596327

[phelps.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4246, Date of Import: Oct 24, 1998]

Christina Acker

Christina Agnes Acker was born December 3, 1821, in the province of Bavaria, Germany, which was ruled by Kaiser Louden. The nearest town was Fischbach. Her parents were Rudolph Acker and Margaret Sheffler Acker, your 4th great grandparents. There were eight children in the family, four boys and four girls. The oldest girl was Barbary, then Catherine, Susan and Christina, your 3rd grand great grandmother. Two of the boys' names are unknown; the other two were Joseph and Andrew.

Margaret Acker was Catholic and took the four girls to her church. Rudolph was Lutheran and he took their four boys to church with him.

Great Grandpa Rudolph was unhappy with life in Germany, and together with a neighbor decided to move their families to the United States. Great Grandma Margaret was against the move, but plans were made anyway. Two months before the departure date she became ill and died. The tickets for the passage were already bought so Grandpa Acker and the neighbor continued with their plans.

Sailed for America in 1836
Grandma, her father, and her sister Barbary and her family left for America in 1836. The trip across the ocean took nine weeks on a sailing vessel. During the trip Barbary's little baby was taken sick and died, and was buried at sea. Their ship also caught fire and it was very dangerous and hard work putting out the fire.

The men had their money in their trunks and the neighbor's trunk was stolen when they landed in New York. Grandpa Acker had to bear all the expenses for both of the families until work could be found. Grandma, a teenager then, got a job with a rich family, taking care of a two year old baby and helping with housework. Every Saturday she polished all the door knobs, which were brass.

Grandma never saw any of her brothers again. Two possibly came to America later, but Joseph and Andrew had to stay in Germany and serve in the army. Her sister Catherine had
married Henry Shroah in 1828 in Germany. Their daughter, Susie, later married Grandma's son, William. Grandma didn't approve of Susie and Will's marriage; they were first cousins, had corresponded and had never seen one another until he met her at the train when she came to marry him. They had three sets of twins, but only one girl lived and she had crippled hands.

Met John Drinnin
When she was nineteen years old Christina met John Drinnin and they were married on March 9. 1840 at Buffalo, New York.

Moved west to Illinois
Still a farmer at heart, in 1844 John was lured west, taking his young wife and growing family with him. Grandpa sold his mules and boats and prepared to move to Illinois, to purchase land and begin a new opportunity.

The man who bought the mules and boats paid Grandpa one half of the price, with a promise to pay the remainder the next day. The purchaser turned out to be a swindler, and moved the mules and boats across the border into Canada during the night without paying. Grandpa couldn't do a thing about it since they were out of the USA. He had his wagon and oxen bought, but the extra money would have come in handy.

The wagon train went to Chicago, where Grandpa left Grandma and two little girls, Margaret, age two; and Christina, one year old, at a hotel while he went on in the wagon.

John and a few other men drove their teams of oxen across the wilderness of the new land from Chicago to Stark County, probably following the Illinois River part of the way. After establishing a claim on land and building a log cabin, he went back to Chicago to bring his wife and daughters. They traveled overland in a covered wagon drawn by two oxen.

Bad luck again!
The price of the land was 75 cents per acre. The round trip from Chicago and back took six weeks, and when the farmers went to make the last payment on the land they found out that the agent was a crook and they couldn't get the land until they paid another 75 cents per acre. The poor boys didn't get a receipt I guess, and therefore Grandpa began farming with a cash flow of four cents.

They moved into the log cabin somewhere on a hill north of the land grandpa bought. Grandpa worked for 50 cents a day cradling wheat and grubbing timber. He was the first to clear the spot where the Toulon Cemetery lies. When he got enough money he built a two room house on their farm, and they lived in this home until they died. As time went on, they built on to the house, bricking one add-on. They also acquired a total of 640 acres of farm land.

Joseph Henry Drinnin born
The same year that they moved to Illinois, their next child, Joseph Henry, was born August 5, 1844, in the log cabin that John had built. Joseph Henry is your 2nd great grandfather.

