I, Ludwig Dubs from Kuttigen, Aargau, born the 28 July 1864 in Rohr, Aargau. My father, Rudolf Dubs, the oldest son to Heinrich Dubs, district judge in Kuttigen. Father's 5 brothers and 5 sisters are as follows:Heinrich Dubs, a dray-man in KuttigenOnly one sister of my father is known to me well, Elisabeth Blattner, nee Dubs. She died of old age in Kuttigen. Susanne Hensler, nee Dubs, I vaguely remember from early childhood. Countess Wassermanns, nee Dubs, is not known to me. One other sister married S. Nussbaum of Densbueren, and emigrated to America. Shortly after, she died. Nussbaum sent for another sister. After one year, she died. He took a razor-knife and cut her throat. She left words written on the table accusing him before her death. Nussbaum later took his own life. Letters from his first wife to her children mention the un-natural death of their mother also.
Johann Rudolf Dubs, a miller in Kuttigen
Jakob Dubs, a miller in Aargau
Johann. Dubs, a baker in Printe/Kuttigen
Ludwig Dubs, a baker in Kuttigen.My father married Elisabet Hachler, Vogs from Rohr. After the death of grandfather Johann Rudolf Haecherl, Vogs, Amam in Rohr, my father took over the farmstead. He obtained land there before and farmed also. My oldest brother, Johannes Dubs, born the year 1847 is a miller in Othmarsingen. Brother Rudolf Dubs, born the year 1851 is a dray-man in Buchs.
The first years of my upbringing, I feel, were too gentle. My mother and maid-servant pampered me too much. My father took no notice of my upbringing. April, 1871, I started school. The protective early years of my childhood and the stern and impatient teacher I had in school made me miserable and therefore alienated me from school. In later years, I did better.
In February 1871, I watched the French soldiers march past our home. In April, 1872, my grandmother, Anna Maria Hachler, nee Wirz, of Menziken died. In reference to disposition of property, my father was implicated in a lawsuit. It took 4 years. (My mother and her 7 brothers and sisters are still living here.)
In August, 1872, a fire destroyed our home. My brother Johannes stayed with Uncle Jakob Dubs at the mill in Aargau; brother Rudolf in Thun at the military service at that time. Our farmhouse was of a tremendous size with a thatched roof. There were father, mother, myself, (two boys, aged 17 and 9 stayed with us at the time) the maid, and the farmhand (a narrow-minded person) selpt in the attic. The maid awakened first from the noise; the thatched roof was already in flames. Father, mother and myself awakened from the maid in time escape out of the house. Father, only in shirt and pants, took time to bring his Sunday's best, too. In the pants was the milk money he had received the day before, and later lost. Mother, in undershirt and petticoat, took hold of two bedspreads. After we reached the main door, it was impossible to get out. The farmhand and the maid were with us. I ran crying back and forth alone. (Not; Ludwig was 8 years old) The two boys, father and mother already left through the backroom window, unknown to me. I ran back to the bedroom and through the window I could see a person sitting across the street. I crawled through an opening, over the milkwagon to that person; it was the miad. She was a deplorable sight. Her back skin was scorched. She took her clothing off, after burning straw fell from the roof on her.
Across from our house, the road went down to Schachenkoche and by the Aarferry to Lieberstein. Below it was the poorhouse. The woman living there was the first to come and offered to take us in. The maid's sister worked at the Schachenkoche (farm) and all of us went there to stay. The family (boy and girl my age) furnished the clothing for us. At 9:00 o'clock, father and mother came looking from me. They searched all morning, and believed that I was still in the house. People going past the house had noticed me and the maid, and later told them. During the fire, six farm houses burned and 13 families were left homeless. The fire started in the barn, left all the livestock in ruins...7 cows - 1 horse - 2 oxen - 1 calf - 2 hogs - all perished in the fire.
That evening Uncle Jakob took us to Aarau to the mill. We stayed there several weeks until we received the necessary clothing. The maid had died the same day; she was relieved of her pain. After clearing the debris at the house, the remains of our farmhand was found in the cellar. He was the arsonist and under suspicion by the police. Mr. Rudolf Luescher, notary in Aargau and owner of the Schachenkoche, took us in free of charge. We stayed there until next summer. July 1, 1873, father took over the mill in Suhr.
Brother Johannes and two farmhands worked at the Kunden mill. Brother Rudolf worked at the transport business. After school, I helped there, too. I liked to work at the farm better than in the mill. In school, I fell behind in my work about one quarter. My parents and brothers took no notice of my education - only my work at home.
The same year, brother Johannes took Verena Wehrli of Kuttigen for his wife. They stayed with us. In the winter 1873-1874, the owner of the mill below us died. Survivors included 4 boys and 5 girls. My father offered the younger boy, Fritz Gautschi, to be taken into our home. Fritz, a clever boy at home and school, was gaining affection from my parents and brother Johannes.
