This column's focus is John D. and Elizabeth Moser Bösiger.
Elizabeth's parents were Johannes and Elisabeth Müller Moser were both born in Switzerland.
Johannes Moser was born in the late 1700s. He is not to be confused with Rev. John Moser (1826-1908), who was a minister in the community.
Elisabeth Müller was from Langnau, Switzerland. In 1834, Johannes and Elisabeth brought along their three children, John, Elizabeth and Magdalena and settled in Putnam County.
John D. Bösiger's father was Ulrich “Strubli” Bösiger (1775-1832). His mother was Verena Fannie Stauffer (1776-1851). John D. first came to Wayne County in 1835 and then to Putnam County.
In 1838, John D. and Elizabeth Bösiger and two of their children and relocated from Putnam County to near Whitehouse, in Lucas County, Ohio, where there soon came to be another Mennonite settlement.
Later, other Putnam County Swiss Mennonites including family names of Geiger, Bösiger, Neuenschwander and Bucher moved to this same community where they became affiliated with Reformed Mennonite.
A Mennonite cemetery is located on the east edge of Whitehouse.
Here is the family of John D. and Elizabeth Moser Bösiger.
John D. Bösiger Born: May 20, 1817, Prunnentrut, Bern, Switzerland Died: March 26, 1885 Buried: Old Mennonite Cemetery
John D.’s father: Ulrich “Strubli” Bösiger (1775-1832) John D.’s mother: Verena Fannie Stauffer (1776-1851)
Elizabeth Moser Bösiger Born: Nov. 3, 1820, Langnau, Emmental, Bern, Switzerland Died: Jan. 11, 1899 Buried: Old Mennonite Cemetery
Elizabeth’s father: Johannes Moser Elizabeth’s mother: Elisabeth Müller
John D. and Elizabeth Moser Bösiger's children
John D. Bösiger (named after his father) Born: June 22, 1840, Riley Township Died: Sept. 4, 1926, Lafayette, Indiana Spouse: Magdalena Luginbuhl
Magdalena Bösiger Born: June 22, 1842 Died: Dec. 22, 1865
Christian D. Bösiger Born: March 12, 1846, Riley Township Died: May 31, 1925 Spouse: Regina Luginbuhl Spouse: Barbara Bucher Spouse: Nancy E. Stull
Elizabeth Bösiger Born: May 20, 1849 Died: Feb. 27, 1918
Peter Bösiger Born: Oct. 3, 1860 Died Jan. 21, 1861
Mary Bösiger Born: Aug. 25, 1862 Died: Sept. 20, 1945