Magdalena's Journey

By Audrey Burch Reich

A Historical Fiction about Mennonite, Magdalena Moser Felber, who immigrated from Bern,Switzerland to Berne, IN in 1883, with 6 children, ages 3 months to 14. It tells the story about the trials she faced, leaving a difficult circumstance in Switzerland and her challenging journey to America.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359626557

Book preview

Magdalena's Journey

Magdalena’s Journey

Audrey Burch Reich

Magdalena’s Journey

2019

Audrey Burch Reich

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Cover Art by barnyz

© 2019 Lulu Author. All rights reserved.

ISBN# 978-0-359-62655-7

This book is an immigration account of Magdalena Moser Felber. It contains factual events found in historic documents along with fictionalized dialogue and story line. Birth and death records, ship registries, court records and other documentation are available upon request.

Chapter 1

October 28, 1882

Magdalena quietly paced the floor, in hopes that her husband would arrive home shortly. Worrying about where Jakob was and what he was doing was not going to improve her situation. Her younger children had been soundly sleeping for over two hours and the supper she had saved for him had grown cold long ago. Jakob’s lateness had unfortunately become a pattern in recent months. Fearing he would come home intoxicated again made her sick to her stomach. As she stepped rhythmically back and forth across the aged wood boards, the creaking floors chorused a soft tune.

After a long day of caring for her family, her body craved a much needed night of rest. Sleep would evade her until her husband returned. Concerns that Jakob might wake the children when he arrived also kept her up, knowing that it would be just one more thing she would have to deal with. Words of wisdom from her muetter (mother) were what she needed right now. Oh, how she missed her wise council. Magdalena’s mother Lydia had died nine years ago, leaving a huge void in her life.

Johannes Moser, her vatter (father), had moved to America six years ago when her schwöschter (sister) Lena and family decided to make a new life for themselves in Indiana. Marianna Capitan, her older sister, had died in 1856 at only eighteen years of age. Two younger brothers passed away young as well, Christian in 1863 at twenty-one, and her brother Johannes at twenty-seven in 1877. Her brüeder (brother) Jacob S Moser and his family likewise voyaged to America in 1881. It felt as if gradually all her family were abandoning her in one way or another. Other than a few distant relatives in the Kanton of Bern, her family consisted of Jakob and their children.  Some days the loneliness she felt threatened to engulf her.

Magdalena looked into the room she shared with Jakob, observing her youngest children sleeping. Her daughter Bertha lay alongside Lena on a bed positioned in the corner of the room. At three and a half, Bertha was her sister Lena’s constant shadow, following her everywhere. Having just turned six earlier that month, Lena was always delighted to help her muetter. Another narrow room occupied eight-year-old Emil and eleven-year-old Louisa. Emil looked up to his older brother Jacob and was a tremendous help splitting wood and with the care of the animals.

Tenderhearted Louisa was rapidly growing into a young woman, and often reminded Magdalena of herself when she was younger.  She could always be counted on to assist her mother caring for the younger children and helping with daily chores. Her eldest, Jacob, sat silently in the corner, anxiously waiting for his vatter to return. She knew her son was greatly concerned about the condition his father might arrive home in. Appearing much older than his fourteen years, Jacob was much like his grandfather in many ways. Her son was capable of fixing most anything that needed repair, just as his grosspapi was. Magdalena relied on his assistance with considerable responsibilities at home.

Her heart ached for what her children’s tender ears frequently heard in their home. Added to the anxiety she daily felt was the growing evidence that she would bear her husband another child come spring. Her recent announcement of this news brought much displeasure from Jakob. He went into a tirade, reminding her that the last thing they needed was an additional mouth to feed, intent on blaming her for the new life she carried.

God had blessed them with seven children during the past fourteen years, only five surviving. Baby Marion, the twin sister of Louisa, died soon after her birth. The year after Louisa was born, their second born Eliza, passed away from illness at only three years of age. The memories of the children she had lost still greatly pained her.  Life in rural Switzerland was often harsh, and loss was something they all suffered.

The small timber and stone haus (house) they rented, nestled in the hills of the Jura (pronounced yura) Mountains, was located in the hamlet of Hautes-Roches. Down winding roads from the commune, was the village of Roches.  Further down the mountain stood Moutier, a city situated in the narrow valley in the North West Canton of Bern, Switzerland. The lower section of the house served as a stable to shelter their animals, also keeping the upstairs warmer during the long winter months. Capped by a slanted, shingled roof, the timber framed haus contained several windows.

The upstairs area, separated into three sections, held a main keeping room and two small sleeping areas. The space contained a cast iron stove, fueled by wood for cooking and heating. The sparsely decorated haus held a few pieces of worn furniture with several rugs scattered across the wooden floors. Close to the stove sat a long wooden table flanked by two benches. Open cupboards hung near the stove, holding their few dishes while her iron skillet and other pans hung from hooks overhead. The trunk that once belonged to her muetter, sat along one of the low walls. It held the family Bible and other items of importance to her.  Simple low wood beds covered with thin mattresses were situated in one room for the older children, while the two youngest shared a small bed in the room with her and Jakob. Pegs lined the walls in each room, along with a wardrobe that held clothing. Several chairs, and a bench her vatter had left with her when he left Switzerland, sat along one long wall.

She and Jakob had moved countless times, most often due to the rent rising above their means. Growing up, Magdalena learned to work hard and not complain. From a very young age children were expected to work side by side with their parents, often performing chores adults would normally do. In recent days, coping with the hardships life brought her way had grown more challenging.

As she continued to wait, rumors she continued to hear about her husband came to mind. The past two years had been particularly trying.  Many in the area considered Jakob to be the local bully and were frightened of him, after he frequently had gotten into arguments with the village men. He often became unreasonable when Magdalena mentioned his drinking or outbursts, taking it out on her, or she feared, possibly the children. During the past two years he had often struck her. Jakob could be stern and demanding of the children as well, especially his eldest, Jacob. Her son was extremely protective of his muetter, often getting in the way of his father’s blows when coming to her rescue.

Life always seemed calmer when Jakob was not at home. He frequently complained about their financial situation, seldom seeming content. His work was often sporadic, putting added strain on both of them. Jakob worked at the sawmill, owned by Victor Petént, throughout the summer of 1881, the manager letting him go just eight days before Christmas. When her father and brother were still living in Switzerland, they repeatedly encouraged him to stop his drinking and abusive behavior. Typically, things would improve for a short time, and then Jakob would shamelessly revert to his previous behavior.