This Bluffton picture has an Ada connection. It is this week's Bluffton Icon historical photo. And because of the Ada connect, we are curious if an Ada viewer can help us with more additional information.

Taken in the 1914-15 school year this Bluffton College student group called themselves “Student Volunteers.” It turns out that members of this group intended to enter the Christian mission field upon graduating from college.

Here’s who they are:

Top from left, H.W. Berky (faculty advisor), Floyd Pannabecker, Lloyd Pannabecker and Walter Niswander.

Seated from left, Metta Lehman Dean, Jennie Gottshall Boehr, Nettie Moser Martin and May Carolus Crouse.

We learned the following from Bluffton resident, Jan Emmert, whose grandfather was a Niswander:

Walter David Niswander (1889-1969), son of Peter M. Neuenschwander and Mary Zehrbach; he was born in Richland Township, but in the 1930 census was living in Ada. He was married to Edna Kimmel, and had a son, Kenneth Niswander, born around 1925.

Any Ada viewer with additional information about Walter, feel free to contact us at: [email protected]