Bon Homme Hutterite Colony (Tabor, South Dakota, USA)
Bon Homme, a Hutterite Bruderhof 20 miles (32 km) west of Yankton, Bon Homme County, South Dakota, founded in 1874. Preacher Michael Waldner reinstated communal living in Russia in 1859, supported by Jakob Hofer, who was later chosen preacher. But when Russia introduced universal military service these two preachers with several families immigrated to America and founded the first Hutterite Bruderhof in America. During a period of 74 years (1874-1948) this Bruderhof became the parent colony of thirty colonies in South Dakota and Manitoba, with a population of 2,767 souls, all born in the Bruderhofs. Michael Waldner died in 1889 and is buried here. Jakob Hofer moved out of this Bruderhof and founded the Milltown Bruderhof, where he died. Jakob Waldner, chosen as preacher at Bon Homme in 1875, died in the Milltown Bruderhof. Joseph Waldner, chosen as minister in 1880, died here in 1915. Michael Waldner, chosen as minister in 1907, died 1947, is also buried here. Joseph Wirz was chosen in 1945. There were 43 baptized members in a population of 108 in 1947.
Daughter colonies of Bon Homme Hutterite Colony include: Bon Homme (Elie, Manitoba); Cedar Grove (Platte, South Dakota); Platte (Platte, South Dakota); Rockport (Alexandria, South Dakota); and Spink (Frankfort, South Dakota)
In 2017 Bon Homme Hutterite Colony was a Schmiedeleut Group 2 colony.
Additional Information
Location
Tabor, South Dakota (coordinates: 42.863889, -97.706667 [42˚ 51′ 50″ N, 97˚ 42′ 24″ W])
Address
31232 Colony Road, Tabor, SD 57063-6503
Switchboard Phone
605-463-2114
Managers and Ministers
| Manager | Minister | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Samuel Waldner | Jacob Waldner | 1999 |
| Samuel Waldner | Jacob Waldner | 2004 |
| Samuel Waldner | Alvin Stahl | 2005 |
| Samuel Waldner | Alvin Stahl | 2018 |
Maps
Map:Bonne Homme Hutterite Colony (Yankton, South Dakota)
| Author(s) | David Decker |
|---|---|
| Bert Friesen | |
| Date Published | September 2017 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Decker, David and Bert Friesen. "Bon Homme Hutterite Colony (Tabor, South Dakota, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. September 2017. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bon_Homme_Hutterite_Colony_(Tabor,_South_Dakota,_USA)&oldid=160519.
APA style
Decker, David and Bert Friesen. (September 2017). Bon Homme Hutterite Colony (Tabor, South Dakota, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bon_Homme_Hutterite_Colony_(Tabor,_South_Dakota,_USA)&oldid=160519.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 385. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.