Michel was born Nov. 4, 1788 in the southwestern part of Germany, where his father, Samuel, was bishop of that area's Amish Mennonite Church. The family had migrated into Germany from Switzerland some generations earlier, around 1700. Traveling a bit further east from this barn on CR 135, on a hillside on the north side of the road in an old and no longer used cemetery lie the remains of Michel and his wife, Magdalena.
In Germany, Michel worked in a grain-grinding mill known as the Weitzenderfer Mill. This mill was still in operation as late as the mid 1950s. In 1825, at the age of 36, Michel packed up a few belongings and left on a sailing vessel for the "New World" with his wife and their two sons. After sailing for 77 days, they landed in Baltimore on Sept. 31, 1825. The story handed down within the family says that their youngest son, John, learned to walk on the deck of the ship during the voyage. After the long journey, Michel and the family were almost out of food and money, so he had to leave his wife and children with authorities at the dock as collateral while he sought out some friends and returned with the money needed to pay for their passage. From there, the family made their way to Somerset County, Pa., where they lived for 20 years before moving the Holmes County in 1845.
Much of the history and lineage of Michel Yoder has been preserved through the careful historical recordings in the "Descendants of Michel Yoder" genealogy book, which is currently in its fourth printing. Although Michel seems to have usually spelled his name "Michael," the family has always used the name Michel, as this was the spelling he used in his signature in the Martyr's Mirror.
Michel's original passport is preserved within the family. On the passport, Michel's physical description includes: "Nasse: Gross." This translates as "Nose: Large," a characteristic still portrayed by many of his descendants. Various letters exchanged by Michel's father, Samuel, to his family in America are also preserved, as are many of the meager belongings the family brought with them to the "New World." Included among these treasured belongings are: A 1744 edition of a Froschauer Bible printed in Switzerland, a copy of the Ausbund, an early Amish hymnal still in print after 400 years and still in use by the Amish, a 1780 edition of the Martyr's Mirror, which has both Michel and his father's signatures, a pair of wrought iron scissors reportedly used by Michel at the mill where he worked in Germany, and an old charcoal burning laundry iron.
Hopefully this rich historical heritage will come to mind as you travel along CR 135 and pass this unique treasured landmark.
Anyone wishing to donate time or money for this project can do so by contacting any of the committee members: Andy, Mahlon, or Bert Yoder at 5613 TR 401, Millersburg 44654. Checks can be made out to one of the committee members or to "The Yoder Barn."
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Michael Mast
Graphic Publications, Inc.
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