FIRST SETTLER TO THE SWISS MENNONITE BLUFFTON-PANDORA COLONY MICHAEL NEUENSCHWANDER II Michael Neuenschwander was the grandson of Peter Neuenschwander and Anna Aeschlimann(Peter was a school and singing teacher in the church in Langnau, Canton Berne Switzerland). Michael’s father was also Michael(Michael’s father will be referred to as Michael I and his son Michael as Michael II(the first settler). Michael Neuenschwander I was married to Barbara Steiner(She was the daughter of John and Verena(Habegger)Steiner). Michael I has a family of ten children. The father & mother and four children died before the big move to America. Four of Michael Is has a family of ten children. The father & mother and four children died before the big move to America. Four of Michael I’s sons and another son’s wife and children came to settle in the Bluffton-Pandora area. Michael Ii was the second child in birth order. He was born 3-9-1778 at Florimont, Canton Delle, Alsace, France. In 1809, Michael married Anna Ernst who was born in 1780. They stayed in Switzerland for fourteen years. Four children were born to their home in Switzerland: John, Daniel, Barbara, and Peter. Their daughter, Barbara died as a young child. On May 15, 1823, they started to America. Michael and Anna’s fifth child was born while on board the ship “Eolus”. They landed in New London, Connecticut and made the westward trek to the Little Chippewa Creek in Green Twp, Wayne Co, Ohio, arriving on 10-4-1823. The following spring they bought seventy-four acres in Wayne Co from Jacob Scrag. They farmed in Wayne County for ten years. In May of 1833, Michael and his son, John headed for Putman Co after a report that cheap and fertile land was to be had there. On 5-6-1833, they entered a half section of land was to be had there. On 5-6-1833, they entered a half section of land at the land office of Wapakoneta, Ohio. On 8-29-1833, they packed up the family and left to come to their newly acquired land, arriving 9-10-1833. They soon bought another forty acre strip along the Riley. Michael and Daniel farmed with their father all their lives. An older son , John moved to Iowa. CHRISTIAN BUCHER Christian Bucher from Langnau in the Emmenthal, was the son of Rriedrich & Elizabeth(Luthi) Bucher. He was born 7-3-1778, baptized 7-19-1778, and died 2-25-1879 in Richland Twp, Allen Co, Ohio. On 6-19-1807 in Langnau he married Christina Brechbuhl(dau of Ulrich Brechbuhl). She was born 1785 and died 1835. They had seven children: Elizabeth, Christian, Peter, John. Frederick, Jacob, Anna. Christian married Anna Amstutz(dau of Ulrich Amstutz and Verena Duller), Peter married Verena Geiger(dau of Peter Geiger and Anna Welty), Frederick married Mary Geiger(dau of Peter Geiger and Anna Welty), Jacob married Barbara Badertscher(dau of Peter Badertscher and Anna Ashliman), Anna married Abraham Amstutz(son of Johannes B Amstutz and Verena Lehman). Christian and Christina came to America in 1834. In 1835 his wife died(she was the first death in the settlement). No church cemetery had been established, so she was buried on their farm under an apple tree. Christian was a weaver by trade. he also farmed for a living. He purchased 160 acres. Christian’s land was on the south west corner of Columbus Grove and Phillips Roads. Christian .lived to be over 100 years old. REV JOHN MOSER John Moser and his wife, who was the former Elizabeth Muller, came from Langnau. They had three children: John, Elizabeth, and Magdalena. The parents and two of the children later moved to Lucas County, Ohio. Their daughter Elizabeth married John D. Bosiger from Pandora, Ohio. John Moser was a man of God. He served in the Swiss Church for 55 years. he came to Bluffton from the Sonnenberg Church of Wayne County, Ohio. URSUS AMSTUTZ Ursus Amstutz the fifth settler was married to Elizabeth Neuenschwander. They had two sons. DEACON CHRISTIAN BOSIGER Christian Basinger was born in 1770 in Commune Delle Florimont, Belfort, France. He died in Putman County in 1847 and is buried in the old Swiss Mennonite Cemetery. In 1791 he married Elizabeth Steiner(dau of Johannes & Verena(Habbegger)Steiner. She was born in Alsace, France.in 1772 and died in 1824. Christian and Elizabeth had first settled in Pennsylvania in 1822. Elizabeth died in 1824 also. The next year his family moved to Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario. Later he joined up with the mennonite group in Putman County, Ohio where he was a deacon in the Swiss Mennonite