Gallus & Anna Zinsli

Anna Gass was born in Eau Clair, Wisconsin, March 2, 1872 to Mathias Gass and Catherine Beyerle. Mathias Gass was born in Alsace France February, 2 1831.

Gallus Martin Zinsli was born in Graubenden Switzerland to Martin Zinsli and Anna Thoma. Martin was the son of Joseph Zinsli and Magthalena Waber and was also born in Graubunden, Switzerland. Martin was born September 15, 1835. Martin immigrated to the US in 1872 with his wife and four children: Gallus Martin, Magdelena, Martin, Jr.(Louis) and Philomina. He set up a farmstead(homestead) in Waumandee, Wisconsin. After the children were of age they ran hotels in Independence and Arcadia Wisconsin as well as Alma, right on the Minnesota border. Two cousins also immigrated to the US at the same time, Lawrence and Joseph Zinsli. Lawrence married Mrs. Miller (Frank Miller's mother). Cousin Joseph Zinsli never married but did work for Nick Uetz in Sentinel Butte, ND for a while. Lawrence was born in 1869 and Joseph in 1859, both in Switzerland, but in what township is not known. Lawrence died in 1927 and Joseph in 1956, according to my notes given to me from others.

Gallus and Anna were wed April 6, 1891 in Waumandee, Wisconsin. Together they had twelve children losing the first as an infant. Martin M. Zinsli, born June 28, 1892 in Waumandee, Wisconsin, died in January of 1893. Joseph was born January 5, 1894 and then Ludwig Wilhelm, the following year. Ludwig would not live to see his sixth birthday, though, dying July 5, 1901. Anton Richard was next followed by Egon, Mary, Peter, Edmond, William (Bill), Annabell, and Mathias(Matt). Gallus and Anna held residence in Waumandee, Independence, Wis.; St. Cloud, Minnesota; North Dakota and Wibaux, Montana. Mary, Peter and Edmond were born in Minnesota, but by the time William came along the family was in Wibaux, Montana.

Gallus Zinsli was mean especially to kids. Anna would hide things from Gallus so that he wouldn't find out about mistakes that the kids made, such as spilling milk or getting into his tools. He cussed horses, and everyone, really, in German. He carried mail in 2 wheel cart in Sentinel Butte, North Dakota from the train depot to the post office. Gallus did like working in the garden. Gallus came to live with Anton and Kate in Sentinel Butte when Mary was a baby. He and Anna were separated, but it wasn't anything that people talked about especially while the kids were around. Anna lived in Oregon at the time they were separated. Anna did like to visit though and she especially liked Anton & Kate's daughter Rose. Anna's special nickname for Rose was her "little Tootsaly" [Toot-sa-lee]