hegnauer.family
hegnauer.family

From Igis to the Pacific

Illinois, Madison County: the Hirschi family and the 1866 marriage

· 11 min read · 7 people named

PARTIAL — interrupted by the usage limit. The coordinator stopped the run part-way. Everything below was read on the record or image unless marked "index only". Nothing was attached, saved, edited or downloaded on any tree or site; no master or data/*.csv was touched. Proposed occurrences are in data/raw/batch-H-2026-09-27.json (not applied).

People: H0169 Christian Hirschi (1814–1885), H0170 Magdalena Stocker (1814–1881), H2192 Peter Hirschi; H0003 × H0038 (1866 marriage). FS = FamilySearch; ARKs are https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:<ID>; image ARKs …/3:1:<ID>. ISMI = Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763–1900 (Illinois State Archives, apps.ilsos.gov). ILCM = FS "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810–1940" (coll. 1803970; Madison Co. Marriage Register vol. 6, FHL film 1306457, DGS 5203007_003).

Key finds

  1. The original church entry of the 1866 marriage is found (Batch H7). German Evangelical congregation of Highland (now Evangelical United Church of Christ), register "1860–1870" (FHL film 1433226 item 4; DGS 8198847, image 594 of 793, 3:1:3Q9M-CSLL-QPR4), heading "Copulirt von Pfarrer 18[65–]66 Nicolas Schupbach", p. 363[–364], 1866 no. 2: Leonhard Hegnauer, farmer, Kanton Graubünden, Schweiz | Susanna Katharina Hirschi, Amseldingen, Kanton Bern | witnesses Johann Zimmermann, Jungfer Elisabeth Mollet | den 4 Juli 1866 | "Licenz zurückgesandt den 5 Juli 66". The 1917 duplicate's "page 213" is not this volume's page (363); the book number there was cut off. Grade: original, primary, direct — proven marriage date/place/officiant.
  2. County marriage register image read (ILCM p. 204, image 3:1:33S7-9B2K-5JW; FS QK9L-7HX2 groom, QK9L-7HXL bride; ISMI vol. 006 p. 0204 lic. 187): licence June 26 1866, no. 187, "Leonard Hagnauer — Susan K Hirschi"; married July 4 1866 by N. Schupbach M.G.; returned July 27 1866 (as read; the church book says licence sent back 5 July).
  3. Maria's baptism found (H7): same congregation, book "Lit. B" 1840–1860 (film 1433226 item 5; DGS 8198847 image 626, 3:1:3Q9M-CSLL-QPKK), p. [46–]47, 1854 no. 15: 16 Aprill [1854], Marie; parents Herr Christ. Hirschy, Fr. Magdalena Stocker; sponsors Herr Christ. Hirschy, Miss Magd. Hirschy. A second record naming Magdalena Stocker as the wife of Christian Hirschi in America (H0170).
  4. 1870 census found (H1): Township 4 Range 5 [T4N R5W = Saline Twp], Madison Co., post office Saline, p. 5 (stamped 37), enumerated 2[?]/3[?] July 1870; dwelling 1630, family 1698, lines 1–4: "Kirshi [or Hirshi] Christian 53 M W Farmer, real estate [6?]000, personal 500, Switz., father & mother foreign-born, male citizen 21+ ✓"; "〃 Magdalene 57 [indexed 51] F W House Keeper 〃"; "〃 Mary 17 F W Illinois, at school"; "〃 Gottlieb 14 M W [Illinois], at school". FS M6H4-781 / -7DM / -7D9 / -7DS (indexed "Kershi"; FS wrongly merges them with the Zuger household of p. 4); image 3:1:S3HT-DYF3-H5Q (image 5 of 22); NARA M593, FHL 545750, DGS 4263685. Christian was a U.S. citizen by 1870 (naturalization record not yet found).
  5. 1880 census found (H1): Highland City, Madison Co., SD 7, ED 32, p. 26 (FS sheet 521D), dwelling 232, family 263, lines 27–28: "Hirshi Chris, W M 66, [married], Retired, b. Swiss, parents Swiss"; "Madeline, W F 66, Wife, married, Keepinghouse, Swiss". FS MXVP-S4Q / MXVP-S47; image 3:1:33SQ-GYBW-SY4; NARA T9 roll 234. Magdalena alive June 1880; the couple had retired from the farm to Highland town. No 1880 agricultural schedule sought (a retired town couple).
