Jonte Family History & Genealogy

History

History of the "JONTE Family"
Swiss Branch > France > USA
(Does not concern "Jonte", the butcher’s Jonte, or Jonte of Spanish or Swedish origin)

All the JONTE families in the USA are descendants of two brothers who were born in Reconvilier, Switzerland, and settled in Bussurel, an independent French enclave (under the authority of the Netherlands, which was annexed to the Kingdom of France in 1678) around 1650:

The earliest known members of the family, Claude Jonte and Jehan-Perin Jonte, were born in Reconvilier, a small village in Switherland.

JONTHE Claude m. 1650 LAUDE Catherine (who would write Lods)
JONTHE Jehan-Perin (Jean-Pierre) m. 1658 CABURET Catherine
At that time, the name was spelled with an "H".

Their children were the first to be called JONTE:

1659 Claude
1661 Abraham
1663 Cath
1666 Jeanne
1670 Elizabeth Anne
1676 Guillaume
The JONTE family in the USA originates from Switzerland, except for the JONTE of Mississippi, which is an anglicized version of the name JEANTY around 1830 (translation of Jeanty into English, with the same pronunciation).
Frederic Armand JEANTY, born in France in 1797, would become JONTE. The "é" in Jonté comes from this phonetic alteration over time.

In 1793, Bussurel lost its independence and became definitively part of France.

Why Did They Come to France?
After the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), Swiss immigration was encouraged by the local lords to repopulate the region with:

Francophone people (since the Swiss Jura is French-speaking)
Tax incentives: exemption from taxes for six years, free timber for building
The 1653 Jacquerie (a peasant uprising due to war, rural debt, and protests in Switzerland)
There were two main reasons for the Jonte family's move:

Religious Intolerance
The Jonthes left Catholic Switzerland for Montbéliard, a Lutheran region (Montbéliard became a haven for Protestants from the early 17th century). Jehan-Perin and Claude Jonte left Switzerland to settle in the Lutheran region of Montbéliard.

Repopulation of War-Torn Areas
After suffering devastation from war, famine, and the plague, areas like Montbéliard had lost up to three-quarters of their population. By 1681, Bussurel had only 90 inhabitants. This created a need for fresh settlers, and the Jonte family became part of the solution, helping to repopulate these regions.
*The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) had left much of Europe in ruins, and even neutral Switzerland felt the economic and social aftershocks.

The Journey to the United States
Between 1822 and 1832, two brothers (with their children) from Bussurel left for the United States. So why did they go to the USA?

During the early 19th century (around 1822), economic, political (wars), and climatic conditions in France prompted many families to emigrate to the USA. Several JONTE families left France for the New World.

One notable reason is to avoid conscription during Napoleon's military recruitment. Some members of the family presented themselves as Swiss immigrants in New York, as Switzerland was neutral and allied with France at the time.

1822 - Ohio
Pierre Jonte (1796–1840) m. Clardon Suz.II (1799–1859) created a beer brand with his brother and cousin Jean-Jacques (1803–1879) m. Glardon. Pierre Jonte (father of Frederic 1823–1858 and Henry 1835–1892) and his brother Georges Frédéric (1798) left Le Havre, France, aboard the ship "Elbe", arriving in New York on August 2, 1822. Pierre moved to Ohio, while Henri headed for Tennessee. They were listed as Swiss nationals and worked in woodwork (cart wheels) and beer brewing.

1824 - Virginia
Jean Georges Jonte (1773–1849) m. Suzanne Gremilliot with their children, sailed from Le Havre on July 1, 1824, and arrived at Alexandria, Virginia on October 5, 1824.

A family anecdote shared by Susan (Jonte) Martin (2016):
"My family says that this couple fled France on the same day Jean Jacques Jonte (b. 1803) found his father, Jean Georges Jonte, the mayor of Bussurel, shot dead in front of their door (in 1824). Jean Jacques dressed as a girl (his wife Susan's sister) — he was small enough to wear her clothes. In the USA, Jean Jacques worked as a cooper in a brewery in Cincinnati until he tragically died from being struck by a tree. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1848."

