Life and evidence
Langnau Täufer register, p. 18
“Neuenschwander, Peter, von hier, zu Perrefitte, K[irchgemeinde] Münster, ein Schuhmacher — Elisabeth Hutmacher, seine Ehefrau — copul. 10. Oct. 1810. Kinder: 1. Johannes, geb. 28. Junij 1811 · 2. Christen, geb. 23. Nov. 1812 · 3. Anna, geb. 16. Octob. 1814 · 4. Elisabeth, geb. 29. Dec. 1816.”
/../../attachments/bern-k-langnau-36-p18-peter-neuenschwander.png)
A shoemaker of Langnau citizenship living at Perrefitte, near Moutier. Named as the father of Christen in the 1844 Langnau marriage entry (no. 141).
French civil birth record of his son Johannes, Perrefitte, 28 Jun 1811 (K Moutier 6, p. 67)
“Pierre Neuyechevandre âgé de vingt-trois ans, [cordonnier], domicilié à Perrefitte”, presents a boy born 28 June 1811, son of Pierre and Elizabeth [Hutmacher] his wife, named Johannes. The father “a déclaré ne savoir signer” (could not sign his name).
He was about 23 in June 1811, so born about 1787–88. This rules out the earlier candidate (Peter, son of Bendicht, b. 1766, who would have been 44).
/../../attachments/bern-k-moutier-6-p67-johannes-neuenschwander-1811.jpg)
Parents still unknown. Candidates from the Langnau Täufer register (unproven):
- Peter, b. 18 Jan 1790, son of Michael Neuenschwander (son of the late Peter) and Barbara Steiner of Signau, at Münster (Langnau 36, p. 9): closest in age (21 rather than 23), same parish. Possible but weakened: see the test below (no back-reference, unlike his brothers).
- No Peter born 1786–89 appears among the other Neuenschwander households on pp. 7–9 (Christian × Elisabeth Ummel’s Peter was b. 1773; Hans × Anna Gerber had no Peter).
Also at Perrefitte: Jean (Johannes) Neuenschwander, 36, farmer, × Catherine Baumgartner, daughter Lisette born 18 May 1812 (K Moutier 6, p. 70): possibly a relative (b. c.1776; Langnau 36 has three Johannes/Hans born 1776).
Negative searches (2026-10-31): his 1810 marriage is not in the Perrefitte civil marriages (only three marriages that year: Merillat, Chevalier, Grandlienard); son Christen (Nov 1812) is not in the Perrefitte civil births for 1812. The Anabaptist family seems to have used the civil register only once.
- Tested 2026-10-31: inconclusive, leaning against. Langnau 36 read through p. 91 (everyone born before c.1820):
- Peter (b. 1790), son of Michael × Barbara Steiner, has no separate entry anywhere, so he is not proven to be someone else.
- But Michael’s other married sons do carry back-references to their father (“Michael, Michaels sel. Sohn (pag. praec.)” and “Daniel, Michaels sel. Sohn (pag. praec.)”, p. 10), and our Peter’s entry on p. 18 has none: just “Peter, von hier, zu Perrefitte, ein Schuhmacher”. The keeper usually wrote the link when he knew it, so its absence weakens the Michael candidate.
- Johannes Neuenschwander of Perrefitte × Catharina Baumgartner (married 11 Apr 1806, daughter Elisabeth b. 18 May 1812; p. 20) also has no back-reference. The two Perrefitte Neuenschwanders, a shoemaker of about 23 and a farmer of 36, may be brothers from a household that was never entered on pp. 7–9, perhaps because their father was dead or outside the Jura before the register began in 1791.
- Not the same man: Peter, son of Samuel × Elisabeth [Leuch?], b. 12 Jan 1817 on the Münsterberg (p. 83).
- Searched K Langnau 16 (Taufrodel, auswärts Getaufte, 1785–1820: Langnau-citizen children born outside the parish, with back-entries to the 1760s), pp. 1–45 (births to about 1793), 2026-10-31: no Peter Neuenschwander born 1786–90. Neuenschwander households there: Daniel × Maria Liechti (1781–86); Hans × Magdalena Ring? (Hans 1786, 1789); Johannes × Magdalena … (Niklaus 1786, Anna Barbara 1788, Anna 1789); Johann Jacob × Catharina Gäumann? (Jean Jacob 1786); Christen × Verena Pfäffli? (Daniel 1789); François Isaac (1780); Gabriel (1778, 1784); and the earlier families (1770s). The 1790 Peter of Michael × Barbara Steiner is not entered here either, so this register is incomplete for the Anabaptist families.
