I am also searching for Swiss German roots around the Lucerne/Lausanne area of Switzerland.
It is possible that the last name was Hoover or Smith...but it also could be Kroekle or Geiser. So I am hoping too that someone can connect with people who emigrated from Switzerland /Germany prior to 1785,,,so we are looking a long way back or as recently as 1850..any possibilites please notify me..

I do not know a Max but I wish you a most sincere support system in your search.I did visit southern Switzerland a couple of years ago from Ontario Canada and I do love the countryside there.

Kathryn Hill