From 3rd grade on in school, I could not be transferred to the 4th grade. In the spring of 1879, I left school (7 years) Religion, I took from Rev. Hoesli. On Good Friday, the 26th of March, 1880, at the church in Suhr, I was confirmed. Easter Sunday, the 28th, I took the frist Holy Communion, followed by a procession to the Gisolafluk.
May, 1879 - founding of the athletic club.
September, 1879 - in Zofingen for apprenticeship.
February 10, 1881 - to the baker Brand in Aargau to learn the trade at the bakery. A very strick place; the high-spirited and playful fellow there made my life unpleasant.
It was my decision, to go traveling and to see the world, Wilhelm Wildi Sasler from Suhr and I left home. June 9th we took the train to Langenthal - then on foot to Solothum - Burgdorf to Leon, from Leon to Thun - Interlackn - Simmenthal - Weisenburg - Sannen - Beou Agli - Villeneuve - Veve - Lausanne - Orbe - Iverdon - Grandson - Neuschatel - Biel - Delemont (here Wildi got work). I traveled to Basel - Liestal - Frik - Laufenburg - Waldshut - Baden - Brugg - Bremgarten - Muri - Sengen - Bemweil - Kulm, and back home to Aarau. It took four weeks for the journey. After that I stayed home and worked at the mill and bakery.
In February 1883, my brother Johann moved to the mill in Niederlenz. I took over the owrk at our mill.
In March I joined the athletic-club.
Pentecost, G. Weiers, miller, his house burned also.
June 11th vaccinated.
I worked one week at Stroesslers bakery in Granichen.
In July, I went with the Kantomal gym-club to Lenzburg and to see the farm show in Zuerich.
In October, on the 16th, I went to the army medical officer and deferred for one year, because of goitre.
December 28th, my brother Rudolf married Elisa Mueller, from Hirschthal, then in Menziken.
October 10th 1884 recruitment.
December 18th trip with the gym-club.
February 22nd 1885 - gymnastic display.
March 1st, second display.
April 12th - trip to Suhr.
April 25th - military service and the 28th, training in Aargau.
June 9th, big march to Olten - Herzogenbuchse - Solothurn and back.
June 13th, discharged.
June 14th, to Hoellicken, with the gym-club.
Amongst bad company and friends, my social life brought displeasure to my parents and myself.
July 14th, my brother Rudolf took the mill in rent.
I decided to take my trade as a baker further and took to the road again. Samuel Kuhn, a butcher, and Fritz Schneider, both from Suhr, went along with me.
July the 23rd, in Burgdorf, I found work at a bakery. Here I found people, friendly and willing to help me. In 9 weeks of work I was taught more than at my first place of trade. August 19th, I left again for Bern - Biel - St. Immer, Chanade, Fonde - Neuchatee. August 26th, I went to work in a gib mill, but still looking for other work.
September 11th, I left the big mill.
September 14th, started to work in a bakery - not enough pay, so I left again.
I was persuaded to move closer to my girlfriend's home. After a visit to see my parents and the girl, I went back to Luzern and worked at the mill in Grosswangen until spring. The owner and his family, strick Catholics, restored faith in me. Sundays and holidays, I went to church. March 29th, 1886, I left Grosswangen and went to the east-Swiss. In Luzern, I took off with 3 friends. Over Gersau - Schwyz - Zug - Richterswyl - Lichtensteig - Herisau - St. Gallen - Rohrschach - Altstaetten - Sargans - Vaduz - Feldkirch - St. Gallen - Frauenfeld - Winterthur - Zurich. I could not find work after Luzern. After that, I went home. My brother Rudolf talked me into working at his mill.
April 18, 1887 to May 8th, I worked at the mill and the bakery for bakermaster Stroessler in Granicken.
May 22, 23 and 24th, snowstorm.
June 24th, back to Aargau to the Army.
July 7th - 10th, big march.
December 31st, my mother died at the age of 68 years.
In May, 1888, I met Berta Mueller, born 6th Nov., 1872 in Hirschthal (sister to my brother's wife.) Berta was a farmer's daughter, and I was looking for a good life with her and the opportunity to farm. Her parents wished for a more wealthy son-inlaw. I took to the road again.
July 19th, I went to Basel and found work at a bakery again.
Brother Johannes bought the mill and saw mill in Othmarsingen. On August 20th, I went to work at his mill. At the end of February, Johannes went into service and I stayed at the mill.
August 27th, to Zofingen to the army.In the following two years, I had difficulties with Berta in our relationship, which was resolved later. July the 12th, 1891, Berta and I took over the Hasel-Inn and bakery in Willingen (town.) August the 2nd, with Berta to Lenzburg for my brother's celebration.
Sept. 5th - battle at St. Urban. (The year 1890.)
Sept. 6th - battle at Widlisbach.Sept. 8th - rest in Solothurn.
Sept. 9th - fighting at Limpack
Sept. 10th - fighting at Fraubrunner Ifwil.