- Langnau 11 (main baptisms 1772–99) not searched: Jura-born Anabaptist children were not baptized at Langnau, and Langnau 16 is the register meant to catch them.
- Remaining routes: Johannes of Perrefitte’s 1806 marriage (Moutier 11, marriages 1766–1815); Peter’s death record (Moutier 24, 1816–56, or in America); Langnau 16 pp. 46–80 in case of a late back-entry task/ai
- Moutier 13 / Belprahon / Roches civil marriages 1810 for Peter × Elisabeth Hutmacher task/ai
Children in this vault
Narratives and research
- Stories: The Neuenschwanders of the Jura
Research log
- 2026-10-31: Negative searches (2026-10-31): his 1810 marriage is not in the Perrefitte civil marriages (only three marriages that year: Merillat, Chevalier, Grandlienard); son Christen (Nov 1812) is not in the Pe
- 2026-11-01: Langnau marriage register K Langnau 26, 1810 (images 26–28, both ‘here’ and ‘married elsewhere’ columns) read: no Peter Neuenschwander × Elisabeth Hutmacher (10 Oct 1810). Other Neuenschwander marriages that year: Johann Franz (son of Heinrich) × Judith Bourgeois, at Montcherand, 27 Apr 1810; Hans Ulrich (son of Samuel) × Elisabeth Leeman (Oswald’s daughter), at Kirchberg, 14 Dec 1810. Next: Moutier 13/14 (Perrefitte marriages 1802–15) and Langnau 25 if the year is off
- 2026-11-01: Langnau 36 pp. 17, 20, 28, 44 read: p. 20 has Johannes Neuenschwander, of Langnau, at Perrefitte × Catharina Baumgartner (m. 11 Apr 1806, daughter Elisabeth 1812), also with no back-reference to parents: probably Peter’s brother. No entry names Peter’s parents
Record compiled 31 October 2026.
About this research
Supporting documentation is linked throughout. This project is an exercise in AI-assisted research and development, and I haven’t manually verified every link or conclusion. All transcriptions and translations of Swiss parish records were made with AI, and their accuracy should be treated accordingly.
Anna Maria Lehman Neuenschwander
25 Feb 1825 – 28 May 1886, born at Moutier, died at Berne (Indiana)
Christopher’s 3rd great-grandmother · ancestor no. 57 · generation 6
Evidence: identity documented · link to parents documented
Family
- Parents: Peter Lehman (1782–1861) and Anna Fuhrimann (b. 1788)
- Spouse: Christian P. Neuenschwander (1812–1884)
- Family notes: Christian P. Neuenschwander + Anna Maria Lehman (m. 1844)
- Children in this vault: Jacob C. Neuenschwander (1848–1921)
Life and evidence
(Habegger, Swiss of Adams and Wells, M72)
“Anna Lehman (No. 4 in The Peter A. Lehman Family)”, born 23 Feb 1825 at La Rochette, Moutier; married Christian P. Neuenschwander 26 Oct 1844 at La Tanne; died in Adams County 28 May 1886.
Parents documented — Langnau Täufer register, p. 32
“Leeman. Peter — Ulrichs und der Maria Th[ü]ler ehelicher Sohn — geb. 14. März 1782 zu Corgémont — verehelicht zu Mo[utier] 15. Aug. 1820 mit Anna Fuhrimann… von Oeschenbach, K. Rohrbach, geb. 29. Feb. 1788… Kinder: 1. Christen 22 Aug 1820 · 2. Abraham 17 Mar 1822 · 3. Peter 29 Sep 1823 · 4. Anna 25 Hornung 1825 · 5. Jacob 8 Jun 1828.”
/../../attachments/bern-k-langnau-36-p32-peter-leeman-family.png)
Her legal home (Heimatort) was Langnau. Brothers: Christen, Abraham, Peter, Jacob. Not related as far as known to the 1852 Berne leader Peter S. Lehman (1821–1899), son of Peter Lehman and Catharina Tschanz.
