Remembering Faith and Tragedy: The Hochstetler Attack Mural Tours Berlin
A centuries-old saga is vividly brought to life this fall as the Jacob Hochstetler Family Attack mural returns to public view, reminding Amish and Mennonite communities—and anyone eager to learn frontier history—of one of early America’s most powerful stories of conviction and loss.
Beginning November 1, visitors to German Village in Berlin, Ohio will have the rare chance to stand before a 4-by-8-foot painting that captures a notorious night in the 1750s, when faith and violence collided on the Pennsylvania frontier. The mural, painted in the 1950s by an unknown but masterful hand, will be displayed for just one week before continuing its journey to family reunions and historic events across the Midwest.
What Really Happened on the Frontier?
The tragedy memorialized in the mural took place during the French and Indian War, when conflict between European settlers and Native American tribes turned Pennsylvania’s frontier into a battleground. On a dark, quiet night in 1757, the Hochstetler family’s Northkill homestead was raided by a band of Delaware Indians allied with French soldiers. The attack was brutal—Jacob Hochstetler, an emigrant from Europe and devout follower of the Anabaptist faith, refused to let his sons use firearms in self-defense, adhering to the core Amish belief of nonresistance even as their home was set ablaze.ohiosamishcountry+3
The family took refuge in their cellar, using apple cider to stave off the flames, a desperate act remembered in vivid detail by descendants. When the smoke cleared and they tried to escape, Jacob’s wife, daughter, and one son were killed, while Jacob and two sons were taken prisoner and marched westward into the mountains. Reports from the time tell of the father and sons’ captivity, and their eventual restoration to the family years later—a saga of survival, adaptation, and faith.wikipedia+2
Jacob Hochstetler’s stance during the Northkill homestead attack is a defining example of Anabaptist nonresistance—a doctrine deeply rooted in the faith traditions of Amish and Mennonite communities.yourohionews+2
Jacob Hochstetler’s Faith Stance
When his family was attacked during the French and Indian War, Hochstetler refused to take up arms or allow his sons to retaliate, even though they were skilled marksmen and had ample ammunition in their home. He insisted that, as followers of the Anabaptist faith, their commitment to Christ required them to love all people and “resist not evil,” in accordance with Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38–39). This decision—to choose nonviolence at the cost of personal safety—is regarded as heroic within Amish history, showing faithfulness to principle even under life-threatening circumstances.the-daily-record+6
Anabaptist Nonresistance Explained
The doctrine of nonresistance teaches that believers are not to use violence in self-defense or as retribution, but rather must remain peaceful in every aspect of life—even if that means suffering harm. Anabaptists, including Amish and Mennonites, interpret passages such as Matthew 5 (“turn the other cheek”) and Romans 12 (“do not repay evil for evil”) as literal commands for peacemaking and patient endurance. Historically, this belief led many Anabaptists to refuse military service, government work involving force, or any actions that contradicted their conscience regarding peace. Rather than just avoiding war, nonresistance is understood as a total way of life—living out radical love, forgiveness, and reconciliation with all people.astudyofdenominations+2
Jacob Hochstetler’s response has since become a touchstone among Amish descendants, representing the enduring legacy of Christian nonresistance in the face of unimaginable hardship.bic-history+2
Why the Mural Matters
For Amish and Mennonite families, the Jacob Hochstetler story isn’t just about violence or tragedy—it’s about a defining act of religious conviction. The mural’s powerful imagery highlights the family’s refusal to retaliate, preserving a lesson in peace and forgiveness that would echo through generations. The artistry itself is painstaking in its detail: the haunting glow of the burning cabin, terrified figures retreating underground, and the looming threat outside—all rendered in a way that invites viewers to step inside that fateful moment.jhfa+1
From Roadside Attraction to Family Treasure
After its creation in the 1950s—historically attributed to the founder of Roadside America, Laurence Gieringer—the mural was exhibited near the original Hochstetler farmstead in Berks County, Pennsylvania, before spending three decades at the Pennsylvania Dutch Campground. Recently, members of the Hochstetler family tracked down and acquired the mural, recognizing its vital importance as a piece of shared heritage. According to Eli “Small” Hochstetler, a current custodian, it took creative problem-solving (and a tightly packed van) to retrieve the art for its continued history alongside Hochstetler reunions and gatherings.jhfa
The Next Chapter
Having wowed audiences at the Amish & Mennonite Artist Gathering in Winesburg, Ohio, the mural begins a new tour, with Berlin’s German Village its first stop this fall. The Jacob Hochstetler Family Association plans to share the mural widely—loaning it to descendants for celebrations and displaying it at important events, such as the 2028 Hochstetler reunion in Shipshewana, Indiana.
As visitors gather in Berlin to see history painted large, they’re reminded that the lessons of faith, endurance, and peaceful resistance—first lived by the Hochstetler family on a moonless Pennsylvania night—remain as resonant as ever more than 270 years later.yourohionews+4
For those interested, the mural’s journey can be tracked through family events and museums, connecting generations to both history and hope.
- https://www.ohiosamishcountry.com/articles/amish-on-the-american-frontier
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hochstetler_massacre
- https://www.jhfa.net/the-massacre
- http://www.jmhochstetler.com/hochstetler-family.html
- https://www.jhfa.net/reading-eagle-massacre-story
- https://theviewfromthisseat.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-hochstetler-massacre.html
- https://www.yourohionews.com/wayne-county/faith-under-fire-the-enduring-legacy-of-jacob-hochstetlers-pacifism/983411
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacobhochstetler/posts/10160105907740678/
- https://www.timesreporter.com/story/news/2018/03/12/tales-indians-interwoven-into-hochstetler/13015006007/