Michael Birgen was born in Meysembourg, Luxembourg on January 22, 1827. His wife, Elizabeth Decker was born in Heffingen, Luxembourg on March 9, 1830. They were married on August 31, 1851 and emigrated to the United States soon thereafter. The couple settled in Sauk County, Wisconsin where they had ten children, all of whom survived to adulthood.
Katherine Birgen was born August 6, 1852.
Anna Birgen was born February 25, 1854.
Lewis Birgen was born June 27, 1855.
Isabella Birgen and Mary Birgen were born August 3, 1857.
Matthew Birgen was born October 18, 1859.
Susanna Birgen was born June 26, 1864.
Peter Birgen was born March 13, 1867.
Kate Birgen was born December 4, 1868.
Annie Birgen was born March 1, 1873.
These children were all born in Wisconsin. When Michael's oldest, Lewis, was married he was given the family farm. At that time Michael and his five youngest children moved out to Beresford, South Dakota where he set up a second family farm. When Matthew was married, Michael gave him the new farm and moved with his three youngest children to North Washington, Iowa. His oldest daughter and her husband were already living in the area at that time. Michael set up another farm which was given to his youngest son, Peter, when he married.
The coordinates will take you to Michael and Elizabeth's grave. On the gravestone you will see Michael and Elizabeth's dates of death. Michael died July AB, CDEF and Elizabeth died November GH, JKLM.
From their grave walk two rows east and follow that row of markers south. The second to last marker is the grave of their eldest daughter Katherine and her husband, Peter Diederich. They were married in 1872 and had twelve children. Katherine died soon after the birth of their twelfth child. Peter never remarried and raised the surviving children, with the help of his in-laws. On the gravestone you will see Katherine and Peter's dates of death. Katherine died January NO, PQRS and Peter died December T, UVWX. Notice that Katherine Birgen's name is written as Katharina Biergen Diederich. Also notice that the birth date is abbreviated Geb. (for Geboren) and the death date is abbreviated Gest. (for Gesterben).
The location of the cache is less than a mile away. The coordinates are:
N 43 EY.BST W 92 GM.NZZ where Y = D-O and Z = K-X.
Matthew Birgen was my great grandfather. My father was born in South Dakota and I was born in California. It is just by luck that I found a job and settled down 30 miles away from where my great great grandfather is buried.