  6. The first farm, 1850–51 (H3): Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales (Illinois State Archives), purchaser "HIRSCH CHRISTIAN", residence unknown, 18 Nov 1850, 3rd P.M., T4N R5W: E½NE sec. 14 (80 a), NW¼NW¼ sec. 13 (40 a), NW¼NE¼ sec. 14 (40 a); price "WARRANT", sale type FD; vol. 351 p. 062 (purchase nos. 0169807–09). BLM GLO patent: CHRISTIAN HIRSCHE, assignee of John McCabe, private in Captain Whiting's company, Seventh Regiment United States Infantry; military bounty-land warrant no. 65556 under the Act of 11 Feb 1847 (9 Stat. 123); signed 1 May 1851; Edwardsville land office; 160 acres; accession MW-1062-051, document 65556, document ID 4262118310605020722 (patent image read, top part). Christian bought an assigned Mexican-War warrant three months after landing.
  7. The Hirschi–Tontz marriages resolved (image-read, ILCM + ISMI):
    • Jacob Kamm × Magdalena Hersche: lic. 18 Dec 1854 no. 997; married 30 Dec 1854 by J. Suppiger J.P.; returned 5 Jan 1855; p. 124 (3:1:33S7-8B2K-GF3; QK9L-7SVV/-7SVK; ISMI 6/124/997).
    • Jones Tontz × Elizabeth Hirschi: lic. 29 Jun 1860 no. 789; married 4 Jul 1860 by Ad. Glock J.P.; no return date; p. 169 (3:1:33S7-8B2K-G58; QK9L-7MLD/-7ML6; ISMI 6/169/789).
    • John Hirsche × Elizabeth Tontz: lic. 9 Oct 1860 no. 835; married 14 Oct 1860 by Ad. Glock J.P.; returned 16 Oct 1860; p. 170 (3:1:33S7-LB2K-RM1; QK9L-QV9Q/-QV97; ISMI 6/170/835).
    • Christian Hirsche × Elizabeth Blocher [Plocher]: lic. 22 Nov 1860 no. 861; married 29 Nov 1860 by John H. Luchsinger M.G.; p. 171 (3:1:33S7-LB2K-516; QK9L-QVST/-QVSY; ISMI 6/171/861).
    • Christian Hirschi × Elizabeth Hirschi (lic. no. 498) and Christian Tontz × Rosine Hirsche (no. 499): both licensed 20 Oct 1863, married 25 Oct 1863 by N. Schupbach M.G., returned 30 Oct 1863; p. 187 (3:1:33S7-8B2K-GHK; QK9L-7WDS/-7WD3 and QK9L-7WDQ/-7WD7; ISMI 6/187/498–499). A double wedding.
    • Verdict (probable): "John Hirsche" of 1860 is Johannes (b. 1838), not Christian Jr.: Christian Jr. married Elizabeth Plocher six weeks later (his son Christian G., b. Oct 1860, gives "Christian Hirschi × Elizabeth Plocker" as parents at his own 1893 marriage, KF29-VDX; Elisabeth Plocher Hirschi d. 22 Sep 1862, FaG index QVVV-XX8K). After Johannes's death, his widow Elizabeth (Tontz) Hirschi married his brother Christian Jr. on 25 Oct 1863. So Johannes died before 25 Oct 1863 — Find a Grave's "9 Jan 1869" is wrong or misread; the FamilySearch tree's 1861 fits (stone photo still to be checked). This settles the audit conflict "which son married Elizabeth Tontz".
  8. Rosina Tontz's death certificate image read (H8): Illinois, Madison Co., Alhambra, reg. dist. 608, file 17987 (FS NQFG-2L4; image 3:1:3QS7-992S-1DZB): Mrs Rosina Tontz, widow of Christian Tontz, b. Sept 12 1844 (79 y 7 m 19 d), house work; birthplace Amsoldingen, Switzerland; father Christian Hirsche, b. Amsoldingen [sic], Switzerland; mother's maiden name blank; mother b. Bern, Switzerland; informant Mrs Rose Beckman [?], Alhambra; "How long in U.S.: 74 yrs" (≈1850, fits the Belmont); d. 31 May 1924, 9 a.m., chronic bronchitis (2 yrs), contributory age; C. E. Hamburger [?] M.D.; burial Grantfork 2 Jun 1924; undertaker Robt F. Danderman [?], Alhambra; filed June 2/3 1924. No second "Stocker" statement (H8 negative on the maiden name); strengthens H2251 = Rosina (birth 12 Sep 1844 + Amsoldingen + father).
  9. 1865 Illinois state census (H4, index only; images not viewed): T4N R5W, Madison, film 972758 (DGS 4679633_002): Christian Hirsch, p. 253, 2 white males, 3 white females (XCKH-M78) — fits Christian Sr. (Christian, Gottlieb; Magdalena, Susanna, Maria): probable. Christian Hirsch, p. 253, 5 m 2 f (XCKH-M7D) — fits Christian Jr.: possible. Christian Hersch, p. 254, 4 m 2 f (XCKH-9MN): unidentified. Fred Hirsch, p. 253, 3 m 2 f (XCKH-M7Z): possibly Frederick. Jacob Kamm, T3N R5W (XCK4-1LC).
  10. 1855 "G Hershey" (61F8-DN2, 10 in family, "Township 3 Range 5–Township 5 Range 5", p. 5, film 976670): the FS image is restricted (FamilySearch Center only). Unresolved; try Ancestry's Illinois state census collection.

