1813 – 1896
Christopher’s 4th great-grandfather · ancestor no. 124 · generation 7
Evidence: identity compiled lead
Family
- Spouse: Katharina Utz (1808–1889)
- Family notes: David Reusser + Katharina Utz (m. unknown)
- Children in this vault: Jakob Reusser (1840–1916)
Life and evidence
(Habegger, Swiss of Adams and Wells, M75)
Born 5 Sep 1813 on the Nidauberg, Canton Bern. Married Katharina Utz on 7 Jun 1840 in New York City, just off the ship; reached Sonnenberg, Ohio on 30 Jun 1840, where both were baptized into the Sonnenberg Mennonite Church on Good Friday, 14 Apr 1843. Then Hancock County, Ohio (1847), Polk County, Iowa (1849), Adams County, Indiana (30 Dec 1857), and finally Harvey County, Kansas (3 Apr 1877). Died at Moundridge, Kansas, 2 Feb 1896; buried at First Mennonite, Moundridge. A bequest from him to the orphan society is in The Mennonite (1896).
Linked on Find a Grave as Jakob Reusser’s father; the Reussers were earlier in Stark County, Ohio.
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
Sources
Narratives and research
- 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
- Congregations: Sonnenberg Mennonite Church (Wayne County)
- Sources: Find a Grave, Habegger - The Swiss of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana
Research log
- 2026-10-31: Habegger, Swiss of Adams and Wells (M75) re-read: born 5 Sep 1813 on the Nidauberg; parents not given. archive.org full text: no other source
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.