Buerkbuechler Family Research

Roy and Carol (Campodonico) Ferrari E-MAIL

In hopes of finding a Buerkbuechler/Bigler connection or Kester/Castor connection, I am posting the family group of my great-great grandparents, Joseph Buerkbuechler/Bigler and Margaret Kester/Castor. I am choosing not to fully document my journals on the internet. If you see a family connection or are interested in learning more, please let me know. I am more than happy to share my genealogy research. However, I’ve put many long hours and  financial expense into my work, so please do not take my work and claim it as yours. When I receive information from a fellow researcher, I give them full credit, I only ask that you do the same. It appears my great-great grandfather, Joseph Buerkbuechler/Bigler, may be related to Andreas, Josef, John Adam George Michael and Jacob Buerkbuechler from Jockgrim, Germany. John Adam, Michael, Jacob and Joseph all seem to have emigrated from Bavaria to Cape Girardeau county, Missouri close to the same time, between 1842 to 1845. I have Jockgrim parish church records for all of them, except Joseph. John Adam, Michael, Jacob and Joseph are all in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in the same time period, where they appear on each other's land records and citizenship records. However, I haven't located a birth, baptism record or any supporting evidence showing Joseph to be a member of their family ... yet. Josef Burkbuchler and Maria Eva Gib were the parents of John Adam, Franz, Michael M., Maria Catherine, Eva Barbara, Libilla, Maria T. and Josephus. John Adam was born in 1808, married to Maria Margaret Weigel. Franz was born in 1809, married in 1837 to Maria Catharina Braun. As for as I know Franz stayed in Germany. George Michael was born in 1812, married to Eva Catharine Wingerter.  They came to Missouri about 1842. Libilla was born in 1818, the first American record I have of her is the 1850 Missouri census. Josephus was born in 1822. Jacob was born in Jockgrim in 1818 to Andrea Burkbuchler and Elisabetha Wunstel. He was married 10 October 1841 to Maria Anna Wingerter. They were in Cape Girardeau county, Missouri about 1842. They had at least six children, Catherine, Elizabeth, Mary, Michael, Barbara and Jacob.

In beginning this journal, I have listed only the first generation for the Joseph Buerkbuechler/Bigler family. If anyone should have any information on the above people, please contact me, especially if you have any ideas or documentation on the relationship between Joseph and the others.

I'd be interested to know if this journal is helpful to you or if you merge my data with your family research. My sources are from many documents, I would be more than happy to share them, just let me know. Your suggestions, additions and corrections are welcome.

The Joseph Buerkbuechler Bigler Family

1. Joseph1 Buerkbuechler/Bigler, was born in Germany 10 August 1826, his birth date and place of birth comes from the inscription on his tombstone at the Mariposa Masonic Cemetery. Joseph died 26 October 1857 in Bear Valley, Mariposa County, California, at 31 years of age. His will was probated in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, between the years of 1860-1869. Henry Kester, his brother-in-law, was appointed administrator of the estate and curator for Elizabeth and Margaret Burkbichler. Had it not been for finding a guardianship filed in Mariposa, California for the two young daughters, I never would have been able to trace this family as far as I have. Everyone in our family thought their surname was Bigler, it wasn't until this guardianship, I found the surname to be aka Buerkbuechler.  The body of Joseph Bigler  was interred in the Masonic Cemetery, in Mariposa, Mariposa County, California.

6 May 1850, Cape Girardeau Court Records Citizenship Record for Joseph Buerkbuechler

From the date of citizenship, I believe Joseph emigrated before 1845 from Bavaria. He became an American citizen in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, 6 May 1850. Michael Buerkbuechler and August  Friese  were both named as character witnesses for  Joseph Buerkbuechler and John Adam Buerkbuechler. Michael  and John Adam Buerkbuechler were brothers and I believe they are related to Joseph. Joseph's citizenship affidavit states: "... from the oath of August Friese and Michael Buerkbuechler, who are known to this Court to be citizens of the United States  ..." "... said applicant has resided in the United State three years next preceding to his arrival at the age of Twenty one years and has continued to reside therein up to this time, a period of more than five years including the three years of his minority, and the last year within the State of Missouri ..."

The 1850 census taken in Brazian Township, Perry County, Missouri shows a Joseph (surname indicated Bukbukler by ditto marks, age 26, listed beneath Lybilla Bukbukler, age 30, both are residents in the home of Stephen and Teresa Winkler. From records in Jockgrim, I've learned  Michael Buerkbuechler and John Adam Buerkbuechler had a sister named Lybilla.

