The Hirschy Newsletter

for descendants of Philip and Julianne (Frey) Hirschy
July 1996, No. 11

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LETTERS
Alma (Peel) Hirschy 1.11.7 "On March 19th
I moved again. This time into an L-shaped
room, so I have been pretty busy. I am in
the southeast wing, Apt. #261 on the top
floor. I have a different address, 1350 W.
Main St. #313, Berne, IN 46711.
  "Enclosed is a clipping about the death
if Irene (Hirschy) Amstutz (3.4.2.5). You
probably saw it in the paper. I have not
been able to get very much news on the
Hirschys. My eye sight has not been very
good the last several months. I had
cataract surgery on my left eye on May
2nd. I can see some better and am able to
use the typewriter a little more."

  Alma has been faithful in clipping
articles on various Hirschy descendants
and sending them to me. Her efforts have
been appreciated.

FAMILY HEIRLOOMS
  We who are descendants of simple living
Amish ancestors have not paid a lot of
attention to the pieces of furniture,
dishes, quilts, books and other items that
were in the homes of our forebears. This
past weekend the editor and his wife,
LaVeta attended a symposium on Swiss
Mennonite Decorative Arts in the Social
Context sponsored by Bluffton College,
Bluffton, OH.
  The symposium was made possible in part
by a grant from the Ohio Humanities
Council and the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
  Illustrated lectures were given on the
history of Mennonites and Amish of Ohio
and Indiana, the Historic Form and
Function of Swiss Mennonite Culture, Swiss
Mennonite Quilts, Swiss Mennonite
Decorative Arts, Mennonite Painted
Furniture, and The Decorative Arts and
Swiss Mennonite Culture in the Nineteenth
Century.
  An exhibition of the decorative arts
made or used in the 19th-century Swiss
settlements in Bluffton-Pandora, Ohio,
Wayne Co., Ohio and Berne, Indiana is on
display in the Sauder Visual Arts Center

of Bluffton College through Aug. 16.
  A second exhibition of additional
artifacts is on display in the ArtSpace
Museum, 65 Town Square, Lima Ohio through
August 16. It is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
weekdays, noon - 3 p.m. Saturday, and 2 -
4 p.m. on Sundays. Some items are from
the Berne community.
  What was interesting is that many of the
items featured are similar to those in
Switzerland from the same period of time.
Some items, such as books and chests were
brought from Switzerland. Others that
were made in the U.S. show additional
development in design and decoration.

  Ann Hilty, Librarian for the Mennonite
Historical Library sent the editor
information about a chest that had been
owned by Philip Hirschy (3). A picture of
the chest with a brief description
appeared in Monroe H. Fabian, The
Pennsylvania-German Decorated Chest,
printed by Universe Books, New York in
1978.
  After describing the brightly colored
chests that were common among
Pennsylvania-Germans Fabian wrote,
"Although the brightly decorated chest was
almost completely out of fashion with
Germans in America when the second wave of
immigrants arrived in the second quarter
of the nineteenth century, some of them
did indeed have chests made for them-
selves. Such is the case with the chest
made either in Ohio or Indiana for Philip
Hirschy. Born in Canton Neuenburg,
Switzerland, he came to the United States
in 1835. Settling first in Ohio, he moved
to Indiana about the time the chest was
made for him. The chest reflects nothing
of the colorful and sprightly country
decoration still being done in Switzerland
at the time. It is a chaste piece of
decoration--at home with America 'country
Empire' furniture--and is painted in
imitation of the veneer so popular here
toward mid-century."
  Marcia (Wells) Hirschy 3.9.2.3 replied
to a letter inquiring about the chest and
she wrote the following: "It is feather
grain painted in tones of brown from light
to dark, with black ball feet and top

edges. Below the keyhole are the letters
P. + H., assorted hearts and leaves [not
visible in the picture] adorn the middle
of the date (18 46) hand go down the
center of the chest. The interior of the
chest has a lidded till or candle box on
the top left side. Two drawers are in the
bottom of the till. The chest is a
typical four board made of pine or poplar.
Printed across the back in black hand
script is: PHILIP HARSH, FORT WAYNE,
INDIANI, 14.3 RD."

