Tracing Philly Birchers
We are trying to trace the ancestors and descendents of John E. Bircher who immigrated to the U.S.in 1854 at the age of one with his father, Richard.It is not know exactly where the family lived or what the names may have been for other siblings.We do know that in 1897, he married Sarah Knipe Smith (b. 3/21/1860 in Ireland) in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio and moved sometime thereafter to Philadelphia.1910 Phila census records include John and Sarah and 5 of their 7 children who include:
Lillian, Emma, and Blanche (DOB's unknown)
Edwin Wesley Bircher, 1889
Walter Bircher, April 12, 1892
Sarah Bircher, June 01, 1894
Katherine Bircher, September 08, 1896
Richard Bircher, May 09, 1899
Joseph Bircher, December 10, 1901
We know that John started the first Ice Company in Philly, Frankfort Ice Company. At least two of his sons, Edwin and Richard Bircher continued the ice business.Richard also ran the Boulevard Airport in Phila. During WWII, Richard had to move his airport 150 miles inland and so he bought a farm in Gettysburg. He and his son, John C. Bircher ran a flight school for the Army Air Corps from this location.
Obviously, a lot more information is know about the descendents and we would be happy to share what we have.Anything you can add for John and his siblings would be greatly appreciated.