Other children were: William, March 9, 1847; Mary Ann, May 14, 1849; Sarah, July 23, 1851; John III, October 19, 1853; and Martin Andrew, February 5, 1856.

Helped establish Toulon, Illinois
This was raw land, and the new inhabitants were many times bothered by Indians of the area. John and Christina helped to establish the new settlement, and soon towns began to grow. The closest town to their farm was Toulon, of which they took an active part in helping to grow and prosper. John and Christina were both Catholics and supported the Democratic political party.

Progressive crop marketing methods
In 1848, work was completed on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. This canal ran from Peoria to Chicago, and allowed farmers in the Illinois river valley to ship grain and other products to eastern markets by way of the Great Lakes. During the 1850's, railroads were built to carry farm products to market.

Considerable sized estate
The 1870 US. Federal Census shows that John, 57 years old at the time, owned real estate worth $7,800 and personal property worth $5,720. He was a United States citizen, but still could not read or write. This information reveals that John Drinnin possessed a considerable sized estate when compared to other land owners in Stark county in that census.

John and Christina loved living and farming in the rolling hills of north central Illinois, and they spent the rest of their lives on the farm that they had laboriously created out of the wilderness.


John died September 16, 1880, at the age of 68; Christina died September 27, 1903, at the age of 81. They are buried in the Toulon, Illinois Cemetery.
[phelps.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4246, Date of Import: Oct 25, 1998]

Christina Acker

Christina Agnes Acker was born December 3, 1821, in the province of Bavaria, Germany, which was ruled by Kaiser Louden. The nearest town was Fischbach. Her parents were Rudolph Acker and Margaret Sheffler Acker, your 4th great grandparents. There were eight children in the family, four boys and four girls. The oldest girl was Barbary, then Catherine, Susan and Christina, your 3rd grand great grandmother. Two of the boys' names are unknown; the other two were Joseph and Andrew.

Margaret Acker was Catholic and took the four girls to her church. Rudolph was Lutheran and he took their four boys to church with him.

Great Grandpa Rudolph was unhappy with life in Germany, and together with a neighbor decided to move their families to the United States. Great Grandma Margaret was against the move, but plans were made anyway. Two months before the departure date she became ill and died. The tickets for the passage were already bought so Grandpa Acker and the neighbor continued with their plans.

Sailed for America in 1836
Grandma, her father, and her sister Barbary and her family left for America in 1836. The trip across the ocean took nine weeks on a sailing vessel. During the trip Barbary's little baby was taken sick and died, and was buried at sea. Their ship also caught fire and it was very dangerous and hard work putting out the fire.

The men had their money in their trunks and the neighbor's trunk was stolen when they landed in New York. Grandpa Acker had to bear all the expenses for both of the families until work could be found. Grandma, a teenager then, got a job with a rich family, taking care of a two year old baby and helping with housework. Every Saturday she polished all the door knobs, which were brass.

Grandma never saw any of her brothers again. Two possibly came to America later, but Joseph and Andrew had to stay in Germany and serve in the army. Her sister Catherine had
married Henry Shroah in 1828 in Germany. Their daughter, Susie, later married Grandma's son, William. Grandma didn't approve of Susie and Will's marriage; they were first cousins, had corresponded and had never seen one another until he met her at the train when she came to marry him. They had three sets of twins, but only one girl lived and she had crippled hands.

Met John Drinnin
When she was nineteen years old Christina met John Drinnin and they were married on March 9. 1840 at Buffalo, New York.

Moved west to Illinois
Still a farmer at heart, in 1844 John was lured west, taking his young wife and growing family with him. Grandpa sold his mules and boats and prepared to move to Illinois, to purchase land and begin a new opportunity.

The man who bought the mules and boats paid Grandpa one half of the price, with a promise to pay the remainder the next day. The purchaser turned out to be a swindler, and moved the mules and boats across the border into Canada during the night without paying. Grandpa couldn't do a thing about it since they were out of the USA. He had his wagon and oxen bought, but the extra money would have come in handy.