Marcia further wrote, "When the
Christian (P.] Hirschy [3.91 farm was to
be auctioned, Mary [3.9.6] and Erna
(3.9.51 graciously offered the family
pieces that they felt should remain in the
family. Thursday, before the Saturday
auction, Clarence [3.9.2] offered to take
me down to the farm. He was deeply
attached to the farm and the three walked
through the house reminiscing about the
farm, the family, and sharing stories of
earlier times. I was so taken with the
traveling chest that I called Richard
(3.9.2.31(my husband and Clarence's son)
to bring a truck from Ft. Wayne so it
could stay in the family. The chest was
supposed to have been made in Ohio and
shipped via canal to Fort Wayne.
"Sometime later I read that Monroe
Fabian was writing about Pennsylvania-
German chests. The description seemed to
fit, so I sent him a letter including
Christian Hirschy's obituary. A few weeks
later, a professional photographer called
to take a picture. He erected a huge soft
pink roller shade on our back patio and
hiked the chest outside in the bright
sunlight for its portrait. Nearly a year
later, the Smithsonian published the book.
Note: that book brings $300 - $350 on the
used book market now! John Alan Hirschy

(3.9.2.3.2) (Portland, OR) is the present
owner."
Marcia tells about additional Family
Heirlooms. "We also have the good fortune
to have a few other pieces that came from
the farm. 1. A family register done in
watercolor and glitter! Its 22" x 28" in
the original frame and details Christian
P. Hirschy's family. It is dated 1904 and
signed FRENCHY Ptr (painter?) Red and
pink roses with shaded leaves decorate the
left side and a stylized bird centers the
page. Erna said that the house and barn
painter usually stayed a few weeks with
the family and did the 'fancies' in the
evening" [Frenchy was the nickname of
Conrad Schlunegger 1857-1942 born in La
Chaux-de-Fonds, Ct. Neuchatel,
Switzerland. He settled in Berne and
remained single.]
"2. Another interesting item is a
mystery! Its a small butternut/walnut and
pine chest with a paneled blind door.
Erna repeated a story - two brothers and
their families lived in a larger house
near Berne. The two women didn't get
along. When the household split, one
family took the bottom and our branch has
the top! Dimensions of the little gem are
31' high, 11 3/4' deep and 30 1/4" wide.
'The door panel and upper cove molding are
made of a darker wood than the body of the
chest. a 3/4' quarteround molding
encircles 3 parts of the bottom. The
finish was originally an 'alligatored'
dark varnish - sure would like to know
what the bottom chest looks like!

"3. One soup bowl that struck my fancy
has these markings:

But the most interesting part is that the
bowl has been very carefully mended in an
unusual manner. Three metal (iron?) 3/4"

staples were used to keep the cracks from
extending further and to hold the broken
parts together. The staples were drilled
from the back and only the metal tips are
visible from the front but the breaks and

cracks are clearly evident and very well
repaired. Further research showed that
this method was used by the silversmith
Paul Revere. Erna said it had been in the
house as long as she could remember."

  Thank you Marcia for your interesting
description and drawings. A number of
heirlooms were on display at our Hirschy
Gathering two years ago. If any of you
would like to tell what you have in your
possession from the family, the story can
be shared in the Newsletter.

  If you would like an 8 1/2" x 11" book
with pictures in color that show the kinds
of farm homes, furniture, wardrobes,
quilts, textiles, fraktur, toys, baskets,
tools, accessories, and wooden shoes our'
Swiss forebears used when they came to
America, order "Decorative Arts of Ohio's
Sonnenberg Mennonites" by Paul G. Locher,
Joseph W. Irvin and Stanley A. Kaufman.
It is published by the Kidron Community
Historical Society, Kidron, Ohio 44636.
The 176 page book sells for $34.50.

THE CURRENT GENERATION,
  The May 7 issue of the Fort Wayne
Journal Gazette had the picture below and
information.

Herman D. and Bette J. Neuen

Herman D. and Bette (Meshberger) Neuen
4.5.2.2 will observe their 55th wedding
anniversary with a family dinner. The
couple has one daughter, Jeannine Kees of
Orangeburg, S.C., and one son, Gary L. of
Fort Wayne. Bette Neuen is a retired
Bartholomew County School Corp. employee.
Herman Neuen is a retired Meshberger Stone
Inc. employee with 30 years of service.
He also is a U.S. Navy veteran.

