John M. Burghart, was born in Herkimer County, NY about 1822. He first appears in Hastings, Oswego, NY in 1850, newly married to Elizabeth Marvin. They then move to Illinois about 1859. John's father is William Burghart, mother Barbara Moyer. He is one of 6 children all of whom baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minden, New York between 1807 and 1827. Siblings include Catherina, Jacob, Anna, Gertrude, Betsy Sophia and John. According to all the censuses, John's father and mother were born in New York. Could they be connected to the Burgharts from Great Barrington, Massachusetts? More likely they were Palatine Germans who heavily settled the Mohawk Valley.

Sara Rice was born about 1772, probably in Delaware and married her first husband, cooper and Baptist minister, Thomas Ainger in 1796. He died in 1797, leaving her with one daughter. She then married Jacob Derickson in 1800 and had another 7 children. Two of the boys had middle names of Rice and Springer.