Hello! My name is Tyler Nelsen. I am 34 years old and from Seattle, Washington on the west coast of the U.S.

My great grandfather, Arthur Isler, left Hütten, Switzerland in July 1910. His address was Hütten im Segel. In the U.S. he was first in Yakima, Washington and then settled in Enumclaw, Washington where he owned a dairy farm. Arthur’s parents were Gottlieb and Selina Isler.

Below are family photos, postcards, a map showing house location, and information that I have gathered during my research on the family. You can click on the photos to make them larger. Are you related to this Isler family? Can you help me find more information? I visited Switzerland in October 2015 as part of my research.

You can contact me by email at tjnelsen@gmail.com. I can be reached by phone at 001 206 330 3151.

Gottlieb and Selina Isler had six children who lived beyond infancy: Selina, Gottlieb, Otto, Hermann, Walter, and Arthur.

In July 1910, Arthur travelled to the U.S. with a man named Ervin Höhn on the ship the Bremen. The ship manifest lists Arthur (age 23) and Ervin (age 25) together and both from Hütten, Switzerland.

Arthur’s older brother Hermann left Switzerland in November 1913 (three years after Arthur).

First Generation - Switzerland

Gottlieb Isler: 1844-1924 (2nd great grandfather to Tyler Nelsen.)

Selina Bodmer: 1859-1893 (2nd great grandmother to Tyler Nelsen.)

(no photos)

Second Generation - Switzerland

Selina: 1880-unknown

Selina married Heinrich ‘Fritz’ Vogt on 14 May 1908 and they had three children. Heinrich ‘Fritz’ Vogt was born in Wädenswil, Switzerland. They travelled to Scotland with their three children.

Gottlieb: 1881-unknown

Otto: 1883-unknown

Hermann: 1884-1953

Born: 7 April 1884.

Arrived in U.S.: 27 November 1913

Died: 27 October 1953 (age 69)

Hermann did not marry.

Walter: 1885-unknown

Arthur: 1887-1966 (great grandfather to Tyler Nelsen)

Born: 5 July 1887

Arrived in U.S.: 13 July 1910

Died: 26 February 1966 (age 78)

Arthur married Inez Rutherford. 

Third Generation - Switzerland

Ida (Isler) Bannholzer: 1913-2008

Other Family and Friends - Switzerland

I am unsure of the exact relation to the family of the people in the below photos.

Third and Fourth Generation - United States

Arthur and Inez had two children: Edwin and Imogene (grandmother to Tyler Nelsen).

Edwin Isler (1915-1997) married Ellenor Grothen (1915-2005). They had three children: Ronald & Donald (twins) and Judy.

Imogene Isler (1920-2011) married Maynard McKay (1913-1989). They had three daughters: Nancy, Elaine, and Sally (mother to Tyler Nelsen).

Fifth Generation - United States

Sally McKay (1952- ) married Vern Nelsen (1949- ) and they had three boys: Andrew (1979- ), Casey (1983- ), and Tyler (1986- ).

Tyler

Family Home in Hütten

Present Day Aerial View:

Postcards sent from Switzerland

Below are three postcards sent to Arthur. The first while he was still in Switzerland and the other two to him in the U.S. I had a friend translate them.

Postcard #1:

Sent from Ober-Hittnau, Switzerland to Hütten, Switzerland on 25 June 1910. With Arthur arriving in the U.S. on 13 July 1910, he must have received it right before he left.

German:

Herrn Arthur Isler
Käser
Hütten im Segel

Lieber Arthur!

Will nun auch wieder einmal etwas von Dir hören. Es wundert uns alle sehr, wo Du auch seiest! Es wird uns alle freuen, wen Du bald eimmal zu uns kommst.

Es gruissen Dich alle freundlich, besonders,

Werner

English:

Mr. Arthur Isler (cheesemaker)

Dear Arthur!

I would like to hear from you sometime. We are all amazed by where you might be! We all look forward to a visit from you sometime soon.

Particularly friendly greetings from all,

Werner

Postcard #2:

Sent from Oberrieden, Switzerland to Yakima, WA on 8 November 1913. This postcard refers to Selina and asks about Hermann arriving in the U.S.

German:

Herrn Aurthur Isler
Yakima City
Washington

US. Nord Amerika

Hier shinke ich Dir noch ein Bild von unserem neunen Häuschen den Du wirst sicherlich alle kennen auf dem Bilde. Wie ich von Selina vernommen geht es Dir gut, was ich dir recht gönnen möge. Es wird mich u Will freuen auch von Dir einmal einige Zeilen zu erhalten. Du hastes ja bei Deinem Weggehen versprochen, aber es ist schon lange her. Ist Hermann gut angekommen bei dir?

Viele Grüsse und stetes Wohlergehen sendet dir und Herm. Will und Lydia Leuthold

English:

I’m sending you a picture of our new little house which you’ll surely know everyone in the picture. I heard from Selina that you are well, you may treat yourself right. Will and I would be pleased to get a few lines from you. You promised when you left, but it’s been a long time. Did Hermann reach you well?

Many greetings and well wishes for you and Hermann.

Will and Lydia Leuthold

Postcard #3:

Sent from Hütten, Switzerland to Enumclaw, WA on 15 March 1952. It is signed 'G. Isler,' the signature matching the photo under Gottlieb above.

German:

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Isler Rt.2 Box 338
Enumclaw, Wash. USA

Hütten, den 14 März 1952

M.L. Noch aller herzl. Dank für den liebe Weihnactsbrief und die 2 $. Es hat mich beides ungemein gefreut. Ich werde Euch bald einmal einen Brief mit Fotos senden. Diese Karte ist eine Aufnahme von der Haustüre aus, am 17.2.52, bei trübem Wetter. Wir hatten sehr viel Schnee und dayu ungeheure Verwehungen.

Herzl. Grüsse

G. Isler

English:

Hutten the 14th of March 1952.

With love, thank you for the dear Christmas letter and the $2. They both pleased me greatly. I will send you a letter with photos sometime soon. This card is a picture from the doorstep, on 17th February 1952, in cloudy weather. We had a lot of snow and this huge drift.

With heartfelt greetings,

G. Isler

Arthur’s Dairy Farm in Enumclaw, Washington

I took these photos in December 2014 when I visited the property of the dairy farm that Arthur owned. The property is no longer owned by our family. The current owners have cattle they raise for beef.