Santa Clara Swiss Days
Johann Georg Stäheli
In the Swiss Village of Amriswil, Thurgau, Switzerland, Johann Georg Stäheli was born on the 6th of February 1825.
Staheli Family
Staheli Home in Amriswil Switzerland
Built in 1446, with a mill pond above it and a creek that ran behind it. Beautiful green rolling hills and fields all around.
Staheli Family
Johann Georg Stäheli Baptism
Johann and his wife were baptized near the Naegli home on the shore of Lake Constance.
Staheli Family
Monarch of the Sea
On 16 May they boarded the Monarch of the Sea, the largest sailing vessel which crossed the ocean at that time.
Staheli Family
Johann's Cornet
A personal tragedy for George occurred when on arriving in Washington; his coronet fell out of the wagon and was run over by one of its wheels, damaging it beyond repair.
Staheli Family
Santa Clara Utah Dugout
The Staheli's first home along with others was dugouts into the hill with the projecting part being made of willows covered with mud.
Staheli Family
Flooding in Santa Clara Utah
Rain which began to fall went unnoticed for many days until the Santa Clara Creek suddenly began to rise from its bed and to flood surrounding areas.
Staheli Family
St. George Temple
At the groundbreaking and dedication for the St. George Temple the Swiss Brass Band, led by Johann Staheli, performed.
Staheli Family
Franklin Staheli
Born on May 3, 1874 in Santa Clara, Utah. Although my father died when I was only 6 yrs old I remember his musical talent of playing the cornet and the violin.
Staheli Family
Franklin Staheli's Music Talent
When I was around ten years of age my mother gave me a harmonica for Christmas. She gave it to me Christmas Evening and before I went to bed that night I had learned to play "Home Sweet Home".
Staheli Family
Tree Fire
We went back to the field in a wagon to get our bedding and instruments and found that our fire had spread over the tree and our lovely harp and violin both burned up.
Staheli Family
Franklin Staheli Threshing
About 1908 Franklin started the threshing machine business.
Staheli Family
Hafen Family 15-acre farm
They raised cattle, hay, grain, potatoes and fruits... especially grapes.
Hafen Family
Lake Constance Harbor
In the German-Swiss language the name HAFEN means HARBOR or haven... a place of refuge and security.
Hafen Family
Barbara's Missing Clothes/Shoes
Her brother and father tried to stop her from meeting with the missionaries by hiding her shoes and clothes, but Barbara convinced them both to be baptized.
Hafen Family
Mock Baptism
While John George Hafen was on his mission he was taken by a mob and dunked in a well trough as a "mock baptism".
Hafen Family
Passage to America
The Hafen's were not only able to pay their own passage to America but helped others who were less fortunate so they could come to America with them.
Hafen Family
Susette Bosshard Hafen
The Indians loved her because she was always kind to them and often gave them food and clothing.
Hafen Family
The Santa Clara Merc
It was the first store in Santa Clara with John G. Hafen as the manager.
Hafen Family
John G. Hafen Service
He served many missions including a mission back in Switzerland and Germany. Soon after his return home, he was called to be the first Bishop who was of Swiss Descent.
Hafen Family
The Great Shoe Mystery
One morning after he got to school he took off his shoes and hid them by the outside wall of the school...
Hafen Family