FROM BLUFFTON ICON - The Bluffton Icon is posting a series of stories of Swiss pioneers in its community. One famaliar surname is Badertscher, and there are Badertscher families in Ada. This information could connect some of those residents. Click here for more stories in this series.
Peter Badertscher, a skilled cabinet maker and carpenter, was born Sept. 29, 1805, to Christian (1720-1838) and Barbara Gerber (1784-1855) in Bagischwand Emmenthal, Canton Bern, Switzerland. Peter had another brother, John, who remained in Switzerland with his parents.
At age 22, Peter married Anna Aeschlimann on July 18, 1827, in Lauperswil, Canton Bern, Switzerland. Anna’s parents were Ulrich (1774-1822) and Barbara Lüti Aeschlimann (1784-1847). Anna’s parents also remained in Switzerland.
Peter and Anna had 10 children. One son, John, died at age 2 in 1852. The couple left for America in 1855 with nine children, ranging from ages 7 to 27. The trip took over 40 days and Anna was in poor health. After arriving in Allen County, Anna died in the fall of 1855.
Her death created a hardship for Peter, as he was trying to build a new house and raise a family. Five of the children stayed with other Bluffton-Pandora pioneer friends. Barbara went to the John Diller family. Elizabeth to the Christian Sutter family. Christian and Anna, to the Rev. John Moser family and Magdalena, the youngest child, to the Michael Neuenschwander family.
Each of the nine surviving children were married. Barbara married Jacob Bucher from Holmes County in 1859. John married Elizabeth Neuenschwander from Richland Township in 1863.
Elizabeth married John S. Amstutz, from Wayne County in 1856. Mathias married Lidia Augsburger from Wayne County in 1866.
Peter, Jr., married Catherine Naas, who was born in Germany. Christian married Marian Gratz of Allen County in 1864. Frederick married Margaret Elizabeth Slonaker from Darke County in 1866.
Anna married Ulrich Bösiger from Riley Township in 1866 and Magdalena married John A. Stager in 1873. From these marriages were born 64 children.
Peter Badertscher
Born: Sept. 29, 1805, Bagischwand, Emmental Bern, Switzerland
Died: June 16, 1872, Allen County
Buried: Ebenezer Cemetery, Bluffton
Peter’s father: Christian Badertscher (1782-1838)
Peter’s mother: Barbara Gerber (1784-1855)
Married: July 18, 1827, Lauperswil, Bern, Switzerland
Spouse: Anna Aeschlimann
Born: Oct. 25, 1805, Bagischwand, Emmental, Bern, Switzerland
Died: October 1855, Allen County
Buried: Old Mennonite Cemetery, Bluffton
Anna’s father: Ulrich Aeschlimann (1774-1822)
Anna’s mother: Barbara Lüti (1784-1847)
Peter and Anna’s children
Barbara Badertscher
Born: Sept. 28, 1828, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: Nov. 29, 1906
Spouse: Jacob Bucher
John Ulrich Badertscher
Born: June 28, 1832, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: Dec. 3, 1906
Spouse: Elizabeth Neuenschwander
Elizabeth Badertscher
Born: April 28, 1837, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: Sept. 15, 1921, Richland Township
Spouse: John S. Amstutz
Mathias Badertscher
Born: May 16, 1838, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: April 7, 1899, Allen County
Spouse: Lidia Augsburger
Peter Badertscher, Jr.
Born: March 7, 1840, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: March 30, 1918
Spouse: Catherine Naas
Rev. Christian Badertscher
Born: April 26, 1842, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: Jan. 29, 1924
Spouse: Marian Gratz
Frederick Badertscher
Born: Set. 24, 1843, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: Oct. 30, 1915, Piqua, Ohio
Spouse: Margaret Elizabeth Slonaker
Anna Badertscher
Born: Oct. 1, 1845, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: March 29, 1918
Spouse: Ulrich Bösiger (Americanized to Basinger)
Magdalena Badertscher
Born: April 16, 1848, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: Jan. 10, 1926
Spouse: John A. Stager
John Badertscher
Born: Feb. 12, 1850, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
Died: May 2, 1852, Bagischwand Emmental Bern Switzerland
