Hunt for Gygax

Friday, October 21, 2011

We do not know when Anna’s heart was changed towards the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but she eventually gave permission for her 20 year old daughter Anna Maria to be baptized. Whether before or after Anna Maria’s baptism we do not know, but different missionaries visited Anna’s home to teach her more about the religion her daughter had become converted to. Eventually Anna agreed to attend one of their meetings. One of the elders in the area, John Georg Hafen, asked Anna to attend a conference with him in Bern. She agreed to attend with him, and it was at this conference that Anna’s heart was converted to this new religion. She was baptized at the age of 46 on December 29, 1882 in Pfaffnau where the branch was headquartered, about 5 miles from Oftringen, and 3 miles from her hometown of Schwarzhaüsen. She was baptized by Elder T. Hofer, and confirmed by Elder John G. Hafen.

The leaders of the LDS Church were trying to gather all of the new converts to Utah where they would build up Zion in America. Money was still very hard to come by and Anna could not imagine a way to join with the saints. Also, her other two girls did not want to join this new religion, and her son and youngest were living with extended family. We do not know whether Anna had a desire to emigrate to America or not, but Anna Maria did. The elder that had confirmed Anna came to her with a proposal. Elder Hafen suggested that through the perpetual emigration fund of the Church, they would be able to arrange passage for young Anna Maria to come to America. At this time in the history of the Church, polygamy had been introduced into the Church. John had left two wives back in Utah to come to Switzerland and serve a mission for the Lord. He told Anna that he would be glad to help her go to America and when she arrived he would be willing to marry her and take her as his third wife. Anna Maria convinced her mother that this was her hearts desire and Anna thought deeply about what was being asked of her, both in behalf of herself, her other girls and also in behalf of Anna Maria.

This would be a hardship of those left in Switzerland, because Anna Maria had become a very vital part of the family income. But this was what young Anna desired, and the mother knew that. Permission was granted for Anna Maria to emigrate to Utah after Elder Hafen returned home and in August of 1884 Anna bid her eldest daughter farewell for the final time in the flesh.

The challenge of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ in Switzerland and to remain there when most of the other members had emigrated would bring it’s own set of challenges. It was on 2 November 1884 that Anna’s membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was terminated. We do not know whether she asked to have her name removed from the records of the Church or whether she was excommunicated. Nor do we know if she went back to her previous religion immediately, but eventually she returned to worshiping in the Evangelical Church.

Karl and Amalie continued to live with Anna’s extended family until adulthood. They lost track of Karl but corresponded a little with Amalie. Both children however, never again had the closeness with Anna and her children that the Elise and Maria felt. Amalie married a soldier in the Salvation Army, Johann Jacob Schweizer, and moved to Zurich. Eventually they found Karl in Basel and he had married Lina Schmutz but they never had any children. Anna Maria married John Georg Hafen in America, and became his third wife. Maria married Oct 22, 1883 to Jakob Hunziker. Daughter Elise married Jakob Müller on 28 Jun 1888 in Aarwangen.

Anna moved back to Aarwangen, though we do not know when. Her contact with Anna Maria was limited but a letter was found that she wrote to her eldest daughter in America: ? Buhler -Was this the lady she lived with and worked for?

Aarwangen 11 Dec 1895

My dear ones,

It's been a long time since we heard from you. If is our fault. Since your letter, I have been sick a long time. I had so much pain in my back until the middle of the summer. I couldn't walk and had to stay in bed 'mid great pain. I couldn't move. The doctor came everyday. When I could get out in the sun it finally started to get better. Otherwise all are well.

The children grow and are happy. Little Anneli wants to boss everyone.

Dear Anna, five weeks ago they buried Mrs. Buhleu. Our Marie was there and took care of her while she was ill.

What are your children doing? Are they well? I hope so. Good health is the greatest wealth we can have.

Our only picture of Anna Gygax Huber.

It was sent to America in 1895 but the

date and age of Anna when it was taken

is unknown.

We had a meeting in Evangelist Ruggele (Roggwil, a nearby town?). I repented. Since then I have been reading the Bible and praying and I hope God will bless me with the Holy Ghost and strength to endure the time I have left to live. So I will remain here until we meet on the other side where it is beautiful and Heavenly - right dear Anna?

I am sending a picture, you can tell your children this is their Grandmother. How I would like to see them and give them a kiss and clasp them to my heart.

Outside of this, I have nothing new to write to you. My brothers and sisters as far as I know are well.

Lisele and Muller went to Schwarzhaüsen with Ammeli to visit and had a good time. The son of sister Lisele was here with us last summer.

We send you loving greetings., Lisele Muller and children and wish you a blessed New Year. Especially greetings and kisses to your children, you and your husband.

Your Mother,

Anna H.

Anna’s health continued to decline. She eventually moved in with Elise and Jakob Müller. She lived there and Elise and Jakob were happy to care for her and look after her. Anna continued to get worse, and her mind deteriated and by the early 1900's it took at least two people to care for her at all times. She needed full time care - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She was termed “insane” and it was necessary to seek more help in caring for her.

PHOTO:

Date of photo unknown.
The original hangs in the halls of the current hospital.
Duplicated in 2005.

Built on the shore of the Bodensee, in a Monastery dating back to the year 986, Anna was housed in this hospital by the name of Psychiatrische Klink Müsterlingen, which translated means Thurgau’s Mad or Mental Hospital. While Anna was there it was directed by Dr. Ludwig Franc who’s studies with the patients contributed greatly to the first addition of the Interpretations of Dreams by Sigmund Freud in the early 1900's. Today the hospital is known as the Psychiatrische Dienste Thurgau. Anna lived here for 1½ years before she died. In Münsterlingen, Thurgau there was a hospital set up for the insane called the Psychiatrische Klinik Münsterlingen. This psychiatric hospital had been established back in 1838. They were in the process of expanding and adding four new pavilions and a new mansion. Anna was admitted and lived in the hospital in the middle of the year 1900.

We do not know what kind of care she received here, but in those days the patients in an insane asylum had a rough life. One patient that lived in this hospital a few years after Anna was eventually released and moved back to live with her family. She was not able to deal with the death of her husband, and had to spend a short time institutionalized. When she was allowed to return to her family she would never again step foot in a buggy or car because she was overcome with fear that they might take her back to the hospital in Münsterlingen. She would rather walk the two miles to the family farm where she helped, and then she also returned on foot. The memories of being institutionalized struck such fear in her heart she would not take any chance of going back.

Date of photo unknown. Not taken when Anna was in the hospital there.

Anna lived in the hospital for over a year and a half, and then passed from this life on December 26, 1902 in Münsterlingen, Thurgau.

How grateful we are for the atoning sacrifice of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the knowledge that all things will be made right in the next life.

Anna’s life was filled with challenges - some we can not even comprehend. She appears to have faced her trials in life with a brave face and did the best she could do in every situation. She loved her children and did all she could to help make their life better and easier. She died having faith in her Savior and trusted in His goodness. He was her strength in this life, and she looked forward to meeting him in the next.