Barbara Reich (1826–1894)

Barbara Reich (Rich) Ramseyer

24 Jun 1826 – 3 Oct 1894, born at Maximo

Christopher’s 3rd great-grandmother · ancestor no. 49 · generation 6
Evidence: identity documented · link to parents family compilation

Family

• Parents: Jacob Reich (c.1795–1873) and Louise Eckinger (c.1797–1873)
• Spouse: Peter Ramseyer (1822–1880)
• Family notes: Peter Ramseyer + Barbara Reich (m. 1844)
• Children in this vault: Daniel Ramseyer (1856–1942)

Life and evidence

Born at “Maximo” (a modern label — the name dates from about 1853), Stark County, Ohio. A daughter’s 1927 marriage license calls her “Barbara Richard”.

Her parents — Jacob Reich and Louise Eckinger — are named by three sources (Staker, the 1986 tree, the 1986 history) but none cites a record. Possible relatives buried with her in the Paris Township Amish Cemetery: Leah Reich Yoder (1828–1891, wife of Joseph Yoder) — a good candidate for a sister; Daniel Rich (c.1807–1857) and wife Catharine. An early Gotleib Eckinger (1776–1824) is buried at Indian Run Cemetery, East Canton (Find a Grave).

Not to be confused with the Rich family of the 1907 Ramseyer-Rich reunion (Joseph Rich of Lutter, Alsace, who married Peter’s sister Barbara) — whose English-descent tradition is told in The Rich family English-descent tradition.

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
  n347016["Jacob Reich (c.1795–1873)"]
  n40516889["Louise Eckinger (c.1797–1873)"]
  n40487033["Barbara Reich (1826–1894)"]
  n40487033 --> n347016
  n40487033 --> n40516889
  class n347016,n40516889,n40487033 internal-link;

Conflicts

• Birthplace: Stark County (Staker, Find a Grave) vs ‘Germany’ (1850 census)

Research tasks

• Search 1830/1840 Paris and Washington Township censuses for a Jacob Rich household task/ai
• Find Leah Reich Yoder’s obituary (possible sister) task/ai

Sources

• Staker - Amish Mennonites in Tazewell County Part 5
• The Schrock Ramseyer Story (1986)
• Illustrated family tree (Ramseyer, July 1986)
• Find a Grave
• Find a Grave 25107197

Narratives and research

• Stories: The Rich family English-descent tradition
• 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
• Sources: Find a Grave, Illustrated family tree (Ramseyer, July 1986), Staker - Amish Mennonites in Tazewell County Part 5, The Schrock Ramseyer Story (1986)

Open questions

• Birthplace: Stark County (Staker, Find a Grave) vs ‘Germany’ (1850 census)

Research log

• 2026-11-01: Herald of Truth (English) for the death year searched by name, date and place (Stark/Wayne): no obituary found. Stark County Amish Mennonite deaths were probably reported in the German Herold der Wahrheit (not yet searched)

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.