Digital Commons Network^™

A History Of The Swiss In California, Richard Hacken

Swiss American Historical Society Review

In 1848, the same year that Switzerland’s political structure

took on its present constitutional form as a modern nation-state, a Swiss

settler-entrepreneur named John Sutter became aware of gold deposits

at his mill in Alta California. This led directly to the California Gold

Rush. Two years later, in 1850, the United States accepted the freshly

acquired and promising region now known as “California” into the

Union as a state. Swiss immigrants enhanced the development of California

from its very inception.

The Ticino Swiss Immigration To California, Tony Quinn

Swiss American Historical Society Review

America is a land of immigrants, and the Ticino Swiss immigrants

share many of the characteristics found in other immigrant groups.

The first American immigrants were the English in the 17th century,

who founded the country. They were followed by the Scots-Irish from

Northern Ireland in the 18th century, and then in the half century after

America's Civil War, the years 1865 to 1920, masses of immigrants

came from all parts of Europe.

Peter Moecklin And Peter Lehmann Pastors Of St. John's United Evangelical Church Of Addison, Illinois, Fran Horn

Swiss American Historical Society Review

In 1846 the congregation "The German United Evangelical Church of Addison, DuPage County, Illinois," which had no denominational affiliation but sought to include all German-speaking Protestants and any other believers in its fold, built the first church and parsonage, with Francis Hoffmann their first pastor. Most its members hailed from the village of Schale in the district of Tecklenburg in Hanover, then part of Prussia. Y~t in the summer of 1847 the Lutheran minister C. A. T. Selle of Chicago initiated the expulsion of all non-Lutherans from the congregation which was completed by 1848. By the end of 1848, therefore, …

History Of The Kieburtz/Kyburz Family, R. Bruce Kieburtz

Swiss American Historical Society Review

The origins of the Kieburtz family are found in Switzerland, Canton Aargau, in the town of Oberentfelden. According to the Familien-Namenbuch der Schweiz, a set of books that list family names who possessed rights in a Swiss community as of 1962, the Kieburtz family, historically spelled Kyburz, had citizenship rights prior to 1800 (that qualifies it as an old family) in the towns of Erlinsbach, Oberentfelden, Suhr, Unterkulm, and Niedererlinsbach. The name, and citizenship, has diffused therefrom to at least six other cantons and eleven towns in Switzerland, and the name has migrated to an unknown number of foreign …

Letters From 1915 To The End Of The War, Othmar Ammann, Lilly Ammann

Swiss American Historical Society Review

My dear parents,

Tomorrow the last steamship that can bring you our Christmas greetings is leaving, so that means: hurry. Just a few words, but from the heart.

One is carried along here in the non-ending stream of business so much that one can hardly catch one's breath in order to appreciate the ideal side of life. However, with the approach of the holidays, spirits are lifted. With great excitement and wonderment, young and old await the festive days. What will Christmas bring, how will the New Year begin? This is what each one is asking himself and with thousands …

Othmar H. Ammann's Return To Switzerland, Othmar Ammann, Lilly Ammann

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Two beautiful and quiet days have already passed since we parted. The sea is so quiet and the sky so peacefully clear as to make one forget all dangers and sorrows. Besides, the pure air is so invigorating that I feel already much better and stronger than in New York, I am looking with confidence and pleasure to the future. I feel that my body and brain need a complete restoration and I will be the more vigorous and able to work afterwards. And how · about you? I still ·see the last looks from your dear eyes and the …

Othmar H. Ammann's Military Service, Lilly Ammann, Othmar Ammann, Gustav Lindenthal

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Finally I get to write you a few lines from duty. As Papa probably has already informed you, I went from Basel to Monthal, where I met Mama and Werner, as well as Rosa and Manja Labhart from Moscow. Werner was very happy. He is thin but looks strong and healthy. He did not want to answer my question of whether he would like to come back to America with me after the war. But I am decided about bringing him back with me. On the same evening I also visited Onkel Hermann and David in Zurich. I also met …

O. H. Ammann's Return To New York, Othmar Ammann, Lilly Ammann, Rudolf Meyer

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Dear L.

Just returned from the snow-covered mountain heights of the St. Gotthard on a long ski ride. Am spending a few hours in this beautiful place, which, however, is at present quite desolate. The lake, the Pilatus look wonderful. If nothing intervenes I shall be home in 4 weeks. Shall go to Basel tonight and later to Kilchberg for a few days.