Louis Amedé de Büren 1802-1879

Louis was the first son of Arnold Louis de Büren (1775-1854) and Marie de Herrenschwand (1778-1822). He was the grandson of the prominent Louis de Büren. He would grow up in Bern and unlike his father and brother, Louis was very industrious and passionate about all he undertook. In 1822 in entered in the Swiss Guards in the service of Holland as many in the family had done before him. He become First Lieutenant in 1827. The regiment he was in was disbanded in 1829. Having been deeply effected by the social change at work around him, he could no longer stay in Europe and decided to emigrate to the United States. He would leave Switzerland in June of 1829 and arrive in Madison, Indiana later that year. He bought a considerable tract of land and settled down to farm.

Madison, Indiana, circa 1856

Not soon after his arrival in Madison he would marry in 1830 a fellow Swiss emigrant, Anna Bühler from La Neuveville on the Lake of Biel. Anna would give Louis seven children, but would die tragically in the delivery of twins in 1842. Louis would sell the farm in 1848 and would move onto Decatur, Tennessee. In an interesting twist of fate, whether of his own accord or the mistake of a local official, his family name and that of his descendants would become van Buren.

Marriage:

In 1830 Louis would marry Susanna Bühler (1807-1842) daughter of Christian Bühler from Schwanden - Sigriswil in the canton of Bern (1782-1855) and Anna Sahli.

From his wife he had seven children:

1. Lewis van Buren (1831-1886) ∞ Amy Green in 1853.

2. Anna Marie van Buren (1832-?)

3. Margaret van Buren (1834-?) ∞ John Litterer.

4. Augustus (Gus) van Buren (1837-1906) ∞ Mary Ann Ryker.

5. John Adolph van Buren (1839-1921) ∞ Araminta Ryker.

6. Emily van Buren (1841-?) ∞ Frank Litterer.

7. David van Buren (1842-?) ∞ Mary Ledgerwood in 1880.