  Paul and Esther (Habegger) 4.5.5.4
Sauder of Northridge, CA had an early
celebration of their 50th wedding
anniversary which occurs August 25. They
celebrated on June 8 with their whole
family and friends. A dinner was held in
the Granada Hills Community Church where
they are members. The early celebration
occurred so that daughter Diane 4.5.5.4.2
and her husband David Bjork could be
present. Diane and David Bjork have since
left for Dijon, France where they are
serving as missionaries under the
Missionary Church.

OBITUARY
  Irene Amstutz 3.4.2.3, Swiss Village,
Berne, IN, died Thursday, May 9 at her
residence. She was born September 24,
1917 in Adams County to Rufus and Anna Z.
(Sprunger) Hirschy. She married Noah
Amstutz on April 25, 1980. He preceded
her in death in January of this year.
  Mrs. Amstutz was a homemaker and was
foreman in the off-set department of
Ecomony Printing (now EP Graphics). She
was a graduate of Fort Wayne Bible College
and a member of the Evangelical Mennonite
Church.
  Services were held May 11 in the
Evangelical Mennonite Church, Berne, and
burial was in the adjoining cemetery.

REPORT OF A TRIP TO AFRICA   In January Collie Zollars 3.9.2.2 sent
me a newspaper article that Magdalena
Johnson 3.9.7 had clipped from the Oct 11,
1990 Van Wert Times-Bulletin. It was about
Clarence Williman 2.7.3. The article was
written by Barb Thompson of the Van Wert
Area Chamber of Commerce for a column
titled "Chits and a Chat from your
Chamber." Here is what she wrote:

  "Many titles come to mind for this
particular column... and some fairly
catchy ones at that.
  I could call it "The Lighter Side of
Darkest Africa," "Halfway House To Heaven"
or "How Do You Pet a Rhinoceros?"
(Obviously, the answer to that last one
is, "very carefully!")
  But temptation aside, I'll keep it
simple and call this tale, "CHARLIE, ON
SAFARI." (I think that has a nice ring to
it, don't you9)
  In this space, twice monthly, we attempt
to highlight local events, areas and
institutions that play major roles in the
Van Wert County scheme to things.
  Well, many of us consider Charlie
Williman a Van Wert institution, if there
ever was one, and his recent vacation in
Africa has a wonderful flavor
  I know that Charlie wouldn't mind my
revealing that while enjoying his 80th
year, he decided that he finally owed it
to himself to take a few weeks off and
realize a dream he's long had.
  So, Aug. 23, he and his daughter Sue
Young of Elm St., boarded a plane for the
17-hour flight to Kenya, Africa. They
were looking forward to a three-week visit
with former Van Werters, the Leon
Habeggers (Charlie's daughter, Kay). The
Habeggers have served the past two years
in the mission field there.
  Wouldn't you know Charlie's airliner was
scheduled to refuel in (of all places)
Saudi Arabia, During the brief stop,
Charlie stood to stretch and was quickly
put in his place by glares of Saudi guards
who had boarded the plane for security
purposes.
  After that, it was back to 39,000 feet
and 500 mph and on to Kenya... an African
nation located about halfway down the
eastern coast and specifically on to
Sweetwaters Tented Camp, a government
built rhino sanctuary ranch, located just
a few miles from the Equator.

  Sweetwaters is a 32-square mile (22,000)
acres) electrically fenced-in game reserve
for wildlife. Here, Charlie and Sue
roamed at will among elephants, buffaloes.
giraffes, rhinos, zebras and a host of
plains game.
  All of the tourist tents overlook a
flood-lit watering hole which the animals
frequent regularly and Charlie marveled
at the size of the African elephants... so
much larger than their Indian
cousins... the kind we watch in our
circuses and zoos. Camel rides were also
a daily option.
  Kenya is presently in its winter season
with daytime temperature readings of 80-85
degrees, falling to 60 degrees at night.
Needless-to-say, their summers are VERY
hot.
  Charlie tells of leisurely walking one
day down a path when he rounded a bend and
saw 40-50 monkeys walking the same path
toward him. When they reached him, they
divided in the middle and watched on the
sidelines as he walked through. then,
they continued on their way.
  One 17-year-old rhino, weighing almost
two tons, is the camp's pet and shared
several snapshots with our travelers. It
is commonplace to sleep out on the plains
in sleeping bags among the wildlife.
Since they're not disturbed, there's no
tendency on their parts to bother mankind.
  As much as he delighted in the animals,
Charlie was most impressed with the
people. He preached to over 200 on one
occasion and says, "Never have I felt so
much of God's love as I did in those
primitive surroundings."
  Having been a Van Wert butcher for 35
years, he felt right at home when he was
handed a cleaver by a native meatman. He
proceed to cut the meat, American-style.
Everyone lives off of their ' gardens and
one of the primary dishes is one of rich,
maize, beans and mashed potatoes... all
cooked together. Carrots are a staple and
the natives also raise their own coffee,
tea and bananas. There are very few
sweets but folks to take a "chi-break"
often, chi being very much like hot
chocolate.
  The elderly are highly respected in
Kenya and once, when he and Sue were about
to be seated in an eatery, the waiter
rushed forward to help Charlie with his
chair...and left Sue standing.
  "Mzee" is the native word for "old man"