Negative searches (H2 and others)

  • Illinois Statewide Death Index, pre-1916 (apps.ilsos.gov/isavital, POST by name/county): Madison Co. and statewide under HIRSCHI, HIRSCHY, HIRSCHE, HERSCHI, HERSCHE, HIRSHI, HERSHI, HIRSCH CHRIST*, HIRSCH MAGD*, HERSCHY, HIRCHI, HIRSHEY, and Madison prefixes HIRS, HERS, HURS, KIRS, KERS, HIRCH, HERCH, HIERS, HEIRSCH, STOCKER: no entry for Magdalena (May 1881) or Christian Sr. (Nov 1885). Found: HIRSCH, CHRISTIAN, 13 Jul 1882, Leef Twp, 47 yr, M, cert 891 (= Christian Jr.); HIRSCHI, ARNOLD, 26 Oct 1881, Leef Twp, 5 mo, cert 783 (his son); HIRSCHER, MARIA, 11 Mar 1881, Highland, 6 yr, cert 778 (FS HPSF-XGMM: born 1875 Zweisimmen — another family). FS "Illinois, Deaths and Burials": Christian Hirsche d. 13 Jul 1882 Leef Town, bur. 14 Jul, b. 1835 Switzerland, 47, farmer (HPSN-RMT2); Arnold (HP3P-4D3Z).
  • 1870 census, surnames Hirschi/Herschi/Hirschy/Hersche/Hirsche/Herschy/Hirshi/Hershey/Hirsh/Hersh/Hershi/Hirsch in Madison (FS API, fuzzy): Christian Sr. only under "Kershi" (found by given-name search).
  • 1860 census: Christian Jr. not found under Hirschi or given-name searches (he married Nov 1860; "John 28" in his father's household of 25 Aug 1860 is Johannes or Christian John Jr.).
  • ISMI: no marriage of Frederick (to Louisa Rickher, c.1868) or Gottlieb (to Emma, c.1878) under Hirs*/Hers*/Kirs*/Hurs* in Madison/Bond/St. Clair; bride RICK* Madison negative.
  • IL Public Domain Land Tract Sales: HERS (Madison), HIRS/HERS (Bond), HIRSCHI, HERSCHI, HIRSCHY, TONTZ, DONZ, KAMM, STOCKER, HAGNAUER, HEGNAUER: 0. (Other T4N R5W "Hirsch/Hirsh" purchasers — Johan 1842, Felix 1846/49, Benham [Bernhard] 1849 — are the Baden Hirsch family.)
  • BLM GLO patents "Hirsch", IL, T4N: Bernhard Hirsch & F. T. Krafft (MW, 1850), Johann Hirsch (1844), J. L. Barnsback & Felix Hirsh (MW, 1850) — not ours.
  • www.ilsos.gov database pages began returning "Access Denied" after the searches (apps.ilsos.gov still worked); the death-index county coverage list was not read.
  • Johannes Stocker, Peter Hirschi Jr., Jakob Hirschi: none appears in any Illinois record searched (1850 list, 1860–1880 censuses, 1865 state census index, marriages 1854–1903, land 1842–1851, death index). Madison Co. Stocker marriages (Charles 1862, Clemenz 1865, August 1879, Fred G. 1886, Joseph J. 1890, Robert 1882; brides Lucretia 1892, Margaret 1893, Nancy 1871) are not linked to Magdalena. Peter Jr. stayed in Switzerland (his father's FaG biography).

