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Swiss Community Historical Society

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Christian and Barbara (Luginbuhl) Schumacher left a farm outside of Basel, Switzerland in 1835 and came first to Wayne County, Ohio to visit relatives. Then, with their four children Barbara, John, Peter, and Christian, they moved on to what was then Putnam County, Ohio, in 1836, located on what is known as the Old Schumacher Homestead at 8350 Bixel Road. In 1839, Peter married Elizabeth, daughter of Christian Suter, bishop of the Swiss Mennonite congregation. They raised sixteen children at their farm; each grew to adulthood, married, and had an average of ten children, giving Christian and Barbara 163 grandchildren. A typical Swiss settlement house, the three-bay Schumacher house was built in 1843 under Christian’s direction. It was acquired in 1968 by the Swiss Community Historical Society.

The Swiss Community Historical Society honors and preserves the history of the Bluffton-Pandora community. The society owns and operates the Swiss Homestead at 8350 Bixel Road, Bluffton, Ohio. The 1840's Homestead features period furniture, textiles, quilts, papers, books, artifacts, and records of historical interest, as well as a house, barn and outbuildings related to local Swiss heritage. Tours may be arranged by emailing tour coordinator Susie Gratz at gratzds@roadrunner.com or leave a message at 419-358-4822.

Swiss Community Historical Society

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