Walthar Sidler 1625-1628

The Ottenbach Pastor who witnessed Walthar's death included the date on his birth record. The entry reads as follows:  "Obit 6 January 1628." He was 2 years, 9 months 29 days old at death. The thoughtful Ottenbach Pastor's name was Joshua Kessler. He served as Pastor from 1604 to 1609.  The previous pastor was Beatus Eggstein. He became Pastor in 1604 and died while bathing in the Reuss in 1609. A tragic death and forever after a warning to the Ottenbach population to be cautious when swimming in the River Reuss.

Death was no stranger to these people. There was constant giving births and dying on the farms, similar to what happened in the stable with the animals. Death was seen as natural. Only medicine and hygienic measures lowered the infant and childhood mortality rate.  Many villages lost 30 to 40% of the Swiss population and never lived past infancy or the toddler age in the 17th century. (Peter Bertschinger)

Documents related to Walthar Sidler:

Walthar Sidler birth 8 Marcy 1625

Sidler and Hegetschweiler Temple Record Book by Julius Billeter page 7