Written by Kyle Moser, Feb. 2023
Cover photo is AI generated.
Peter Moser was a young boy who lived with his family in a small Mennonite farming community in the Swiss countryside near the city of Bern, not far from the French border. His parents were Hans Moser and Maria Althaus. Life had always been tough for the family of farmers because the country's mountainous terrain and lack of arable land made farming difficult. On top of it all, they were frequently persecuted for their Mennonite beliefs amidst a primarily Catholic culture. Finances were tough.
One day, while wandering through the nearby town to deliver milk, Peter stumbled upon a small watchmaker's shop. He was captivated by the intricate timepieces on display in the window, and he couldn't resist going inside.
The watchmaker, an older man named Johann, noticed the boy's fascination with the watches and struck up a conversation with him. Over the next few weeks, Peter would sneak away from the farm whenever he had spare time to visit Johann at the shop, eager to learn more about watchmaking and the world beyond his own.
Johann was patient and kind, and he took Peter under his wing, teaching him everything he knew about the craft of watchmaking. Peter soaked up the knowledge eagerly, finding solace in the precise movements of the tiny gears and springs.
As time went on, Peter began to see the world in a different light. Johann told him stories of far-off lands and exotic cultures, opening his eyes to the possibilities that lay beyond his own small community. He also taught Peter about the importance of time, and how the precise measurement of it could help to bring order and harmony to the world, much like religion.
Peter began to dream of a life beyond the farm, of exploring the wider world and making his own mark on history. He continued to work with Johann, honing his skills and learning all he could about watchmaking and the world beyond between his duties on the farm.
Peter's dream thence forth was to leave the farm and travel the world. He started saving money, and did so for years, setting aside a small amount from every harvest in the hopes that one day he could see the wider world and pursue his budding passion for watchmaking and engineering.
However, as the French revolutionary and Napoleonic period brought increasing turmoil and conflict to the region, Peter's plans were put on hold. As armies from every different country marched through Switzerland Peter’s Mennonite community was persecuted and harassed for their pacifist beliefs, and the family farm was not immune to the pressures of the times. Time and again authorities came to the region gathering troops for conscription, sometimes by force. As the Moser’s and other Mennonite families resisted these pressures, they were subjected to significant abuses.
The persecution of the Mennonites during the French revolutionary and Napoleonic period was a result of their steadfast commitment to pacifism, which was in direct contrast to the militarization and nationalism that characterized the time. Mennonites were often subjected to raids and harassment by local authorities, who saw their pacifism as a threat to the status quo. They were accused of being traitors and were often accused of being supporters of the enemy. They were also subjected to confiscation of their properties and were forced to pay exorbitant taxes and rents. Mennonite schools and churches were closed, and their members were subjected to fines, imprisonment, and forced labor. They couldn’t even ring their church bell to mark the hours, making time and time pieces all the more important to them. Despite the hardships they faced, however, the Mennonites remained steadfast in their beliefs, refusing to compromise their principles in the face of adversity.
Peter watched as his savings dwindled, as he was forced to use his money to keep the farm running and support his family through the hard times. The dream of travel and exploration, and of starting his own watchmaking shop seemed farther and farther away, as he struggled just to make ends meet.
Despite the hardships, however, Peter remained determined. He continued to work hard on the farm, finding innovative solutions to the many challenges that arose. He also continued to practice his watchmaking hobby, honing his craft and dreaming of the day when he could apply his skills on a larger scale.
In time, Peter grew older and fell in love with a woman named Barbara Ramseier from a nearby village. Peter realized he had a choice between love and family, and an unknown future. He didn’t have the money for both. As much as he yearned to explore the wider world, the pull of the familiar and of love were too much, and so he stayed. Peter and Barbara raised a family and had eight children including a son named Jacob Moser.
Peter recognized the value of passing on his knowledge and love of watchmaking to his children, and he was determined to ensure that his legacy would live on. He taught Jacob and his other children the basics of engineering and watchmaking, and he encouraged them to find creative solutions to the everyday problems of the farm.
Growing up, Jacob was very much like his father. He had the same yearning for travel and adventure, and he found himself captivated by the stories of America that he heard from the other villagers. He also inherited his father's fascination with clocks and watches, and he was often seen tinkering with his father's tools and trying to build his own contraptions. Jacob was determined to follow in his father's footsteps, and he was eager to find his own place in the world.
Jacob saved and saved, just like his father, but he learned from the struggles his father faced and took every precaution. He found himself a wife named Barbara, daughter of Ulrich Wahli, who yearned for adventure. Barbara’s dowry helped afford the costs necessary to immigrate to America, and the future Jacob and Barbara both dreamed of.
In 1821 it was time for Peter to say goodbye to his son Jacob and his wife Barbara as they set out on their own, armed with Peter's own love of engineering and a strong guiding faith which they shared.
Jacob and Barbara's journey across the ocean was a difficult one. The ship was overcrowded and unsanitary, and the captain made numerous attempts to double charge them for their passage which they had to settle in court upon their eventual arrival in New York. Despite their precarious situation, Jacob and Barbara kept their faith and did their best to make the most of the voyage. Jacob kept himself busy by tinkering with the ship's machinery and making small repairs, while Barbara did her best to remain hopeful and support her husband while pregnant and taking care of their young daughter Marianna. In the end, Jacob and Barbara arrived safely in America and were determined to make the most of the opportunities that awaited them.
Jacob and Barbara made the long journey to America, settling in a remote farming community in the Midwest near Wayne, Ohio. They faced many of the same challenges that Peter had (including persecution as foreigners, a language barrier, and more) but by leveraging their talents and hard work ethic they managed to make a place for themselves and established a strong family of their own. Among the towns people Jacob stood out due to his natural talent for engineering, which he used to solve the many problems that arose on the farm and around the community.