John Albrecht, Arispie, was born April 3, 1814, in Bavaria, Germany. He is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Engel) Albrecht. (See biography of Daniel Albrecht.) John Albrecht was reared in Germany, where he entered the regular army at the age of twenty-one years and served six years in a cuirassier regiment. Unable, on account of military duties, to accompany his parents to America in 1837 he waited patiently till his time expired, when he borrowed $100 of a relative and in August, 1843, came to America. He was Fifty-four days on the ocean and running out of money after landing, was obliged to borrow of a traveling companion with whom he came to St. Louis, Mo. He reached home in Bureau County, poor in purse but rich in strength of mind and body. He worked by the month for three years, paid what he owed and got married. He then rented land and farmed for four years, after which he bought eighty acres of prairie and forty acres of timberland at $5 per acre. From time to time he bought more land till now through his and his children’s indomitable perseverance and industry he is in the possession of 1, 192 acres of land.
He was married in March, 1847, to Mary Ackerman, who was born in May, 1819, in Bavaria. She is the daughter of Henry Ackerman. She is the mother of the following children: Mrs. Catharine Stalter, Mrs. Mary Roop, John A., Christian, and Henry V. Albrecht. Mrs. Mary Albrecht died January 27, 1875. The whole family are members of the Mennonite Church.
Politically they are Democratic. Of the above children John A. Albrecht was born April 20, 1849. He is farming a place of 240 acres. He was married February 9, 1873, in Tazewell County, Ill., to Elizabeth Burkey, who was born July 2, 1851. Her parents are Valentine and Elizabeth (Springer) Burkey, natives of Germany. Mrs. Elizabeth Albrecht is the mother of five children, viz: Mary E., born January 18, 1874; Simon, born February 18, 1876; Johannes born April 4, 1877; Bertha F., born August 17, 1878; and William D. born September 19, 1881.
Christian Albrecht was born November 22, 1850. He is at home working the old homestead. He was married March 10, 1878 to Fannie Stecker, born July 2, 1856, in Ohio. She is a daughter of Nicholas and Magdalena (Eimer) Stecker. This union was blessed with one son, Alvin Roy, who was born October 5, 1880.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885