Notes:

Lived at Hinter Bäregg according to the Heimatrodel der Tauferfamilien von Langnau.

Christian married Anna Lehmann on 25 Aug 1862. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Christian Gerber was born on 13 Aug 1863 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
2. Elisabeth Gerber was born on 2 Apr 1865 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; was christened on 15 Nov 1935.
3. Johannes Gerber was born on 2 Sept 1866 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
4. Anna Gerber was born on 10 Aug 1868 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
5. Rosa Gerber was born on 15 May 1870 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
6. Simon Gerber was born on 11 Dec 1871 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died in 1939.
7. Lina Gerber was born on 28 Apr 1873 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
8. Emma Gerber was born on 29 Oct 1874 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
9. Friedrich Gerber was born on 12 Dec 1875 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died in 1957.

Michael married Anna Kipfer on 12 May 1820 in Court, Bern, Switzerland. Anna (daughter of Ulrich Kipfer) was born on 3 Sep 1797; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It appears that this family may have lived at Baeregg according to the Heimatrodel. It also states that they were married in Court (in the Jura) which means they were hiding from Bernese authorities in French-speaking territory. It also appears to mention something about someone in prison. It may simply mean they were in exile as a family.

Family information can be found in the Heimatrodel der Tauferfamilien von Langnau 1791-1870. It appears this family lived at Court in the Jura, indicating they were Anabaptist.

Notes:

Upon the death of their father, Michael inherited "Hinter Bäregg", but he did not appear at the division of the estate. Instead, he sent a representative, Niklaus Gerber of Ober Hapbach. This would have been "Giebel-Glais". The reason was not given for Michael's absence. It has been surmised by some there was ill-feelings between the two, but it appears that Michael in exile in the Jura during this time.

Farmer at Hinter Bäregg. Co-managed Giebel before his mother's death.

This Michael's brother, Christian, was known to be a well-respected elder in the Mennonite church before converting to the "Neutaufer" movement. His cousin, Johannes, was also Anabaptist.

Unter Hapbach was purchased by father Niklaus Gerber and given to son from second marriage, Niklaus, during the division of his estate. Zähjs Holz confirms that Unter Hapbach was bought by a (half)brother of Giebel Glais (Niklaus).

According to documents obtained from family in Switzerland, he was suspected to be the father mentioned in the Gerber Book of Deacon Michael Gerber of Hapbach, a Mennonite minister who immigrated to Ohio (USA) and who became the ancestor of 650 descendants. However, his birth and death dates are a little off. Deacon Michael emigrated from Chaluet in the Bernese Jura, likely due to fleeing from religious persecution. The spouse names are not the same, either. This individual was known to live at the farm called Hinter Baeregg in Langnau. Both individuals are mentioned separately in the "Heimatrodel der Tauferfamilien von Langnau 1791-1870" with different families. Finally, Deacon Michael's father's name was said to be Christian, not Michael.

Michael married Anna Roethlisberger on 21 Aug 1787. Anna was born on 12 May 1761; died in 16 May1831. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Likely born 24 Apr 1761 to Peter Roethlisberger and Aeschbacher

Notes:

From "Geschichte der bernischen Täufer" by Ernst Müller, page 565:

On March 20, 1811, the small council thanks the announcement of these actions and adds that henceforth all children of the Anabaptists should be baptized as before the revolution. However, the execution of this arrangement encountered further difficulties. The pastor of Langnau reported to the church council that four older children of Michael Gerber on the Hinteren Bäregg refused to be baptized and, along with several others, also did not want to be instructed. The answer of the small council is that according to the directive of February 26, 1810, people who have not yet been baptized are to be encouraged to be baptized. They are also to be instructed and admitted so that they can be entered in the church register and their rights as citizens are not forfeited. However, if these legal requirements are satisfied, they are free to attend the table of the Lord or to stay away from it.
The pastor in Langnau then explains that the five quite adult children of Gerber on Bäregg would probably give offense when they were forced to be baptized and that the children would have to be fetched by the policeman every day, so that you teaching would be of no use. The church council now proposes that children under the age of ten should be brought to baptism by force, since no exceptions can be made in civil laws <383>. Parents of children who are not baptized by the age of 16 should lose land and civil rights.
According to a report by the prefect of Signau on April 26, 1813, the Anabaptists also refused to take the oath of homage. The Council of State declares that, pursuant to Article 7 of the Decree of August 25, 1806, they are consequently excluded from exercising all civil rights and from being able to vote for any position.