Where they lived
- 1825 — Moutier
- 1845 — Putnam County (Ohio)
- 1850 — Berne (Indiana)
In their lifetime
- 1833 — 1833 First Swiss Mennonite settler in Putnam County, Ohio
- 1835 — 1835 The Ramseyers sail on the Richmond
- 1852 — 1852 Swiss Mennonites found Berne, Indiana
- 1869 — 1869 The Fieguths move from Prussia to Am Trakt
- 1874 — 1874 Military service ends the exemptions
Pedigree
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"useMaxWidth": true}}}%% flowchart RL n41283589["Ulrich Leeman (fl. 1782)"] n76406417["Anna Fuhrimann (b. 1788)"] n29539368["Anna Maria Lehman (1825–1886)"] n20060805["Peter Lehman (1782–1861)"] n96297406["Maria Thüler (fl. 1782)"] n29539368 --> n20060805 n20060805 --> n41283589 n20060805 --> n96297406 n29539368 --> n76406417 class n41283589,n76406417,n29539368,n20060805,n96297406 internal-link;
Conflicts
- Birth 25 Feb 1825 (Langnau register) vs 23 Feb (headstone)
- Death 1886 (headstone) vs 1889 (Snow 1907)
Sources
- Bern K Langnau 36 - Taeuferfamilien Heimatrodel
- Find a Grave
- Snow - History of Adams County Indiana (1907)
- Find a Grave 55172809
Narratives and research
- Stories: The Neuenschwanders of the Jura
- History: 1833 First Swiss Mennonite settler in Putnam County, Ohio, 1835 The Ramseyers sail on the Richmond, 1852 Swiss Mennonites found Berne, Indiana, 1869 The Fieguths move from Prussia to Am Trakt, 1874 Military service ends the exemptions, Faith traditions
- Congregations: First Mennonite Church Berne
- Sources: Bern K Langnau 27 - Marriages 1837-1852, Bern K Langnau 36 - Taeuferfamilien Heimatrodel, Find a Grave, Habegger - The Swiss of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana, Snow - History of Adams County Indiana (1907)
Open questions
- Birth 25 Feb 1825 (Langnau register) vs 23 Feb (headstone)
- Death 1886 (headstone) vs 1889 (Snow 1907)
Record compiled 31 October 2026.
About this research
Supporting documentation is linked throughout. This project is an exercise in AI-assisted research and development, and I haven’t manually verified every link or conclusion. All transcriptions and translations of Swiss parish records were made with AI, and their accuracy should be treated accordingly.
Christian P. “Crist” Neuenschwander
23 Nov 1812 – 5 Nov 1884, died at Berne (Indiana)
Christopher’s 3rd great-grandfather · ancestor no. 56 · generation 6
Evidence: identity documented · link to parents documented
Family
- Parents: Peter Neuenschwander (shoemaker, m. 1810) and Elisabeth Hutmacher (m. 1810)
- Spouse: Anna Maria Lehman (1825–1886)
- Family notes: Christian P. Neuenschwander + Anna Maria Lehman (m. 1844)
- Children in this vault: Jacob C. Neuenschwander (1848–1921)
Life and evidence
(Habegger, Swiss of Adams and Wells, M72)
Born 23 Nov 1812 at La Tanne, Moutier (matching the Langnau register’s “Christen, geb. 23. Nov. 1812”). Married Anna Lehman 26 Oct 1844 at La Tanne; reached Wayne County, Ohio 13 May 1845, Putnam County, Ohio 17 Jul 1845, Polk County, Iowa 24 Apr 1849, and Adams County, Indiana 4 Apr 1856. Net worth 1860: $3,100. Eleven-plus children; two sons married two of Christian Stauffer’s daughters (Jacob C. × Elisabeth 1872; Christian C. × Marianna 1876), and daughter Rachel married their half-brother David Stauffer.