Sept. 11th - fighting at Schalunnen.
Sept. 13th - discharged from service.August the 13th, 1891, wedding with Berta in Othmarsingen (town), with reception in Baden (town).
August the 14th, refresher-course (army) in Aargau. The 29th of August - discharged from the service and went with Berta to Bern (town).
Sept. the 4th, we moved to Rennigen, district Brugo, and resumed the duties at the Hasel-Inn. The lease was set for two years. The establishment was located in the middle of a large meadow and a large newly-constructed barn. The location was not suitable for a bakery, but on nice Sundays, the business was good. I felt the job as an innkeeper, was not satisfying for me. Berta and I had the chance to buy the business for 8,000 franks, but had to pay 550 franks yearly interest. If I could buy some farm land, that was available here, I could make the payments for the Inn and land, but Berta was not interested in farming. Berta and I lived happy and satisfied, but in business matters, we had our differences.
November the 4th, 1891, my father died. Nov. the 27th, 1891, my son Johannes was born. January the 24th, 1892, Johannes was baptized.
At the bakery, I could not sell too much. I had two places to deliver, one in Villigan, and another in Endigen, two hours from Hasel (town).
Sept. the 20th, wedding of my brother-in-law, Rudolf, at Zofingen (town.)
March the 24th, 1893, sister-in-law, Marie, had her wedding.
April the 28th, 1893, my son Lois was born, and May 14th, baptised. (Hay brought 12-15 franks for a hundred-weight that year.)
Berta's bad disposition toward certain guests, brought an inconvenience to the business. In September, I cancelled the lease. We were offered from beer-breweries, numerous opportunities for employment, but Berta and her relatives did not like it.
My brother Rudolf, who leased a mill since 1891 in Niederlenz (town), asked me to come and operate the mill with him. I took the job in February. Berta and a maid continued to run the Inn until September and I helped on week-ends.
My brother, Rudolf, was forced from the mill by the family of Gautschi. (Fritz Gautschi showed his gratitude toward us, in a thankless way.) Afterwards, Fritz went to learn the trade of a notary-public. Fritz Gautschi's brother Rudolf leased the mill at Suhr and the whole family moved there, too. (Mother, sister, and his two brothers, Jakob and Gottlieb). Fritz left his office job and went back to his family; his brother Gottlieb, after several jobs, came back to his family, too.
The new mayor in town brought new changes. The Gautschi brothers influenced the mayor to raise the tax on mill leases.
My brother Johannes took the mill in Niederlenz from 1891 - 1901 and bought his house in Neubuechs - Aarau.
August 24th, 1893, I moved into the dwelling at the Niederlenz mill.Nov. the 17th, 1894, my son, Alfred was born, Dec. the 2nd, 1894, Alfred - baptised.
Aug. 29th, I was called to active duty again to Sissach (town).
Sept. 5th - battle at Zeglingen. (The year, 1893)
Sept. 6th - battle at Kaemerkinden.
Sept. 7th - battle at Oberdorf.
Sept. 8th - battle at Nunigen.
Sept. 9th - battle at Develier.
Sept. 10th - rest in Delemont.
Sept. 11th - battles at Delemont and Develier.
Sept. 12th - battles at Laufen.
Sept. 13th - battles at Bruderholz and Basel.
Sept. 15th - discharged from the service.
Feb. the 5th, 1894, participated at the funeral of General - Duke of Aarau.
Oct. the 26th, we moved to the front dwelling at the mill.My work at the mill in Niederlenz was hard, but I liked it well. My pay was not enough for the family. Hopeful that Berta would take an extra job to help financially, was in vain. I started looking for a better paying job. I went to Erlinsbach - Staffelback looking for mill-leases, but without financial help from my family and Berta's, I had not much luck in taking on a good lease. Berta's nagging to give up the mill in Niederlenz forced me to buy a house in the town of Rohr, with the intention to make it into a bakery. This house was rebuilt after the 1872 fire, and the owner was our neighbor. The town of Rohr had about 800 people, but no bakery.
I asked my relatives for the required collateral. I was told that the price of the house was 2,000 franks too high. My brother Johannes objected the most. Before our decision to buy that home, we inspected it and Berta was pleased. Now I was in big trouble.. The seller of the house demanded 2,000 franks for withdrawal from the purchase. I hoped to get out of this verbal contract with the seller, but I became involved in a lawsuit. My father-in-law promised me to take care of the lawsuit, but with no results. Unfortunate I always listen too much to other people's advice. I looked for freedom from this agonizing thought and what had happened. Therefore, I made up my mind to go looking for jobs again far away from home.
Aug. the 9th, I left my job at Rudolf's mill in Suhr. Berta and the children went to her parent's farm for the harvest.
