Description: Dated ca. 1890-1899, this is a portrait of G. Edgar Ruof, resident of Zoar, Ohio, and brother of Lillian Ruof Bimeler. He ran the Zoar Hotel with his sister and brother-in-law, Lillian and William Bimeler, until William's death in 1928. Led by Joseph Bimeler (sometimes spelled Bäumeler) in 1817, a group of Lutheran separatists left the area of Germany known as Wurttemberg and eventually established the small community of Zoar in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The community of Zoar was not originally organized as a commune, but its residents had a difficult time surviving in 1818 and early 1819. As a result, on April 19, 1819, the group formed the Society of Separatists of Zoar. Each person donated his or her property to the community as a whole, and in exchange for their work, the society would provide for them. Additional modifications to the society's organization were made in 1824 and a constitution established in 1833. In the decades following the establishment of the Zoar commune, the Separatists experienced economic prosperity. The community was almost entirely self-sufficient and sold any surpluses to the outside world. In addition to agriculture, Zoar residents also worked in a number of industries, including flour mills, textiles, a tin shop, copper, wagon maker, two iron foundries, and several stores. The society also made money by contracting to build a seven-mile stretch of the Ohio and Erie Canal. The canal crossed over Zoar's property, and the society owned several canal boats. The canal traffic also brought other people into the community, who bought Zoar residents' goods. By the second half of the nineteenth century, the community was quite prosperous. After Bimeler's death in 1853, the unity of the village declined, and by 1898 the Zoarites disbanded the society. The remaining residents divided the property, and the community continued to prosper in Zoar. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01761
Subjects: Zoar (Tuscarawas County, Ohio); Society of Separatists of Zoar; Hotels; Businessmen
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated ca. 1880-1889, this is a portrait of Peter Bimeler and his wife Mary Kuemmerle Bimeler, members of the Society of Separatists of Zoar in Zoar in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Peter, who ran the village flour mill, was a descendent of Joseph Bimeler, a founder of the Society. Led by Joseph Bimeler (sometimes spelled Bäumeler) in 1817, a group of Lutheran separatists left the area of Germany known as Wurttemberg and eventually established the small community of Zoar in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The community of Zoar was not originally organized as a commune, but its residents had a difficult time surviving in 1818 and early 1819. As a result, on April 19, 1819, the group formed the Society of Separatists of Zoar. Each person donated his or her property to the community as a whole, and in exchange for their work, the society would provide for them. Additional modifications to the society's organization were made in 1824 and a constitution established in 1833. In the decades following the establishment of the Zoar commune, the Separatists experienced economic prosperity. The community was almost entirely self-sufficient and sold any surpluses to the outside world. In addition to agriculture, Zoar residents also worked in a number of industries, including flour mills, textiles, a tin shop, copper, wagon maker, two iron foundries, and several stores. The society also made money by contracting to build a seven-mile stretch of the Ohio and Erie Canal. The canal crossed over Zoar's property, and the society owned several canal boats. The canal traffic also brought other people into the community, who bought Zoar residents' goods. By the second half of the nineteenth century, the community was quite prosperous. After Bimeler's death in 1853, the unity of the village declined, and by 1898 the Zoarites disbanded the society. The remaining residents divided the property, and the community continued to prosper in Zoar. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01758
Subjects: Zoar (Tuscarawas County, Ohio); Society of Separatists of Zoar; Businessmen; Communal societies; Portrait photography
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated ca. 1833-1882, this perpetual calendar, produced by Weeks and Campbell of New York, belonged to John M. Bonnet of Zanesville, Ohio. It features an oriental vase, a woman holding an hourglass, and an owl perched on a crescent moon. Bonnet emigrated from Germany to America, arriving in Zanesville in 1833, where he built upon his knowledge of tailoring and learned the trade of watchmaking. He later opened a jewelry and watch repair business in Zanesville and, at the time of his death in 1882, owned the largest jewelry wholesale business in central Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS559_B13F07_001_1
Subjects: Zanesville (Ohio); Art; Jewelry; Business enterprises--Ohio; Businessmen
Places: Zanesville (Ohio); Muskingum County (Ohio)