Visiting Roots in Pandora Ohio, March 25, 2012

Finally arrive in Pandora Ohio, and Bluffton, both amazing Swiss Communities that were settled in the early 1800's. For my children's and grandchildren's sake who may read this blog, a little genealogy is in order. Christian and Barbara Elizabeth Luginbuhl/Schumacher left a farm outside of Basel Switzerland in 1835 and came to Wayne County Ohio to visit relatives, then they moved to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1836, locating and building what is now known as this old Swiss Schumacher homestead. Christian and Elizabeth are my great great grandparents. My grandparents, were Daniel Diller and Helen Schumacher /Diller. My grandfather Dan was born to Adam Diller and Katherine/Schumacher my great grandparents, and it was my great great grandmother 'Katherine', who was born in this now very old historical Swiss house that her father Christian Schumacher and mother Elizabeth/Schumacher built in 1843. All of the Diller farms are just across the road. The Diller side of the family who formerly spelled their name as Thueller in Swiss immigrated from Bern Switzerland. Jean Schumacher, a cousin and lives in Pandora set us up with the Historical Society's curator for the tour of the old homestead: http://www.pandoraoh.com/webpage/swiss/homestead.html Since it was my grandparents homestead that the Swiss Historical Society chose to purchase and display, we were given a personal tour by the Society Curator. As it turns out he is one of my distant Swiss Mennonite cousin's and is wearing his little Swiss hat for the above pictures. These Diller and Schumacher relatives all still live on various farms in the Pandora area. They still retain their strong Mennonite beliefs. The Amish actually broke off from the Swiss Mennonites and their is still a strong Amish presence in the area as well. Their guest house or (summer house) as they called it, was built next to the main house and the barn was almost as interesting as the two homes. They would cook in the summer house because it would be cooler for this purpose.

Visiting Roots in Pandora Ohio, March 25, 2012

We finally arrive in Pandora Ohio, and Bluffton two amazing Swiss super clean Communities that were settled in the 1800's. My grandfather Christian Schumacher and grandmother Elizabeth Schumacher built the above historical homestead in 1843 along a beautiful tributary. It consists now of about 400 acres of corn land, but at one time my grandfather owned or leased approximately1000 acres. As you can imagine they were very hard working people in those days.http://www.pandoraoh.com/webpage/swiss

/homestead.html The Diller farms are also still just across the road and very similar to this Schumacher Farm. The Diller surname in Bern Switzerland was Thueller and mistakenly changed at Ellis Island to Diller, the last name used today. We were naturally given a personal tour by one of my Swiss Mennonite cousin's with the little Swiss hat and beard. These Diller and Schumacher relatives all still live on various farms in the area or seem to be attorney's downtown. They still retain their strong Mennonite beliefs. The Amish actually broke off from the Swiss Mennonites and there is still a strong Amish presence in the area as well. Their summer house they called it was built next to the main house and their barn was almost as interesting as the house.

Headed to Cincinnati Ohio to visit with the most amazing people- March 22, 2012

Tim and Janet are the most wonderful people who hosted Jon and Angie at their home when our youngest grandson was receiving a bone marrow transplant at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Tim and Janet would take our grandson's big brother to see the Cincinnati Reds. We are 'forever' indebted to this precious couple. We recently stayed the night there with them and then left for Pandora Ohio, to visit the Swiss Community that my ancestors established in the 1800's.

Headed next up to Myrtle Beach South Carolina - March 19, 2012

We moved mostly along the Atlantic Coast and stayed at State Campgrounds. We stopped by actual beaches in the Myrtle Beach area. Incredible beaches golf courses and estates, as you can see, it is a quite well off area in South Carolina. This is our second trip on the Atlantic Coast, the first one covered all of the northern states and this one we are visiting the southern ones.

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston South Carolina, March 19, 2012

Visited the only remaining beautiful plantation in the US (The Magnolia Plantation) that is still owned by the same family for 13 generations. The present owner actually rode his bicycle with his dog right by us, and we would have loved to talk with him, he did say hi, but was out for a ride. It is also one of the oldest plantations in the US as well. The British occupied it during the Revolutionary War and later it was occupied and burned during the Civil War. If you ever desire to see an Amazing Southern Plantation, I would definitely recommend this one. Here is the web site with many pictures and the history: http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/ As you can see, the flowers were in peak bloom. Of course plantations were possible because of slavery, a dark part of our history. However, one consolation at least with regard to this particular estate, history points out that the 100 slaves or so on this plantation were said to be very content because the owners had been very respectful and kind to them, and many stayed with the place even after slavery was abolished. But, as you can see the owners home was quite different than the houses provided for the slaves..

March 17, 2012 Headed to Savannah Georgia

After visiting in Woodstock Ga we moved on to Savannah Ga to see this very old port city, the moss hanging on the trees, the flowers, the churches etc. A very old and beautiful Southern City.

Cross Country Travel to Georgia - March 14, 2012

Flew out to beautiful warm Georgia to pick up a slightly different used motorhome. This one had a few new features that our other one did not have. Purchased it from a Baptist Minister and his wife. They are getting up in years and have finished this stage of their journey in life. In any case, we are grateful for this newer little

rig. The vehicle is sitting here at Marilyn and Glens in Woodstock GA. We visited with them Cindy and Dave and the kids, and had a wonderful time. After visiting with these relatives we proceeded to Savannah Ga to see some Civil War history, churches, plantations, flowers and of course the 'Tall Tall Trees of Georgia'. Georgia is stunningly beautiful in the Spring and the stories about Southern hospitality and friendly people are absolutely true. In no other part of this great country have we found people more friendly or hospitable than in the Southern States.