Description: Excerpt from page 186 of "The Society of Separatists of Zoar, Ohio" by George B. Landis, in the Annual Report of the American Historical Association, 1898, comprised of one paragraph. Describes the demographics of the town and information regarding the schools and education in Zoar. Zoar was a small religious community in Tuscarawas County, founded in 1817 by a group of German separatists, that functioned as an economically-prosperous communal society. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03829
Subjects: Society of Separatists of Zoar; Small towns; Communal societies; Religious societies
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Taken by photographer Louis Baus, this is a portrait of Zoar resident Alexander Gunn. Gunn, a business man from Cleveland, chose to live in Zoar upon his retirement, and encouraged the Separatists to keep the commune running in the late 1890s when the community eventually dissolved in 1898. In 1901, Gunn became ill and traveled to Germany where he soon died thereafter. His ashes were sent back to Zoar where they were interred on the hillside where he grave is marked by "Gunn's Monument" a large boulder donated by friends of his. 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. 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. By the second half of the 19th 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. Louis Baus was a prominent photographer in Cleveland, Ohio, who began his career with studio work, but in 1911 became a staff writer for the Cleveland Advocate, a local newspaper that was later purchased by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P223_B04_Vol2_131
Subjects: Society of Separatists of Zoar; Zoar (Tuscarawas County, Ohio); Portrait photography; Communal societies; Religious societies
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Eighteenth-century Swedish scientist and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg, who began his life as a Lutheran, but as a result of a religious experience in 1743, began to teach ideas that were sometimes contrary to those of the Lutheran Church. Swedenborg claimed that he had direct access to the spiritual world and was able to converse with angels and other spiritual beings. His followers, the Swedenborgians, expanded into Ohio in the first half of the 19th century, eventually founding Urbana College in 1850. Swedenborgians--also known as the Church of the New Jerusalem--believe that a person obtains salvation by believing in Jesus Christ's victory over evil, and teach that the spiritual world is evident within all aspects of the physical world. The most famous Swedenborgian in Ohio was John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04043
Subjects: Ohio--Religion; Swedenborgian Church; Religious societies; Appleseed, Johnny, 1774-1845
 

Description: This portrait shows William Bimeler (1876-1929), resident of Zoar, Ohio, posing with a cornet. He is wearing a cap and what likely is a band uniform. He was a descendant of Joseph Bimeler, founder of the religious separatists known as Zoarites. These separatists were originally from an area of Germany known as Wurttemburg. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, they had separated from the official German religion, the Lutheran Church. Separatists faced severe persecution in Wurttemburg, including confiscation of their properties and imprisonment. Joseph Bimeler (sometimes spelled "Bäumeler) decided to bring the Separatists to the United States. They arrived in Philadelphia with few resources. The Quakers (Society of Friends) in Philadelphia helped the separatists to find jobs and eventually loaned them the money to buy land in eastern Ohio, where they established the small community of Zoar in Tuscarawas County in 1818. The inspiration for the town's name was found in the Book of Genesis, which includes the story of Lot, who escaped to Zoar from Sodom. In Zoar the group established a communal society. Both male and female members of the community signed the Articles of Association, which created the Society of Separatists of Zoar on April 15, 1819. The Articles were revised in 1824 and in 1833 the Society was incorporated. Bimeler continued as one of the Zoarites' leaders until his death in 1853. Although the society struggled at first, it soon became economically prosperous. By the time of Bimeler's death, Zoar's wealth was more than one million dollars. In keeping with the Zoarites’ German heritage, making music was one of the community’s pastimes. Zoar had an orchestra and a brass band. After Bimeler's death, however, the society of Zoar began to decline. Although the community was still economically prosperous, the members' commitment to the society's original goals began to deteriorate in the second half of the nineteenth century. Over time, many of the original residents died. The younger generation did not have memories of the persecution back in Europe or of the society's early struggles in Ohio. The outside world increasingly influenced the Zoarites, as strangers visited Zoar and stayed in the town's hotel. In 1898 the remaining members decided to dissolve the society, and they divided up the community's property. Throughout the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, Zoar has continued to exist as a small town in rural eastern Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05973
Subjects: Society of Separatists of Zoar; German Americans; Musical instruments; Religious societies; Multicultural Ohio -- Ethnic Communities
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is a photographic reproduction of a handdrawn map of New Harmony, Indiana on the front, and Harmony, Pennsylvania on the reverse. Drawn by Eusebius Bohm ca. 1825, the maps include streets, buildings, a river, and notations written in German. The Harmony Society was a Lutheran, German separatist group from Wurttemberg which first settled in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in 1804, led by pietist Johann Georg Rapp. but then moved to Posey County, Indiana, and finally established a permanent settlement in Economy, Pennsylvania in 1824. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS0750_1
