Jonas "The White" Stutzman

He was Amish. He was known as "Der Weise" (the white one) or in later life "The White Stutzman". He wore nothing but white, including hat and shoes. He and his uncle Jacob Miller were the first white settlers in 1809 to Walnut Creek Township, Ohio.

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Below is a writing about Jonas Stutzman which was taken from genealogy book, “Descendants of Daniel C. Miller and Catherine E. Hershberger 1850-2000.

Jonas (White) Stutzman was born in 1788 in Somerset County, PA. In the spring of 1809 Jonas accompanied the Jacob Miller family to Ohio. Mrs. Miller was sister to his father. The Millers were the first settlers in Ohio and lived close to Sugarcreek. Jonas, however, traveled five miles farther, settling in Holmes County. Not only was he the first Amish person to settle there but some histories say he was the first non-Indian. Traveling west he came to a clearing in the forest which was the valley of Walnut Creek. Buffalo grass grew high in the flat land and had few trees. Looking across the valley he saw hills covered with virgin forests. No roads, no bridges, no houses and barns, not a field touched with a plow met his view. The only noise he heard were of birds, animals, rustling of leaves and gurgling streams. Traveling across the valley, Jonas could see other smaller valleys in various directions. In this beautiful valley Jonas chose a place for a cabin, just south of what is now Walnut Creek. Being the only settler in the area, Jonas worked many hours alone on his cabin. Tradition says that on day while falling trees with an axe, a limb that was sprung snapped back and broke his leg. He made two make-shift crutches and hobbled to the Miller cabin, some five miles away to get his leg set.

Jonas lived a bachelor’s existence until early 1812 when he married Magdalena Gerber of Stark County, Ohio. To this marriage he had eight children. It may be that a ninth child was born and died in infancy, for Jonas obituary states that he was the father on nine children, but the ninth child’s name is not known.

Jonas’ wife died and sometime before 1842 he married a woman whose first name was Catherine.

No record exists which tells when Jonas began wearing only white clothes. He felt that white was pleasing to God and that most other colors were not. Some histories state that even his shoes and hat were white, but others question this. In German he was referred to as “der weis Stutzman” or “white Stutzman”. People in Holmes County still use the term when speaking of him.

One can well imagine how difficult it must have been to dress only in white and not become dirty. Tradition states that Jonas was conscious of cleanness. One Amish relates the following story: One day in Stutzman’s later years he came to a relative’s place to visit, wearing nothing but white. When the woman of the house saw him, she went out to invite him in, but as the weather nice, he suggested to site under the shade trees. So she fetched chairs out from the house and invited him to set down. He pulled a large white cloth from his coat pocket and thoroughly wiped the chair off before sitting down, although the chair had been cleaned.

The same writer also mentions, “We have heard several accounts of him that he may have had a little different beliefs in his later years.” That is quite and understatement! Jonas beliefs were very different. No one knew exactly how different until recently a thirty-page book of his writing was discovered. No one to day was aware that Jonas had published a book of his beliefs. The discovery of the book was almost as unusual as the author himself.

A Holmes County antique collector came across it quite by accident. He writes: I am always looking for old stuff that others throw away. Close to New Bedford, Ohio where Mr. Ira Funk and his two sisters lived, there was a public sale because of their death. They didn’t throw anything away before the sale. The Baltic school came over to haul some papers away, so they could have a sale.

Then after the sale, Paul, a brother of Ira’s told me if I wanted some of the stuff upstairs and in the attic, I could get it before they burned it. So I hauled tow truck loads home. Upon going through it I found reformed church papers published n Chambersburg, PA which they had sewed to gather, and by paging through I noticed this booklet sewed in the middle of it. As I looked at it, I saw it was written by Jonas Stutzman.

The book title first, second and third appeals to all men to prepare for the Approaching Kingdom Of God Upon Earth, commonly called the “Millennium” followed by the author’s name, Jonas Stutzman, and the words in obedience to the command of the Lord of the universe. It was printed in Canton, Ohio in 1850 by H.J. Nothnagel. The pages measure 5 ½” x 8 ½”.

The book contained three major section or “appeals”.