1832 - Illinois
Pierre Jacques I (1776–1846) m. Carlin Suzanne with his family, sailed from Le Havre aboard the ship "Rhône" on June 26, 1832, arriving in New York Harbor on August 3, 1832. After visiting relatives in Cincinnati and Nashville, he moved to Woodstock, Schuyler County, Illinois, where the Jonte Cemetery is located (established in 1833). Pierre Jacques settled there for the rest of his life, purchasing farmland in Woodstock Township.

Legacy of the JONTE Family
Today, descendants of the Jonte family have continued their success and contributed significantly to society. Some became entrepreneurs, such as brewers in the United States, carrying forward the family’s brewing legacy. Other descendants in France founded a laboratory business in medical analysis in Paris.

Throughout generations, the Jonte family has always held their Protestant faith close, with many members becoming pastors. The family proudly boasts the first female Protestant pastor in France, a Jonte. Their strong sense of morality and ethical conduct has been a cornerstone of their identity. Many Jonte descendants achieved high levels of education, including engineers, military officers, and other professionals, demonstrating the family’s commitment to both faith and intellectual development.

The Jonte family’s journey, marked by adversity and triumph, continues to be a source of pride for its members, who are spread across continents, leaving an enduring legacy of faith, integrity, and success.

Name Origin

The Story of the Jonte Family: A Journey Through History and Continents
The Jonte family, originally from the Bernese Jura in Switzerland, carries a name that echoes through history, marked by the struggles of the 17th century, war, religious persecution, and the hope for a better life. The story of this family, deeply rooted in its time, is one of migration — from the old Switzerland to the Montbéliard region, and later to America — an adventure that unfolded across several generations.

1. Life in Switzerland: Reconvilier and Tavannes, Land of Protestants
The first traces of the Jonte family are found in Reconvilier and Tavannes, located in the Bernese Jura. These two towns were, by the 16th century, strongholds of Protestantism in a largely Catholic canton. The Bernese Jura, a mountainous region, was the site of numerous uprisings, especially against the Catholic authorities of Bern. Protestant families in the region often faced social and religious pressure.

During this time, the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) ravaged Europe. Although Switzerland remained neutral, the effects of the war were felt through economic instability, famine, and growing religious persecution. For the Jonte family, as for many other Protestant families in the area, this period marked the beginning of their journey.

The first members of the family, Claude Jonte and Jehan-Perin Jonte, were likely part of the families fleeing religious intolerance. These two men, along with other family members, would leave their homeland to settle in regions where they hoped to find greater religious freedom and better opportunities for a new life.

2. The Journey to France: Bussurel and the Lutheran Refuge
By the 17th century, the region of Montbéliard in France, a Lutheran enclave following the Reformation, had become a refuge for many Protestants fleeing persecution from their home countries. In 1650, Claude Jonte and his brother Jehan-Perin Jonte left Switzerland to join this region, specifically the village of Bussurel, which was part of the independent enclave of the Duchy of Montbéliard under the authority of the Netherlands. Bussurel would be annexed to the Kingdom of France in 1678.

Upon arriving in Bussurel, the Jonte family found a region devastated by war, famine, and epidemics, but with potential for growth due to its welcoming of refugees. It was here, in the heart of this quiet yet scarred valley, that the family began a new life. They brought with them their agricultural and craft skills, becoming a vital part of the area's repopulation efforts.

An interesting anecdote from this time is that in 1681, when Bussurel had only 90 inhabitants, the Jonte family played a crucial role in repopulating the area after the ravages of war. Like many Swiss immigrants, they benefited from certain incentives: tax exemptions and free wood for building their homes. They contributed not only to the population's recovery but also to the region's economic recovery.

3. Immigration to the United States: The 19th-Century Adventure
In the early 19th century, another major shift occurred in the history of the Jonte family, this time with migration to the United States. The 19th century, marked by the Napoleonic Wars and political turmoil in Europe, saw many families fleeing conscription and internal conflicts.

