Katherine Birchler aka Katie M. Kauffman

From the Files of Virginia Aldridge

Daughter of Conrad Birchler and Ora E. Huff
Born: 6 March 1908 Perry Co., IN
Died: 3 March 1996 Audrain Co., MO
Burial: Amish Cemetery Saling, Audrain Co., MO
Married: 10 January 1929 IN
    OBED D. GINGRICH
    son of Daniel C. Gingerich and Dorothea Miller
    Born: 11 December 1907 OR
    Died: 15 January 1991 Clark, MO
    Burial: Amish Cemetery Saling, Audrain Co., MO

CHILDREN OF OBED AND KATIE:

    1. Dora O. Gingerich
        b. 10 December 1929 Howard Co., IN
        d. 31 March 2008 TN
    2. Alvin O. Gingerich
        b. 7 March 1931 Howard Co., IN
        d. 21 November 2018 Missouri
    3. Sarah O. Gingerich
        b. 17 October 1932 Howard Co., IN
        d. 31 January 2016 Audrain Co., MO
    4. Joseph O. Gingerich
        b. 12 October 1934 Howard Co., IN
        d. 8 August 2009 Hazelton, IA
    5. Daughter Gingrich
        b. 1936 Howard Co., IN
    6. Verna O. Gingrich
        b. 16 January 1938 Howard Co., IN
        d. 13 April 2006
    7. Frieda O. Gingerich
        b. 28 April 1940 Howard Co., IN
        d. 24 July 1997 WI
    8. Lavon O. Gingerich
        b. 22 March 1942 Howard Co., IN
        d. 20 January 2022 Columbus, OH
    9. Son Gingerich
        b. 1943 Howard Co., IN
    10. Daughter Gingerich
        b. 1946 Howard Co., IN
    11. Paul Gingerich
        b. 27 October 1950 stillborn
        d. 27 October 1950

The record states when the Birchler children came to the Orphans Home they were “Perry County children, sent by Board of County Commissioners”.

SOURCES:
Register of the Inmates of the Orphans'Home Warrick County, Indiana
History Record January 1, 1910 [second Orphans Home Register]

The 1910 census lists Katey Berkley a 1 year old Ward in the Orphans Home
The 1920 census lists Kate Birchler an 11 year old in the home of D. E. and Sarah Kauffman
The 1930 census lists Katie Gingrich a 22 year old with Obed D. Gingrich 22 and Dora Gingrich age 0
The 1940 census lists Katie Gingrich a 32 year old with Obed D. Gingrich 32 and 6 children

17 June 1911 the record states, "Taken by State Agent" to D. E. Kauffman McGrawsville, Ind.
Katie was adopted by David E. and Sarah Yoder Kauffman. Katie was not told she was adopted until
after her marriage to Obed D. Gingerich.

Note: For privacy reasons living children are not listed above except by their gender and year of birth.

I have had several letters,some phone conversations and emails from the descendants of Katie Birchler Kauffman. The Kauffman family was Amish and Katie was raised in the Amish traditions. Many of her children or their descendants remain in the Amish community. Katie's children and their descendants are very interested in Katie's heritage before she joined the Amish community. I have shared with them all of the material I have on the Birchler and Huff families. They have kindly shared with me information on Katie's life in the Amish community. I am most grateful for their help in adding to the life of Katherine Birchler Kauffman Gingerich.

The images above tell the story of Katie Birchler's time in the orphans home and shows she went to live with the David Kauffman family. Her older siblings had been told not to attempt to contact her because she did not know she was adopted. The Kauffman family did not explain to her why she had injuries and scars on her body or why her toe was missing. The orphans home record states in her brother, Conrad's admission data 'frozen toes', when in fact it was Katie who had frozen toes and frost bite nearly up to her hips when she was found lying on a mattress in the Birchler home with her deceased mother. Katie's children related she told them she was told she was found outside on the steps beside her dead mother. The Birchler children were placed in the Perry County, Indiana Poor Asylum while the county searched for a family member to assume care of the children. Their father was deemed incompetent to care for them. When their maternal grandfather, was informed of his daughter's death and the horrible living conditions in which she lived and died, he refused to believe the simple facts of his daughter's life. He had moved away and was living in another county with his second wife. He and his wife were elderly. At first he wanted to assume the care of his grandchildren, but later stated his wife was unable to care for them. See the newspaper articles below to read the story of how the Birchler children came to live at the Warrick County Orphans' Home.