and when "Jambo, sona" ("Hello, nice day")
was added to it, Charlie was on the
receiving end of some pretty pleasant
greetings.
  Leon and Kay Habegger run a dormitory
for boys at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe,
Kenya, where the emphasis is on Christian
training and teaching. Leon also oversees
the maintenance of 56 buildings.
The academy's 220-bed hospital (built in
1980) carries a daily charge of two
dollars for room and treatment. (Now,
that's probably the most amazing fact I've
mentioned so far.)
  There are two Habegger grand-
sons... Terry, who is in police work in
Columbus, and Jamie. Prior to his trip,
Charlie questioned Jamie's desire to
return to Kenya, following graduation from
his Texas college.
  "But now I understand," he says; "I've
come to think of Kenya as a 'halfway house
to heaven' because of the love and
compassion that they all have for each
other."
  So, Charlie returned Sept. 13 and is
back with his "Used and Abused
Furniture"...enriched by eight or so ebony
souvenir elephants (no ivory) ... one,
weighing over 20 pounds ... plus another
eight or so gnarled canes, expertly carved
by native tribesmen. He's a contented
man.
  "CHARLIE ON SAFARI" is yet another
chapter in The Williman Story, and it's a
good one! Oh, and if you happen to run
into Charlie at Baleat's some noonday, do
me a favor and pull his chair out for him,
will ya.?"

  At 85 Charlie Williman still goes daily
to Williman's Antiques and Collectibles.
He says they are very busy stripping and
refinishing used furniture. Drop in to
see him at 115 S. Market, Van Wert, OH.

ANOTHER HIRSCHY LINE
  There are three major Hirschy families
in America. The earliest to arrive was
the descendants of a Hirschy from
Switzerland who moved to the Palatinate of
Germany. These came to America beginning
about 1717, settled in PA and changed the
spelling of their name to Hershey.
  A second line moved from Switzerland
into the Alsace of France. Members of
this family came to America in 1831 and
settled in Lewis County, NY. One of them,

Michael Hirschy, moved to Chicago and
worked as a carpenter and contractor. He
married Jacobina Holly. He bought land in
Putnam Co., IL near Granville, and here
they were members of the Mennonite Church.
They had five children: John, Emma, Helen,
William and Ernst. All of them learned to
read and write English, French and German.
There are no descendants that carry the
Hirschy name. Joanne Maxwell of
Naperville, IL is a descendant. Other
members of this family came from France
about 1880 and settled in Iowa
  The third line is our Hirschy family
that moved from the Emmental of
Switzerland to Canton Neuchatel. From
there they came to America in 1835.

HIRSCHY GENEALOGY UPDATE   Robert and Charlotte (Ellerman) Hirschy
3.1.7.1 of Colorado Springs have provided
an update of their family's information.
She wrote" Bob is enjoying his hobby of
stained glass and has made some beautiful
pieces. He is making insets for our oak
china cabinet now and two more for the
kitchen cabinet. He enjoys trout fishing
and his big one mounted - 27" long and 7.5
pounds, a beauty.
  We love being in Colo. weather - really
better than Oklahoma. We have 1/2 acre we
built a home on. We have a view of Pikes
Peak.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION   The Hirschy Newsletter is published
four times a year. Cost is $5.00 for four
issues.
  The editor is David L. Habegger, 6929
Hillsboro Ct., Fort Wayne, IN 46835-1818.
  If you have material you would like to
submit for publication, send it to the
editor.
  In correspondence please use the number
behind your name to identify yourself.

WISE COUNSEL
My thoughts went back to times long past,
  I remembered distant years;
all night long I meditated,
  I pondered and examined my heart.

