Near Ramona in Lake County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Badus Pioneer Swiss Colony
½ Mile West Ό Mile South
August 15, 2021
1. Badus Pioneer Swiss Colony Marker
Inscription.
Badus Pioneer Swiss Colony. ½ Mile West Ό Mile South. In 1877 a group of Swiss chose a point on the shore of Lake Badus for a colony. In 1878 Joseph Burkler, his family and some single men, arrived. In 1879 the colony was augmented by 11 other families who came by rail to Luverne, Minnesota and thence overland. That fall they built a school, with Theresa Schnell as the first teacher. A colony house was built. Joseph Muggli was the first storekeeper and appointed the first Postmaster of Badus in May 1879. The colony continued as such until 1886. The names of Berther, CaJacob, Cassutt, DeCurtins, Deragisch, DeRungs, Giossi, Rensch, Schnell, Tuor and Wolf are well known in Lake County, their ancestors being of the original colony.
In 1877 a group of Swiss chose a point on the shore of Lake Badus for a colony. In 1878 Joseph Burkler, his family and some single men, arrived. In 1879 the colony was augmented by 11 other families who came by rail to Luverne, Minnesota and thence overland. That fall they built a school, with Theresa Schnell as the first teacher. A colony house was built. Joseph Muggli was the first storekeeper and appointed the first Postmaster of Badus in May 1879. The colony continued as such until 1886. The names of Berther, CaJacob, Cassutt, DeCurtins, Deragisch, DeRungs, Giossi, Rensch, Schnell, Tuor and Wolf are well known in Lake County, their ancestors being of the original colony.
Erected 1955 by Lake County Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 111.)
Location. 44° 9.129′ N, 97° 7.783′ W. Marker is near Ramona, South Dakota, in Lake County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 81 and 223rd Street, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 81. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ramona SD 57054, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in East River and in Greater Sioux Falls. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
August 15, 2021
2. Badus Pioneer Swiss Colony Marker
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, March 29, 2016
3. Badus Pioneer Swiss Colony Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2016, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 1,685 times since then and 91 times this year. Last updated on August 17, 2021. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2021. 3. submitted on April 3, 2016, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