August the 10th, I walked to Aarau - Schaffmatt - Gelterkinden - Liestal - Basel. I looked through newspapers for jobs. In the town of Frenkendorf, I collapsed. Not enough food and sleep, my health suffered. After a few days of rest, I was assured a job at the mill in Basel. After difficulties with the bookkeeper, I was forced to take off again. Aug. the 12th, I took the train to Sursee. Aug. the 13th, on foot to Luzern - here I went job hunting again. With the train to Nottwil and on foot to Attiswil - still no work. Aug. the 14th, on foot again to Muenster - Menziken - Leinwil to Niederlenz. In Niederlenz, I rented a bicycle to Arlinsback - Kuttigen - Frick - Rheinfelden - Baselaugst. On the summit of the Stafelug, I could see Aarau and Suhr. Homesickness and the thought of my children made me cry. This time my traveling and looking for jobs was different from my single years.
August the 16th, I started working at the Aktien-mill in Baselaughst. The pay was good. For the sake of health and the heavy loads I had to carry, I quit Sept. the 8th.
Sept. the 10th, in Schaerli - kanton Bern - I started a new job, then the same night, I left in a hurry. The nature of that place made me to do that. Unclean and parasitic insects made it impossible for me to stay.
Sept. the 11th, to Biberen by Murten to work at the mill; not enough pay; therefore, I left again Sept. the 22nd. The same day I found a job in Lys; the same story; not enough pay, bad working conditions.
Oct. the 10th, I went home to take care of legal proceedings against me. Oct. 13th, I went with Berta and sister-in-law Adele to Aeschi, district Solothurn, to look over a lease on the Inn and bakery. The present lease-holder, his uncertain future and the high demands he asked of me made me withdraw from that lease.
Unfortunately, I gave notice to vacate my dwelling in Niederlenz by nov. 15th. Everything looked dim - no job, no place to stay for the family. I went to Gebensdorf - Fisslisbach - Gunzgen.
Nov. the 6th, in Lenzburg at the pastry-factory, I found work and on the 11th of Nov. I started to work there. Mr. Bosshard, agent in Niederlenz, took care of all the proceedings for me in Solathurn. I had to pay 600 franks for redemption and 400 franks for court costs.
Work at the factory was painful. Headaches and discomforts at work; wage only 3.50 franks a day; yearly rent 180 franks; 30 franks for taxes, and to support my family of 5 persons - therefore, very low living standard. Berta in those circumstances could not find the way to be happy.
I was annoyed to find the children never in one place, always moving. I am always looking for jobs, and dismay with Berta made my life miserable. On two occasions, I quarreled with Berta over houses. She disliked all my planning. Now Berta went looking for places for us to stay. The landlords disliked families with 3 children. On Sunday, I found a little house, 2 small rooms and kitchen. We moved in on Nov. the 14th. The landlord was in a judicial assignment of bankrupt property. Soon the land and the house was sold at an auction.
I was interested in that place for myself, but Berta found faults with the old house and the neighborhood. The place was sold to a German gardnere, Scholtz. His wife was known in the neighborhood to be a quarrelsome woman. I feared for the children and Berta in the same house with Mrs. Schlotz.
I went to Lenzburg, looking again for rental places. Not too far from the factory of my work, I found a small house. Berta insisted to stay at the old place with Schlotz, and soon Mrs. Schlotz was complaining over the chileren and Berta, too. I was given a notice to vacate the place by July 1st, 1896.
I hoped that Berta would look for a new place for us. On my way to work, I found a place and the landlord was willing to rent to us. Berta had no luck finding something. Now our former landlord was willing to let us stay. I was very angry and we moved out the next morning.
On the first of the week, Berta and a neighbor woman went to clean the place, from which we moved out. Mr. and Mrs. Schlotz were not at home. The two women found an open window and entered into the place to clean. Mr. Schlotz took me to court for breaking into his house.
Oct. 13th, I went to my uncle and godfather, Ludwig Dubs, funeral. There I met Heinrich Gubler; he is the second husband of Anna Hensler, daughter of Susanne Hensler, nee Dubs. Aunt Susanne Hensler was divorced from her husband and lived in Aarau.
During the funeral-feast, I met the talkative Gubler, owner of the mill in Eglisau. He talked about how to buy the business (a rock-mill) for 8,000 franks and 10 acres of land. Often I wished I was able to take on such a business. After several weeks, I received a letter from Mrs. Gubler to come and talk about buying the mill. I answered her that I was financially unable to go into her business. I was looking into the prospects to buy a mill in Suhrenthal.
Dec. the 6th, 1896, I left for Suhrenthal. Bad train-connection and a late arrival made it impossible for me to look into the lease more thoroughly. It became more difficult for me to take over a lease.....no help from family and friends - only accusation about looking and not finding anything.
Mrs. Gubler came for a visit and after we talked again about her mill in Eglisau, I finally agreed to lease the mill from her. Soon after, Berta and I moved there. Feb. the 18th, 1897, we found the place in a mess. The residence was unclean; the former miller was still staying there with no place to go. I had to evict him with the help from the local police. Late that night, we moved in. The next day, we discovered in what condition the mill was. Another blow to us, and I was in anger over my dealings with mrs. Gubler. I was convinced that I was the victim of an unscrupulous business deal.