Church for many years. JOHN BOSIGER John Bosiger was born in 1792 in Belfort, France. He came to America with a friend, John Steiner a few years before his father Christian and brother Ulrich. He came to Putman County in 1834. He was married to Sarah Berner. They had children. Daniel, John, Peter, Isaac, Maria, Katharina and Verena. John was a 1860 at the age of 68. ULRICH BOSIGER Ulrich Bosiger, son of Deacon Christian Bosiger came with his father to America in 1822, but didn’t arrive in Putman County settlement till later. Ulrich married a Neuenschwander. They had one son, David. CHRISTIAN LUGINBUHL Christian was born in 1779 and died 9-17-1847. He was by trade a farmer and a miller. On 11-25-1802 he married Katharina Steiner. She was born 6-25-1781 and died 2-21-1832. From 1824 to 1837 Christian lived in Paint Twp.,Holmes County, Ohio. In 1837 he moved with his children to Riley Twp, Putman co Ohio. Christian and Katharina’s children were: John C. who married Maria Thuler and Anna Oberli, Barbara who married Hans Walti, Christian who married Barbara Hilti, Elizabeth who married Johannes Geiger, David, Peter, Katharina who married Christian Bosiger, David who married Katharina Geiger, Anna Amstutz, and Anna Ledermann, and Marie who married Johannes G Geiger. JOHN LUGENBUHL John Lugenbuhl was born in 1807 and lived in the Florimont, France area. He came to America in 1825 with his mother and sister and settled in Wayne County, Ohio. In 1834, he came to Putman County and purchased forest land along the Riley Creek from John Augsburger. He was nicknamed the “Creeker”. In 1834, he married Katharina Stauffer, who was born 2-13-1818 and died 5-10-1856. Their children were: Elizabeth who married Nicholas Schaublin, Barbara who married Jacob Gable, Emanuel who married Elizabeth Amstutz, Christian who married Verena Schaublin & Mary Hager. When Katharina Staufer Lugenbuhl died, John remarried on 3-16-1858 to Ulrich Steiner’s widow Barabra Elizabeth(Steiner)Steiner. They had no children. John died 4-4-1882 when he was 74 years old. CHRISTIAN STEINER Bishop Christian Steiner came to the Swiss settlement in Putman Co, in 1835 from La Charme, Cme. Florimont, France, where he was a farmer. He had been ordained as a Minister of the Florimont Congregation and also an Elder. He was born 5-20-1774 at La Charme, Cme. Florimont, France and died 1-5-1846 in Riley Twp Putman County(later Richland Twp, Allen Co). His parents were Hans(Johannes)Steiner and Elizabeth Leeman. He married Katharina Luginbuhl, who was born 1-16-1781 and died 2-15-1848, daughter of David Nicklaus Luginbuhl and Barbara Elisabeth Schumacher. Their children were Barbara who married Ulrich Steiner, Johannes(died young), Christian who married three times:Elisabeth Amstutz, Barbara Amstutz, and Maria Steiner, Johannes F (Buchwald Hans)who married Barbara Schumacher, Elizabeth who married Johannes Amstutz, and Ulrich who married Marianna Moser. JOHN F STEINER ohn F Steiner, son of Christian and Katharina Luginbuhl Steiner was born 9-12-1807 and died 4-22-1900. On 3-15-1832, John married Barbara Habegger(dau of Peter Habegger & Elizabeth Sprunger). She was born 12-1-1806 snd died 1-31-1853. Their children were: Christian who was a twin to Katharine(Katharina)married Fredrich Walti), Peter, Elisabeth who married Gotthard Althaus, Barbara, Peter T., John J., Fanny, Andrew who married Maria Wherly, Magdalena who married Rev Benjamin Diller. After Barbara died, John F. married Katharina Neuenschwander(dau of Daniel Neuenschwander & Barbara Schumacher) on 2-18-1854. They had one daughter Anna who was born 3-23-1855. Anna married first Ulrich Bucher and then Johannes A Suter. PETER STEINER Peter Steiner was born 10-20-1810 in Florimont. Peter died 8-21-1870 in Richland Twp Allen Co, Ohio. He emigrated with his wife, partents and family on the ship “Brunette” arriving in New York, 7-31-1835. He settled on a farm in Section 4 of Ricland Twp and lived there for the rest of his life. His parents were Christian Steiner and Katharina Luginbuhl. He married Barbara Schumacher(dau of Christian Schumacher & Barbara Luginbuhl) on 2-24-1835. Their children were: Katharina who married Christian Gratz, Christian who married Magdalena Lugibuhl, Barbara who married Peter D Diller, Marianna who married Christian Hilty, Elisabeth who married David C Lugibuhl, David who died of tubculosis at eleven years old, Peter P. sho married Elisabeth Luginbuhl, Magdalena, Benjamin who married twice times: Christina