Return to Addy

Wednesday, May 19, I drove to Spokane to visit my dad.  We went out for two meals and a movie then made plans for driving to Addy the next day.  Thursday we drove to Addy and, referring to a photo from 1949, looked for a house which had been owned by Robert and Rose Staeheli.  Unable to find the house we spoke with a local who informed us Addy had suffered numerous fires over time so many old homes had been destroyed.  He suggested we check the post office for photos and more information.

The woman at the post office was very helpful.  Some old town photos were displayed there and copies from several publications.  One told a story about Robert Staeheli and his goat.  Another had a group school photo with Waldburga Staeheli.  We were referred to the Mission on Main street to speak to a woman who had knowledge of the Addy Cemetery.  The woman and her daughter who operated the mission did provide information about Russell Gusdal who maintains the cemetery.  Also, the woman lives in the home, outside of Addy, originally owned by Robert and Rose Staeheli.

Leaving Addy, dad and I drove to Blue Creek to meet Russell Gusdal.  Russell gave us a map with dimensions of the cemetery so we could precisely locate the gravesite of Albert Staeheli.  At the cemetery dad and I did find the unmarked graves of Albert and his relative, Peter Staeheli.  Russell told us we could place gravestones ourselves when we were ready to do that.

From the cemetery we drove along Swiss Valley Road to the Staeheli Homestead near the intersection with Marble Valley Road.  The property is divided and part is for sale in two lots totalling 116 acres.  Logging is being done, too.  We drove a primitive road onto the property and located the remains of two structures.  One looked like it had been a home with a foundation made of large stones.  The foundation was collapsed on two sides with timbers lying around.  Some of the timbers were charred indicating there had been a fire.  A short distance away was a chicken coop made entirely of wood.  The design and condition of this building were consistent with having been built 100 years ago.  A stream ran through the property and large fruit trees and other non-native trees were growing on the property.  Ground near the home had been cleared and five large piles of stones were spaced along the fence line at intervals.  Dad and I believe this was likely the Staeheli family farm but must verify that. 

Chicken coop on Staeheli Homestead

From the homestead we drove to Colville to locate the Staeheli Dairy.  First we went to the museum where we spoke with two people who said the Staeheli Dairy had been in what is now Stephani's Oak Street Grill at 157 Oak street.  Ruth Ray kindly put us in phone contact with Gladys Staeheli who had been married to Lester Staeheli, a son of Robert and Rose.  She lives in Colville but had no information for us.  She recommend we contact Lillian Staeheli who had been married to Robert Staeheli, another son of Robert and Rose.  Lillian lives in Spokane and has a daughter, Sharon Thompson.

We located the former dairy on Oak street and I spoke with two workers inside who did not know much about the building's history.  We had been told the dairy was built and began operation in 1947.  Leaving the dairy site we drove a few blocks to the local newspaper, The Statesman-Examiner.  After explaining we were looking for news from 1912 we were directed the an area behind the counter.  From an enormous wall storage area a bound volume of newpapers from 1911/1912 was placed in front of us.  It took only a few minutes to find an article from The Colville Examiner dated Saturday, June 15, 1912 titled Stachli Commits Suicide.  It began, "Alfred Stachli, farmer, aged about 65 years, native of Switzerland, and resident of Stevens county for the past fifteen years, committed suicide...".  This article confirms family lore about Albert's death and relates details explaining the loss of the home to fire the day before.  I will publish the entire article on my website.

Dad and I returned to have dinner at Stephani's Oak Street Grill.

The Colville newspaper is a new valuable resource and when we return there I will research Peter, Robert, Rose, Lester and Ernest Staeheli.  I will look for information about the Staeheli Dairy.  I want to contact the realtor selling the homestead to help verify that the structures are truly the Staeheli farm.  There may be relevant information in the Chewelah museum where we will look next time.  Dad and I will go back in August or September.  In time I will have markers made for Albert and Peter to place on their graves.

The former Staeheli Creamery now a restaurant

Continuing Research - Return to Switzerland

Since my meeting with Staeheli's in January I bought a new computer to enable more data storage and better processing of photos and video.  That, unfortunately, led to a series of technical issues which stalled my progress but provided opportunities to learn more about managing my new computer.  With the purchase and connection of a new photo scanner I am back to the capabilities I need to keep working. 

Several months ago I learned my Google website had run out of memory and I would no longer be able to add photos or documents.  My mentor, Arlis, advised me to subscribe to Siteground and create a new website.  This has been done.  I have much to learn to make the best use of the new website but am committed to making a complete story of our family presenting all photos and documents available.  For now I will retain the Google website while I transfer information to the new site. 

Kathy and I will vacation in Europe again this summer and while in Switzerland will do research at the St.Gallen Staatsarchiv as well as the Kanton Thurgau Staatsarchiv in Frauenfeld.  Today I made contact with a Swiss genealogist who will meet us in Frauenfeld to advance our research.  My plan is to trace our roots back another generation and with what we learned last summer this should be possible.

