Michael Neuenschwander, Putnam County pioneer
9 Mar 1778 – 1852
Not a direct ancestor — included for context.
Evidence: identity documented
Life and evidence
The first Swiss Mennonite settler in northwest Ohio (‘in the Spring of 1833’, plaque near Bluffton). Son of Michael Neuenschwander and Barbara Steiner of Signau, born 9 Mar 1778 (Langnau 36, p. 9); married Anna Ernst (1780–1846, daughter of Jacob Ernst and Katerina Lehman) at Florimont 16 July 1809 (p. 10). Children include Johannes B. (1810–1889), Daniel (1812), Michael (1823–1893). A cousin of Christopher’s Johannes, not a direct ancestor; his settlement explains why Christian and Anna went to Putnam County in 1845.
Where they lived
- 1778 — Moutier
- 1809 — Florimont
- 1833 — Bluffton (Ohio)
In their lifetime
- 1789 — 1789 First Prussian Mennonites settle in Russia
- 1798 — 1798 Old Bern falls; religious freedom
- 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
Sources
- Bern K Langnau 36 - Taeuferfamilien Heimatrodel
- Find a Grave
- Find a Grave 37849175
- Bluffton Icon: first settler plaque
Smith (1981), p. 385 — added 2026-10-31
“In 1833 Michael Neuenschwander, who had come to Wayne County from Switzerland ten years before, began another settlement in what is now Allen County, along the banks of Riley Creek, three miles northwest of what is now Bluffton.” Places his arrival in Wayne County about 1823. See Smith - Smith’s Story of the Mennonites (1981).
Narratives and research
- Stories: The Neuenschwanders of the Jura
- Congregations: Swiss Mennonite settlement at Riley Creek (Bluffton–Pandora)
- Sources: Bern K Langnau 36 - Taeuferfamilien Heimatrodel, Find a Grave, Smith - Smith’s Story of the Mennonites (1981)
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.