Staufer and Barbara Moser, Susanna who married Benjamin B Hilty. JOHN GEIGER John Geiger was born 1-18-1791 and died 11-21-1851. He was the son of David Geiger & Verena Steiner. On 2-24-1821 he married Barbara Christina Welty. She was the daughter of Niclaus Welty and Christina Gerber. John And Barbara came to America and settled near Pandora, Putnam Co Ohio in 1835. Their children were: John Jr, who married Anna Steiner, Christian, Verena who married Michael Neiswander, Barbara who married twice: Ulrich Spallinger and Jacob Garmatter, Peter who died young, Peter who married Maria Beam, Anna who married Christian Studer, Fredrick who married Elizabeth Hilty, and Magdalena who married Peter Hilty. PETER NEUENSCHWANDER Peter was a brother to the first settler, Michael Neuenschwander. He was born 1-10-1790 near Liestal and died 2-10-1846 in Putnam Co Ohio. He married Anna Maria Kammeter of Aspach, Cme. Dannemarie, Dept Haut-Rhin, France. MRS DANIEL(BARBARA SCHUMACHER)NEUENSCHWANDER Barbara is the widow of Daniel Neuenschwander(a brother to Peter Neuenschwander). Daniel died several years before his brothers moved to America. Barbara, her son Christian and daughters, Catharine and Della with Barbara’s brother John Schumacher and his wife came to America together. Barbara was born 9-14-1779 to Hans(John and Catharina Luginbuhl. On 10-20-1808 she married Daniel, the son of Michael Neuenschwander and Barbara Steiner. Daniel was born 1-11-1785 and died 2-6-1816 in Cme Boron. Their children were: Christian who married Anna Amstutz, Katharina who married Johannes F. Steiner, Johannes, and Elisabeth. JOHN SCHUMACHER John(Hans) Schumacher was born 1-15-1785 at Morillara, France and died 6-16-1853 in Riley Twp, Putnam County, Ohio. He was the son of Hans(Johannes) Schumacher and Catherine Luginbuhl. On 8-7-1813 he married Maria Steiner(dau of Hans Steiner and Elisabeth Leeman). She was born 2-19-1790 at Normanvillars, Cme Florimont, France and died 5-1-1851 in Riley Twp Putnam Co Ohio. They had no children. CHRISTIAN SCHUMACHER Christian Schumacher was a brother to the sixteenth settler John Schumacher. He was born 10-7-1782 in Cme Morvillars and died on 11-6-1858 in Richland Twp Allen Co Ohio. In 1835 he and his wife, Barbara Elisabeth Luginbuhl, came to Putnam Co Ohio. He and Barbara had been married on 6-14-1810 at Chaluet by Ulrich Rothlisberger. She was the daughter of Hans & Barbara Luginbuhl. Barbara was born 3-11-1781 and died 10-19-1855. Their children were: Barbara who married Peter Steiner, Christian, Katharina, Johannes who married Barbara Steiner, Peter who married Elisabeth Suter, and Hans Jacob. CHRISTIAN BOSIGER Christian Bosiger was born 2-10-1817 and died 4-21-1876. Christian was the son of Christian Bosiger and Verena Schumacher. He left on the same ship as his future wife. He settled in Rockingham County, Virginia on 8-1-1824. He lived in Beaver Twp, Columbia County, Ohio from 1824 to 4-28-1835. He then moved to Putnam Co ohio where he lived with his wife and family until his death. He married Katharina Lugibuhl(dau of Christian Luginbuhl and Katharina Steiner). She was born 4-11-1817 and died 12-28-1871. From this marriage came the following children: David who married Barbara Amstutz, Joel who married Maria Habegger, Abraham, Maria who married Jacob C. Basinger, Anna who married Abraham D Amstutz, Elias, Jacob W who married Maria Stauffer and Marian Neuenschwander, Barbara Christian, Verena, Peter P. who married Alice Lower, and Noah who married Sarah Niswander. JOHN C LUGENBUHL John C Lugenbuhl was born 10-4-1803 in Cme Courtelevant to Christian Luginbuhl and Katharina Steiner. he died 10-7-1873 in Riley Twp, Putman Co Ohio. In Wayne Co, Ohio, on 3-18-1828, he married Anna Maria Thuler(Diller). She was born 3-7-1798 to Christen Thuler and Maria Steiner, in Cme Gommersdorf, Dept Haut-Ehin, France, She died 5-26-1853 in Riley Tw Putnam Co Ohio of typhoid fever. Their children were Christian, Peter who married twice: Marianna Amstutz and Elisabeth Moser, Catharina, David, Elisabeth who married Abraham Suter, Maria who married Urich Moser and Abraham A Sprunger, Barbara who married Christian Lehman, Verena who married Christian Locher, and Benjamin. John C lived in Paint Twp Holmes Co Ohio from 1824-1835. John C was a farmer and a sawyer. He was nicnamed”Sager Hans”. On 12-10-1837 he was selected by lot to the office of Deacon of the Swiss Mennonite Church. He was ordained by Bishop Christian Steiner and seved until his death.