BIOGRAPHY OF Peter A. Habegger
From Standard History of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana
By Tyndall & Lesh – 1918
Page 793, 794

Peter A. Habegger

Devoting his time and energies to the occupation to which he was born and bred, Peter A. Habegger, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Monroe Township, is an excellent representative of the industrious and energetic men, who, though born in a foreign land, have been prominently identified with the development and promotion of the agricultural interests of Adams County, his well kept and carefully managed farm bearing testimony to his industry and thrift. He was born October 12, 1871, in Canton de Berne, Switzerland, which was also the birthplace of his father, Abraham M. Habegger.

His paternal grandparents, Peter and Elizabeth Habegger, crossed the ocean many years after their marriage, and with their family settled in Adams County, Indiana. Buying land in Monroe Township, they spent their remaining years on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Habegger of this sketch. Peter Habegger’s death occurred January 1, 1901, and his wife’s a few months earlier, on October 7, 1900.

Coming from Switzerland with his family to Indiana, Abraham M. Habegger secured title to eighty acres of wild land in Adams County and began its improvement. Clearing an opening in the forest, he erected the customary log cabin, and like his pioneer neighbors lived for a time on the products of the soil and the wild game then so abundant. He subsequently purchased twenty acres of adjacent land, and by dint of diligent toil cleared, ditched and tiled about forty acres of his farm, and replaced the log cabin with a substantial frame house, and erected good barns, and made many other improvements of value. He married, in Switzerland, Lena Moser, a daughter of Johannes and Lydia Moser. Ten children were born to them, as follows: Samuel, Jacob, Peter A., Mary, deceased, Elizabeth, deceased, Abraham, Eli, Dina, Robert, and Menno.

Reared to agricultural pursuits, Peter A. Habegger naturally adopted farming as his vocation, and his success as a tiller of the soil shows that he made no mistake. In October, 1905, he settled on his farm of eighty acres in Monroe Township, and during the years that he has occupied it has greatly improved the property, having entirely renovated the buildings, putting up new ones where necessary, and having placed the land in good yielding condition. The log barn erected by his grandfather is still standing and on account of its construction is not only a curiosity, but a landmark.

Mr. Habegger married, November 11, 1894, Anna Neuenschwander. Her father, Jacob Neuenschwander, a native of Iowa, became owner of several farms in Indiana, having bought and sold at an advantage, and is now living on a farm of eighty acres in Monroe Township, Adams County, being one of the prosperous and well to do agriculturists of his community. He married Elizabeth Stauffer, who was born in Adams County, and to them eleven children were born. Mrs. Habegger having ten brother and sisters, as follows: Adam, Lavina, Eli, deceased, Emanuel, David, Theresa, Caroline, Allen, Rosina, and Lydia, the five last named being deceased. Having accumulated a competency, Mr. And Mrs. Neuenschwander are now living retired from active pursuits, having a pleasant home in Berne.

Nine children have blessed the union of Mr. And Mrs. Habegger, namely: Andrew, born November 1, 1895, married Calista Reusser of Adams County; Martin, deceased, was born June 2, 1897; Clinton, born February 11, 1899; Erlina, born November 23, 1900; Sylvan, born May 6, 1903; Edna, born August 23, 1904; Arley, born May 31, 1908; Milo, born January 17, 1910; and Marcella, born February 5, 1914. Mr. And Mrs. Habegger, true to the faith in which they were brought up, are members of the Mennonite Church.