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Archiver > SWITZERLAND > 2002-03 > 1016111924


From: Pat Vorenberg <>
Subject: [SWITZ] Emigration from Wohlen, Switzerland in the 1850's
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 05:18:44 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <200203140301.g2E31N330669@lists5.rootsweb.com>


Marjorie - My great-grandfather was Christian Minger.
He was born in Wohlen on 12 Aug 1827. He was a farmer.
Julius Billeter's "The Mingers of Wohlen" traces this
line back to the 1500's. Like your Sebastian Wanderon,
Christian emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1850's. I
know he and his two brothers John and Samuel all
settled in Nemeha County, Kansas - they stopped first
in Ohio (where and how long I don't know).

I was curious about why they left Switzerland. My
sister (who is keen on history) said there was a
political movement toward farm reform in the 1850's
and that Christian was so active in the movement he
and his family was forced to leave. His two brothers
and their families followed within the next two years
She also said that the reforms they were working for
were later established. I wish I had paid more
attention - maybe someone else knows about the reform
movement and can fill us in.

I know they settled in Kansas because of the
homesteading act and the fine farming land. The
following is an excerpt written by Christian's son
John about that time:

"Christian Minger located a claim in 1854 on Easily
Creek. After making a few improvements, he went back
to St. Joseph after his wife and three daughters.
While making preparations to return to his claim,
there came a report that the Indians were murdering
the settlers. Not wishing to take any chances, he
remained in St. Joseph until the following spring.
. ..
Coming back to Easily Creek, he found his claim had
been taken by another man. Then he came over on the
Four Mile and bought Balsiger's rights in his claim.
Balsiger's wife had died the winter before and he had
decided to go back east.

Balsiger's claim had a house and barn on it. Since
most of the houses were built alike, a rough
description might be of interest. It was built of
unhewn logs, one story high, about 24' X 36'. It had
two doors, four windows. There was a large fireplace
in one end built of native stone. There was a stone
floor around the fireplace as a protection against
fire. There was a crane-like contraption to swing pots
and kettles over the fire, Dutch ovens and other
cooking utensils. The roof of the house was made of
clapboards instead of shingles. These clapboards were
about three feet long and split out of young oak
trees. They were held down on the roof with flat
stones instead of nails. Wooden pins were often used
in place of nails; door hinges and latches were made
of wood. Most furniture was home made, the different
parts being held together with glue and pegs. Most of
the farming tools were home made. Harrows with wooden
teeth were common."

(Read the full account at
http://www.ukans.edu/kansas/seneca/histsoc/early.html
)

I have to pass this on: years ago, when my cousin's
son Shannon was in Jr. High, he had to write an essay
on one of his emigrant ancestors. He phoned me and I
told him about our Mennonite ancestor John Roads who
escaped persecution by concealing himself on a ship
bound for the US, as well as mentioning the Mingers.
There was more information on the Mingers, so Shannon
decided to write about Christian Minger, although John
Roads was more appealing. He wrote "They (the Mingers)
moved to Kansas. Why, no one will ever know!"

Where did your ancestors settle?

Pat Vorenberg
> Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 08:30:07 -0600
> From: "R & M Gallagher" <>
> To:
> Subject: [SWITZ]
>
> I would appreciate any information concerning my
> ancestor SEBASTIAN WANDERON, born in Wohlen in 1829.
>
> He emigrated to the United States in 1854. He might
> have had a brother named John Rudolf Wanderon. I
> believe they might have been gypsies who were sent
> out of Switzerland during a famine.
>
> Also, I would appreciate any information on my
> ancestors RUDOLF HABERSTICH and ANNA MARIA LU"SCHER
> (u-umlaut) who were married in Oberentfelden in
> 1840. They had 5 children born there: Samuel
> Gotfried,
> Rudolf Henry, Maria Louisa, Anna Maria Wilhelmina,
> and Charles Adolf. The mother and children
> emigrated
> to the United States in the 1850's but I don't know
> what happened to the father Rudolf Haberstich.
>
> Another Swiss family, BERNHARD KUENZLI and his wife
> MARIA LU"SCHER (u-umlaut) and their children, also
> came from Switzerland during the 1850's and they
> settled near my ancestors here in the United States.
>
> The families appear to have been related but I don't
> know how.
>
> Thank you for whatever information you may be able
> to offer.
>
> Best regards,
> Marjorie Gallagher



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