The wagon train went to Chicago, where Grandpa left Grandma and two little girls, Margaret, age two; and Christina, one year old, at a hotel while he went on in the wagon.

John and a few other men drove their teams of oxen across the wilderness of the new land from Chicago to Stark County, probably following the Illinois River part of the way. After establishing a claim on land and building a log cabin, he went back to Chicago to bring his wife and daughters. They traveled overland in a covered wagon drawn by two oxen.

Bad luck again!
The price of the land was 75 cents per acre. The round trip from Chicago and back took six weeks, and when the farmers went to make the last payment on the land they found out that the agent was a crook and they couldn't get the land until they paid another 75 cents per acre. The poor boys didn't get a receipt I guess, and therefore Grandpa began farming with a cash flow of four cents.

They moved into the log cabin somewhere on a hill north of the land grandpa bought. Grandpa worked for 50 cents a day cradling wheat and grubbing timber. He was the first to clear the spot where the Toulon Cemetery lies. When he got enough money he built a two room house on their farm, and they lived in this home until they died. As time went on, they built on to the house, bricking one add-on. They also acquired a total of 640 acres of farm land.

Joseph Henry Drinnin born
The same year that they moved to Illinois, their next child, Joseph Henry, was born August 5, 1844, in the log cabin that John had built. Joseph Henry is your 2nd great grandfather.

Other children were: William, March 9, 1847; Mary Ann, May 14, 1849; Sarah, July 23, 1851; John III, October 19, 1853; and Martin Andrew, February 5, 1856.

Helped establish Toulon, Illinois
This was raw land, and the new inhabitants were many times bothered by Indians of the area. John and Christina helped to establish the new settlement, and soon towns began to grow. The closest town to their farm was Toulon, of which they took an active part in helping to grow and prosper. John and Christina were both Catholics and supported the Democratic political party.

Progressive crop marketing methods
In 1848, work was completed on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. This canal ran from Peoria to Chicago, and allowed farmers in the Illinois river valley to ship grain and other products to eastern markets by way of the Great Lakes. During the 1850's, railroads were built to carry farm products to market.

Considerable sized estate
The 1870 US. Federal Census shows that John, 57 years old at the time, owned real estate worth $7,800 and personal property worth $5,720. He was a United States citizen, but still could not read or write. This information reveals that John Drinnin possessed a considerable sized estate when compared to other land owners in Stark county in that census.

John and Christina loved living and farming in the rolling hills of north central Illinois, and they spent the rest of their lives on the farm that they had laboriously created out of the wilderness.


John died September 16, 1880, at the age of 68; Christina died September 27, 1903, at the age of 81. They are buried in the Toulon, Illinois Cemetery.
[4246.ftw]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4246, Date of Import: Dec 4, 1998]

Christina Acker

Christina Agnes Acker was born December 3, 1821, in the province of Bavaria, Germany, which was ruled by Kaiser Louden. The nearest town was Fischbach. Her parents were Rudolph Acker and Margaret Sheffler Acker, your 4th great grandparents. There were eight children in the family, four boys and four girls. The oldest girl was Barbary, then Catherine, Susan and Christina, your 3rd grand great grandmother. Two of the boys' names are unknown; the other two were Joseph and Andrew.

Margaret Acker was Catholic and took the four girls to her church. Rudolph was Lutheran and he took their four boys to church with him.

Great Grandpa Rudolph was unhappy with life in Germany, and together with a neighbor decided to move their families to the United States. Great Grandma Margaret was against the move, but plans were made anyway. Two months before the departure date she became ill and died. The tickets for the passage were already bought so Grandpa Acker and the neighbor continued with their plans.

Sailed for America in 1836
Grandma, her father, and her sister Barbary and her family left for America in 1836. The trip across the ocean took nine weeks on a sailing vessel. During the trip Barbary's little baby was taken sick and died, and was buried at sea. Their ship also caught fire and it was very dangerous and hard work putting out the fire.

