... about a poem, compiled by one Georg Schwerdfeger. In it, he states he was no Anabaptist, but describes in rhymes AB customs, plus 20 names and locations of preachers in Switzerland and Alsace-Lorraine. Several of these I believe to identify, living in a period between 1740 to 1820, so it looks the lines had been written about 1800. Surnames include Kupferschmidt, Engel, Wehrli, Stalter, Freyenberger, Conrad, Luginbühl, Klopfenstein, Gingerich, Schantz, Holly, Gerber, Engel, and Fritz. The paper I received was obviously a copy, signed by Christian Schantz (1833-1871) at Minoritenhof, Bavaria. Would be no surprise if the poem also was brought to America - best case, in easier-to-decipher handwriting. Author Schwerdfeger recommends himself to be hired during winter as teacher for German, French, and Latin  - with the extra bonus of being familiar with lots of AB preachers "from Switzerland to Holland". No further genealogic data are given, so I wonder whether the matter is worth more consideration.

Indeed at least one copy of this poem made it to the U.S. and was published in the Mennonite Quarterly Review in 1929 (pp. 151-154, see attached). Unfortunately the source copy that MQR used was itself apparently a late-19th century transcription of some earlier copy. At least you will be able to check the wording of the earlier Bavarian copy against the later North American copy. Jean Seguy published the poem with a French translation and commentary in the January 1960 issue of Christ Seul (pp. 29-38). Seguy dates the poem to sometime late 1812 to late 1813. In the Oct. 1964 MQR (pp. 370-372, see attached) Seguy published a note identifying the author. Seguy also included several references to the poem in his later massive history of Mennonites in France. Joe Springer, Curator Emeritus Mennonite Historical Library Goshen College 1700 S Main St Goshen, IN 46526 On Thu, Jan 16, 2025 at 6:25 AM Helmut Gingerich via List < list@maillist.saga-omii.org> wrote: > ... about a poem, compiled by one Georg Schwerdfeger. In it, he states > he was no Anabaptist, but describes in rhymes AB customs, plus 20 names > and locations of preachers in Switzerland and Alsace-Lorraine. Several > of these I believe to identify, living in a period between 1740 to 1820, > so it looks the lines had been written about 1800. Surnames include > Kupferschmidt, Engel, Wehrli, Stalter, Freyenberger, Conrad, Luginbühl, > Klopfenstein, Gingerich, Schantz, Holly, Gerber, Engel, and Fritz. > The paper I received was obviously a copy, signed by Christian Schantz > (1833-1871) at Minoritenhof, Bavaria. Would be no surprise if the poem > also was brought to America - best case, in easier-to-decipher handwriting. > Author Schwerdfeger recommends himself to be hired during winter as > teacher for German, French, and Latin - with the extra bonus of being > familiar with lots of AB preachers "from Switzerland to Holland". > No further genealogic data are given, so I wonder whether the matter is > worth more consideration. > > _______________________________________________ > List mailing list -- list@maillist.saga-omii.org > To unsubscribe send an email to list-leave@maillist.saga-omii.org >