June the 29th, I lost a cow - she fell into the Rhine river.
Early September, the Rhine river was at high water. The mill was under water, so we stayed overnight at the stable with the livestock. Our residence was surrounded by water. In the middle of the night we heard a sharp noise. The gear-drive-rod broke. The waterwheel run all night long and in the morning, it broke too.
Berta wanted to get out of this place. I pitched the tent on top of the wagon, and we stayed another day and night. That same night, rain and strong wind tore off our tent. In the orning all of our belongings, including us, were soaking wet. The water-level went down. At the end of October, the waterwheel canal was dry.
I put the mill for lease in the newspaper, with not much success. The miller, Frei, in Oerlikon was interested in leasing the mill, but when he came with his wife, and they saw the shattered waterwheel, the sale was off.
It was again a sad time for us - no expectation to sell the mill. Berta was against my wish to look for jobs again. Insults from Berta and my own regrets depressed me.
December 10th, 1897, our daughter Fanny was born, and baptised Jan. 2, 1898.
Feb. 9, 1898, for two days to Aarau, military review.
In March, I worked the fields and at the Lyner cement plant. Mr. Lyner offered to take me into his business, but soon his financial problem was known to us. From June the 18th, until July the 9th, I worked in Buelach in various jobs. From Aug. 6th until Sept. the 26th, at the Weissenhalden mill in Rorbas as day-laborer. Then to the Loch mill in Rorbas.
With the help fro a Jewish tradesman, I sold the mill in Eglisau. It was an exchange trade. My lease on the mill was canceled out from the legal firm - Bloch Braunschweig in Zurich - for a house for Heinrich Gubler in Leefeld. According to the contract, I was awarded 2,000 franks from Gubler as a payment. For 1,300 franks, Gubler gave me claim to an inheritance; 700 franks he had to pay through a bank, which I have not received yet. I had to promise Mrs. Gubler to come to Zurich and take care of her bakery. I went there in the hope of receiving the 700 franks they owed me. I considered that move as the one most disgraceful in my life - to sit at the table with such an inconsiderate cousin of mine. Nov. the 1st, 1898, I went to Zurich to work for them.
The reason Gubler helped to free me from the lease on the mill was a change in his plans. His intention became known to me during my stay there. Gubler's coming was my first misfortune with the mill, and continuous attempts to work with them were fruitless. A good thing was that I did not move my family there, as they had suggested. Even though, we were thankful to be rid of the mill, we could not live in such condition. In Eglisau, the income was low, and my absence from Berta and the children was hard on all of us.
Jan. the 14th, 1899, I left the Gublers in search of another job, but I could not find a suitable one in the vicinity of Eglisau. Jan. the 24th, I went to Schaffhausen to look for a job.
Jan. the 25th, in Ramsen on the Rhine, I found work at the Stein mill. To be closer to my family, I accepted the new job at the mill in Raks, and April the 17th, I started to work there, but the pay was not sufficient to support the family. Besides, I could only be with my family on sundays, and with Berta's condition, I could not bear it. With Berta, I looked into several businesses. The Hasel-Inn, which we leased some years ago, was available again, but the price had doubled since then.
Aug. the 24th, I received word to come home because of Berta's illness (nervous breakdown). When I came home she was o.k. After staying home a few days, I left for work again. Two days later, I was called back home again. Her illness worsened and she could not be left alone.
My situation now got really bad. I was called back to military-duty to Luzern. Berta wanted to go to her brother with Fanny until I came back from my military duty. I wrote to my brother-in-law, but received no answer. I asked my brother-in-law Rudolf Hauri Amam in Hirschthal and he offered to take her. Sept. the 7th, I took Berta, Hans, Alfred and Fanny to Niederlenz. I left Louis with Karl Hensler in Eglisau. Alfred stayed with my brother in Othmarsingen; Hans stated with brother Rudolf in Niederlenz, Berta and Fanny in Hirschthal.
Sept. the 15th, I was released from the service. Berta's illness stayed the same. She wanted to stay in Aarau; my brother Rudolf offered to take me into his home and offered to buy my mill-lease in Eglisau. I took on his offer. I could not let the family stay alone in Aarau, while I worked in Raks, and I could not find a place for us to stay in Raks. Therefore I quit my work.
Oct. the 1st, I went with Ludwig to Eglisau and we moved all our belongings to Niederlenz. I worked at my brother's mill. Soon, Berta wanted to come also. Her stay in Hirschthal with brother Rudolf got difficult. I offered to work for no pay, only to let my family stay with me, but soon I could see that it was no good. Berta and the children were too much for them.
I prayed for help, night and day. I looked for an answer to my problems. Then a few days later, I received a letter from Mr. Steiner, judge in Pfungen. He wanted me to take the job at the mill in Pfungen. I accepted his offer and went to Pfungen to take care of all the legal paper work. Brother Rudolf and his wife Elise were displeased now that we are leaving from their home so soon. I wanted to stay also; the future in Pfungen was uncertain, but my obligation to my wife and children came first. I wanted them to be with me and not with the relatives.
Nov. the 7th, I went to Eglisau for our belongings and then to Pfungen. There I found a place for us to stay in the schoolhouse until May the 1st, 1900.
Berta's condition seemed improving, and at Christmas everything seemed fine Then after the New Year, Berta started bothering the neighbors again, talking nonsense. From week to week her mental disorder worsened. On April the 4th, I admitted her to the Konigsfelder-Asylum.
It was necessary for me to hire a maid for my household, but I never believed how hard it was to find a reliable person.
July the 3rd, 1900, Berta gave birth to Anna in the asylum. Shortly thereafter I took the baby home. On Aug. the 25th, she died of whooping cough.
Louis, Alfred and Fanny also had a bad case of whooping cough. Alfred developed a bad inflammation of the eyes, and I had to take him to the eye clinic in Zurich. He was in that clinic from Sept. the 11th until December the 27th and was not completely recovered yet when I brought him home.
--1901--
Hans, Louis and Fanny were ill with the measles after the New Year for two weeks. In Feb. I had Alfred's ears pierced and his eye infection cleared. Fanny is sick again with an ear infection.
In April I hired another miad from Kuettingen, but she was not much better than the first one. Aug. the 25th, I took the boys for a long-distance walk to Schaffhausen. From Pfungen to Buch - Flack - Ellikon - Rheinau - Altenburg - Neukausen - Schaffhausen. With the train back to Fetlingen and on foot back to Pfungen. In Sept. the repair work on the mill started and was finished the end of November. Rosine Friedrich from the town of Rohrdorf was not capable of doing housework. In December, I hired another maid, Anna Hafeli from the town of Boswil, and she turned out to be the worst one. She was a heavy drinker and a thief to boot.
--1902--
Easter, March the 30th, I went to visit Berta in Konigsfelden. She was very ill with pneumonia. April the 1st, I received the telegram that Berta had died. Thursday, the 3rd, we brought her body to Hirschthal and on Friday the 4th, we had the funeral service in Schoftland.
In May I was forced to employa second maid for extra cleaning jobs at the house, because the first woman was only cooking.
With Rosa Vollenwider from the town of Pfungen, I became acquainted.
June the 11th, I took Amalie Meier, a new housekeeper in, and she could not cook.
July the 7th, I took a trip on the bicycle with the Swiss-barber to Zurich - Brunnen - Flichlen - Luzern - Sursee - Schoftland - Suhr - Buchs - Baden and back to Pfungen.
In the middle of the month of August, I had to share our apartment with the Steiner Kloter family, a wicked one. The woman was stealing our firewood, also the lard from the pantry, and sometimes even right out of the frying pan. Nothing was safe from that woman and her children. It was impossible for me to keep a housekeeper with that family around.
On December 16th, 1902, I married Rosa Vollenweider from the town of Pfungen.
The Steiner Kloter woman and her bad tongue made our life at the mill miserable.
--1903--
January the 2nd, dispute with the Steiner family. Easter time (April) with Rosa, Hans, Louis and Alfred, we walked to Baden.
July the 4th, my final military duty in Aarau. I took Fanny with me to Buchs, and she spent her vacation there. July the 10th, discharged from military duty, and with Fanny went home again.
August the 26th, 1903, our daughter Rosa was born.
From Oct. 15th until the 23rd, my wife was ill. Nov. the 1st, Rosa baptized. Nov. the 3rd, I took my wife Rosa to Othmarsingen. Brother Johannes offered to sell his mill-lease to me, but sold the same mill to Sager Luscher. That was our season to go to Aarau.
In October, we had to share our apartment with another woman and her 9 children. Now we are 17 people in one apartment.
--1904--
April the 3rd (Easter time) I took Louis to Durrenasch to stay with his gotte. Oct. the 3rd, I went with Rosa to get Louis home. We were gone a few days. Under our present living condition, with all those people in our dwelling, we were looking for another place, but our financial means would not permit it.
--1905--
In January, our community-administration agreed that the mill-lease on our mill could be taken out. I took the opportunity and with the towns-alderman's approval, I leased the mill. In April, I made all the necessary changes. The Steiner family, I moved to another location in the mill. But we were still not safe from their stealing. Steiner's boy took Alfred's golden watch.
--1906--
April the 1st, I started at the mill, and with not enough capital (only 1,000 franks) the limit was set on any improvement. I managed the first year good, and paid the least-tax easy, but the second year was a hard one. From June till January 1907, I milled only 14 days - not enought water. It was a dry year, bu the draught alone was not to blame. The town itself used more water than usual for its needs. Now, I had a desire to buy a house from H. Keller in Blumetshalde without a down payment, but was dissuaded by people, whose advise I followed, who could neither help financially or otherwise...and had to spend the rest of my savings by staying at the mill.
May the 2nd, my oldest son, Hans, started to work at Sulzer in Winterthur.
Dec. 3-8, I worked at the mill in Niederwenigen. The work could have been done on a contract, but pay and the living situation wouldn't warrant it. It was offered me a position from Weil, livestock dealer, as a manager. But Mr. Weil could not come to an agreement with owner, Mr. H. Hage, therefore the proposition fell through.
In Oct. I gave a notice to cancel the lease on the mill by Feb. of 1907.
In the last two years we have not heard from our sister-in-law, Adele, therefore we concluded that some sort of misunderstanding had occurred.
--1907--
From Christmas to January the 13th, we searched in the area of Winterthur for a suitable living quarters, finding one on Jan. the 13th in Wiesendangen. The New Year's day, I spent in Weimingen in Turgau. The weather was bad. The livestock was sold at very low price. And hay brought in 3.60 franks - 4.50 a hundred weight. The apartment at the mill was given to a laborer from Pfungen, who could not make his living at his former place. Our apartment at the mill had to be vacated Jan. the 24th, therefore we moved on the 24th to Wiesendangen. It was a very cold day. So far, the winter was very cold.
Louis stayed with the Baker Juker in Pfungen until school was out. Now we had an apartment, but no work. I looked in the area for work. It was a bad time during the winter to find a job. Many businesses did not hire the person 40 years of age or older. There were many young people available.
Finally, I found work by a coal dealer. Even though I was used to carrying heavy loads, after three days of work there, I acquired a sore back. And most of all I did not like the treatment I received there. I did not have enough time even to clean up for meals. No chance of washing the coal dust off my face or to shake off the dust of my clothing. Consequently, I was ashamed to be treated that way. I felt I was treated worse than a prisoner, but the obligation to my family made me to bear it.
Feb. the 28th, I changed my present work for a job in a hay-mill in Winterthur. It was a dusty job, but the treatment was humane. On May the 26th, my brother-in-law, Samuel came from America for a visit.
June the 13th, 1907, Heinrich was born. June the 25th, Alfred went with the brother-in-law to Buchs to emigrate to America. My brother-in-law invited me to go with him right away to America, but with the newborn son, we postponed the trip until fall. He had arranged a lease on a farm in America.
July the 7th, 1907, Heinrich baptized.
Sept. the 14th, we were in Buchs and Kuttingen for emigration proceedings. The money needed for the immigration, 4,100 franks in all, was lawfully awarded through legacy from my brothers-in-law, Hauries. They were Muller, Rud. Hauri, and my brother Rudolf. The Hauris tried to humiliate me, and my emigration could not possibly materialize if it were not for my brother-in-law Samuel, who agreed to help us beforehand.
Oct. the 3rd, we went to Zurich for the necessary emigration papers. Oct. the 11th, I quit the work at the hay-mill. Oct. the 24th–household auction. Oct. the 25th, we went to Pfungen. Oct. the 29th, we left for Buchs.
November the 1st, we went to Basel. Adele went with us to Basel. At 10:00 P.M., we took the train to Belford, Paris, Boulogne. In Boulogne (France), we stayed overnight in a hotel.
November 3rd, 4:00 P.M. we left by ship, PRETORIA, Hamburg-America-line. Everyone was sea-sick, only Rosie and Henry were not affected. We had a favorable weather. November the 15th, we arrived in America.
The passengers of the 2nd and 3rd class were transported to the immigration island. The treatment we received on the island reminded me about ht hardships the Russians had to endure on their way to Siberia, as I remember reading a book about it.
After our first physical, Hans and I were separated from the rest of the family. Hans' eyes were checked once more, and afterwards, he joined us. I had to take another physical. All the males had to stand undressed in a row until the doctors looked everybody over once again. We were in ages from 18 to 70 years. After several visits to different offices, I finally joined the family. They were worried about my delay. My wife was asked many times about our papers without them knowing of my whereabouts. Then we were herded in a large room with many others like us. The room was overcrowded to the point it was hard to breathe. There were a very few seats available. We were there six hours. We were given a meal consisting of sour beans and plums. After that we were sent to the communal quarters, which had three-stories high iron bunkbeds. I counted 500 beds there, but there were about 600 people. Almost half of the beds did not have any bedding. We were sleeping on bare beds or on the floor. A German-speaking Bohemian and I wanted to complain, but were forced back into the room, and the door was locked behind us.
We could not sleep that night. The Bohemian had to sleep on the floor with his three little boys. In the women's quarters, it was not much better. However, my wife and the children and a few others had more comfortable situation. At 10:00 A.M. the next day, we were called before the immigration commission and were given the permission to enter the country. We felt somewhat relieved. At 5:00 P.M. we were brought to the station, and at 10:00 P.M., we boarded the train to Chicago.
