Family History Writing Challenge Day 4

Swiss cow

While the Kübler family was fortunate to own land in Büsserach, that did not mean life was easy for them. The climate and the soil in that part of Switzerland were not particularly great for agriculture. The hills and mountains made it more suitable for cows and goats than growing crops, and there was insufficient land to accommodate a growing population. Perhaps a crop failure in 1853 was the final breaking point for Vinzenz, and the motivation to uproot his family and start all over again in America. He certainly wasn't alone in his thinking.

Between 1851-1860, over 25,000 Swiss emigrated to the United States. Generally speaking, it is not the richest inhabitants of any country who seek a home elsewhere. This is particularly true in Switzerland, where the love of country is so strong that only absolute necessity could tempt people to leave their native villages. The majority of the emigrants came from the agricultural cantons. They often traveled with groups coming out of their same region. In some areas the local council gave them a financial incentive to leave so they would have less citizens to feed during times of economic recession. The money was given to the emigrants on the condition that they never return to Europe, and with the caveat that if they did return, the money was to be repaid with an interest rate calculated on top of it.

Advertisements were placed in Swiss newspapers by travel agencies who catered to the demand for emigration. Some were reputable, and some took advantage of the poor Swiss who were enticed by the offers of cheap and fertile lands in America, or the opportunity for higher wages and better opportunities for work. The agencies of ill repute were referred to as Seelenverkäufer and Bauernfänger (soul-sellers and peasant-catchers). Eventually the Swiss government stepped in to supervise the travel agencies in an effort to protect its citizens.

Kübler passport

Whatever his motivation, on 8 February 1854 Vinzenz applied for a passport to America. He had sold his part of the family farm, conducting the deal at the very building pictured below which was located in nearby Breitenbach. The sale is how he financed the trip for his family. Using the name of Josef Kübler, the passport indicates that he was from Büsserach and was 41 years of age, 5'7" tall, with black hair, grey eyes and an oval face. It states that he was a farmer and would be traveling to America with 4 children. It is notable that his wife Carolina is not included on the passport. There is no death record for her in Büsserach, and in fact she appears in records in America. It's possible that there was an oversight, or perhaps she traveled at a later time period.

Landgasthof Weisses Kreuz

Where did the family go? And what was to become of Vinzenz's mother, Maria Anna?

Family History Writing Challenge Day 3

Life continued on at a steady pace for the Küblers on their farm in Büsserach. Through the efforts of the Congress of Vienna, which met in Vienna from 1814-15 following the Napoleonic wars, the borders of Switzerland and its neutrality were established. One thing that Maria Anna (Saner) Kübler did not have to worry about was sending her boys off to war.

But just because they were not soldiers did not mean she was safe from losing them, however. On 23 August 1833, her youngest son Usus Victor died. He was just 18 years old. Of her 5 children, only 2 remained. A family of 6 had become a family of 3. It must have been a relief and joy to her when her remaining two boys Vinzenz and Johannes were married and began having families of their own.

St. Peter

On 15 November 1841, Vinzenz married Carolina Borer. Also from Büsserach, Carolina was born 10 February 1814 to Urs Borer and Maria (Saner) Borer. It is unknown if she had any siblings. Vinzenz and Carolina had the following children: Urs Viktor, born 1 September 1842; Pius, born 17 April 1844; Adelrich, born 6 December 1845; and Vinzenz Josef, born 14 March 1848.

marriage of Vinzenz and Carolina

The marriage date of Johannes and Maria Elisabetha Antonia Magdalena Saner is unknown. From their union in Büsserach came two sons: Adolf, born in 1845; and Adelheid, born 21 February 1849. As their two children were born in Solothurn, it is quite probable that Johannes and Maria left Büsserach and set up their household elsewhere.

Vinzenz and his family continued to live on the farm with his mother Carolina until 1854. Something happened early that year that would change the lives of Vinzenz, his family, and future Kübler family members as well.

Kübler land in Büsserach