dec 1814, a Sunday, at a place not yet read; Find a Grave's 5 Dec 1814 fits a baptism two weeks later, and her ages in her lifetime fit a birth in 1814 (36 on the passenger list of Aug 1850, 47 in Aug 1860, 66 in June 1880). The Boltigen baptism register has no Stocker baptism from Nov 1814 to Jan 1815, so Boltigen, given by Find a Grave, was her place of citizenship, not her birthplace.

    Sources 1, 2, 15, 18

  2. 1814 Baptism 18 Dec 1814 · proven

    Baptised on 18 Dec 1814; the place in the Schangnau entry is not yet read (a capital and about ten minims, ending in -n). It was not Boltigen, Wimmis, Reutigen, Thurnen, Lauenen or Steffisburg (registers read).

    The Schangnau marriage register of 1833 (original, image read), which copies the bride's baptism date from the certificate she presented: "get[auft] [place unread] 18. Dec. 1814".

    Source 2

  3. 1831 Confirmation Steffisburg, Bern · proven

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

    The Schangnau marriage register of 1833 (original, image read) gives the bride's admission to communion at Steffisburg in 1831.

    Source 2

  4. 1833 Residence Reutigen, Bern · proven

    Living "am Gand" [?], probably the Gand, a field-name in Reutigen, at the banns of her marriage (29 Sep–13 Oct 1833); the Schangnau entry reads "bei Thun angestellt" [?], in service near Thun.

    The Reutigen and Schangnau marriage registers, 1833 (originals, images read); the place-names are uncertain readings.

    Sources 2, 3

  5. 1833 Marriage, with Christian Hirschi Sr. 26 Oct 1833 · Thun, Bern · proven

    Married at Thun, after banns on 29 Sep and 6 and 13 Oct 1833, when she was living "am Gand" [?] in Reutigen parish; she married with the consent of her guardian (Vogt), he with his father's. The marriage ended with her death in 1881.

    The Schangnau marriage register (her husband's home parish; original, image read) gives the banns and the wedding ("copl.") at Thun on 26 Oct [1833], with "Einwill[igung] d. Vogts" for the bride. Three baptisms of the couple's children in the Amsoldingen register (1836, 1844, 1846) each state that the parents were married at Thun on 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.

    Sources 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 12, 19, 26

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

    Living at Amsoldingen at the baptisms of her children Christian (1834), Magdalena (1836), Johannes (1838), Friedrich (1839), Elisabeth (1841) and Rudolf (1843); her brother Johannes Stocker was godfather in 1836.

    The Amsoldingen baptism register, 1834–1843 (originals, images read), names her as the daughter of Johannes, of Boltigen ("Joh. sel." in 1834 and 1836).

    Sources 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

  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 11, 12, 13, 14

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

    Arrived at New York on the ship Belmont from Le Havre as "Madeline Hirschy", 36, with her husband, his father and ten children (lines 70–82).

    The thirteen Hirschy passengers match the family in number, names and order; her husband's Find a Grave biography, written by a descendant, gives the same ship and date.

    Sources 15, 16

  19. 1854 Residence 16 Apr 1854 · Highland, Madison · proven

    Named as the mother, "Fr. Magdalena Stocker", at the baptism of her daughter Marie by the German Evangelical congregation of Highland.

    The congregation's baptism register "Lit. B", 1854 no. 15 (original, image read): a record made in America that gives her maiden name.

    Source 17

  20. 1854 Daughter born: Maria Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  21. 1856 Son born: Gottlieb Hirschi family event

    Their page →

  22. 1860 Residence Highland, Madison · proven

    Township 4 North, Range 5 West, post office Highland: "Mena" [Magdalena] Herschi, 47, in the household of her husband "Chas" [Christian], farmer, with five of their children.

    Her husband's name, the children Susan, Rudolph, Mary and Gottlieb and Highland identify the household.

    Source 18

  23. 1870 Residence Saline Township, Madison · proven

    "Magdalene", 57 [indexed 51], keeping house, born Switzerland, with her husband Christian, 53, farmer, and Mary, 17, and Gottlieb, 14.

    The household of Christian Hirschi (census image read); her age is written 57, which fits 1814 better than the index's 51.

    Source 20

  24. 1874 Residence 3 Jun 1874 · Highland, Madison · proven

    Named in her husband's will, "my beloved wife Magdalena", who was to have the use of a third of the income of his estate for her life.

    The will of Christian Hirschi, senior, of the Town of Highland, dated 3 Jun 1874, shows her living then.

    Source 19

  25. 1880 Residence Highland, Madison · proven

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

    The 1880 census (image read) shows her alive in June 1880, eleven months before the death date on Find a Grave.