Subjects: Maps; Religious societies; Communal Societies; Religion in Ohio; Separatists
Places: New Harmony (Indiana); Harmony (Pennsylvania)
 

Description: Taken by photographer Louis Baus, this photographic reproduction shows an orchestra composed of members of the Society of Separatists of Zoar on September 12, 1897. A note on the reverse of the photograph reads "Orchestra at picnic in 1897. From left to right - Jos[eph] Bimeler; Levi Bimeler; Peter Bimeler; Frank Sylvan; Louis Zimmerman; and W[illia]m Bimeler. In background reclining from left to right,- John Bimeler; Jacob Breymaier; Alexander Gunn; Jos[eph] Breymaier, and August Kuecherer." Led by Joseph Bimeler 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. They would become known as the Society of Separatists of Zoar in 1819. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P223_B04_S02_A1_100
Subjects: Photography; Society of Separatists of Zoar; Religious Societies; Communal societies; Musicians
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: A map showing the village of Zoar, Ohio, and the surrounding environs. A more detailed map shows the layout of the streets by name and individual lots identified by number. The lot numbers are listed along with the owners of each lot of land. The Society of Separatists of Zoar, a group of German religious dissenters, immigrated to Ohio in 1817. Finding it difficult to make ends meet on their own, they formed a communal society in 1819 in which all members shared resources and property equally. After leader Joseph Bimeler (1778-1853) died, the group experienced a slow decline. Tourism helped keep the community afloat for a while, but in 1898, the society disbanded and its assets were divided. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MAPVFM85_8
Subjects: Zoar (Tuscarawas County, Ohio); Zoar (Tuscarawas County, Ohio) -- Social life and customs; Religious societies; Communal societies
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Taken by photographer Louis Baus, this photographic reproduction shows the front, or south side, of Joseph Bimeler's house and the first meeting house of the Society of Separatists of Zoar. Bimeler lived in this cabin from 1817-1820. Led by Joseph Bimeler 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. They would become known as the Society of Separatists of Zoar in 1819. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P223_B04_S02_A1_108
Subjects: Photography; Society of Separatists of Zoar; Religious Societies; Communal societies; Public buildings--Ohio;
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Taken by photographer Louis Baus, this photographic reproduction shows the home of Joseph Bimeler, built in 1835, located on the southwest corner of Man and Third Streets in Zoar, Ohio. Two small children are sitting on a window sill with a woman looking out the window, and a young woman stands on the balcony. Led by Joseph Bimeler 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. They would become known as the Society of Separatists of Zoar in 1819. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P223_B04_S02_A1_17
Subjects: Photography; Society of Separatists of Zoar; Religious Societies; Communal societies; Houses
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Taken by photographer Louis Baus, this photographic reproduction shows a view of part of the Society of Separatists of Zoar community in 1890 looking south towards the home of Joseph Bimeler (the brick house with a cupola) in the center of the photograph. There is a bakery on the left side and part of the Hotel shows to the left of Bimeler's house. The Town Hall and Store are in the upper center of the photograph. In the foreground is an old log cabin belonging to Joseph Bimeler. Behind this is the home of the gardener, Simon Beiter Sr., with greenhouse at the left. In the upper right is the home of William Bimeler. Led by Joseph Bimeler 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. They would become known as the Society of Separatists of Zoar in 1819. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P223_B04_S02_A1_41
Subjects: Photography; Society of Separatists of Zoar; Religious Societies; Communal societies; Rural life
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Taken by photographer Louis Baus, this photographic reproduction shows the front, or southeast view, of Joseph Bimeler's house and the first meeting house of the Society of Separatists of Zoar. Bimeler lived in this cabin ca. 1817-1820 and spoke to the community here. A note on the reverse of the photograph says that a hole was cut in the ceiling of the ground floor so that the overflow crowd upstairs could hear his discourse. Led by Joseph Bimeler 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. They would become known as the Society of Separatists of Zoar in 1819. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P223_B04_S02_A1_5
Subjects: Photography; Society of Separatists of Zoar; Religious Societies; Communal societies; Log cabins
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Taken by photographer Louis Baus, this photographic reproduction shows the old meeting house for the Society of Separatists of Zoar, built in 1820, at the southeast corner of Third and Folz Streets in Zoar, Ohio. Originally used as a meeting house from 1820-1853, when the newer brick meeting house was built on Main Street, this building was used as a girls home and later a broom and basket shop. From 1884-1887, it was used as the first Town Hall with David Breymaier serving as the first mayor, Christian Ruof as Marshal, and Jacob Breymaier as Deputy. Led by Joseph Bimeler 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. They would become known as the Society of Separatists of Zoar in 1819. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P223_B04_S02_A1_7
Subjects: Photography; Society of Separatists of Zoar; Religious Societies; Communal societies; Public buildings; City and town halls;
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)