A Historical Overview of the Peter Stutzman Family - Yule Tree Farms

3) The Family Birthplace “Erlenbach im Simmental, Switzerland Page 4
Erlenbach is located in the Canton of Bern, about 50 miles south of Bern, Switzerland – the capital, in the beautiful
Simme River Valley. Early in its history, Erlenbach was changed to Erlenbach Im Simmental so as to differentiate it
from another Erlenbach located in the Canton of Zurich.
The area was first settled by Bronze Age inhabitants some 30,000 years ago. Later Helvetian Tribes moved in who
were in turn conquered by the Romans. Erlenbach is first mentioned by name in 1133 as part of the principality of the
“Baron of Arlimbac” (note the similarity to the present name of Erlenbach). Later “The Weissenburgs” owned
Erlenbach to the 14 th century. In 1439 the town was sold to the city of Bern and became one of its four principalities.
A Church has existed on the present site of the reformed church for 1000 years; each new century saw changes/
additions to the main structure. The church was dedicated to St. Michael and administered by Augustinian Priests from
Interlaken from 1330-1528. During the stay by priest Peter Bremgarter 1420-1430 the famous church wall murals were
completed (actual artist unknown) to allow a mostly unlettered parish to understand stories of the bible. Erlenbach
experienced a peaceful reformation (1528) due to the efforts of a local priest named Peter Kunz. The famous wall
murals were whitewashed over, only to be restored in 1931 and 1962. Today they are some of the finest examples of
medieval religious murals in all of Europe.
Very early, the Canton of Bern (similar to our state) became one of the first and largest Canton in the Swiss
Confederacy, where it remains to this day.
The Erlenbach area experienced several religious movements: “Zwinglian-Reformed” (Swiss Reformer associated
with Luther); “Anabaptists” (baptizers at adulthood, later called Swiss Brethren); “Mennonite”; and “Amish” religious
movements in that approximate order all within the frame work of the reformation. The early reformers were
commonly called half-reformers by the latter reformers. The Catholics were considered to be the far conservative left,
while the Amish were considered the far liberal right, with gradients in between comprising the “Reformed”,
“Anabaptists” and “Mennonite” beliefs.
By the mid-17 th century, more than 100 years after the reformation, a major political and social uprising occurred
(known as the Peasants Rebellion of 1653) during which major demands for freedom were made (such freedoms had
been granted to other cantons at that time). The peasants also demanded an end to certain harassments by
governmental bailiffs (tax collectors) in regards to taxes and fines.
It is probable that these and other numerous factors contributed to the migration of Hans Jacob Stutzman (generation
#2) from Erlenbach im Simmental, (Canton of Berne) Switzerland to Konken/Krottelbach Principality of
Zweibruckirchen (now part of the present state of Rhineland Palatinate), Germany.
Jacob Amman, the founder of the Amish religious sect, was born in Erlenbach. He was a Mennonite preacher who
moved to the Alsace area of France, then later to Amenthal Switzerland where he formed the Amish Sect in 1698. The
Amish sect separated from the Mennonites chiefly on the basis of strict interpretation of “Shunning,” separation of
Church and State, use of male-only lay preachers, pacifism, conservative dress style, and foot washing rituals. The
Amish sect has completely disappeared from the European scene, but large colonies exist today in Lancaster &
Sommerset Counties, PA; Holmes & Wayne Counties, Ohio; Elkhart & La Grange Counties, Indiana.
Erlenbach contains some of the finest examples of wood buildings showing classic early Swiss Architecture (1740-
1766) with elaborate woodcarvings. The town has won several national awards for this architecture. The town was
linked by railroad and telephone in 1897.
During the 17 th & 18 th centuries the area developed an international market for Simmental cattle and the “Horse of
Erlenbach.” Initially the horse contributed more to the prosperity of the region than did the cattle. The horse was
properly referred to as the “horse of Erlenbach” and was used extensively for military campaigns, work drafting, riding
by soldiers and nobles, and to pull supply wagons. After mechanization during WWI the use of the horse was
abandoned and has all but disappeared. Quite the contrary is true for the Simmental cattle – a brown and white breed
good for both milk and beef production and very hardy to this mountainous region. Their popularity continues to this
day and along with Brown Swiss, are by far the two most popular breeds of cattle in Switzerland. Centuries old fall
auctions were known to sell as many as 5000 head of cattle. The Simme Valley today is alive with the “sound of
music” coming from the classic bronze cow bells hanging around each cow’s neck as they forage. This allows the
farmer to know where his cows are at any time in this mountainous region. Dairy farming remains the major source of
income and principal occupation of the local inhabitants.
N.L.P., 12-25-04
TITLE 3 - FAMILY BIRTHPLACE, PAGE 4
PETER STUTZMAN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW