Anabaptist Origins
The Anabaptists and other groups originated in the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic priest, initiated a series of events beginning on October 31, 1517, which shook, divided, and in some instances revitalized Christianity in Western Europe and which are collectively known as the Reformation.
Swiss Origins
The early Anabaptists were educated and urban–but the persecution drove them from the cities and towns to the remote and relatively inaccessible highlands and mountain fringes of the fertile areas of the Canton Bern. Here they hid and persisted in spite of persecution, through the centuries to the present time. Persecution, of varying intensity, was the lot of the Swiss Anabaptists (Mennonites) until the middle of the eighteenth century.
The Palatinate
The severe persecution inflicted on the Swiss Mennonites during the latter part of the seventeenth century and the beginning of the eighteenth, resulted in the migration of several hundred Mennonites to the Palatinate. There had been large movements of Swiss Mennonites to the Palatinate prior to this time, especially in the first years of Anabaptism, but such settlements were largely destroyed by persecution and the Thirty Years War (1618-1648).
To Volhynia
Two groups of ethnically Swiss Mennonites also proceeded to Volhynia, and met and merged there into a larger community. One group from South Germany, coming as part of the Mennonite movement to Galicia in 1784-86, consisting of nine families (prominent were Krehbiel, Miller, Schrag, and Zerger), left the Galician Mennonite settlement in 1796 and attempted unsuccessfully to integrate themselves into the Hutterite Bruderhof located in the northern Ukraine on the River Desna at Vishenka.
To America
A total of 159 families left Volhynia in 1874 for America, and settled in Hutchinson and Turner counties, S.D. and McPherson and Harvey counties, Kan. The first group left Russia from the villages of Zahoriz and Futtor, the second group from Goritt and Hecker, the third group from Horodyszcze and Waldheim and the last group from Kutusovka. By and large the first three groups settled in South Dakota and the fourth in Kansas.
Historical Documents
SMCHA History
First Incorporators – Read pdf
“Corporation” @ 1895 in German translated Read pdf
KS State Articles of Incorporation Read pdf
SMCHA Correspondence 1975 1977 Read pdf
1976 Study Conference at Bethel College Read pdf
1979 Pioneer Heritage Festival Days guide Read pdf
1982 Not for profit Annual Report Read pdf
Presidents – Read pdf
Officers 1978-2019 – Read pdf
Board Executive Officers Summary 1979-2019 Read pdf
Board Trustees 1978-2018 Read pd
Churches Originated
History SMCHA Time Line 1999-2018 Read pdf
History of Annual Meetings 1979-2019 Read pdf
Summary of Annual Meetings 1979-2019 Read pdf
History of Annual Banquets 1980-2018 Read pdf
Summary of Annual Banquets 1980-2018 Read pdf
History of Fall Fest Events See 1989 program Read pdf
History of “Only Schweitzer Spoken Here” Events 2003-2014 Read pdf
History of Scholarships Awarded 1980-2018 Read pdf
History Scholarships 1979 1981 Read article
Hopefield Land History Read pdf
History of SMCHA Significant Activities 1975-2018 Read pdf
History of SMCHA Information from Files at MLA 1973-2000 Read pdf
Legal information on SMCHA properties Read pdf
Marker maintenance agreement with Hopefield 1997 Read pdf
Monument 2003 Warranty Deed & Survey Read copy
View township maps, videos, and historical documents.
SMCHA Stories
A Brief History of the Anabaptist Schrag/Schrock Family and Their Sojourn in Switzerland and Germany Watch Video
Arnold Wedel Read pdf
Fern Goering Read pdf
Maynard and Marlene Krehbiel Read pdf
Vic Goering Read pdf
Wayne Ensz Read pdf
Wilbert Goering Read pdf
History of Elyria, Kansas 2014 Read pdf https://swissmennonite.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/History-Elyria-Kip-Wedel-2014.pdf
Alta Mill Read pdf
Schrag Works to Preserve Local Dialect Read pdf
John Schrag Read pdf
John Schrag Espionage Case (printed 1967) Read pdf
Freeman-Pioneers who helped build Freeman, Freeman now Read pdf
Freeman SD Arboretum Read pdf
Andrew Schwartz biographical sketch 1984 Read pdf
Book Baehr – Most Unforgettable Character I’ve Met by Ada Mae Goering Read pdf
Church Histories
1874 to Hoffnungsfeld 1882 to Eden Read pdf
Burns History Read pdf
Eden Mennonite history Early report by Rev. C. J. Goering 1935 Read pdf
Faith Mennonite History Sept 2016 Read pdf
First Mennonite of Christian History Read early history 1973
First Mennonite Church, Halstead, KS Read pdf Read pdf
Garden Community Church Read pdf
Hopefield History Oct 2017 Read pdf https://swissmennonite.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/History-of-Hopefield-by-Glen-G-Oct-2017.pdf
Kingman Mennonite Church History
First Mennonite Church of McPherson History History Update to 2019 Read pdf
Pretty Prairie Mennonite Churches See 75th Anniversary Brochure. (See also Pretty Prairie Drama presentation in 2010 listed under Features) Read pdf Read pdf
First Mennonite Church of Newton – Read PDF
Anniversaries
Learn more about past anniversary celebrations.
1943 Memorial Marker
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75th Anniversary Read pdf
100th Anniversary
1973 Centennial plans & first annual report 1974 Read pdf
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125th Anniversary
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Swiss Fest program & Emigration Song Read pdf
Celebration at Hopefield Mennonite Church
Celebration at Eden Mennonite Church