Notes:

FANKHAUSER: TRUB. Fankhaus is the place name of a farm. The German verb fangen means to catch. This house is catched, that is to say surrounded by hills and forest, enclosed territory. - By Delbert Gratz



ORIGIN OF NAME - VERSION 2

Heinz Fankhauser from Burgdorf...

When fall comes, the farmers have to drive their animals down from the high pastures for the winter. There must have been some sort of stockade (or corrall) in Fankhaus Graben which pinned the cows and/or sheep and/or goats in until the various owners could sort out which belonged to whom. There must have been a house there for the fellow who maintained it.



ORIGIN OF NAME - VERSION 3

Contributed by Frieda Funkhouser Wilson - FUNKHOUSER A SWISS-AMERICAN GENEALOGY (1364-1978) Copyright 1978

...at the turn of the century the circulated story was that one of the Fankhauser ancestors "was an inspector of a prison or guard of prisoners. This story has been refuted. Cousin Hans Fankhauser says there are no jails or prisons in Trub for the one thing. Instead the name Fankhauser comes from the verb 'fangen' meaning 'to catch' (the bears). A 'fang' was a large pit for trapping the bears and other wild animals that threatened the crops and livestock of the families who lived in this valley in the Middle Ages. The trap tender lived in a 'Fanghus.' As a small community grew there, it took the name and the families there became Fankhausers."

Anna married Johannes Zuercher on 9 Nov 1878 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. Johannes was born on 28 Sep 1839 in Trub, Bern, Switzerland; died on 25 Aug 1876. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Christian Gerber on 9 Nov 1878 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. Christian (son of Christian Gerber and Anna Barbara Gerber) was born on 6 Nov 1855 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 7 Aug 1935 in Gontenschwil, AG. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Anna Gerber
2. Ernst Gerber was born on 11 Sep 1879 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 30 Jun 1974 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas, USA.
3. Bertha Gerber was born on 17 Nov 1880 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
4. Christian Gerber was born on 3 May 1882 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 10 Dec 1886 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
5. Emma Gerber was born on 21 Oct 1883 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.
6. Fritz Gerber was born on 11 Aug 1885 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 31 Mar 1951.
7. Marie Gerber was born on 11 Aug 1891 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died after 1973.
8. Johann Gerber was born on 12 Aug 1894 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland.

Other Events:

• Address: 17 Jun 1836, Mühlebach or Muehlebach

Notes:

Lived at Mühlebach

Niklaus married Elisabeth Neuenschwander on 17 Jun 1836. Elisabeth (daughter of Johannes Neuenschwander and Barbara Gerber) was born on 18 Jun 1814 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 20 Apr 1893. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johannes married Barbara Mosimann. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Parents Unknown

Johannes married Barbara Gerber on 17 Jul 1807. Barbara (daughter of Niklaus Gerber and Anna Steiner) was born on 23 Jul 1790 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 19 Mar 1834 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jakob married Elsbeth Siegenthaler. Elsbeth was born in 1734 in Trub, Bern, Switzerland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cannot identify parents of Elsbeth. There are a number of possibilities. It is likely the parents are Daniel Diegenthaler and Barbara Fankhauser.

Johannes married Barbara Roethlisberger on 3 Nov 1780 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. Barbara (daughter of Simon Roethlisberger and Barbara Gerber) was born on 3 Mar 1758 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 25 Apr 1823 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Address: 1802, Ober Hapbach

Notes:

Changed their crest to show a black and white animal named Steinbock (rock goat). The famous Gerber cheese comes from this line.-Marianne Gerber 28 October 2001 email
Purchased Oberer Habbach (Hapbach) after 1801.

The descendants were no longer part of the Mennonite church, but became members of the State Reformed Church.


According to Peter Gerber: He was christened “Niklaus”. That name is usually abreviated to “Klaus” and in the language of the people Klaus transforms to “Glais” (as "Robert" to "Dick" in English).

"Zähjs Holz" appears to say that Niklaus Gerber of Giebel, after his purchase of the Hapbach farm, moved and no longer was a member of the Neutäufer church. However, that statement is could be associated with the wrong Niklaus as the Neutäufer movement began in 1835. More likely, this Niklaus renounced his membership in the Mennonite church, not Neutäufer.

Niklaus married Anna Steiner. Anna (daughter of Ulrich Steiner and Barbara Daellenbach) was born on 8 Jul 1759 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 5 Jan 1830. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It appears that Anna Steiner was married to a Janni prior to marrying Niklaus Gerber according to their marriage record in the Eherodel. She was from Eggiwil.

Notes:

According to "Zähjs Holz" A Niklaus from Hapbach was married to Anna Steiner, the widow of Ulrich Steiner of Eggiwil. However, that appears to be incorrect. Her marriage record to Niklaus Gerber in the Eherodel shows her last name was Janni at the time of the marriage and that she was born with Steiner surname.

There is an inscription on a stove in the house that says, "Komm Wärme dich bei mir. Ich ofen gönn es dir.
Niclaus Gerber Anna Steiner 1829"
Translated into English, the inscription reads "Come warm yourself by me. I wish you well. Niclaus Gerber and Anna Steiner 1829.