    Source 21

  26. 1881 Death 11 May 1881 · Highland, Madison · proven

    From Find a Grave. She was alive in June 1880 and had died by November 1885, when her husband left "no widow". The Illinois Statewide Death Index has no entry for her.

    Find a Grave gives 11 May 1881 at Highland; no death record has been found. The date fits the other records: she is in the census of June 1880, and the executor's affidavit of Dec 1885 states that her husband left no widow.

    Sources 1, 19, 21, 27

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

8 places, in order
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
  1. 1 Bern, Switzerland Birth 5 Dec 1814
  2. 2 Steffisburg, Bern Confirmation 1831
  3. 3 Reutigen, Bern Residence 1833
  4. 4 Thun, Bern Marriage 26 Oct 1833
  5. 5 Amsoldingen, Bern Residence between 9 Nov 1834 and 12 Feb 1843 · Residence between 13 Oct 1844 and 4 Jan 1850
  6. 6 New York City, New York Immigration 1 Aug 1850
  7. 7 Highland, Madison County Residence 16 Apr 1854 · Residence 1860 · Residence 3 Jun 1874 · 3 more
  8. 8 Saline Township, Madison County Residence 1870

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

Family

This page Magdalena Stocker 1814–1881
Husband · m. 26 Oct 1833 Christian Hirschi Sr. 1814–1885
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
Compare with… Pan, zoom and follow the family through the whole study, or see how Magdalena Stocker is related to anyone else in it.
Family tree

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Records

Search the archive →
Births and baptisms 11 records · 1834–1854
  • 9 Nov 1834 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06834
  • 21 Feb 1836 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06835
  • 21 Jan 1838 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06836
  • 1 Sep 1839 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06837
  • 11 Apr 1841 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06838
  • 12 Feb 1843 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06839
  • 13 Oct 1844 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06840
  • 5 Jun 1846 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06841
  • 19 May 1848 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06842
  • 4 Jan 1850 proven Baptism “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Staatsarchiv Bern · O06843
  • 16 Apr 1854 probable Baptism of daughter Marie “Magdalena Stocker”, mother Highland, Madison County FamilySearch (image) · O06757
Marriages 2 records · 1833
  • 29 Sep 1833 proven Marriage banns “Magdalena Stocker”, bride Staatsarchiv Bern · O06833
  • 26 Oct 1833 proven Marriage “Magdalena Stocker”, bride Schangnau, Bern Staatsarchiv Bern · O06722
Deaths and burials 1 record · 1881
  • 11 May 1881 probable Burial “Magdalena Stocker” Find a Grave · O06832
Census, land and residence 3 records · 1860–1880
  • 1860 probable Census “Mena” Township 4 North Range 5 West, Madison County Ancestry · O06845
  • 1870 probable Census “Magdaline Kershi”, wife (line 2) Township 4 North Range 5 West, Madison County FamilySearch · O06741
  • 1880 probable Census “Madeline Hirshi”, wife Highland, Madison County FamilySearch · O06745
Migration 1 record · 1850
  • 1 Aug 1850 probable Immigration “Madeline” Ancestry · O06844
Also cited as evidence: 25 records filed under relatives
The evidence 15 facts with their grades, 28 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth 5 Dec 1814 Bern, Switzerland proven 1 , 2 , 15 , 18
Baptism 18 Dec 1814 proven 2
Confirmation 1831 Steffisburg, Bern, Switzerland proven 2
Residence 1833 Reutigen, Bern, Switzerland proven 2 , 3
Marriage with Christian Hirschi Sr. 26 Oct 1833 Thun, Bern, Switzerland proven 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 11 , 12 , 19 , 26
Residence between 9 Nov 1834 and 12 Feb 1843 Amsoldingen, Bern, Switzerland proven 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10
Residence between 13 Oct 1844 and 4 Jan 1850 Amsoldingen, Bern, Switzerland proven 11 , 12 , 13 , 14
Immigration 1 Aug 1850 New York, New York, United States proven 15 , 16
Residence 16 Apr 1854 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 17
Residence 1860 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 18
Residence 1870 Saline Township, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 20
Residence 3 Jun 1874 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 19
Residence 1880 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 21
Death 11 May 1881 Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 1 , 19 , 21 , 27
Burial Highland, Madison, Illinois, United States proven 1