Nov. the 18th, we arrived at 3:30 in Chicago. At 6:00 o'clock we boarded the train to Omaha and arrived there on Nov. the 19th at 12:00 noon. At 4:00 P.M. we boarded the train to Columbus and arrived there at 6:30 P.M.
Brother-in-law Samuel Muller picked us up in Columbus and took us to his farm, where we stayed until March 1st in board and room. We were well received and soon recuperated from our journey.
I worked on the farm, and Hans, Louis, Alfred and Fanny went to school. Hans attended the religion classes in Columbus.
March the 1st, 1908, we moved to the farm of Karl Rohde, 4 miles northeast of Columbus. With my boys, I farmed 360 acres of land. Besides the pay of $650. a year, we had a free housing a plenty of flour, meat, milk, butter, lard and the fuel. Also some land for a vegetable garden.
My brother-in-law, after his arrival fro Switzerland, arranged the present position, because the previous arrangement for a farm lease was not available. The farm was given to someone else. Consequently, my future position was more promising and our family was forever thankful to him. What my rich relatives could not, and would not do, Samuel Muller alone could do, without me being indebted to him.
We could do the farm work without any difficulties and began to acquire the necessary things for our lives. Our first winter in America was a mild one.
Nov. the 6th, 1908, our son Frank Jacob was born.
--1909--
January 27th and 28th, a heavy snow storm...our first one in America.
March the 1st, we moved to Fred Stengner's farm, 4.5 miles from Columbus. The lease was half of the farm products of 570 acres. The contract of lease was as follows: half of the inventory, livestock and machinery and the right to a half of the income. My expenses for livestock, machinery and the fodder for livestock amounted to $3,400, with a down payment of $550.
In the spring - lots of rain, and also during the harvest time; thunderstorms every day and night for a long period of time. In the fall a nice weather. The first week in December - lots of snow. Seventy acres of corn harvested and 30 acres of hops stayed until March of next year (1910) before they could be harvested. The wheat yield was good, 30 bushel per acres; oats 30-40 bushel per acre (moderate); barley good, too; corn moderate (average). The farm land was full of weeds, more weeds than grain. The hay was moderate. We fattened 48 steers and cows.
--1910--
September the 16th, Emil Dubs from Kuttigen (Switzerland) came here. This year nothing out of the ordinary happened. The Harvest was moderate to good.
--1911--
This year too, nothing out of the ordinary happened. The harvest was moderate. Emil Dubs went in March to Paul Egli.
--1912--
March the 28th, the river Loup flooded the lowlands of the town. We took some hogs to Columbus. This winter from January until April, the hogs had cholera....lost 75 yogs. From Sept. the 26th until oct. the 8th, my wife was sick. The whole month of December was warm after a wet fall. The harvest - good.
--1913--
From January the 20th until February the 8th, my wife sick again.
March the 11th, Hans, Louis, Alfred and Fanny payed back the money they received from the Hauri family for immigration, $205. each.
Oct. the 22nd - to Norfolk; the 23rd to Valentine.
Oct. the 29th, Hans gave up his homestead land.
Nov. the 12th, Hans acquired some land in Hyannis.
Nov. the 17th, Hans returned.
The harvest was goo this year, but it was a year of turmoil and confusion.
--1914--
January the 30th, Marta was born.
On Easter Sunday, the chicken house burned down; lost 60 chickens.
April the 15th, I went with Hans to Hyannis to settle on his land.
April the 17th, E. Schaufelberger from Baretswil visited us.
June the 5th, my wife came to Hyannis and June the 16th, she went back home.
My wife visited Konigs. From the 9th to the 15th of October, my wife went to Grant County.
--1915--
February the 17th, I sold the horses and the machinery. Horses brought a good price, but machinery did not. March the 4th, at 3:00 A.M., we went by train to Ashby to Hans' homestead. It was a snowstorm. We arrived at 5:00 P.M. We unloaded our belongings in a coald warehouse in Ashby and transported them a little by little, since the house was not finished yet, and Hans did not expect us that soon. I was reluctant to move here; may things I could not comprehend, which I realized later, but it was too late. Louis stayed with us one year, then he left for Wyoming. Alfred stayed and worked in Columbus for two years. Then he came to Hyannis and after a while left for Wyoming also.
--1916--
February the 10th, Rudolf was born. Louis and Alfred were drafted into the Army. Louis served on the front in France. Alfred was stationed on a base in Kentucky. In our first year, we bought a section land, #10, next to Hans' land, which was not approved out of Valentine (by Drapelo Bohm) yet, for $2,400. and was put to use right away.
--1917--
In March, we enlarged our house and moved to our land. Hans wanted to get married, but he postponed until 1923. During that time we farmed our land together.
--1919--
Alfred returned home from service. Louis came later, too. He was wounded at St. Michel.
(The very last page in the diary is an abstract of the book.)
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