Margaret Kester/Castor Bigler Newman

Joseph Bergbichler and Margaretha Kister were married in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, 2 October 1851 by Julius Biltz, Lutheran Minister. Margaret was born in Hesse, Darmstadt, Germany 9 February 1832. Margaret was the daughter of Conrad Kester/Castor and Elizabeth Boise.  Their family emigrated to the United States sometime after 1836. The 1900 census states she immigrated in 1838 and had been in the United States for 62 years.  Conrad and Elizabeth were the parents of at least four other children, John, Henry, George and Mary. Margaret died 16 August 1925 in San Francisco, California at 93 years of age. Her body was interred 18 August 1925 in the Masonic Cemetery in Mariposa, Mariposa County, California.

Joseph and Margaret, their two daughters, Lizzie and Maggie, along with Margaret's brother, John Castor and his family, left Missouri on 15 April 1854 arriving in California in October 1854.

The Bigler and Newman Family Plot Mariposa Masonic Cemetery

After Joseph's death, Margaret married Maurice Henry Newman. Maurice and Margaret had two children together, Maurice Emil Newman and Emily Anna Newman.

Joseph Bigler and Margaret Castor had the following children:

2. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Maria2 Bigler was born in Apple Creek, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri 24 November 1852.

Elizabeth Buerkbuechler/Bigler Campodonico

Elizabeth died 17 April 1934 in Guadalupe, Santa Barbara County, California, at 81 years of age. Her body was interred 19 April 1934 in the Guadalupe Cemetery, beside her husband in the Campodonico family plot.She married Stephen Francis Campodonico in San Francisco, California, 8 July 1869. Stephen was born in Carasco, Genova, Liguria, Italy 10 January 1840. Stephen was the son of Giovanni Campodonico and Cattarina Costa. Stephen died 6 March 1919 in Guadalupe, Santa Barbara County, California, at 79 years of age. His body was interred 8 March 1919 in Guadalupe, Santa Barbara County, California, Guadalupe Cemetery. For the descendants of Elizabeth and Stephen F. Campodonico, see Fourth Generation Campodonico Family Journal.

3 ii. Margaret 'Maggie' Bigler was born in Apple Creek, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri 14 November 1853.

Margaret Buerkbuechler/Bigler Goodwin

Margaret died 8 November 1928 in Oakland, Alameda County, California, at 74 years of age. Her body was interred in the Masonic Cemetery, in Mariposa, Mariposa County, California.She was married to John Maurice Goodwin,Jr. in Bear Valley, Mariposa County, California, 22 June 1873, by Thomas D. Clanton Minister of the Gospel. Witnesses were her cousin, Matilda Castor, and step-father, Mr. Newman. John was born in Scotland 1 March 1849. He died 30 July 1901 at 52 years of age, his body was interred in Kingman, Mohave County, Arizona. For continuation of this line, see, Troy's Genealogue. Family Books, Goodwin, John Maurice GOODWIN, Jr., number 141.

4 iii. Henry Joseph Bigler was born in Bear Valley, Mariposa County, California 10 April 1858. He died 3 July 1859 in Bear Valley, Mariposa County, California, at 15 months of age. His body was interred July 1859 in the Masonic Cemetery in Mariposa, Mariposa County, California.

Index

Bigler

Bigler, Elizabeth Maria, b.1852-d.1934 Bigler, Henry Joseph, b.1858-d.1859 Bigler, Margaret, b.1853-d.1928

Braun

Braun, Maria Catharina married Franz

Buerkbuechler Bigler

Buerkbuechler Bigler, Joseph, b.1826-d.1857

Buerkbuechler, Burkbuchler, and other spelling variations of this surname include:

Andreas, m. 1814 Elisabetha Wunstel, Jockgrim Barbara, b. 1815 Jockgrim Catherine Elisabeth, b. 1821 Jockgrim     Eva Barbara Franz M., b. 1809, m. 1837 Maria Catharina Braun George Michael, b. 1812, m. Eva Catharine Wingerter John Adam b. 1808, m. Maria Margaret Weigel Josef m. Maria Eva Gib Josephus, b. 1822 Jacob, b. 1818, m. 1841 Maria Anna Wingerter, emigrated to Missouri Jacob Libilla, b. 1818 Maria Catherine Maria Eva, b. 1826 Jockgrim Maria T. Mary Michael Michael M.

Campodonico

Campodonico, Stephen Francis (marriage to Elizabeth Maria Bigler), b.1840-d.1919

Gib

Gib, Maria Eva  (married to Josef Burkbuchler)

Goodwin

Goodwin, John Maurice,Jr. (marriage to Margaret Bigler), b.1849-d.1901

Kester Castor

Kester Castor, Margaret (marriage to Joseph Buerkbuechler Bigler), b.1832-d.1925

Weigel

Weigel, Maria Margaret (marriage to John Adam Buerkbuechler)

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