Research notes

  • Sources: Her marriage and her Swiss family rest on the original registers of Reutigen, Schangnau and Amsoldingen, read on the images that the Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern publishes online (27 Sep 2026).2, 3, 6 In Illinois: the 1850 passenger list, the Highland baptism register of 1854, the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses and her husband's probate file, read on the images. Her birth date and her death date come from Find a Grave (a memorial created by a great-grandchild) and have not been found in a record.1
  • Maiden name and family: Stocker, in the banns and marriage entries of 1833, the baptisms of all her children, including Maria's at Highland in 1854, and her daughter's death certificate (1918).3, 2, 23, 17, 22 The registers call her Johannes's (Hansen's) daughter, of Boltigen. Her father is "Johannis" at the Reutigen banns of Oct 1833, but she married with the consent of her guardian (Vogt), and he is "Joh. sel." (the late Johannes) at her son Christian's baptism on 9 Nov 1834 and in 1836; so he died, or was under guardianship, by Oct 1833, and was dead by Nov 1834.3, 2, 4, 6 Her brother Johannes Stocker, "the child's mother's brother", was godfather to her daughter Magdalena in 1836.6 The old Ancestry family tree calls her "Elizabeth Magdelena Stocker", without a source; no record seen uses Elizabeth.
  • Her father (candidates only): A Johannes Stocker of Boltigen, son of the late Christen, a householder "im Hinterboden" [?], died on 20 Dec and was buried at Boltigen on 23 Dec 1833, aged about 78; the entry names no wife or children, and he would have been about 59 at her birth.24 He is the only Bernese Johannes Stocker in FamilySearch's index of deaths from 1829 to 1835. A "Hans … Michaels sel.", aged 70, buried at Boltigen in Feb 1830 (indexed as Hans Stocker, born 1760), has not been read in full. Neither is linked to her.
  • Baptism and birthplace: The Schangnau marriage register gives her baptism on 18 Dec 1814 at a place not yet read (a capital, about ten minims and a final -n).2 Registers read without finding it: Boltigen (Nov 1814–Jan 1815; also its index and part of its register of citizens baptised elsewhere), Wimmis, Reutigen, Mühlethurnen, Lauenen and Steffisburg. The letter shapes exclude Thun, Bern, Steffisburg, Wahlern, Thierachern, Zweisimmen, Diemtigen and Erlenbach; Saanen fits, but its registers are still kept by the parish, not the Staatsarchiv, and FamilySearch has no indexed Saanen baptisms of 1814. FamilySearch's index has no Magdalena Stocker baptised in Switzerland in 1814–1815 who fits. Boltigen, given by Find a Grave, was her place of citizenship; it is not her birthplace as far as the registers show, so the platforms now give "Bern, Switzerland".1 The FamilySearch tree agrees on the date, 5 Dec 1814.25
  • Marriage: At Thun on 26 Oct 1833, as the Schangnau register and three Amsoldingen baptisms state; the banns were read at Reutigen on 29 Sep and 6 and 13 Oct 1833, when she lived "am Gand" [?], probably the Gand, a field-name in Reutigen.2, 3 FamilySearch's "1833, Reutigen" indexes the banns, and Find a Grave's Amsoldingen is the wrong place.26, 1
  • Death: 11 May 1881 is from Find a Grave only. It fits the records: she is in the census of June 1880 and in her husband's will of 1874, and in Dec 1885 his executor swore that he left no widow.1, 21, 19 The Illinois Statewide Death Index has no entry for her.27 Leads: the Highland Evangelical burials of 1881 (FamilySearch film 1433227), a Highland or Greenville newspaper of May 1881 and the Highland Cemetery records.
  • Amsoldingen: Her daughter Susanna's marriage record of 1866, copied from the Highland church register in 1917, still called Susanna "of Amseldingen".28
  • Children: Twelve; the ten born in Switzerland are all in the Amsoldingen register, and the list, with the evidence, is on her husband's profile.23, 1
  • Leads for her family: re-read the place of her baptism on the Schangnau page; the Saanen registers; the burial registers of Steffisburg (1826–1862) and Reutigen for Oct 1833–Nov 1834; the Boltigen burial of 1830 in full; her mother and her brother Johannes.
  • WikiTree: Stocker-364 (1814–1881), linked to her husband Hirschi-19. Stocker-64, a Magdalena Stocker of 1812–1886, is a different woman.
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study, as the mother of Susanna Katharina Hirschi, wife of Leonhard Hegnauer.

Working notes

  • Mother of Susanna (H0038) per her 1918 death certificate; birth place Boltigen per Find a Grave (unverified)
  • Old tree 165462681 @I252150926691@ "Elizabeth Magdelena Stocker"; tree: b. Boltigen (Bern), d. 11 May 1881 Highland, Ill. (unsourced); image "MagdalenaStocker1814-1881" (O56)
  • Amsoldingen registers 1833-1846: 'Johannes's daughter, of Boltigen' (Boltigen her place of citizenship); father Johannes dead by 21 Feb 1836 ('Joh. sel.'); brother Johannes Stocker godfather 1836; living 'am Gand' [?], Reutigen parish, at the banns of 1833; married Thun 26 Oct 1833
  • M1 (28 Sep 2026): bapt. 18 Dec 1814, place unread, confirmed at Steffisburg 1831, married with her guardian's consent (K Schangnau 13 p. 13, O06722); not baptised at Boltigen (register read, Nov 1814-Jan 1815), so Boltigen is her place of citizenship only and the birthplace is unknown; father Johannes dead by 9 Nov 1834 ('Joh. sel.'); candidate father Johannes Stocker, Christen's son, of Boltigen, bur. 23 Dec 1833 aged about 78 (O06739, possible only); mother of Maria, Highland 1854 (O06757); 1870 and 1880 censuses (O06741, O06745): alive in June 1880; no Illinois death record (death index searched)