The first appeal is only one and one-fourth pages long and is dated July 19, 1849. In it Jonas announces that the time is close at hand in which the Lord will establish with his faithful his celestial kingdom, or millennium on earth”. No exact date for the beginning of the millennium is mentioned, but Jonas states: In the spring of 1849 it was represented to my mind by the Lord that within the ensuing 4 years, He the Lord would accomplish great things upon earth.

The second appeal is two and on-half pages long and is dated November 22, 1849. Once more Jonas doesn’t set an exact date but is sure it will not be longer that four years. He writes: The time is at hand, at the utmost it will not take but three or four years, when he will collect and induce his saints into the New Jerusalem.

He explains how Christ was in the grave three days. Lazarus was in the grave four days. Jonah was in the whale three days, so Jonas’ days symbolized years.

In the second appeal Jonas mentions four thins which are displeasure to God. 1) streaky and striped garments, 2) short round-abouts, 3) tobacco, 4) frolics (he likely meant parties).

He also admonished ministers to stop preaching and holding communion services, saying, “The true preaching of word and the supper of the Lord must be suspended for a season, like the suspension of the daily sacrifice amongst the children of Israel, until it shall please the Lord to reinstate the same, when He himself will renovate, purify and re-establish everything anew.

The third appeal is the longest portion of the book containing over twenty-two pages. It is also dated November 22, 1849. Jonas begins by saying that it is God’s will that the revelation be made through him.

God has deemed worthy is humble servant, to reveal unto me clearly and distinctly that the time of the fulfillment of this plan with mankind is at hand. In about three years and six months he will come to judge all mankind and to commence then his great kingdom of peace. He revealed this unto me not for tmy sake only, but that I proclaim it before all men, so that everyone may prepare himself. As Noah of old have I to obey the spirit of the Lord and proclaim unto you what the Lord hath commanded unto me.

Most the third appeal is divided into four sections. The first is entitled “Of the New Kingdom of God”. Here Jonas quotes various Scriptures to defend and explain his idea of God establishing a new kingdom on this earth. The second is entitled “Of Regeneration” and is an explanation of what the “new birth” is and what a life of spiritual enlightenment is as opposed to carnal-mindedness.

In this section is where Jonas states that there are but three colors for the children of God, according to what I have seen in the spirit, which are light yellowish brown, gray and white-- the colors of eagles and sheep.

The third section of the third appeal is entitled “of the time”. Jonas interprets various numbers in the Bible and explains how they relate to the end of times. How he sets definite date for the beginning of the kingdom, writing: The time of preparation fixed upon by the Lord and foretold by the prophets and his servants, has commenced on the twenty second of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine and will last yet 1290 days. (See Daniel 12:11) The birth-day of the spiritual kingdom commences thirty days before this 1290 days have expired, but after their expiration the meeting of the saints will be held for forty five days, that it may be fulfilled what is said by Daniel 12:22.

Blessed is he that waith and cometh to the thousand three hundred and thirty days.

The fourth and final portion of the third appeal is entitled “preachers and parents.” Once more Jonas tells all ministers to quit their congregations and to cease preaching and administering the Lord ’s Supper. On the back of the cover of this book he urged people to write him saying: All those individuals who sincerely and seriously desire to take an active interest in the great cause of God, are hereby requested to inform me thereof in post paid letters in which they also may advise me somewhat more in detail of the various circumstances of their situation, in order to enable me thereby to perceive what manner their co-operation may be rendered most available for the promotion of this holy cause. Please direct to: Jonas Stutzman, Walnut Creek Post Office, Holmes County, Ohio.

Besides compiling his three appeals. Jonas was busy making a special chair for Jesus to sit on when he comes. he made it nine inches higher that a normal chair of his day, the seat being twenty-four inches from the floor. The chair can yet be seen in Holmes County.

Jonas died on October 18, 1871 at the age of eighty-three. He had lived for eighteen years after the 1853 date he had set for the second coming of Christ. He continued during that time to dress in white. Before he died he made the request that he be carried by the pallbearers to his grave rather than be driven with a hearse. He was living at his son Daniel’s home near Martin’s Creek when he died. This presented a problem as the cemetery was seven miles away. But with two set of pallbearers taking turns, Jonas Stutzman was carried to his grave as requested, a most unusual ending for a most unusual man.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 13 2017, 16:07:57 UTC