Notes:

Julius Billeter research notes; FHL film 128,111.

She was christened in Trub, Bern, Switzerland. Her christening was then registered in Langnau

Anna married Hans Roethlisberger on 22 Jul 1681 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland. Hans (son of Konrad Roethlisberger and Verena Aeschlimann) was born on 30 Nov 1645 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; was christened on 30 Nov 1645 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Michel Gerber on 17 Mar 1724. Michel (son of Christian Gerber and Barbara Baertschi) was christened on 14 Nov 1697 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This Christian was found still living at Vorder Giebel at the age of 30 in 1757, but then we lose track of him.

It is possible that this individual was the father of Deacon Michael Gerber who emigrated to the US (Ohio). According to "Historical sketches of seven generations : descendants of Deacon Michael Gerber, 1763-1938", there were 4 children born to a Christian Gerber of Hapbach: Michael, Christian, Barbara Ulrich. All four children were born in Chaluet, Court, likely because they were Anabaptist because Chaluet provided amnesty for displaced Anabapists. The four children born in Chaluet were born in 1763, 1768, 1773, 1783, respectively. Michael, Ulrich, and Barbara emigrated in 1822 to the US with nephew, Jacob, son of their brother Christian.

We do know that this individual, Christian the son of Michael, had a brother, Johann, who was an Anabaptist. There is a reference in "Zähjs Holz" of a Christian living at Giebel who was "banned" in 1749 presumably for being an active Anabaptist.

Page 22 of the Heimatrodel der Taueferfamilien Langnau indicates Christian's spouse's name was Catharina Waelti. This would be Christian, the father of the aforementioned Michael Gerber who immigrated to Ohio, USA.

Descendants of Deacon Michael Gerber have visited Giebel believing that they one of their ancestors, Michael, had lived there. It is possible that their ancestor named Christian is the same as this individual. However, that would mean that he was banished at 24 years old, and his children would have been born when he was between 38 and 59 years old. That would be unusual, but certainly not implausible. His children emigrated when they were advanced in age in 1822, so he obviously could not join them as he would have likely been deceased.

Sold Hinter Baeregg in 1782 to his brother, Niklaus. Niklaus would later transfer this to his son, Niklaus, from his second marriage.

Other Events:

• Address: Ober Lohngrat
• Address: Bluttenried, Bern, Switzerland
• Birth: 17 Nov 1726, Eggboden; Born at the family of farms called "Egg", but we are not sure it was Eggboden. Michel's mother appears to have come from Eggboden, so it is logical to assume that Eggboden is the correct location.

Notes:

Dairy farmer at Lohngrat, later at Gohl (Bluttenried?) and even later at Vorder Giebel. Giebel had a "cow house" which could be occupied in the winter months.

Other Events:

• Name: Hans

Notes:

Farmer at Giebel. He lived in the middle house (now Schürch). Dairy farmer and builder of the Speicher at Lohngrat inscribed with the year 1767 and names of Niklaus, Hans, and Michael (sons of Michael of Vorder Giebel). Johannes 1729-1782 is the father of the Giebel-Glais (Niklaus), who purchased Obern Habpach in 1801 and who was the ancestor of the Gerber lines of meats (at Grosshochstetten), cheese (at Thun), and Tscharnergut in Bern.

Johannes married Anna Grimm on 3 Dec 1751. Anna (daughter of Peter Grimm and Anna Roethlisberger) was born on 20 Dec 1722 in Langnau (im Emmental), Bern, Switzerland; died on 24 Nov 1782; was buried on 27 Nov 1782. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Birth: 4 Jan 1733, Vorder Giebel, near Langnau in Emmental, Bern, Switzerland

Notes:

Probably died 18 May 1768 as a widow as there is a record that matches age in the Totenrodel.

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]

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Baumgartner. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Julius Billeter has Michael married to a Verena Burkhalter. However, that Michael's father, Hans, did not come from Giebel. Rather, he came from another farm. Michael's brother, Niklaus, married Anna Steiner the same day (10 Jun 1785) according to the Eherodel, and his record shows that Hans was from Giebel.

This could possibly be Deacon Michael Gerber of Hapbach. His brother, Niklaus, purchased Hapbach.

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.

Family/Spouse: 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:

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]

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]

Family/Spouse: Christian Blaser. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Christian Schwarz. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Ulrich Roethlisberger. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lived in a farm called "Unterer Hapbach", purchased by his father in 1793.