Neuchatel,
Kansas...
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Kansas State |
Kansas
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Nemaha
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Around
1850, a few members of the Bonjour family of Lignières, NE, emigrated
to the USA. They settled in Nemaha County, founded a township and,
when time was ready to open a Post Office, named it Neuchatel, in memory
of their home county.
In
1878, Neuchatel township counted 392 inhabitants, in the year 2000
this number went down to 117!
Where
is Neuchatel?
Here is a link that should help you: click
here.
As
of 1876, a member of our family, Paul Aimé Junod
(1846-1918) joined this community His departure is delayed by the sudden
death of his first wife, Hortense Victoire Samson.
First
Emigrated in 1876, he came back to Switzerland, married Sophie Bertha
Bonjour
(1850-1930) and together came to settle
in Neuchatel, Nemaha, KS in 1877 with his three sons, from Paul
Aimé's first marriage.
On
this second voyage, he was accompanied by cousins Alexandre Junod
(1843-1923), Alfred, Aimé and Zélim Bonjour.
Paul
Aimé
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Alexandre
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Aimé - Paul-Aimé's father - had 4 daughters of a first
marriage. One of them, Louise Aimée (1822-1877) married Ferdinand Auguste
Bonjour
(1823-1863) and one of their children was Zélim Auguste (1848-1913)
who also settled in Neuchatel, KS.
Paul
Aimé first lived a year in the house that was to become the
one of Charles Bonjour, before buying the one that would later
be the house of
Zélim Bonjour.
I
visited Neuchatel & Onaga in 1995, 1997 and just recently at the end
of March 2003. A special word of appreciation to Merle
& Lawrence Bonjour (the "Bonjour boys"), Wilbur & Norma Jeanneret
&
Marjorie
Labbe (The
Onaga
Historical Society), Artie Dale "Buck" Junod & his family, Joan Kolterman-Kuehl
and her family, Doris Dultmeier-Kuehl & her family (and a great hospitality),
not to forget Maxine & Jim Brand-Junod thanks to whom my last visit
to Neuchatel was not only possible but very enjoyable. Time went
all too fast....
The
March 2003 trip also brought me to spend a day and a half in Des Moines,
Iowa, where a branch of this Kansas family settled back in 1947. Great
time
spent
with
real nice people: Warmest Thanks Stan, Steven, Sharon, Suzy and your
families for your friendship and hospitality !
The
information on this family was sourced essentially from documents found
in the State Archives of Neuchâtel, as well as from living
descendants of this Branch in the USA.
Ancestors
of Paul Aimé Junod:
Below
a picture taken in 1995 in Lignières,
of the old family farmhouse called "Les
Broües" and
purchased by Jean-Pierre Junod, the great-great grand father of Paul
Aimé on the 12 February 1724, for 150 écus.
Ancestors
table - 4 generations
Initial Events in Neuchatel, KS
First
settlements in Neuchatel, KS : spring of 1857, Charles
Adolphe, Ami
E.
Bonjour and
D.
S.
Veale
First church : 1871, Presbyterian
First school house : a log house, built by the settlers,
date not given, between 1857 and 1866
First marriage : Charles Auguste Bonjour and Louise Zürcher
First birth : Charles Ami Bonjour, September 20, 1857
First business : General store, 1867, A. Bonjour & Co.
First post office : Neuchatel, 1861, Alfred Bonjour, postmaster
Neuchatel population in 1878 : 392
For
more... click here
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