Individual 9: Staheli, Mary

Individual Record 9

Name} Staheli, Mary

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Female

Birth: Date} Exa 1 Oct 1855

Place} Amriswil, Thurgau, Switzerland

Marr.: Date} Exa 11 Apr 1875

Place} Santa Clara, Washington, Utah (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 7 Dec 1936 C

Place} 121 So. Granada, Alhambra, Los Angeles, California

Burial: Date} Exa 8 Dec 1936

Place} San Gabriel Cemetery, San Gabriel, Los Angeles, Calif

Grave Marker} Yes

Source 1}	81 = Genealogy
Source 2}	87 = Diary
Source 3}	711 = Family hstry
Source 4}	888 = Letter
Source 5}	1749=Baptism rec
Source 6}	177 = Passenger ls
Source 7}	902 = Passenger ls
Source 8}	1749=LDS history
Source 9}	75 = Geog history
Source 10}	356 = Church recrd
Source 11}	80 = 1870 USA cen
Source 12}	722 = Marriage rec
Source 13}	27 = 1880 USA cen
Source 41}	16 = 1900 USA cen
Source 15}	40 = 1910 USA cen
Source 16}	322 = Business dir
Source 17}	468 = 1920 USA cen
Source 18}	323 = Phone book
Source 19}	324 = Phone book
Source 20}	744 = 1930 USA cen
Source 21}	213 = Photographs
Source 22}	671 = Photographs
Source 23}	1136=Photograph
Source 24}	139 = Death certif
Source 25}	435 = Obituary
Source 26}	147 = Death certif
Source 27}	19 = Cemetery rec

Parents: } Johann George Staeheli & Sophia Barbara Haeberli
Relationship No.} 9

1st Household No.} 143 = Amriswil, Thurgau, Switzerland

Occupation 1} Housewife
Occupation 2}

Religion/Church}

Spouses: Prime} Olson, Hans
Total Number of} 1

Notes: Mary was born Maria Staeheli in Amriswil, Thurgau, Switzerland on 1 Oct 1855 to Johann Georg Staeheli and Sophia Barbara Haeberli. She was baptised 17 Oct 1855 in the Evangelisch church, Amriswil.

Her older siblings were Wilhelmina, born in 1849, Jakob, born 1859 and died 1851, Elizabeth born 1851, and Johann George (George) born 1854. Her younger siblings were Johannes (John) born in 1857, Sophie, born 1859 and died 1859, and Sophie born 1860.

On 3 May 1861, Mary's family left Amriswil for America. They sailed on the Monarch of the Sea, leaving Liverpool on 16 May 1861, landing in New York on 19 Jun 1861. Her family had been recruited by the Mormons, and their passage was paid for by the LDS Perpetual Fund. Her youngest sister Sophie died during the journey and was buried at sea.

The 1920 U.S. Census records her immigration date incorrectly as 1860. The family name in America was spelled Staheli.

A few days after arrival, the Mormon contingent left by train for the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha). It was during the Civil War, and at times the train traveled blacked-out because they were close to battle lines. She later told stories about hearing cannon fire as they traveled.

In Florence they joined the Sixtus E. Johnson Company for the journey across the plains by covered wagon. About 200 individuals and 52 wagons were in the Company when it departed 14 and 15 Jul 1861. They arrived in Salt Lake, Utah ten weeks later, on 27 Sep 1861. Here they joined Mary's grandparents and sister Wilhelmina.

At the October conference of 1861, President Young called 109 families, including the Staheli families, to the the Dixie mission in Southern Utah. They left in November 1861, for the 300 mile trip south. Daniel Bonneli, a native of Switzerland who could speak both Swiss and English, was appointed captain of the company. They arrived in Santa Clara, located about 5 miles northwest of St. George, between 24 and 28 Nov 1861. The family took up residence in the Old Fort.

Mary's sister Barbara was born 26 Dec 1861. Then the rains began, and on 17 Jan 1862, the little settlement of Santa Clara was washed away. The settlers rebuilt a short distance away. Her father George became ill with Mountain fever, now recognized as typhoid, and was sick for six weeks. Then her mother Sophia came down with it and died 3 Jun 1862. Her father George married Barbara Meir Bliggenstorpher, a recent widow, to help care for the children.

In Jun 1865, Mary was baptised in the Santa Clara Ward, LDS, by Daniel Banelli. In the 1870 U.S. census, the children still living at home consisted of Mary, her brothers George and John, and sister Barbara.

Her grandson Donald Olson remembered Mary telling of the weekly dances that were held on the second floor of the Hamlin home. Hans Olson, who was probably mining in the nearby area, attended the dances, and evidently "swept her off her feet." There is a marriage record showing that they were married on 11 Apr 1875.

Mary and Hans moved to Jack Rabbit. Daughter Josephine was born in 1876 and Ida was born in 1877. They moved to Spring Valley, Nevada. The 1880 U.S. Census census lists Hans as being a farmer, and by that time there were three children, Henry having been born in Spring Valley in 1880. Living next to them were Frank C. Walker and his wife Elizabeth, and their five children. Elizabeth and Barbara Staheli (who was listed as a servant in the home) were sisters of Mary.

Their fourth child George was born in 1882 near Jacksonville, Oregon, and the family finally moved to California, settling in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, in late 1892. Their son Frank was born in 1885, daughter Lillian in 1887, and daughter Mabel in 1889. In the 1900 U.S. census, the family was living in Alhambra, the San Gabriel Township, Los Angeles County. Hans was listed as a farmer.

In the 1910 U.S. census, Hans and Mary were living alone in the family's residence at 316 Wilson Avenue, now Atlantic Avenue, in Alhambra. Hans was listed as having his own income. In the 1920 U.S. census, their daughter Mabel Ferrell, her husband Thomas, and boys Frederick and Clifford, were living with them.

Hans died 23 Jan 1921 and Mary moved in with her daughter Ida Lawyer and husband Arthur at 30 North Third Street. The 1930 U.S. census shows Mary living with her son Henry, his wife Amy, grandson Donald, and Maurice Noble, at 420 North Second Street, Alhambra. In 1934, when her youngest daughter Mabel died, she moved into the home of Thomas Ferrell, Mabel's husband, to take care of their youngest child.

According to family members, Mary loved to garden. She also raised canaries. The bank failures of the Depression wiped out most of her savings. Fortunately, one savings and loan bank in which she had deposits survived. During the depression, many in the family had to depend for work on Frank Olson's lumber business.

Mary had a heart attack in late November 1936, followed by pneumonia. She died 7 Dec 1936 at the age of 81. She is buried with her husband in the Olson family plot in San Gabriel Cemetery, San Gabriel, California.