Note: This series contains several persons with the same name, particularly in the Steiner columns. There are at least three Steiner's with the first name of Christian, Hans, Peter and Barbara. And, linked to this story is one of three John Bösiger's and Anna Burkhalter's. Whenever possible, we provide appropriate links.
John (Johann) Steiner was a friend of John Bösiger (1792-1865). Both escaped from Napoleon’s Army. And, both, at different times, eventually moved to the rural Bluffton community.
During army training in 1815 the two young men deserted twice, but were caught both times. The third time they escaped to Switzerland. From there John and Elizabeth Stauffer (who were married in 1814) emigrated to Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
In 1822 John and Elizabeth moved to Wayne County, Ohio. Later they moved to rural Bluffton, when in 1834, the couple purchased 240 acres at $1.25 per acre on what is today Columbus Grove Road.
John Steiner was born in Belfort, France, on Jan. 23, 1792, to Christian and Marie Bösiger Steiner.
John’s sister, Mary Marie, married John Stauffer and later Christian Stauffer and lived in Adams County, Indiana, in the Berne community.
Another brother, Ulrich, was married to Barbara Steiner. This couple came to America, but we are unable to find where they eventually located.
John and Elizabeth Marie Stauffer were married on Nov. 8, 1814, in Florimont, France. They arrived in Putnam County in 1836 with eight children. Three other children were born here, but we are unable to find additional information about them.
John’s first wife, Elizabeth Marie, died Aug. 10, 1847, four years after their youngest child was born. Elizabeth was 54 years old at her death and she is buried in the Old Swiss Mennonite Cemetery.
On Dec. 17, 1848, John married Anna Burkhalter, daughter of Peter and Anna Gyger Burkholder. From this marriage seven children were born, each in Richland Township.
John died at age 73, on March 6, 1865, of typhoid fever. He is buried in the Old Swiss Mennonite Cemetery.
Anna also died of typhoid fever, three days before John’s death, on March 3, 1865. She was 41 years old at the time of her death.
John (Johann) and Elizabeth Stauffer
John’s father: Christian Steiner (1756-1814)
John’s mother: Marie Bosiger (1772-1826)
Elizabeth’s father: David Stauffer (1769-1853)
Elizabeth’s mother: Barbara Steiner (1772-1798)
John and Elizabeth’s children
Rev. Christian Steiner
Born: March 31, 1816, Florimont Alsace Loraine, France
Died: Dec. 16, 1853, Richland Township
Spouse: Barbara Hilty
The couple had 9 children
John “Hans” E. Steiner
Born: Feb. 4, 1818, Florimont Alsace Loraine, France
Died: March 12, 1853
Spouse: Catherine Hilty
The couple had 5 children
Peter Steiner
Born: Sept. 19, 1819, Florimont Alsace Loraine, France
Died: April 27, 1821
Ulrich Steiner
Born: April 15, 1821, Florimont Alsace Loraine, France
Died: Sept. 1, 1821
David Steiner
Died: Feb. 12, 1853
Born: June 28, 1826, Wayne County, Ohio
Died: April 4, 1899
Spouse: Katharine Hubscher
She died of black typhoid fever three months after they were married
Spouse: Mary Ann Kohler Hochstetler
She was a widow with an 8-month daughter when she and Abraham married
Abraham and Mary Ann had 11 children
Maria Steiner
Born: March 6, 1828, Wayne County, Ohio
Died: April 27, 1899
Spouse: Isaak Neuenschwander
The couple had 10 children
Rev. Isaac Steiner
Born: March 6, 1830
Died: Sept. 28, 1893
Spouse: Nancy Ann Thut
The couple had 1 child; Nancy died at age 21
Spouse: Mary P. Rothen
Jacob Steiner
Born: Jan. 7, 1833
Died: April 7, 1861
Samuel Steiner
Born: June 1, 1835
Died: Jan. 8, 1927
Elias Steiner
Born: Dec. 15, 1839
Death: Date not known
Gideon Steiner
Born: May 14, 1841
Death: Date not known
Child (name not known) Steiner
Born: Jan. 25, 1843
Died: Jan. 25, 1843
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Anna’s birthdate: Dec. 23, 1823, Near Sornetan, Switzerland
Anna’s death: March 3, 1865, Richland Township
Anna’s father: Peter Burkhalter (1795-1848)
Anna’s mother: Anna Gyger (1792-1835)
John and Anna’s children
Elizabeth Steiner
Born: Nov. 1, 1849, Richland Township
Died: Oct. 15, 1919
Spouse: Tobias Steiner
The couple had 10 children
Daniel Steiner
Born: June 12, 1851, Richland Township
Died: Jan. 15, 1857
Anna Steiner
Born: Sept. 30, 1853, Richland Township
Died: July 6, 1920
Spouse: John C. Bucher
The couple had 9 children
Barbara Steiner
Born: March 15, 1855, Richland Township
Died; Oct. 23, 1932
Spouse: Rev. Benjamin Diller
The couple had 12 children
Ulrich S. Steiner
Born: Sept. 19, 1856, Richland Township
Died: Sept. 30, 1945, Findlay, Ohio
Spouse: Susan Schumacher
The couple had 7 children
Magdalena Steiner
Born: Nov. 2, 1859, Richland Township
Died: Jan. 18, 1910
Spouse: David Daniel Diller
The couple had 6 children
Daniel J. Steiner
Born: Jan. 28, 1865
Died: Feb. 10, 1960
Daniel moved to Silverton, Oregon. It is not known if he married.