Natives of Switzerland; came to Ohio 1845; about four years in Putnam County (Jacob C. born there 1848); then Iowa; then Monroe Township near Berne (Snow 1907). 13–14 children: Jacob C. (1848–1921), Rachel Stauffer (1849–1877), Adelina Liechty (1851–1909), Christian C. (1853–1937), Abraham C. (1855–1887), David C. (1857–1935), Anna (1859–1864), Verena “Fannie” Schneck (1860–1934), Joel (1862), Maria (1863–1864), Elizabeth Lehman (1863–1950), Lea Franz (1865–1934, wife of Dr. Franz of Berne), Lydia (1868–1878).
Which Christen? Resolved 2026-10-31 — the son of Peter
- 1844 marriage: Langnau marriage register (K Langnau 27), no. 141: banns 29 Sept, 6 and 13 Oct 1844 for “Christen Neuenschwander, Peter’s [son], born 23 Dec 1812” and “Anna Lehmann, Peter’s [daughter], born 25 Feb 1825 — both of the Anabaptist congregation”; married 26 Oct 1844 by an Anabaptist preacher.
- Birth: Langnau Täufer register p. 18: “Christen, geb. 23. Nov. 1812”, son of Peter Neuenschwander, shoemaker at Perrefitte, and Elisabeth Hutmacher — the exact headstone date.
- The middle initial “P.” is a patronymic: Christian, son of Peter.
The compiled tree’s parents (Johannes Neuenschwander and Catharina Fuhrimann) belong to a different Christen, born 6 Sep 1812 (p. 16). They are no longer linked as his parents.
/../../attachments/bern-k-langnau-27-p131-no141-christen-neuenschwander-anna-lehmann-1844.png)
Not to be confused with Christian Neuenschwander (1812–1905) of Pandora, Ohio (a different family, 1958 book), or the Christian who died in Putnam County in 1839.
Where they lived
- 1812 — Souboz
- 1844 — Tramelan
- 1845 — Putnam County (Ohio)
- 1850 — Berne (Indiana)
In their lifetime
- 1833 — 1833 First Swiss Mennonite settler in Putnam County, Ohio
- 1835 — 1835 The Ramseyers sail on the Richmond
- 1852 — 1852 Swiss Mennonites found Berne, Indiana
- 1869 — 1869 The Fieguths move from Prussia to Am Trakt
- 1874 — 1874 Military service ends the exemptions
Pedigree
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"useMaxWidth": true}}}%% flowchart RL n62560931["Peter Neuenschwander (d. before 1791)"] n25529237["Bendicht Neuenschwander (fl. 1766)"] n43760171["Catharina Fuhrimann (1782–1853)"] n98663123["Elisabeth Leeman (fl. 1766)"] n65348362["Christian P. Neuenschwander (1812–1884)"] n36423068["Johannes Neuenschwander (1776–1838)"] n65348362 --> n36423068 n36423068 --> n25529237 n25529237 --> n62560931 n36423068 --> n98663123 n65348362 --> n43760171 class n62560931,n25529237,n43760171,n98663123,n65348362,n36423068 internal-link;
Conflicts
- WHICH CHRISTEN? Headstone birth 23 Nov 1812 matches Christen son of PETER (Langnau 36 p. 18); compiled parents Johannes + Catharina Fuhrimann match Christen born 6 Sep 1812 (p. 16)
- Death 1884 (headstone) vs 1887 (Snow 1907) — prefer headstone
- Marriage 26 Oct 1844 Tramelan (compiled tree) not found in Tramelan Reformed marriage register
- Birthplace ‘Bern’ = canton; Geneanet lead ‘Höfen, 1811’ unconfirmed
Death notice, Christlicher Bundesbote (1884)
“Neuenschwander. Am 5. November in der Nähe von Berne, Ind., C. P. Neuenschwander, im Alter von 71 Jahren, 8 Monaten und 5 Tagen.” (On 5 November, near Berne, Indiana, C. P. Neuenschwander, aged 71 years, 8 months and 5 days.) The funeral sermon was preached by [S]uderman. No parents are named. The stated age points to a birth around 28 Feb – 1 Mar 1813, not 23 Nov 1812: a conflict, probably a reckoning error by the correspondent.
