Gottlieb Theophile Hirschi

Gottlieb Hirschi Life Experiences in the Gospel:

 Gottlieb Theophile Hirschi Birth: January 16, 1837. In Villers, Newchatel, Switzerland
 Baptism: September 22, 1858
Arrived: August 30, 1860. In Salt Lake City Jesse Murphy Company
Married: Marianna Rupp (Mary Ann) Marianna Rupp
 Birth: January 12, 1838
Baptism: May 22, 1858
Arrived: October 5, 1860. In Salt Lake City. William Budge Company.

Gottlieb Journey to America: On a beautiful day at 1:30 pm, August 9, 1859 in Zürich Switzerland Gottlieb got on the train to Basel. In Basel he met emigrant church members from St. Imier and they stayed in the White Cross Hotel. August 10th was another nice day, when they took the train from Basel to Mannheim Germany. August 11th they took the train from Mannheim to Cologne. August 12th they took a train to Rotterdam. On August 13th they took a steamboat from Rotterdam to Hull, England and picked up 18 more emigrant members. August 14th they continued to: Liverpool; lodged in the Paradise Hotel and got ready for the voyage. August 16th they boarded the ship Emerald Island for America. That ship carried a total of 1280 Mormons in three voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. On August 20,1859, the Emerald Isle, was skippered by Captain Cornish, they sailed out of Liverpool with fifty-four Saints aboard-fifty from Switzerland and Italy and four from England. President Elder Henry Hug was in charge of the mormon company. After a forty-two-day passage, of which there are no details, the vessel arrived on October 1, 1859 at Long Island, New York. October 2, 1859 Attended Church in New York. They were advised to stay in New York for the winter before continuing their journey to Salt Lake City. It appears that Gottlieb Hirschi stayed in New York for the winter. Gottlieb began his journey to the Salt Lake Valley when he was 23 years old from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha) with the Jesse Murphy Company. Gottlieb departed June 19, 1860 Arrived: In Salt Lake City August 30, 1860. Mariana Rupp: Journey to America is recorded with Ulrich Hirschi's journey. Mariana Rupp (Mary Ann) came to Utah when she was 22 years of age, as a single woman from Switzerland with her sister Susanna Reiser, and her husband Heinrich"Henry" Reiser, Father (Ulrich) Hirschi, Johann Hirschi and Judith Hirschi Larsen. They were a part of the William Buge Company, which departed from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha). They left on July 20, 1860. Arrived: In Salt Lake October 5, 1860. Marriage: Gottlieb Hirschi and Mary Ann Rupp were married September 14, 1861. They received their endowment and sealing in the Endowment House a month later on October 18th . Missions: Gottlieb and his wife, Mary Ann was called by Brigham Young at the October General Conference in 1861 with 309 heads of families to establish the Cotton Mission in Washington County. Gottlieb and his wife settled in Santa Clara in 1861. Near the end of that year the whole town of Santa Clara was flooded. In 1863 Gottlieb, Mary Ann and their small son Albert, moved to Rockville. Gottlieb gave his coat and vest for ten acres of land covered with sagebrush. They cleared the ground and build a dugout to live in. Gottlieb received a call to return to his native Switzerland to serve a mission, in 1883 (age 46) leaving his wife to care for their six children. Gottlieb farewell address: “The time is fast coming when my labors in this land shall come to an end and with a happy countenance I turn my face toward my home. Dear Brothers and Sisters, should I never see you again. I solemnly testify to you once more that we the Elders of Zion have brought the kingdom of God to your doors and that Mormonism is Godly and Eternal Truth, therefore, dear bros and sisters remain true to the covenants, which you have made to God. For it will bring you peace and contentment I also tender you my heartfelt thanks for all the kindness which you have shown me. The Lord bless you for it. May you all be prospered both in body and spirit is my prayer to my Heavenly Father with a hearty farewell. I bid you all adieu.” Bishop: Gottlieb (age 54) was set apart as the third bishop of Rockville in 1891. He served faithfully until death released him in 1900. He served for nine years.
Death: January 24, 1900 (age 63) Gottlieb passed away in St. George, Utah. He was taken home to Rockville for burial. To show respect for Gottlieb the people covered both sides of the street with pine boughs, from his home near the end of town to the chapel. His wife Mary Ann died February 15, 1924 (age 86) 24 years after his death.