The men had their money in their trunks and the neighbor's trunk was stolen when they landed in New York. Grandpa Acker had to bear all the expenses for both of the families until work could be found. Grandma, a teenager then, got a job with a rich family, taking care of a two year old baby and helping with housework. Every Saturday she polished all the door knobs, which were brass.

Grandma never saw any of her brothers again. Two possibly came to America later, but Joseph and Andrew had to stay in Germany and serve in the army. Her sister Catherine had
married Henry Shroah in 1828 in Germany. Their daughter, Susie, later married Grandma's son, William. Grandma didn't approve of Susie and Will's marriage; they were first cousins, had corresponded and had never seen one another until he met her at the train when she came to marry him. They had three sets of twins, but only one girl lived and she had crippled hands.

Met John Drinnin
When she was nineteen years old Christina met John Drinnin and they were married on March 9. 1840 at Buffalo, New York.

Moved west to Illinois
Still a farmer at heart, in 1844 John was lured west, taking his young wife and growing family with him. Grandpa sold his mules and boats and prepared to move to Illinois, to purchase land and begin a new opportunity.

The man who bought the mules and boats paid Grandpa one half of the price, with a promise to pay the remainder the next day. The purchaser turned out to be a swindler, and moved the mules and boats across the border into Canada during the night without paying. Grandpa couldn't do a thing about it since they were out of the USA. He had his wagon and oxen bought, but the extra money would have come in handy.

The wagon train went to Chicago, where Grandpa left Grandma and two little girls, Margaret, age two; and Christina, one year old, at a hotel while he went on in the wagon.

John and a few other men drove their teams of oxen across the wilderness of the new land from Chicago to Stark County, probably following the Illinois River part of the way. After establishing a claim on land and building a log cabin, he went back to Chicago to bring his wife and daughters. They traveled overland in a covered wagon drawn by two oxen.

Bad luck again!
The price of the land was 75 cents per acre. The round trip from Chicago and back took six weeks, and when the farmers went to make the last payment on the land they found out that the agent was a crook and they couldn't get the land until they paid another 75 cents per acre. The poor boys didn't get a receipt I guess, and therefore Grandpa began farming with a cash flow of four cents.

They moved into the log cabin somewhere on a hill north of the land grandpa bought. Grandpa worked for 50 cents a day cradling wheat and grubbing timber. He was the first to clear the spot where the Toulon Cemetery lies. When he got enough money he built a two room house on their farm, and they lived in this home until they died. As time went on, they built on to the house, bricking one add-on. They also acquired a total of 640 acres of farm land.

Joseph Henry Drinnin born
The same year that they moved to Illinois, their next child, Joseph Henry, was born August 5, 1844, in the log cabin that John had built. Joseph Henry is your 2nd great grandfather.

Other children were: William, March 9, 1847; Mary Ann, May 14, 1849; Sarah, July 23, 1851; John III, October 19, 1853; and Martin Andrew, February 5, 1856.

Helped establish Toulon, Illinois
This was raw land, and the new inhabitants were many times bothered by Indians of the area. John and Christina helped to establish the new settlement, and soon towns began to grow. The closest town to their farm was Toulon, of which they took an active part in helping to grow and prosper. John and Christina were both Catholics and supported the Democratic political party.

Progressive crop marketing methods
In 1848, work was completed on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. This canal ran from Peoria to Chicago, and allowed farmers in the Illinois river valley to ship grain and other products to eastern markets by way of the Great Lakes. During the 1850's, railroads were built to carry farm products to market.

Considerable sized estate
The 1870 US. Federal Census shows that John, 57 years old at the time, owned real estate worth $7,800 and personal property worth $5,720. He was a United States citizen, but still could not read or write. This information reveals that John Drinnin possessed a considerable sized estate when compared to other land owners in Stark county in that census.

John and Christina loved living and farming in the rolling hills of north central Illinois, and they spent the rest of their lives on the farm that they had laboriously created out of the wilderness.


John died September 16, 1880, at the age of 68; Christina died September 27, 1903, at the age of 81. They are buried in the Toulon, Illinois Cemetery.