| Notes |
- Effingham Republican, Friday, June 22, 1894:
Died, Sunday morning, June 17, 1894, Martin Sonnenberg, of heart disease, aged 59 years and 4 months. Deceased was born at Rhine, Province Posen, Germany, Oct. 17th, 1834. Came to this country with his parents when about 17 years old. He served his country in the late rebellion three years and six months. He worked nearly all of his life-time at the blacksmith trade. He was a good mechanic and well liked by all who knew him. Deceased leaves a wife and nine children to mourn their loss. The remains were buried at the Bishop Catholic graveyard on Tuesday morning at 8:30 o'clock. All of his sons and daughters were present at the funeral. May he rest in peace.
Effingham Democrat, June 20, 1894
Died: on the 17th. inst., Martin Sonnenberg at the age of 59 years of heart dease. The deceased came to this country from Germany in 1851. He enlisted in the 100th. Illinois Regiment and served three years in the late war from which he was honorably discharged in 1865. He leaves a wife, ten children and a sister who resides in Chicago, IL. to mourn his loss. His remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery at the Bishop Church on Tuesday. May he rest in peace.
Soldier rest, thy warfare is o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows no waking-
Dream of battle fields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.
He was buried in the St. Aloysious Catholic Church cemetery, Bishop Twp., Eff.Co.IL.
Tombstone of Martin Sonnenberg
Freue Teuchimhern
Halleluia
MartinSonnenberg
Geb. 17 Okt. 1836
Gest. 17 Juni 1894 Altervon 58 jr 8 mo
Selig sind Die die in Herin sterben
Den Illnen lst das himmelreich
(Beautiful are the men that die and go to the kingdom of Heaven)
St. Aloysius Church, Bishop Creek, Effingham Co, IL death notice for Martin--apoplexia corrupta; died without receiving the last Sacraments....58 years old, 5 months, and 2 days; died on June 17, 1894, buried on June 19, 1894.
Family register of St. Aloysious Church in Effingham County:
Martin Sonnenberg was born 10/15/1836, lived in Posen until 1854, moved to Wisconsin first and then Chicago in 1857, then moved to Will County from 1859 to 1879, and finally to Effingham County, IL. Martin married Katarina Schmidt in Will County in 1859 and their first child, Peter, was born there in April, 1860. Census records of Anna Sonnenberg Schmidt indicate they came in 1853 rather than 1854, if he came to the US when 17, then the year would have been 1853.
Following is the family register at St. Aloysious Church:
Sonnenberg, Martin
Born 10/15/1835
Lived in Posen until 1854
Wisconsin 1857
Chicago
Altamont 1889
Married Sept. 1858 Catherine Schmidt
Children:
Peter April 24, 1859
Martin 1860
George 12/15/1862
Christian 4/21/1866
Daniel 1869
Philip
Johanna 1871
Catherine
Helen
John 2/24/1880
Rosalia 7/4/1882
Maria 3/8/1885
Frederick 6/6/1888
Martin enlisted to serve in the Civil War in Mokena on August 5, 1762 and fought at the battle of Stone's River. Forced to lie on the cold ground in rain without cover for three days and nights, Martin suffered permanant disability. He was hospitalized after the battle and eventually transferred to the Volunteer Reserve Corps. Martin was discharged in 1865 and applied for disability in 1879 when he had moved to Altamont, Effingham County. Then in the late summer of 1880 or early 1881 he moved to Bishop Twp., Eff.Co.IL.
According to the Civil War pension papers, Martin was 5' 9", had brown hair and blue eyes, and weighed about 140 pounds. Katarina stated that she met Martin when he was about 19 (she would have been 12).
Marriage license says that he was married: 10 Sept. 1859 in Joliet, Will County, IL. At St. John's Catholic Church by Catholic priest Charles Kuemin to Catherine Schmidt.
Martin became a citizen of the United States on October 10, 1860 in Will County, IL. Witnesses were John Reid and Charles Hirsh.
1860 Will County Census:
Family number 2076, Will County, Frankfort Township
Martin Sonnenberg, 25 years old, blacksmith, born in Poland
Catharine, 18 years old, born in Prussia
Peter, 3 months old, born in Illinois
Martin, 50 years old, born in Poland
Family number 2162, Will County, Frankfort Township
Martin Sonnberg, 25 years old, blacksmith, born in Prussia
Catharine, 18 years old, born in Prussia
Peter, 2 months old, born in Illinois
It appears that Martin's father, Martin, was living with them in 1860 and was also a blacksmith.
1870 census records for Will County, Florence Twp:
Martin Sullenbragh, 32 years old, blacksmith, born in Prussia, parents foreign born, personal property estimated at $800, is a citizen.
Catharine, 27, born in Prussia, parents foreign born.
Peter, 10, born in IL
George, 8, born in IL
Christian, 5, born in IL
Daniel, 3, born in IL
Effingham County 1880 census:
Mound Twp., Effingham County, IL. , number 17
Sunberg, Martin, 41 years old, farmer, born Holland, Father b. Hol. Mother b. Hol.
Catherine, 39 wife, born Pru, Father born Pru, Mother born Pru.
Peter, age 19 son W. on farm, IL Hol Pru
George, age 17 son W. on Farm IL Hol Pru
Christian, age 14 son W. on farm IL Hol Pru
Daniel, age 10 son W. on farm IL Hol Pru
Joanna, age 8 dau. at home IL Hol Pru
Catharine, age 5 dau. at home IL Hol Pru
Lena, age 2 dau. at home IL Hol Pru
John, age 3/12 son IL Hol Pru.
1880, Effingham County, Teutopolis
Martin Sonnenberg, 47 years old, married, blacksmith, born in Prussia, Father born in Prussia, Mother born in Prussia.
As in 1860, the Sonnenberg family was recorded on the census records on two different occasions, and had some conflicting information. It is most likely that one census was taken at the home and the other at the business.
From "Effingham County Illinois Past and Present"
"St. Aloysious Cemetery, located three miles west of Dietrich, has served the Bishop community well for about one hundred years.
This well kept cemetery, to the north of the church of the same name, holds the mortal remains of many who are perpetuated in this generation and many who still live on the ancestral farms. Names to be seen on tombstones are: Goeckner, Bierman, Cremer,Smidth, SONNENBERG, and Buenker.
"History of Effingham County," originally priented in 1883:
"The little village of Dieterich, or Dieterichburg, is situated in the northwest corner of the township and was laid out by M. Dieterich, who owned the land. This town is an outgrowth of the Springfield, Effingham and Southeastern Railroad, which was recently completed through this part of the county and which has given new stimulus to the agricultural interest of this township, by bringing good grain markets to the people's doors. The place boasts two stores, which are kept by James Prather and Henry Habing: two blacksmith shops, where John SONNENBERG and William Richards work at their trades.
1890 Tax List for Effingham Co, IL
M. Sonnenberg had property of Lots 9 and 10 of block 2 in the Village of Dieterich. Lot 9 had the value of $20 and lot 10 was worth $10. He paid $.35 and $.19 tax on these properties.
M. Sonnenberg had property of Lot 6 on block 5 in the Village of Dieterich. The value was $75 and he paid taxes of $1.33.
M. Sonnenberg paid an additional $.60 tax, but it did not say what it was for. Evidentley he did not have a dog that year as there was a tax for dogs of $1.00 per animal.
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1836 - 1894 (57 years)