ISELI FAMILY

Iseli, -- pronounced E-se-le in the original Swiss.  Various spelling: Iseli, Isely, Islie, Isley, Esely.

The family origin prior to 1737 seems to have come from Zal, a small mat or homestead, in the Canton of Bern In Switzerland.  The year 1737 is the earliest date obtained by verification from Lutzelfluh, Ct. Bern.  Other places they subsequently came from are: Eriswil, Hasle, Hubli, Wynigen.

The lseli emigration from Switzerland to America was at several times from 1845 to 1881.  Christian Iseli, Jacob Iseli, Hans Ulrich Iseli, and John Isely, were among the first to come 1845-1841.  Johannes Iseli, and the Schar family, came in the fall of 1852.  Jacob Eseli, and the Yost family, came in 1870; and the John Esely family, were the last to come in 1881.

They first settled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and later moved on west to Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.  Samuel Iseli, spent a number of years around Vicksburg, Miss., before coming to Wisconsin.

John Isely (the writer's maternal grandfather), came to America in 1845.  The family sold their farm in Switzerland and John took the money with him to purchase land if he thought it satisfactory; then he was to let the folks in Switzerland know, and he sent money to them in care of a relative who was to give them the word to come and to use the money for their passage.  This relative gave the word, but retained the money.  This caused the family to have to finance their own passage which was not sufficient to allow the father, Hans Ulrich Iseli, his own room and board expenses and he was taken off the boat, even as it started to move, and he had to remain in Switzerland until later on when he had funds for his passage.  The family went on but were much concerned and distressed over this matter.  Hans Ulrich came later, then, but the ordeal of the trip together with the effects of the Malaria plague that was so prevalent in the early pioneer days, proved too much for him; he died shortly after his arrival in Ohio, in 1847.

The family lived in Ohio five or six years, coming to Washington Township, Green County, Wis., in 1852, where the mother Anna Barbara (Marti) Iseli died and is buried in the New Glarus, Wis. old cemetery.  Her grave is near the southeast corner of the Swiss Reformed Church yard.

In 1857 Mr. Isely married Louise Germann, daughter of Johannes Germann and Margaritha Zurcher, she was one of ten children and was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio; her parents were natives of Ct. Bern, Switzerland.   She came with her parents to Wisconsin from Ohio in 1843, and first settled in what was called Richland, southeast of Monroe near the state line.  Soon after their arrival in Wisconsin the father contracted a fatal case of Cholera from a lodger in their home, a Mr. Stuckey, who was a brother to David Stuckey, leaving the mother with the task of carrying on with her large family.  From Richland the widow and children moved to Washington twp., where they opened a farm and the children went to school.  The country was wild and Louise (the writer's grandmother) often told of their living in a log house, and deer and other wild life were common, with wolves a menace at times.  Louise suffered a circumstance similar to that of her mother, when her first husband, John Isely, died in 1818, leaving her with nine children to raise.  In 1890 she remarried to David Stuckey, who died in 1909.  She loved her family and in her retiring years enjoyed many happy family gatherings and visits with her many friends.  The writer spent many happy hours with her, and enjoyed her many stories of the early days.  Her first husband, John Isely, was 14 years older than she when they married, and she often related how when she was a little girl in Ohio he had held her on his knee, not realizing then he would be her husband later on.

They were married May 8, 1847, at the Germann home.  Previous to his marriage, Mr. Isely having the powers of a Squire, performed the wedding of his sister, Ann Mary Iseli, and John Frautchi in the Isely home.  Mr. Isely and his bride lived in Washington twp. about 6 years.  Three children: Caroline, John, Jr., and Mary were born there.  They then moved to a small farm just east of Monroe on the Albany road, the first place east of the city, near where the Green County Highway garage is now.  Lived there a few years; the children: Helena, Amelia were born there.  They traded this farm for the Green County House in Monroe where they lived about two years, and then sold the House to Emmanuel Weissmiller and moved to a farm in Stephenson Co., Illinois, 9 miles south of Monroe just below the stateline.  The children: Louise, Annie, John Edwin, Alice and Minnie were born there.  When Louise was four years old her father had to take the Green County House back; he did not want to as he did not like the hotel life for his children, but he did and ran it for a while and finally sold it at a loss to get rid of it.

