Other Events:

• Address: Giebelkelle or Giebelchelle
• Address: Reinach, Switzerland
• Address: 6 Nov 1855, Vorder Giebel, near Langnau in Emmental, Bern, Switzerland

Notes:

Purchased Giebelkelle from his father in 1885. It also appears from a chart at a Gerber Reunion he may have lived in "Weg" at Trubschachen prior to moving to Reinach.

Later moved to Reinach - letter from Heinrich Gerber to Paul Gerber on 2 July 1993.

According to Ruedi of Vorder Giebel, Christian didn't make large payments (or increased in payments) as he leased Giebelkelle.

Christian married Anna Fankhauser on 9 Nov 1878 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. Anna (daughter of Niklaus Fankhauser and Elisabeth Neuenschwander) was born on 14 Nov 1851 in Trub, Bern, Switzerland; died on 5 May 1901 in Trub, Bern, Switzerland. [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.

Christian married Maria Anna Sommerhalder on 8 Apr 1904 in Trubschachen, Switzerland. Maria (daughter of Johann Rudolf and Maria Anna Burger) was born on 23 Jul 1849 in Burg, AG; died on 2 Nov 1929 in Gontenschwil, AG. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Address: Vorder Giebel, near Langnau in Emmental, Bern, Switzerland

Notes:

Owner of Vorder Giebel

He sold his farm to Ulrich for $60,000, which was worth 250,000 Swiss Francs at the time of his death. Adjusted for inflation, that is worth more than $2 million USD. He loaned out much money as there were many debt letters found at the time of his death. His wealth may have partially be due to him being an only child.

Built the Stöckli at Giebel with meeting room for the church. He held the title of "steward of the poor" at the church.

His wife, a Gerber from the original Gerber house (Baumgarten), was known for her beauty and work ethic.

According to Ernst and Clara's travel log (8 Sept 1929), Christian was mentioned as the person who built the church.

Ruedi said he felt his father, Ulrich, was too interested in cattle trading, but he admired his grandfather Christian who promoted the reunions of the Neutäufer in the Versammlungshaus, or meeting house. This is known as the Stöckli which he built where the Küherhaus/Hüsli used to be. A "küher" was a high-level farm hand who was responsible for caring for the cattle. Apparently, the existing Stöckli has "NG 1862" inscribed on it, referring to Niklaus Gerber.

Anna Elisabeth was said to be from Alteneischeuer or Alteneischürli. Her ancestors, came from Baumgarten. Her parents lived at Baumgarget at her birth.

Christian married Anna Barbara Gerber on 19 May 1854 in Thun, Switzerland. Anna (daughter of Ulrich Gerber and Barbara Gerber) was born on 9 Jun 1835; was christened on 21 Jun 1835; died on 27 Feb 1892. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Address: 9 Jun 1835, Baumgarten; Parents lived at Baumgarten at the time of Anna Barbara's birth. Baumgarten has been thought to be an ancestral farm for the Vorder Giebel Gerber line.
• Address: 19 May 1854, Alteneischürli; Lived at Alteneischürli at the time of Anna Barbara's marriage

Notes:

She came from the original farm of the early Gerbers, called Baumgarten - Marianne Gerber, 28 Oct 2001.

According to a chart assembled by John Gerber of Giebel, Anna Barbara came out of the farm called Altenel and was the daughter of Ulrich and Barbara Gerber.

Descendent Ruedi Gerber mentioned in a letter that Anna Barbara was very well respected and beautiful. She was said to be a very hard worker, and she did not care about doing even the farm work that was usually done by men.

Other Events:

• Address: Vorder Giebel, near Langnau in Emmental, Bern, Switzerland

Notes:

Owner of Vorder Giebel

Niklaus also had a daughter. He died early, so there is no will outlining the separation of the estate.

Great grandson Ruedi said that a Baeregg-Fritz told him that Niklaus had a beard and used to give him nuts from a tree. Another person told him that he was rather frugal.

Niklaus was noted by Ruedi Gerber to be Armendirektor, or a bookkeeper responsible for looking after the poor in the village.

According to Ruedi Gerber of Vorder Giebel in "Usere Altvordern" document, father Christian passed down to this Niklaus in 1839 1 large farm house, 1 cow barn, 1 Speicher, 1 "Bauchehaus?", 1 house at Giebelkelle, 1 bee apieri, and "Moos" (could be a wetland area or Giebelmoos). he held back the Schwandgraben" portion of Lohngratalp for its timber.

