Zoar

Zoar,
community established in Tuscarawas County, Ohio (1819), by a society of German Separatists, incorporated as the Separatist Society of Zoar (1832). Their spiritual and temporal head, Joseph Bäumeler, later spelled his name Bimeler, and the people were commonly called Bimelers. Marriage was at first prohibited, but this rule was set aside (c. 1828). The community prospered and in 1874 had 300 members and more than a million dollars. Because of internal dissension it was dissolved (1898).