Research tasks
- Tramelan banns 1844 checked (2026-11-01): not there; the marriage is in Langnau 27 only
- Bundesbote 1884 death notice found (2026-11-01): no parents named
- 1887 Biographical and Historical Record checked (2026-11-01): only his daughter Elizabeth (b. 1864, m. 1883) mentioned
- Tyndall & Lesh, Standard History of Adams and Wells Counties (1918), for children’s biographies naming him and his parents (2026-11-01: nothing on his parents; parents already documented from the Swiss registers)
- Look for Catharina Fuhrimann Neuenschwander and candidate A’s siblings in Putnam County, Ohio task/ai
Sources
- Find a Grave
- Snow - History of Adams County Indiana (1907)
- Bern K Langnau 36 - Taeuferfamilien Heimatrodel
- Bern K Tramelan 16 - Marriages 1816-1875
- Find a Grave 55172798
Narratives and research
- Stories: The Neuenschwanders of the Jura
- History: 1833 First Swiss Mennonite settler in Putnam County, Ohio, 1835 The Ramseyers sail on the Richmond, 1852 Swiss Mennonites found Berne, Indiana, 1869 The Fieguths move from Prussia to Am Trakt, 1874 Military service ends the exemptions, Faith traditions
- Congregations: First Mennonite Church Berne, Swiss Mennonite settlement at Riley Creek (Bluffton–Pandora)
- Sources: Bern K Langnau 27 - Marriages 1837-1852, Bern K Langnau 36 - Taeuferfamilien Heimatrodel, Bern K Tramelan 16 - Marriages 1816-1875, Find a Grave, Habegger - The Swiss of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana, Mennonite Encyclopedia - family and place entries (read 2026-10-31), Snow - History of Adams County Indiana (1907)
Open questions
- Age at death: Bundesbote 1884 says 71 y 8 m 5 d (implying birth c. 28 Feb – 1 Mar 1813), not 71 y 11 m 13 d as 23 Nov 1812 would give
- Death 1884 (headstone) vs 1887 (Snow 1907) — prefer headstone
- The Amish periodical The Diary (Adams County list) has ‘Mrs. Christian P. Neuenschwander, Berne R2’ on 13 Nov 1885 and ‘Christian P. Neuenschwander, Berne R2’ on 5 Jul 1889; probably a different (Amish) couple of the same name, unverified
- Birth 23 Nov 1812 (Täufer register, headstone) vs 23 Dec 1812 (1844 Langnau marriage entry)
- Marriage place: Tramelan in compiled tree — the 1844 entry gives an Anabaptist preacher; place still to read
- Birthplace ‘Bern’ = canton; Geneanet lead ‘Höfen, 1811’ unconfirmed
Research log
- 2026-11-01: Tyndall & Lesh, Standard History of Adams and Wells Counties (1918), both scans searched: no sketch of Christian P. or naming his parents; only his son Jacob Neuenschwander, ‘a native of Iowa’, m. Elizabeth Stauffer, father-in-law of Mr. Habegger (m. 1894 Anna Neuenschwander)
- 2026-11-01: K Tramelan 18 (banns 1840–1861), entries 25–37 (Jul – Dec 1844, images 41–43) read: no Neuenschwander or Lehman. The 1844 marriage is recorded only in the Langnau register (K Langnau 27, no. 141), not in Tramelan
- 2026-11-01: Christlicher Bundesbote 1882–87 (archive.org christlicherbund00unse) searched: death notice ‘Am 5. November in der Nähe von Berne, Ind., C. P. Neuenschwander, im Alter von 71 Jahren, 8 Monaten und 5 Tagen’; funeral sermon by [S]uderman; parents not named
- 2026-11-01: Biographical and Historical Record of Adams and Wells Counties (1887; Berne Public Library reprint, archive.org biographicalhist0000vari_i4c7) searched: only mention is his daughter Elizabeth (b. 20 Aug 1864, Monroe Twp.), m. 7 Feb 1883 (husband’s sketch, Hoosier Roller Milling Co.); no biography of C. P. himself. Snow’s History of Adams County (1907): text not downloadable
Record compiled 31 October 2026.
About this research
Supporting documentation is linked throughout. This project is an exercise in AI-assisted research and development, and I haven’t manually verified every link or conclusion. All transcriptions and translations of Swiss parish records were made with AI, and their accuracy should be treated accordingly.
Neuenschwander side
Ancestors of the grandparent at left, parents to the right.
Colors: green = documented · cyan = strong inference · yellow = family compilation · orange = compiled lead · red = unresolved · grey = not set