Niklaus married Barbara Aeschlimann on 7 May 1819 in Luetzelflueh, Bern, Switzerland. Barbara (daughter of Johannes Aeschliman and Barbara Gerber) was born in 1797; was christened on 15 Oct 1797 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 13 Nov 1861 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; was buried on 16 Nov 1861 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Born in Canton Bern, Switzerland

Notes:

Married:
The marriage took place in Luetzelflueh, and was registered at Langnau.

Ulrich married Barbara Gerber on 3 Jul 1829. Barbara (daughter of Peter Gerber) was born on 26 Jul 1810 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; was christened on 5 Aug 1810; died on 6 May 1882. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Parents are either:
Peter Gerber and Rosina Stucki (preferred)
Source Information:
Film Number: 178000
Page Number: 46
Reference number: 1499

or Mathys Gerber and Katharina Jacob
Source Information:
Film Number: 455103
Page Number:
Reference number:

Notes:

This family lived at the farm of Baumgarten when Anna Barbara was born. However, they lived at Altenei. Exactly which Altenei house is not known. However, Anna Barbara Gerber who married Christian Gerber was said to come from Alteneischürli.

Other Events:

• Address: Vorder Giebel, near Langnau in Emmental, Bern, Switzerland
• Name: Christeli

Notes:

Very popular leader of the "new baptism movement" in Emmental called Froelichianer (or Neutäufer), which was established by Samuel Froelich. Christian's name is mentioned in Mennonite history regarding a large separation from the Mennonites. He was called "Christeli" to differentiate himself from his grandson.

The baptismbook of Geiser mentions regarding the breaking away from the Mennonites that the most talented of all Neutäufer (in Langnau) was undoubtedly Christian Gerber. In 1821 he was called to a Mennonite lectureship. In 1832, he had his first contact with Samuel Fröhlich, and in 1834 the first meeting of the Neutäufer was held in Langnau. At times, meetings were held at Vorder Giebel in the Stöckli. In May 1835, he was excommunicated from the Mennonite worship, whereby the community of Neutäufer proclaimed their beginning as mentioned on a letter from Samuel Fröhlich currently at Giebel. He is noted as the armendirektor (a person who oversees benevolence to the poor in the village) in Langnau and owner at Giebel who died in 1894.

There is a letter from Samuel Fröhlich at Giebel. You can find it as a media link on this website HERE.

Christian inherited a third of Vorder Giebel from his mother when she died. His brother, Michael, inherited another third. According to Ruedi Gerber of Vorder Giebel, the dual-ownership of Giebel ended in 1791 and Michael went to live with his father at Bäregg which his father had purchased from a Christian Gerber. Upon the death of their father, Michael inherited the Hinter Baeregg, but he did not appear at the division of the estate. Instead, he sent a representative, Niklaus Gerber of Ober Hapbach.

His will and testament showed that he had 10 children. It also showed he had assigned Giebel to his second oldest son, Niklaus. His youngest son was not capable of taking over the farm as he was possibly disabled. According to Ruedi Gerber of Vorder Giebel in "Usere Altvordern" document, Christian passed down to Niklaus in 1839 1 large farm house, 1 cow barn, 1 Speicher, 1 "Bauchehaus?", 1 house at Giebelkelle, 1 bee apieri, and "Moos" (could be a wetland area or Giebelmoos).

He was known as "Christeli" Gerber.

Christian married Katharina Burkhalter on 11 Jul 1783 in Lauperswil, Bern, Switzerland. Katharina (daughter of Christian Burkhalter and Elsbeth Roethlisberger) was born on 2 May 1766 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; was christened on 8 May 1766 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 31 Dec 1845 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; was buried on 3 Jan 1846 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Address: 1766, Mittler Langengegg

Notes:

According to Daughter Barbara's birth record, they lived in a farm near Langnau named Gool-grat

Johannes married Barbara Gerber in 1796. Barbara (daughter of Christian Gerber and Anna Grimm) was born in 1779; died in 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Hans

Notes:

There was a Hans Gerber born to Niklaus Gerber living at Baumgarten in 1775. Han's birthdate was 20 Jul 1764, born to Niklaus Gerber and Anna Roethlisberger. His birth record confirms he was born at Baumgarten.

Their son, Ulrich, has a baptism record that is testified to by a Maria Roesthlisberger, spouse of Niklaus Gerber. This Niklaus could be Hans' father, or possibly his brother.

Johannes married Katharina Fankhauser on 17 Feb 1803 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. Katharina (daughter of Mathis Fankhauser and Verena Fankhauser) was born on 29 Jul 1781 in Trub, Bern, Switzerland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

We know that Peter was the name of Barbara's father from Anna Barbara's (Peter's granddaughter) birth record. They lived at Baumgarten at the time of her birth. So, this Peter may have been from that house.