The twelve children of Christian and Magdalena (evidence as of this run)

#ChildEvidenceH-ID
1Christian John Jr. (b. 14 Oct 1834 FaG; d. 12/13 Jul 1882 Leef Twp)Belmont "Christian 10"; m. (1) Elizabeth Plocher 29 Nov 1860, (2) Elizabeth Hirschi née Tontz 25 Oct 1863; 1870 census (M6HW-B5Q, 36); 1880 Leef Twp (MXVG-3TX, 46, with 10 children); IL death index cert 891; will 1874; probate (10 children)none
2Magdalena (1836–1903), Mrs Jacob KammAmsoldingen bapt.; Belmont "Madeline 9"; m. 30 Dec 1854 (image); sponsor at Maria's baptism 1854; will; probateH2250
3Johannes "John" (b. 6 Jan 1838 FaG)Belmont "Johanna 8"; 1860 census "John 28"?; m. Elizabeth Tontz 14 Oct 1860 (image); dead before 25 Oct 1863 (widow remarried); not in 1874 willnone
4Friedrich/Frederick (b. Oct 1839; d. 1907 FaG)Belmont "Friedrich 7"; 1865 "Fred Hirsch"? (XCKH-M7Z); 1870 "Frederick Hershi" 30 with Louisa (M6H4-6WT); 1880 "Frederick Hinchi" 40, Saline Twp (MXVG-T8R); 1900 Helvetia Twp (Oct 1839, m. 1868); executor 1885–89none
5Elisabeth (24 Mar 1841 – 24 Sep 1870 FaG), Mrs Jones TontzBelmont "Elizabeth 6"; m. 4 Jul 1860 (image); 1860 census in John Tontz household (MXCC-ZMM); "heirs of deceased daughter Elisabeth" in willnone
6Rudolph (8 Jan 1843 – 12 Nov 1861 FaG)Belmont "Rudolph 5"; 1860 census "Rudolph 18" (MXCC-Z3R)none
7Margaritha Rosalia "Rosina" (1844–1924), Mrs Christian TontzAmsoldingen bapt.; Belmont "Rosine 4"; m. 25 Oct 1863 (image); death cert 1924 (image)H2251
8Susanna Katharina (1846–1918), Mrs Leonhard Hegnauerchurch + county marriage entries 1866 (images)H0038
9Gottlieb (I) (FaG 1848–1849)Belmont "Gotfried 11 months" (alive Aug 1850 — conflicts with FaG)none
10Jacob (FaG 1849–1850)Belmont "Jacob 6 months"none
11Maria "Marie"/"Mary" (b. 15 Jan 1854 FaG; d. 22 Feb 1872 FaG)bapt. 16 Apr 1854, Highland Evangelical (image); 1860 "Mary 6"; 1870 "Mary 17" at schoolnone
12Gottlieb (II) (1856–1950)1860 "Gaudeloup 4"; 1870 "Gottlieb 14"; 1880 Pleasant Gap Twp, Bates Co., Mo., farmer, 23, wife Emma (b. 1862 Ill.), son Christian 1 mo (M66D-7ZS/-7Z3/-7ZQ); 1940 "G Hirschi" Prairie Twp, Bates, b. 1856 Ill.; brother of H0038 (1918 newspapers)none

Baptism of Gottlieb II not found: "Lit. B" pp. 55–56 (1855–56 births) read without result; the 1856–57 pages are faint and were not finished.

