Editing Jakob Ammann (section)

=== Early life and family ===
Jakob Ammann was born on 12 February 1644 in [[Erlenbach im Simmental]], [[Canton of Bern]], [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Switzerland]] to Michael and Anna (née Rupp) Ammann. Erlenbach church records note the baptism of a Jakob Ammann on 12 February 1644, who was probably Ammann.<ref name="Identifying Jacob Ammann" /> His grandfather has been identified as Ulrich Ammann. All three Ammanns were tailors. Jakob was third in a family of six children.<ref name="Unser Leit">{{cite book | last=Beachy | first=Leroy | title=Unser Leit ... The Story of the Amish | publisher=Goodly Heritage Books | place=Millersburg, OH | year=2011}}</ref>{{rp|p.26}} He probably received limited formal education. On 37 official documents signed by him, only his initials appear, with most of them having a nearby note that Ammann was not able to write so he only "made his mark". However, on three documents, his signed name does appear, although twice it was probably written for him by someone else; once, with the same style of writing as his initials, appear the poorly formed letters "J. AMME", which is assumed to be his own writing.<ref name="Baecher Patriarche" />{{rp|p.155}} Because he asked for letters to be read in one meeting, it is assumed he was not able to read or could do so only poorly. He did better financially than the average person of his time.<ref name="Identifying Jacob Ammann" />
[[File:Jakob Amman's house from the 17th Century (Photo appr. 1900).JPG|thumb|Jakob Amman’s house (dismantled in 1955) from the 17th century in Thal Erlenbach (Photo appr. 1900)]]
[[File:On an old painting.JPG|thumb|Jakob Amman’s house in Tal Erlenbach on an old painting including the barn]]
[[File:Barn Tal Erlenbach.JPG|thumb|The barn in Tal Erlenbach from the 17th century today]]
[[File:Gafner2.JPG|thumb|The new house built in 1955 with the barn from the 17th century on the left]]

Jakob was married to Verena Stüdler, but very little is known of her beyond her name. They had at least one daughter<ref name="Baecher Patriarche">{{cite journal |last1=Baecher |first1=Robert |year=2000 |title=The "Patriarche" of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines |journal=The Mennonite Quarterly Review |volume=LXXIV |issue=1 |pages=145–158 |publisher=The Mennonite Historical Society }}</ref> and one son, Baltz.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gratz |first1=Delbert |year=1951 |title=The Home of Jacob Amman |journal=The Mennonite Quarterly Review |volume=XXV |issue=2 |pages=137–139 |publisher=The Mennonite Historical Society }}</ref>

Jakob’s father and one of his sisters also joined the [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] movement. His brother Ulli, 18 years his junior, was also an Anabaptist and is known for his moderating tone in the attempts at reconciliation between the Amish and Reist sides.<ref name="Letters Roth" />{{rp|p.81–101}}

[[File:Simmental switzerland.JPG|thumb|left|View of Simmental valley, birthplace of Jakob Ammann]]