I call to mind the deeds of the Lord;
  I recall your wonderful acts of old;
I reflect on all your works
  and consider what you have done.
Psalm 77, 5,6,11,12 REB


3.1.7         Arman John Hirschy            04-01-1891        07-31-1974
  B.Adams Co., IN.  R. Ft.  Wayne, IN.
  M.07-29-1917 Rosalie Kauffman B. July 29, 1897 in Adam Co., IN.,
  d. Oct. 18, 1979, dau. of Jacob Kauffman and Rosina Meyer.
  Ed. B.A. Tri-State College, Angola, IN. Oc. Financial supervisor
  U.S. Post Office, Ft. Wayne. He retired from postal service after 39 years.
  Ch. First Missionary Church, Ft Wayne.
  He died in the Veterans Hospital.

3.1.7.1       Robert Earl Hirschy           06-14-1920
  B. Ft Wayne, IN. R. Colarado Springs, CO.
  M. 10-14-1943 Charlotte June Ellerman, B. Oct. 6,1922, dau. Everett Roy
  Ellerman and Mable Louise Lindsay.
  Ed. B.S. in chemical Engineering, Tri-State University, Angola, IN. Her -
  Nurses training, Methodist Hospital, Fort Wayne, IN, RN Ravenswood
  Hospital, Chicago, IL. Oc. Director, Engineering Services, Gas and Gas
  Liquids Division, Phillips Petroleum Co. Retired after 40 years of service.
  Moved to Colorado Springs, CO in 1986,
  Ch. Presbyterian.

3.1.7.1.1     Barbara Ann Hirschy           05-09-1945
  B. Borger, TX      R. Houston, TX.
  M. 07-10-1964 Ralph Bryan Keller, Jr. Div. 1965.
  M2. 02-14-1967 Robert Matthiew Baker, b. Oct. 24, 1942, son John Henry and
      Billie LaDonne Baker.
  Ed. Bachlor and hlasters Degrees, Houston Unrversity, certified yoga
  instructor. He-BS in Chemical Engineering, Tulsa Un. Oc. She-Associate
  Professor Houston Un., also teaches Yoga and is an active artist he-Map
  Draftsman for Cities Service Oil Co. Ch. Presbyterian Church.

3.1.7.1.1.1   Teresa Ann Keller             05-04-1965
          R. Santa Fe, TX
  M. 08-23-1982 Todd Rehm, son of Albert and Annie Rehm.
  Oc. Homemaker and silk screen and grapics arts company. He-head of art
  department at Budweiser Bush, Houston, TX. Ch. Catholic.

     3.1.7.1.1.1.1       Courtney Rehm      02-23-1984
        B.Santa Fe, TX.
     3.1.7.1.1.1.2       Brandon Rehm       10-18-1986
        B.Santa Fe, TX.
     3.1.7.1.1.1.3       Britney Rehm       01-08-1988
        B.Santa Fe, TX.
     3.1.7.1.1.1.4       Patricia Rehm      09-28-1990
        B.Santa Fe, TX

3.1.7.1.1.2   Robert William Baker          04-23-1975
  Ed. Grad. from Texas A & M

3.1.7.1.2     Sandra Kay Hirschy            05-01-1946
  B. Borger, TX,          R. Carlsbad, CA.
  M. 07-15-1966 Larry Joe Stamper, b. Dec. 5, 1945, son Charlie B. Stamper
      and Ruth A. Keffer.
  Ed. BS in Education, Oklahoma State Un, MS in Special Education, San Diego
  State Un. Oc. Special Education teacher, San Diego Elementmy Schools.
  Ch. Presbyterian.

  3.1.7.1.2.1     Candace Renee Stamper      06-24-1967
    B.Carlsbad, CA.
  3.1.7.1.2.2     Kristen Michelle Stamper    08-19-1979
    B.Carlsbad, CA.
  3.1.7.1.2.3     Randall Prescot Stamper     09-22-1981
    B.Carlsbad, CA.

3.1.7.1.3     Deborah Louise Hirschy        12-30-1953
  B. Bartlesville, OK R. Colorado Springs, CO.
  M. David Easley, son Dr. and Mrs. Glyn Easley, Sulfer Oklahoma
  Ed. BS Elementary Education, Un of Oklahoma Oc. Homemaker. He-Owner of
  Black Forest Home Security System.  Ch. Bible Fellowship.

                                    161

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