Pierre Jonte (1796-1840) and Georges Frédéric Jonte (1798), two sons of the family, left France in 1822. They boarded the ship "Elbe" from the port of Le Havre, heading for New York. America, rapidly expanding, offered land and opportunities, and for these young men, the idea of escaping Napoleon's military conscription seemed to be a key factor.

An interesting anecdote about their journey is found in the social and economic context of the time. These men, listed as of Swiss origin, arrived in a booming New York, where many other European immigrants were coming to start new lives. In Ohio, Pierre would go on to establish a brewery with his brother and cousin, and their business would prosper due to the growing demand for beer, a flourishing industry in this region of the United States.

4. The Beginnings in Cincinnati and Life in the United States
By the 1820s, another branch of the Jonte family, Jean Georges Jonte and his family, left France in 1824, arriving in Alexandria, Virginia, before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio. There, they settled and engaged in similar business ventures. One family anecdote from this period is that the brewing industry was expanding rapidly at this time, and the Jonte family, with their brewing knowledge, became key players in this industry.

In particular, Jean Georges Jonte seems to have been involved in some dramatic events during the 1820s. According to some family stories, Jean Jacques Jonte, one of his sons, discovered his father, Jean Georges, shot in front of their door. In a tense moment, Jean Jacques, who was small in stature, had to disguise himself as a woman to avoid conscription or retaliation from authorities. This clever ruse, prompted by his size and the need to escape, adds a layer of drama to the family’s journey. It highlights not only the dangers the Jonte family faced but also their resilience and resourcefulness in the face of adversity.

5. Illinois: The Jonte Cemetery in Woodstock
Finally, another branch of the Jonte family settled in Illinois. In 1832, Pierre Jacques Jonte (1776-1846) left France with his family and settled in Woodstock, in Schuyler County. They bought farmland and integrated fully into local life. A family cemetery, the Jonte Cemetery, was established in Woodstock to honor their ancestors and their contribution to the local community. This land would become their final resting place.

Pierre Jacques' story shows how immigration was often an adventure of reclamation: reclaiming land, families, and lives. In Illinois, the family firmly established themselves and contributed to the development of the region.

6. A Legacy of Faith, Morality, and Success
The descendants of the Jonte family have continued to thrive and contribute to society in various fields. Many became successful entrepreneurs, including brewers in the United States who built on the family’s early business ventures. Some Jonte descendants also pursued careers in science and industry, with a notable branch establishing a laboratory business in medical analysis in Paris, France.

A defining characteristic of the Jonte family has been their strong sense of faith and moral integrity. For generations, the family upheld a deep Protestant faith, with several becoming pastors in their communities. The Jonte family is proud to have contributed to the church, including the first female Protestant pastor in France, who was a member of the Jonte family.

In addition to their religious devotion, the Jonte family has always placed a high value on education and personal integrity. Many Jonte descendants achieved high levels of education, including becoming engineers, military officers, and leaders in their respective fields, contributing to society with their expertise and strong moral compass.

7. Legacy: A Story That Spans Centuries
Today, descendants of the Jonte family still live in the United States, in states like Ohio, Virginia, and Illinois. The Jonte Cemetery in Woodstock remains a testament to their past — a place where generations of Jonte rest, silently, but fully aware of their contribution to the history of their adopted country.

The story of the Jonte family is one of a journey that has lasted for centuries. From the Swiss mountains to the plains of Illinois, the Jonte family shaped their destiny with courage, determination, and a will to overcome obstacles, no matter the continent they found themselves on.

Echoes Through History
The Jonte family story is a testament to resilience and adaptability. From their Swiss roots to their French enclave, and finally to the United States, the Jontes overcame war, religious persecution, and displacement to build a proud legacy. Their journey reminds us of the strength found in faith, community, and determination—a legacy that continues to inspire their descendants today.

Spellings & Pronunciations

JONTHE

Nationality & Ethnicity

Suisse francaise
Origins in Switzerland
The Jonte family's saga begins in the picturesque Bernese Jura region of Switzerland during the 17th century. Originally spelled Jonthe.

Famous People named Jonte

For example, Geneviève Jonte (1906-1983, studied theology in Paris) was the first woman pastor in France

Early Jontes

These are the earliest records we have of the Jonte family.