Dr. W. B. Gnagi, Jr., one of six children of Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Gnagi, Sr. including: Elvira, who died in infancy, Zelma who married Dr. L. O. Helmes, specialist in Pediatrics of Oshkosh, Wis., Gladys, who was called from life untimely in 1920, Kenneth, and Peter who married Marion Albrecht of Oshkosh.  Dr. Gnagi, Sr., a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, was born in 1870 in Clarno twp., Green Co., Wis., son of Dr. Joseph LeVan Bender and Maria Hawthorne; the mother died two months after his birth and he was placed in care of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gnagi, who adopted and raised him.  Dr. Bender remarried in 1878 to Emma Clark of Washington, Penn., in Waynesburg, Penn. and subsequently removed to Penn Yan, N. Y. where he served his practice, and where he died in 1916; from this union there were three daughters, two of whom died young, and one Estelle, who married Bert Cargill and moved to Rochester, N. Y.  Mr. Cargill died in 1935, was proprietor of a hotel, the Cargill House in Rochester; there were two children, Elizabeth and Norman, who at the present time are living with their mother in Cranford, New Jersey.  Dr. Gnagi, Sr.'s mother was a daughter of James Hawthorne, Green County pioneer, and Mercy Boyles, she was a daughter of William Boyles who named Green County, Wis., and who was the first representative from this district when Wisconsin became a state in 1842.

Dr. Gnagi Jr. received education in Monroe schools, followed by Pre-medics at Univ. of Wisconsin and School of Medicinc at Washington Univ., St. Louis, Mo., specializing in surgery.  Started active practice in Monroe with his father in fall of 1925.  In Nov., 1936 he received honourary recognition at the College of Surgeons, New York, by receiving fellowship in that top ranking order of the Profession.  In 1935 he formed the Gnagi-Schindler Clinic with Dr. John A. Schindler; and in 1939 expanded to form the Monroe Clinic, which is designated as the "Second Mayo Clinic."  In 1927 he united in marriage with Miss Neva Gapen, daughter of the late George Gapen, a most happy union, both taking the same keen enthusiastic interest in social and recreational activities, and making a happy home life with their two fine children David and Gladys.

Mrs. Gnagi, Sr. was an active resident of the community in which she lived, in Chicago during the first seven years of her married life with Dr. Gnagi, Sr.; and in Monroe.  She took part in many home talent plays, and did painting and drawing, and in later life took up chinaware painting.  Prominent in Pythian Sister work, she was past chief of the Monroe lodge and a past grand master of the state organization.  She was brought up in the St. John's Evangelical Church, but in later life affiliated with the Universalist church.  One of her most energetic services was the organization of the auxiliary of the the Monroe Country Club, at the time of its founding served as president for many months, and personally did much of the work of painting the furniture, planting flowers and equipping the clubhouse.  Dr. and Mrs. Gnagi, Sr. were married June 2, 1891.  Following the wedding they left for Chicago where Dr. Gnagi resumed studies at Rush Medical College, from which he graduated in 1893.  They lived in Chicago seven years where Dr. Gnagi practiced.  Returning to Monroe in 1900, Dr. Gnagi succeeded to the practice of the late Dr. M. Confer, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Gnagi.  From that beginning came the present Monroe Clinic.  On June 2, 1941 the Gnagis observed their Golden Wedding anniversary.  Of the Children; Kenneth is an Embalmer with the Knight Funeral Home, Monroe, and Peter is with the Multiple-Addressograph Company of Washington, D.C.

Samuel Iseli, born in Switzerland Dec. 4, 1824, died at South Wayne, Wis., Aug. 18, 1910, leaving to survive him two sons and one daughter, namely, Albert with whom he has made his home the last 10 years; J. Herbert Isely of Omaha, Neb., and Matilda Wittwer of Monroe.  His wife and three children preceding in the spirit world.  He came to U. S. in 1846 and first settled near New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.  From there Mr. Iseli went to Tenn. for a short time, then on to Jackson, Miss.  Here he had a seige of yellow fever.  Became acquainted with Dena Muth whom he married.  To them was born a girl, Matilda, and they returned to Ohio in 1854.  Two years later they came to Wis., in 1856, that memorable year of the deep snow, making 64 years in U. S. and 54 years in Wis.  He lived for many years southwest of town and was known by a large number of early settlers.  There was quite a good attendance in the house where Rev. H. J. Witherbee officiated in a short service.  The remains were sent on the 2:38 train to Monroe where a more complete service was held, the German pastor officiating and committing the body in burial at Monroe, on Sunday the 21st of August.

(This obituary was taken from the write-up in "The Homestead", South Wayne, Wis., of Thurs., Aug. 25, 1910.)

When young, Mr. Iseli worked in the south along lower Mississippi and on the levees at New Orleans. Worked at cabinet making and was a millwright and built several mills and factories in Miss. and other southern states, some of which were destroyed during the Civil War.