I look forward to again seeing Marcel Muller and Patric Schnitzer in St. Gallen.  They were extremely helpful uncovering documents about our family last August.

More help from St. Gallen Staatsarchiv in Switzerland

Recently I have received several emails from Marcel Mueller, archivist at the St. Gallen Staatsarchiv.  Marcel and his associates have been researching the era of interest to me and have found records of considerable interest to the Staeheli's.  They have located meeting minutes of the SAK board of directors dated July 9, 1898 listing Albert Staheli as having been paid 28,000 Swiss Francs for his property in Guebsenmoos.  SAK is the power plant company which purchased the properties in Guebsenmoos and the nearby area to develop the reservoir.  On June 7, 1898 SAK representatives and evaluators visited Guebsenmoos and settled deals with the residents whose properties were being purchased.  Marcel sent a copy of the original handwrittern document.
Also, Marcel has located photographs of the Guebsenmoos area from before the reservoir construction.  It is my hope to find photos of the Staheli property showing the house and barn.  Kathy and I will see those photos during our visit to Switzerland this summer.  We are planning a day in St. Gallen to continue research at the Staatsarchiv with assistance from Marcel and Patric Schnitzer.
Marcel checked the Ellis Island website and noted that the hometown for all of the Staheli family members has been changed to Guebsenmoos.  I had initiated this change months ago and it has been done.  I must also check the Swiss Roots website to see if the change has been made there.  Progress comes in small steps but I am pleased to be helping to improve the records for those who value historical accuracy. 
My gratitude to Marcel and Patric for their continued support.

Meeting More Staeheli's in Tacoma

Ann and Dominic

Monday, January 11, I drove to Tacoma to see Ann and Therese Staeheli and meet Chris and Anita Staeheli and their children, Ian and Laura.   I also met Rita Troup and Dominic Staeheli.  Ann and Therese provided a brief oral family history on video and we discussed various early family members and their stories.  Dominic provided his laptop computer so we could view the website and discuss information on the fourteen Staeheli children.  I learned more useful information to be added to the website. 
Anita invited me to stay for dinner and when Chris got home from work we enjoyed a nice meal with the whole family.  Chris offered suggestions for continuing research as he related his trips to Switzerland and Austria. 
Tuesday, I drove to Kenmore to visit Daphne and Bob Dempsey who provided photos of Franziska's family.  Franziska married Vern Dempsey and they were gold miners in Alaska for many years.  Our two hours together went much too quickly but I will see them again. 
Personally, my exploration of the Staeheli family roots is growing more satisfying as I meet more Staeheli's and learn about our individual and collective success as Americans.

Rita, Therese and Dominic

Addy Cemetery Information

I drove to Spokane to visit dad on Thursday, December 17.  Friday morning at 9 AM we arrived at the home of Maggie Rail who voluntarily acquires and maintains records of several hundred pioneer cemeteries around the United States.  I got her name from the website for Addy Cemetery.  A while back I emailed Maggie asking whether she had a map showing the locations of burials within  the cemetery.  She did.  She also had a cemetery record listing information about Caspar Albert and Peter Staheli. 
Our purpose in visiting Maggie was to get copies of her records.  Using my digital camera I photographed the large cemetery map and Maggie made copies of the burial records from a book.
In the spring, dad and I will return to the Addy cemetery to determine the location of the graves of Albert and Peter.  My plan is to eventually place a marker on their graves.  As the patriarch of the Staeheli's in America I believe Albert deserves to be recognized and remembered. 

Birth Records

While at the St. Gallen Staatsarchiv in Switzerland last August I was given copies of the birth records of the thirteen Staeheli children.  The records also inform us a little about Caspar Albert and Marie.  Patric Schnitzer, the archivist who found the birth records made notes in English on the records to help us understand the information there because the German script of the late 1800's is difficult to read.  I have posted these birth records on the website in three groups. 

My friend and mentor, Arlis Hoglen, has found a website explaining the entry on Albert's death certificate related to his cause of death.  I have added a link to that website on the page for Caspar Albert and Marie.

I have received several comments to this blog site which is encouraging as now I know there are interested parties who occasionally log on to see new information.  Marcel Muller, an archivist from the St. Gallen Staatsarchiv has commented about Theresa's letter.

Photo Updates

I have been adding photos to the website which enhance the story by giving faces to the Staeheli family.  Daphne Dempsey has provided photos of Mary and twelve of her children.  Pat and his mother, Ann, have provided photos of Joseph, Hedwig and some of their descendants.  The website is beginning to look as I had envisioned and I am hopeful of adding more photos as Staeheli's become aware of the site and start looking for old photos which certainly exist in old photo albums.

I can not specifically identify all the Staeheli children in the group photos but expect to be able to when other family members who know the faces see the old photos.  This is a process and will take some time.
There is very little information about some of the fourteen children so my focus will shift to seeking more about them.