Working notes Proposed master changes (for the integrating agent; nothing applied)
  • H0038 / H0003 marriage: add the church entry (Highland Evangelical, "1860–1870", p. 363, 1866 no. 2, witnesses Johann Zimmermann and Elisabeth Mollet, licence sent back 5 Jul 1866) as the primary source; add the county register details (licence 26 Jun 1866 no. 187; returned 27 Jul 1866; ISMI vol. 6 p. 204 lic. 187). Note that the 1917 duplicate's "page 213" does not match this volume's p. 363.
  • H0169: new facts — Land (18 Nov 1850, T4N R5W secs 13–14, 160 a, military warrant 65556 assigned by John McCabe; patent 1 May 1851, MW-1062-051); Residence 1865 (IL state census, T4N R5W, probable); Residence/Citizenship 1870 (T4N R5W, PO Saline, farmer, real estate [6?]000, U.S. citizen); Residence 1880 (Highland City, retired). Research note: naturalization before 1870 now proven by the census; record not yet found. Biography: the Sugar Creek farm is probably this 1850 tract (to be checked on a plat).
  • H0170: Residence 1854 (named as mother at Maria's baptism, "Magdalena Stocker"); Residence 1870 (57 [or 51]) and 1880 (66, Highland City) — alive June 1880; death 11 May 1881 still rests on Find a Grave (IL death index negative). Add Maria's baptism as a third record of her maiden name.
  • H2192: no Illinois record of Peter found; the 1850 land was bought by Christian, not Peter.
  • H2251: cite the death certificate image (fields above); add "in U.S. 74 years".
  • New people (proposed): Christian John Hirschi Jr. (14 Oct 1834 – 13 Jul 1882), Johannes Hirschi (6 Jan 1838 – before 25 Oct 1863), Frederick Hirschi (Oct 1839 – 1907), Elisabeth Hirschi Tontz (24 Mar 1841 – 24 Sep 1870), Rudolph Hirschi (1843–1861), Gottlieb Hirschi (c. Sep 1849 – ?), Jacob Hirschi (c. Feb 1850 – ?), Maria Hirschi (1854–1872), Gottlieb Hirschi (1856–1950); spouses Elizabeth Plocher, Elizabeth Tontz, Jones Tontz, Christian Tontz Jr., Jacob Kamm, Louisa Rickher, Emma (Gottlieb's wife).

What remains (not done because of the stop)

  • Find a Grave pages (52693825, 52693920, 156890155, 205789417; Johannes 56815012 for the death year; Elisabeth Plocher; Barbara Magdalena 1861–1872) — creators, photos, inscriptions; Highland Cemetery lot register (H6).
  • Church: v. 3 1874–1890 (FHL 1433227 item 1, DGS 8318045) for the burials of 1881 and 1885; "Lit. B" burials for Peter (winter 1851) and baptisms 1856–57 (Gottlieb); v. 1 1866–68 baptisms of Mary Christina and Christian Hegnauer (images ~561–580); 1863 marriages (not in the 1865– marriage section of v. 1); Grantfork Evangelical records 1873–1986 (catalog koha: Grantfork Evangelical Church).
  • 1855/1865 state-census images (Ancestry); Belmont list re-read; Ancestry hints (read-only); Madison probate recorded copies; deeds/Bond Co. 27 acres; naturalization; Brink 1882, 1873 atlas, Norton 1912 (H5); IDNC Highland papers and the Greenville Twice-A-Week Sun 1881 image (H10); Gottlieb's 1950 death certificate (H9).
  • Downloads: none made (image ARKs recorded above).

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