Maria Ursula Mueller Gubler

While living in Müllheim, Johannes and Mary Ursula lived in a large two-story house, part off which was a store. Mary took care of the store, selling dry goods and materials, and Johannes took samples of materials and goods from the store, going from door to door to sell them.

In August 1859, the family took the train to the sea coast. There they boarded a boat and were on the ocean for forty days. Each family supplied their own beds. Mary had enough feather beds for her family. They sailed on a sail boat at at times the wind blew them the wrong way. While on the ocean Anna Mary became very ill. She often heard them say, "Mary can't last until morning. She is so very sick." However, through their faith and prayers, she was healed. At this time she was nine years of age. The family consisted of Johannes, Mary Ursula, Louisa, Anna Mary, John and Herman.

The first winter in the United States was spent in Williamsburg, New York. There the children picked up lumps of coal along the railroad tracks to provide fuel for the family. On the trip westward, they stopped at Florence, Nebraska where they bought two cows, two oxen, a big Shettler wagon, tools, etc. One tool was a drawing knife for smoothing lumber.

The cattle had to be trained to pull the wagons. Ropes were fastened around their horns to guide them, but sometimes the cows ran away and upset the wagons. On the journey west the company usually averaged ten to twelve miles per day by foot. Some of the cows were balky and wouldn't pull so it usually too two men to drive a yoke of oxen. Much of the time they only had two meals a day. From Nebraska to Utah they had many trials and experiences. When the company arrived at Ogden, Utah they were given land to plant a garden. No charge was made for the use of this land, but the land had to be cleared first. They sold much of the surplus and gave away what was left. Mary Ursula was somewhat experienced in gardening as she had helped with the garden as a child, and also raised on while a wife and mother in Switzerland.

The later part of November 1861, they were advised by President Young to move to the southern part of Utah. When the family arrived in Santa Clara, they lived in a 12' x 12' dugout, using poles for supporting the roof. They had one window in the gable end; later a sod house was built.

For amusement, they enjoyed quilting bees, corn husking, and rag bees. They danced barefooted in log buildings and boweries. Mary Ursula also carded wool, spun and wove cloth, blankets, sheets etc. Wild roots of various kinds were used to color the woven articles.