Sources

  1. 1

    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."; created by R. Marti, with links to the memorials of her children (findagrave.com/memorial/52693920) (memorial read in the survey of her daughter's records, September 2026).

  2. 2

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern (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" (baptised Thierachern 28 August 1814, admitted Amsoldingen 1831, with his father's consent) and "Magdalena Stocker, Hansen, v. Boltigen, – bei Thun angestellt [?] … 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: O06722 , O06721

  3. 3

    StABE, K Reutigen 7, Eherodel [marriage register] 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

  4. 4

    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 ("Joh. sel. T."); 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

  5. 5

    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).

  6. 6

    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

  7. 7

    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

  8. 8

    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

  9. 9

    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

  10. 10

    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

  11. 11

    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

  12. 12

    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

  13. 13

    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

  14. 14

    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

  15. 15

    "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

  16. 16

    Find a Grave, memorial 52693825, Christian Hirschi Sr. (14 August 1814, Schangnau – 14 November 1885, Highland), Highland Cemetery, Block 4, Lot 14, #5, with a biography by R. Marti naming the ship Belmont, the landing at New York on 1 August 1850 and the arrival at Highland on 14 August 1850 (findagrave.com/memorial/52693825).

  17. 17

    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: O06757

  18. 18

    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

  19. 19

    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 real and personal estate during her natural life; the remainder in equal shares to his children); affidavit of the executor Fridrich Hirschi, 4 December 1885, that Christian Hirschi died on or about 14 November 1885 and "left him surviving no widow"; final account, 13 March 1889, approved 11 April 1889; in "Illinois, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1772–1999," database with images, Ancestry.com, images 007658310_01384–01411.

    Ancestry

  20. 20

    1870 U.S. Federal Census, Township 4 Range 5 [Saline Township], Madison County, Illinois, post office Saline, page 5 (stamped 37), dwelling 1630, family 1698: Magdalene "Kirshi" [Hirschi], 57 [indexed 51], keeping house, born Switzerland, in the household of Christian, 53, farmer, with Mary, 17, and Gottlieb, 14; citing NARA M593, FHL film 545750; "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (indexed "Kershi"; image read 27 September 2026). FamilySearch record M6H4-7DM

    In the archive: O06741

  21. 21

    1880 U.S. Federal Census, Highland City, Madison County, Illinois, enumeration district 32, page 26, dwelling 232, family 263: Madeline Hirshi, 66, wife, married, keeping house, born Switzerland, with her husband Chris, 66, retired; citing NARA T9, roll 234; "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (image read 27 September 2026). FamilySearch record MXVP-S47

    In the archive: O06745

  22. 22

    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

  23. 23

    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 ("Hansen", "Joh[anne]s"), 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

  24. 24

    StABE, K Boltigen 12, Totenrodel [burial register] 1817–1871, p. 46, 1833 no. 24 (online PDF image 25 of 135): "Johannes Stocker, Christens sel., von hier, im Hinterboden [?], ein Hausvater", died 20 December and buried 23 December 1833, aged about 78; no wife or children named. query.sta.be.ch/detail.aspx?ID=221017 (register image read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O06739

  25. 25

    FamilySearch Family Tree, Magdalena Stocker (1814–1881), KCLS-JP3, wife of Christian Hirschi (LCRV-7DW), with twelve children (viewed read-only, 27–28 September 2026; compiled data, not checked against the records).

  26. 26

    "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

  27. 27

    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, Stocker and other spellings: no entry for Magdalena Hirschi (May 1881) or Christian Hirschi Sr. (Nov 1885).

  28. 28

    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

Cite this page H0170

Evidence Explained

Hegnauer One-Name Study, “Magdalena Stocker (H0170, 1814–1881),” hegnauer.family (https://hegnauer.family/people/h0170-magdalena-stocker/ : accessed 28 September 2026).

Chicago (notes)

“Magdalena Stocker (H0170, 1814–1881),” hegnauer.family, Hegnauer One-Name Study, accessed September 28, 2026, https://hegnauer.family/people/h0170-magdalena-stocker/.

H0170 is this person's permanent number in the study. Names get respelled; the number never changes, so the link and the citation keep working.

Something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction