Schneiter Family History

Fred Schneiter & Elise Lengacher

To: Index Contact: Joe Crouch

1918	1948

Fred Schneiter born 12 May 1892 (Fred anglicized his name from 'Fritz' to 'Fred' upon immigrating to the U.S.A. from Switzerland in 1914.) at Faltschen (a small village in the Bernese Oberland), Canton Bern, Switzerland  (the son of Karl and Marie Louise (Buehler) Schneiter), died 16 November 1948 in Sugarcreek, Tuscarawas County, Ohio; married Elise Lengacher the daughter of Johann and Elizabeth (Zurbrügg) Lengacher of Mulenen, Canton Bern, Switzerland on 20 April 1918 at Trail, Holmes County, Ohio. She was born 11 January 1894 in Mulenen, Canton Bern, Switzerland and died 12 March 1960 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Both are buried at the East Lawn Cemetery, Shanesville, Ohio.

Fred grew up and attended school at Faltschen, Canton Bern, Switzerland.  He came to America on board the S.S. Rochambeau sailing from Le Havre, France on 14 March 1914 (ships manifest) and arriving at the Port of New York, Ellis Island on 24 March 1914 (Ellis Island plaque).  He documented his travel to America in this letter: Coming to America.

On 23 October 1914 at the age of 22 he filed his Declaration of Intention to become a naturalized citizen.

That first summer Fred Schneiter worked for John Lengacher of Trail. (John Lengacher arrived from Switzerland in 1910 aboard the "Chicago" out of LeHavre, France. Gottfried Lengacher arrived in 1913 on the 'Lapland' out of Antwerp, Belgium.) The next year he made cheese at the old Yoder Dairy. From 1916 to 1918 Mr. Schneiter was cheese maker at Tiverton, Coshocton-Co., for John Martig of Canton, for many years Ohio’s largest cheese dealer. During the Winter months of 1918 he attended many Dairy courses at The Ohio State University. While at Tiverton, Mr. Schneiter joined Mr. Lengacher and several other cheese makers in formation of the Swiss Cheese Association, which has played a large role in the Ohio Swiss cheese industry’s growth.

On 5 June 1917 he registered for the United States of America World War I draft.  Per his U.S.A. draft registration form he  served two years in the Swiss Army, however according to oral family history he went through basic training, did not like the army and decided to immigrate to the U.S.A..  Pursuing a copy of his Swiss ”Dienstbüchlein” (personal record of military service).  Per Swiss law every 18 year old male at that time was required to register for conscription, take a physical and health tests to qualify for military service.  If they passed the tests, they were allocated to an army unit and required to report for basic training (Rekrutenschule) when they turned 20 years of age.

 On 20 April 1918 he married Elise Lengacher (born 11 January 1894), the daughter of Johann and Elizabeth (Zurbrügg) Lengacher of Mulenen, Canton Bern, Switzerland in Trail, Holmes County, Ohio. (marriage certificate) She left from Bordeaux, France 9 April 1916 on board the passenger ship ‘Chicago’ along with her brother David Lengacher (ship manifest) and arrived in America at the Port of New York, Ellis Island (Ellis Island plaque) on 20 April 1916.  Gertrude Lengacher (Elise's younger sister) stated in a letter to Lucy Schneiter dated 25 October 1987 that for several months their mother worried that her children had not survived the crossing of the Atlantic. Remember that the RMS Titanic sank in April of 1912, the RMS Lusitania sank in 1915, and World War I was in progress and German submarines were prowling the Atlantic looking for enemy ships to sink and had sunk two passenger ships in the weeks before they left. One grandson of Elise Schneiter (nee Lengacher) remembers her telling of the Chicago stopping to pick up survivors in life boats from a ship that had been sunk.

From 1919 to 1923 Mr. Schneiter made cheese at the Slife Dairy just north of Shanesville on Route 93. (Family photo's circa 1922 & 1923)  The next six years he was cheese maker in the new Crooked Run factory, one of several modern factories built about that time by Deis-Fertig, Dover, wholesale grocers, at a cost of $75,000.  He was awarded a score of 91.50 for Brick Cheese at the 1922 Northern Wisconsin State Fair, and he was awarded a score of 92.5 for his swiss cheese at the Polk County, Wisconsin County Fair on 14 September 1922. [2]

In late 1924 and early 1925 Fred, Elise and their daughter Lucy Schneiter visited Switzerland (passport) while their other children remained with relatives (letter showing employment).

In 1926 he is referenced in the “Proceedings of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association annual convention booklet.
Mr. Schneiter took over the Sugarcreek Dairy in 1930 and remained there until his death. That plant expanded under his direction.
He won three gold medals at the World’s Fairs and Expositions (1932, 1933, and 1935) for his cheese. The 1933 Milk Plant Monthly magazine states “OHIO SWISS CHEESE ASSOCIATION Between 800 and 1000 farmers and cheese makers saw Fred Schneiter, Sugar Creek Dairy Co., win championship honors on a Swiss cheese scoring of 95.5 at the fifteenth annual meeting of the Ohio Swiss Cheese”

Bob Laubscher who later went on to form his own cheese plant worked for Fred Schneiter at the Sugar Creek Dairy.

Family photo circa 1931.

Progressive and always ready to adopt methods which would aid his industry, Mr. Schneiter served as president and as a director of the association. Many times he made trips to Chicago, Wisconsin, Columbus and Washington in the interest of Ohio Swiss cheese.
In 1932 Mr. Schneiter started to sell and repair Westphalia separators, assuring cheese makers of prompt and efficient service from one who knew how important dependable operation of a separator is in the cheese factory.

Cleveland Plain Dealer write-up dated January 23, 1938 showing Fred Schneiter making swiss cheese.

Family photo circa 1936.

1941-1942 World War II Draft Registration Card.

In 1944 he was President of the Ohio Swiss Cheese Association.

He served on the Sugarcreek School Board, was a member of the First Reformed church at Shanesville and of the church consistory and past chancellor commander of the Sugarcreek Knights of Pythias [1] lodge.

FROM ‘The Daily Reporter, Dover Ohio – Tuscarawas-co Centennial Fair Edition (undated) Tuscarawas County’s Most Complete Newspaper 100 YEARS OF OHIO SWISS CHEESE 1948 Fred Schneiter sampling cheese

The cover of this section is in tribute to the late Fred Schneiter, for 34 years one of the best known and most progressive members of the Ohio Swiss cheese industry. He is shown sampling a cheese in the Sugarcreek cold storage.

In the fall of 1947 Alfred Guggisberg of Guggisberg, Switzerland applied to Fred Schneiter and was accepted for a cheese making job at the Sugar Creek Dairy Co.. after reportedly being interviewed by Gertrude Von Kanel (nee Lengacher) who was still in Switzerland. Gertrude was a younger sibling of Elise Schneiter (nee Lengacher). That fall Alfred Guggisberg immigrated to the U.S. and a year later his wife Anna Margaret Guggisberg  and their small daughter joined him.  This is the link between the Schneiter's and the Guggisberg's who run the 'Guggisberg Cheese' and 'Chalet in the Valley' restaurant on Rt. 557 between Berlin and Charm, Ohio.

Mr. Schneiter’s death (at his home at 1:48 a.m. today) 16 November 1948 (following a brief illness), just 30 years to the day after he helped found the Swiss Cheese Association was a distinct loss to an industry which benefited from his devotion. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. O.B. Moor at the residence at 2:00 p.m. Friday, followed by services in the Shanesville Reformed church at 3:00 p.m. Burial in the charge of Gecklar Funeral Home of Sugarcreek, was in the East Lawn cemetery, Shanesville. 

Elise Schneiter at 1958 Sugarcreek Swiss Festival	Elise Schneiter's dress at Sugarcreek Swiss Museum

Elise Schneiter died 12 March 1960 following a short illness which was written up in The Ohio State University Health Center Journal Vol. XIII, No. 2 Winter, 1963.  She was buried beside her husband on 15 March 1960.

Fritz (Fred) Schneiter and Elise Lengacher’s children were:

1. Helen Edith Schneiter, born 11 February 1919; died 16 October 2010; married A. Keith Bahler on 5 July 1941.
2. Lucy Johanna Schneiter, born 27 June 1920; died 22 October 2003.
3. Elsie Louise Schneiter, born 26 December 1921; died 1 July 2011; married James Crouch on 17 June 1944.
4. Mary E. Schneiter, born 7 January 1923, died 11 January 1923, Sugarcreek, Tuscarawas, Ohio with burial at Shanesville, Ohio.
5. Mary Elizabeth Schneiter, born 24 October 1923; died 25 December 2002.
6. Fred Schneiter, born 5 January 1926 Tuscarawus Co., OH; died 18 September 2019 Bristol Village Health Care Center.
7. John Walter Schneiter, born 24 March 1928 Sugarcreek, OH.; died 7 January 2023 Sun Prairie, WI.

1922 & 1923 Fred Schneiter Family

Fritz Graf was the brother of Marie Graf Mueller. He came to America - probably with the help of Fred and Elise Schneiter. When he was offered his own cheese house - he wrote back to his family in Aeschi and asked if one of his sisters would come keep house for him. The oldest was married and the others declined - but Marie (age 19) wanted to go. Despite the fact that she was tooooo young! She really wanted to go - so in June 1923 - she and a friend took the train from Spiez to Cherbourg to catch the boat to New York. They traveled cabin (2nd) class because they did not want to go through Ellis Island. They were met by a lady from the Travelers Aid Society - who took them to the train station for a train to Dover Ohio. Fritz met them at the train station!

Fritz and Marie were stricken with typhoid fever in September and Fritz died. He is buried in Dover Ohio . When Marie recuperated - she returned to Switzerland - but soon told her parents that she wanted to return to the US. Her reason??? "In Switzerland - I will only be someone's upstairs maid - but in America I can be anything that I want to be!"       Above story courtesey of Peggy Mueller.

1925 Fred Schneiter Family ( left to right: Lucy, Fred, Mary on lap, Elsie, Elise, Helen )

1932 Schneiter Siblings (back row left to right: Lucy, Helen, Elsie; front row: Fred, Mary, John )

1936 Fred Schneiter Family ( left to right back row: John, Helen, Lucy, Elsie; front row: Mary, Fred, Elise, Fred )

1946-06 Schneiter siblings ( left to right: Elsie, Lucy, Fred, John, Helen, Mary )

1960 Akron 'Schneiter Reunion' (left to right: John, Fred, Mary, Elsie, Lucy, Helen)

1971 Kinsman, Ohio Schneiter Reunion

1975 Kinsman, Ohio Schneiter Reunion (Elsie, Lucy, Helen, John & Fred)

1976 Schneiter Siblings ( left to right: Elsie, Helen, John, Lucy, Fred )

2003 Schneiter Reunion - Sugarcreek, Ohio ( image without numbers )

2014 Schneiter Reunion - Sugarcreek, Ohio ( image without numbers )

[1] The Order of Knights of Pythias is a great international fraternity which was founded in Washington, DC, February 19, 1864, by Justus H. Rathbone, and embraces more than two thousand subordinate lodges in the United States and Canada, with occasional lodges having been formed elsewhere. The primary object of fraternal organizations is to promote friendship among men and to relieve suffering. Each organization adopts some outstanding principle as its objective. The individuality of an order is determined by its ideal sentiment. The distinguishing principles of the Order of Knights of Pythias are "FRIENDSHIP, CHARITY and BENEVOLENCE". 

[2] 1922 Manufactured Milk Products Journal, Volume 13, Issue 2.

[3] November 1930 'National Cheese Journal, Volumes 22-23 has five pages matching "Fred Schneiter" and swiss cheese.

[4] 1933 Milk Plant Monthly, Volume 22 page 56 has one page matching "Fred Schneiter" and swiss cheese.

[5] 1934 Dairy Produce, the Dairy and Poultry Magazine, Volume 41, page 52 has a match for "Fred Schneiter" and swiss cheese.

[6] 1944 Manufactured Milk Products Journal, Volume 35 page 80 has one page matching "Fred Schneiter" and swiss cheese.

[7]    1920 FEDERAL CENSUS  - enumeration Sugarcreek Village, Sugarcreek Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, U.S.A.

 =====================================================================================================================

LN HN FN .LAST FIRST ..RELATION-..OWN....................................MAR....YOUR......FATHERS..MOTHERS

..................NAME.NAME......SHIP...........RENT SEX RACE..AGE..STAT....BIRTHPL....BIRTHPL ..BIRTHPL....OCCUP.

======================================================================================================================

5..........98..Schneiter,.Fred.......Head.......................M.....W......27.......M......Switzerland....Switzerland...Switzerland...Cheesemaker....Immigration Year 1914

6...............Schneiter, Elsie.......Wife.......................F......W.....26........M......Switzerland....Switzerland...Switzerland...Housekeeping

7...............Schneiter, Helen.E...Daughter...................F......W.....0.........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland.

[8]    1930 FEDERAL CENSUS  - enumeration Sugarcreek Village, Sugarcreek Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, U.S.A.

 =====================================================================================================================

LN HN FN .LAST FIRST ..RELATION-..OWN....................................MAR....YOUR......FATHERS..MOTHERS

..................NAME.NAME......SHIP...........RENT SEX RACE..AGE..STAT....BIRTHPL....BIRTHPL ..BIRTHPL....OCCUP.

======================================================================================================================

33.......109..Schneiter,.Fred.......Head.......................M.....W......37.......M......Switzerland....Switzerland...Switzerland...Cheesemaker

34..............Schneiter, Elise.......Wife.......................F......W.....36........M......Switzerland....Switzerland...Switzerland...Housekeeping

35..............Schneiter, Helen.E...Daughter...................F......W....11.........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland.

36..............Schneiter, Lucy.J....Daughter..................F.......W....10.........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland

37..............Schneiter, Elise L....Daughter.................F........W.....8.........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland

38..............Schneiter, Mary E....Daughter................F........W......6.........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland

39..............Schneiter, Fred.......Son........................M......W.......4........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland

40..............Schneiter, John W...Son........................M......W......2.........S......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland

[9]    1940 FEDERAL CENSUS  - enumeration Sugarcreek Village, Sugarcreek Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, U.S.A.

 =====================================================================================================================

LN HN FN .LAST FIRST ..RELATION-..OWN....................................MAR....YOUR......FATHERS..MOTHERS

..................NAME.NAME......SHIP...........RENT SEX RACE..AGE..STAT....BIRTHPL....BIRTHPL ..BIRTHPL....OCCUP.

======================================================================================================================

25.......117..Schneiter,.Fred.......Head.......................M.....W......47.......M......Switzerland....Switzerland...Switzerland...Cheesemaker

26..............Schneiter, Elise.......Wife.......................F......W.....46........M......Switzerland....Switzerland...Switzerland...Housekeeping

27..............Schneiter, Helen.....Daughter...................F......W....21.........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland...Bookeeper auto store

28..............Schneiter, Lucy......Daughter..................F.......W....19.........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland

29..............Schneiter, Fred.......Son........................M......W.....14........S.......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland

30..............Schneiter, Charles...Son........................M......W.....12.........S......Ohio.............Switzerland...Switzerland