Photo by Adolphe Braun
in public domain in the US
The Bürgers were Calvinist farmers from Oberhoffen-lès-Wissembourg for several generations.
My great-great grandmother, Elisabeth was born 29 Apr 1811, the third child of Michel Bürger and Rosine Margeurete Zimmerman (also born in Oberhoffen). Michel and Rosine Margeurete were married in 1802.
On 16 Jun 1825, Elisabeth and her parents would have celebrated the marriage of her elder sister, Margareta as she wed Martin Wenner.
On 15th Jun 1837, when Elisabeth was 26 years old, she married Frédéric Kieber, a Lutheran whose occupation, as was typical at the time in Oberhoffen, was listed as a farmer, a weaver, and a laborer. They had, quite conveniently, grown up next door to each other!
On 16 June 1840, Elisabeth’s younger brother, Georges, married Margaret Zimmerman.
On 8 February 1842, Elisabeth’s elder brother ‘Philippe’ Jacob married Dorothee Breidt. On 24 January 1843, Elisabeth’s 29 year old sister, Madeleine died. 5 weeks later, on 2 March 1843, Elisabeth’s father, Michel died.
In 1846, the street the family lived on is noted as “Hinterdorf dit le village.” The house they occupied was # 2. Son Fritz is 2 years old. Her mother, Rosine Margeurete lived in House #5 with Elisabeth’s 16 year old sister, Barbe, the youngest of the Burger children. Elisabeth’s brother, Georges Burger, was in House 7 with his wife Margeurete Zimmerman and their 5 year old son, Martin.
On 27 May 1847, Elisabeth’s younger brother, Michel married Madeleine Gregor.
Around 1850, the youngest of the Burger children married. Barbe wed Michael Sattler. all of the Burger children married folks from Oberhoffen.
In 1851, Elisabeth and Fred lived at #2 Rue de Hinterdorf with their 7 year old son, who would become known as Fritz. The 2 Freds are listed as Lutheran, while Elisabeth is Calvin. Elisabeth’smother, Rosine Margeurete, on the census simply Margeurete, at 89 years lives with Elisabeth’s sister Margeurete ,(46), her husband, Martin Wenner, (48), son Martin (15) and Martin and Elizabeth’s 51 year old sister, Barbe.
In 1856, Elisabeth and Fred lived House # 34 with Fritz, 12, and Madeleine, 4. Next door was Henri Kieber and his family. Elisabeth’smother, Rosine Margeurete Zimmerman Burger, died in January of 1856 in Oberhoffen.
In 1861, Fred and Elisabeth lived with their 3 children in House #33. Fritz was 17, Madeleine, 9, and Martin was 5. They lived beside Henri Kieber in house #32, his wife Elisabeth Sattler and their two children, Henri and Elisabeth.
Frédéric (weaver, 56) and Elisabeth (55) lived in House # 29 in 1866 with sons Frédéric aka Fritz was 22, and Martin (10) who would later marry Salomea Rott, and 11 year old daughter Madeleine who would later marry Martin Schneider. They lived next to Fred’s brother Henri’s family in # 28. Henri was also a weaver at the time.
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