Ernest Waeffler, one of 8 children of Gottfried Waeffler and Louise Isely, daughter of Christian Iseli, one of the first of the Iseli's to come to U. S.  The father, Gottfried Waeffler, was born in Wimmis, Ct. Bern, son of Peter Waeffler and Magdalena (?).  Came to U. S. at the age of 24 going to Canton, Ohio where he spent a year as farm hand and cheesemaker.  Then came to Green County, Wis.  Was married to Louise Isely in 1899 at Monticello.  Farmed in Green Co. 7 years, then moved to farm near Sheldon, Iowa for two years.  Later went to a Wheaton, Minn. farm which is still owned by his children.  Mrs. Louise Waeffler died 1922.  Gottfried remarried in 1930 to Rose Thomm.  Died in 1935 and buried at Wheaton, Minn.; passed away at Emil Ritschard home where he was being cared for.  Ernest is a prominent citizen of Monroe, alderman for his ward, and proprietor of the Brown Swiss Dairy.

Florence Isely, in July, 1942 was winner of the bankers' $100 scholarship, presented to her by the Green County Bankers' Association.  The scholarship is offered annually to the outstanding boy or girl 4-H member in Green County.  Miss Iseli won many top honors in several 4-H projects.  Her banner year was 1941, which included state honor member for the second consecutive year, fourth in state style show, best home economics member in Green County, best junior leader, first in county clothing and judging, and several honors in foods and home improvements.  In several of the projects her work was in competition with more than a hundred Green County girls enrolled in the same activities.  Along with her own work, Florence found time to give younger members valuable assistance.  Miss Iseli (sic) is a graduate of Monroe High School.

Ulrich Schar, born in Eriswil, Canton Bern, Switzerland, Mar. 2, 1852.  Passed away Oct. 22, 1942, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Alta Weeks.  On Mar. 2, 1942, he celebrated his 90th birthday.  Came with his parents, Frederick and Anna Barbara Iseli Schar, to U. S. when he was 6 months old, in the fall of 1852.  The Schars first settled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.  When Mr. Schar was a boy, he hoed corn for 5c. a day.  When 11 years old his father took him to work in the coal mines near Mineral Point, Ohio where he worked until 15 years old when the family came to Wisconsin in 1867.  He worked at farming and mason contracting in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.  Built foundation of many houses in Monroe, one being the Dan Germann home.  He owned some land near Storm Lake, Iowa adjoining his brother Fred's land in the Iowa wheat country.  He has enjoyed a long useful life, he retained a keen intellect up to the very last and enjoyed the visits of all who stopped to see him.  He told the writer many interesting things of his early life.  From 1902 to 1917 he was proprietor of a general store at Clarno, Wis. and also served as postmaster there during the time.  He was well esteemed by all who knew him.

Dr. Don S. Wenger, in February, 1940, passed an examination that gained him the rank of 1st Lt. in the U. S. Army Medical Corps, which position he filled upon closing his physician's office in Wauwatosa, Wis.  He reported for duty at the New York port of embarkation at Brooklyn, N. Y.

In June 1940., Dr. Wenger was transferred from port of embarkation to U. S. Army transport Leonard Wood, reporting for duty as transport surgeon June 29 at Fort Mason, San Francisco.  Route of the transport carrying 1500 men was New York to Charleston, Panama, San Francisco and Honolula.

From this position he was transferred to the Walter Reed hospital in Washington, D. C., and in Feb., 1942, he graduated from the Medical field service school at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.  Now at the present time (at printing time of this family book (Website's Editor's Note: the source Genealogy is dated 1942)), Dr. Wenger is a Major in the Medical Corps at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. A  brother of Dr. Wenger's, Robert Wenger, is at this time a Lt. in the Medical Administrative Corps at Camp McCoy, Wis.

Christian Iseli, born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, where his father was a gunsmith and owned a small farm.  He assisted his father in the shop and on the farm until 1846 when he came to the United States.  Mr. Iseli first settled in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio.  He worked at mining, and ran an engine at an iron furnace serveral years, and was engaged as engineer in different places for three years.

Mr. Iseli, was married in 1857 in Ohio to Verena Buenker, also a native of Switzerland.  In 1861 came west to Wisconsin and bought land in Washington twp., Green County, all of which was wild timber land.  He cleared and fenced over 100 acres.

Mr. Iseli lived a long and full life, and was well respected by all who knew him. (The writer remembers him from visits Mr. Iseli had with the writer's grandmother, Mrs. Louise Stuckey).  When 90, Mr. Iseli successfully underwent a major operation withstanding the ordeal remarkably well for one in his advanced age; however, it naturally weakened him and he was called to rest Oct. 22, 1920.