Zoar Village

Photo caption: Members of the Society of Separatists of Zoar harvesting crops in a field located at the northeast end of town, 1888.

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Times of war often create internal conflict for the individual and community. While the Zoarite community as a whole stayed out of the conflict, they actively disagreed with slavery and contributed to the United States Soldiers' Aid Society, which provided food and clothing to Union Soldiers.

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While their religious beliefs promoted pacifism, many younger men in the village were drawn to military service. In September 1861, the first recruits from Zoar enlisted in the Union Army. Although this action was against the founding principles of the separatist society, all enlisted Zoarites received $2 from the community.

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"How could I defend myself? As one who thanklessly enjoys our free rights, and as an idle participant in the fate of my fatherland and fellow man..."
Letter home from an unidentified Zoarite soldier

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In September 1862, two men from Zoar, Christian Ruof and Levi Bimeler, were drafted into military service. Objectors avoided the conflict by paying a penalty. The standard penalty during the Civil War was $300; however, individuals who refused compulsory service for religious reasons would pay a penalty of $200 per draftee.

Thirteen men served in the Union army from Zoar. With the exception of the two men who enlisted in September 1861, the remaining soldiers were mustered into the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1862. For many of these young men, their military service was the first time they heard English.

The Zoarites who fought in the Civil War unknowingly changed the community mindset. The tightly-closed borders of the separatist community began to open as the young, American-born Zoarites returned home after exposure to new experiences, languages and ideas. As one of Zoar's trustees wrote in 1862:
The spirit of worldliness has torn away several of our young men.

Even though the Zoar soldiers went against the founding principles of the Society, those who returned were welcomed back with pride. In 1898, increasing interactions with the world outside of the community combined with a shift in ideals of the community contributed to the Zoarites disbanding their communal way of life.

The Zoarites were a pacifist society that did not believe in war, but also did not believe in slavery. Is it possible to support soldiers fighting in a war when you don't agree with the reason for the conflict?