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dbirkey

50 lifetime points

Joined 2023

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Vintage Aerial photo from 1972 in Champaign County, IL

1972

Champaign County, IL

Commented, Liked, & Pinned

In the 1940-50s, the Walter Oyer family lived on this farm.

Vintage Aerial photo from 1972 in Champaign County, IL

1972

Champaign County, IL

Commented

Before 1963-64, this building housed both grade school and high school classes, with the smaller, lower building on the left side of the photo housing the agriculture classes. On the very edge of the left side is a portion of the house where I grew up (408 S. Second Street), walking across the street to school for twelve years.

Vintage Aerial photo from 1982 in Champaign County, IL

1982

Champaign County, IL

Commented & Liked

This photo shows the farm of Valentine Birkey (1858-1928), purchased from C.C. and Lena Gut in 1910 for $4,785. Five acres were added later that year, purchased from John Cender. In 1920, Valentine added additional acres from Cora A. and H. W. Baker, paying them $8,100. This purchase excluded a portion leased to the “Ommish Mennonite Church Society.” In about 1911-1912, Valentine built a barn and the “Sears” house, and was eventualy instrumental in getting a bridge across the nearby Sangamon River. Surprisingly, in this particular photo, the 1982 Valentine and Phoebe Birkey Reunion was underway, with family members attending from far and wide. My husband, Del Birkey, was a grandson of Valentine, and before the property was sold we rescued a picket fence and wire gate from 1912. They are still in my possession.

Vintage Aerial photo from 1966 in Champaign County, IL

1966

Champaign County, IL

Commented, Liked, & Pinned

This is the original farm of Alvin and Amelia Zehr Birkey. Amelia’s parents (Peter and Barbara Heiser Zehr) gave the couple their first 40 acres of land. On that land they built a new home for the price of $1000. Six years later, Alvin purchased another 40 acres from his in-laws for $4500. As the family increased in size to nine children additional farmland was rented. The farm also included dairy cows, chickens and bees. Alvin and Amelia lived most of their life on the farm and in the house where they started housekeeping. After their retirement and farm sale they moved to a small house in Fisher. (If I remember correctly, it was Clarence Birkey who next owned the farm.)

Vintage Aerial photo from 1979 in Champaign County, IL

1979

Champaign County, IL

Commented, Liked, & Pinned

First bishop was Peter Zehr, second was Joseph A.Heiser.

Vintage Aerial photo from 1979 in Champaign County, IL

1979

Champaign County, IL

Commented & Liked

I don't know when it was an Eichelberger farm, but it was a Valentine Birkey farm for many years, beginning from about 1910