This family appears to have lived in Muenster in the Jura mountains. That would indicate they fled from religious persecution. According to the "Geschichte der bernischen Täufer" by Ernst Müller, civil penalties, including loss of land, could have been the penalty if not all children were baptized by the age of 16. This would explain why the family is later living in the Jura mountains. It would also explain why the youngest male child, Ulrich, was baptized on 15 Mar 1811. He would have been the child to maintain rights to their farm, Hinter Baeregg. So, there was a pragmatic reason to have him baptized.

Other Events:

• Birth: 20 Nov 1735, Vorder Giebel, near Langnau in Emmental, Bern, Switzerland
• Address: 1754, Ober Lohngrat
• Address: 1782, Hinter Baeregg / Bäregg

Notes:

Owner of Vorder Giebel

Niklaus was a person who looks after the cows and makes cheese. He was farmer at Giebel and owner of the farm Lohngrat. Purchased a farm called "Hinter Bäregg" from his uncle, Christian in 1782.

From the first marriage with his wife (maiden name "Kipfer"), there were two sons: Michael and Christian. It has been noted that when the mother died, a relative, Niklaus Gerber of Ober Hapbach, was designated as an overseer of her estate until the children became of age or when the father died. However, this makes little sense because Niklaus, the eventual owner of Hapbach, would have been a very young child when the mother died. It is possible that Niklaus of Ober Hapbach was made the executor of her Muttersgut (inheritance to the children from her dowery) only when her husband Niklaus died later. By that time, Niklaus would have been old enough to be an executor and would have owned Ober Hapbach.

From the second marriage in approximately 1770-1771, there was one son, Niklaus, and three daughters, Barbara, Elizabeth, and Magdalena.

In 1754 he was banned from his land by the State church as many Anabaptists (Mennonites) were. Later, he lived in Baeregg when in 1784 he sold/transferred Giebel to both of his sons, Michael and Christian. After their mother, Magdalena Kipfer died, Christian paid Michael for his portion of Giebel and became the single owner of Giebel.

In the 1791 Mutterguts-Abrechnung, a document that divides the inheritance from the mother, the two sons from Niklaus' first marriage received 2/3 ownership of Giebel. The remaining third was retained by Niklaus and appears later in his division of assets. His will was dated March 1, 1801. There is some conflicting information here as it was also reported that he sold Giebel to his sons earlier in 1784. This Muttersgut-Abrechnung may simply be outlining a transaction that had previously occurred. This seems logical considering Ruedi Gerber's understanding.

Niklaus purchased another farm in 1783 called "Unter Hapbach" for his son, Niklaus, of his second marriage. The book "Zähjs Holz" says that Unter Hapbach was purchased by a brother of Giebel-Glais. Giebel-Glais was the son of Johannes Gerber, Niklaus' brother. The book may be slightly off, or it is possible that one of Johannes' sons purchased it later, possibly Michael (which would lend credibility to the idea that he could be the famed Deacon Michael Gerber of Hapbach).

Niklaus' will is dated March 1801.

The estate transferred in 1774 consisted of: 1 house, 1 cow barn, 1 bee apiary, 1 speicher, 1 hog/sheep barn, 1 hog barn, one house on the Kellen (presumably, Giebelkelle). Held back was some land or right to use land for 7 cows in the summer and 19 cows in the winter, and some forest. Mittler Giebel was owned by Hans Gerber (son of Michael Gerber and brother to Niklaus?), and Giebelmoos was owned by the Grimm family. Ruedi Gerber indicated that Niklaus purchased Hinter Baeregg from his brother Christian in 1782, not 1783. Brothers Christian and Michael separated ownership of Giebel completely in 1791. Niklaus died in 1807.

It was this Niklaus Gerber who sold the portion of Lohngratalp but held back a portion of the forest (Schwandgraben) because there was not a lot of timber at Giebel.

Birth:
There are some that claim Niklaus' christening was on 3 Jul 1735. There is no record of it in the States Archive of Canton Bern (page 90). The information that Niklaus was the son of Matthys Gerber is incorrect. It came from Julius Billeter who made many errors. Family records confirm that Niklaus was the son of Michael Gerber, owner of Giebel, and whose inscription remains there.

Niklaus married Magdalena Kipfer on 2 May 1760. Magdalena (daughter of Michel Kuepfer and Magdalena Wuethrich) was christened on 18 Mar 1736 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 29 Nov 1765 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; was buried on 1 Dec 1765 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Magdalena Kuepfer

Notes:

K8Langnau191 #22

The spelling of the surname Kuefper has evolved to Kipfer.

She died at 30 years of age.