Chapters

Introduction
Christian Isely
Marie Elizabeth “Eliza” Dubach Isely

Marie Elizabeth “Eliza” Dubach was born in Courrendlin, Canton Bern, Switzerland on June 21, 1842.1 Soon after her birth, her family moved to a dairy farm on the southern slope of Montagne d’Orvin in Switzerland. She immigrated to American with her family in 1853, landing in New Orleans. They traveled up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers by steam powered paddle ships to St. Joseph, Missouri.

Eliza’s mother passed away just two weeks after arriving in St. Joseph, so she took over the housekeeping duties. When her father remarried in 1861, she moved into her Aunt Christine and Uncle Christian Dubach’s boarding house, where she met Christian H. Isely. Christian was related to Eliza’s new stepmother and 15 years her senior. Christian and Eliza married on May 31, 1861, in the First Presbyterian Church.2

During the war, Christian felt compelled to join the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. The couple discussed Eliza moving to live with Christian’s parents in Winesburg, Ohio. The hostile guerrilla warfare in the region may have persuaded Eliza to live with her in-laws rather than her father in Kansas. Eliza cared deeply for Christian and his family, but she suffered greatly while in their care. Christian and Eliza’s political views were not shared by his parents, and she often wrote to Christian about her feelings of isolation and other difficulties in Ohio.

how much good your expressions of love for our beloved Land do me for it seems to me that our country‘s cause is nearer to my heart every day and O how I love to hear a loyal heart express its thoughts in words. But I really believe that I got into the worst of all places to hear anything of the kind for in fact I dare not even speak my sentiments without meeting a frown or hearing a word of discontent utered;. Mother [Barbara Otzenberger Isely] told me quite lately that she hoped to God none of her boys would vote for him [Lincoln], and often when I spoke but one of the least of my sentiments concerning my Country I have seen Fathers [Christian Isely, Sr.] face imediately overshadowed with a look of displeasure which spoke plainer than words.

Marie Elizabeth Dubach Isely Letter to Christian H. Isely – July 14, 1862

Tension in the Isely home became extreme over religious and political differences. Barbara and Christian Isely, Sr. would belittle Eliza in German, believing or not caring if she could translate their harsh words. Eliza did understand and reported her poor treatment to Christian. She was not permitted to practice her personal faith and was required to attend religious services with Barbara and Christian, Sr.

I notice that all truly loyal people are called Blacks and Abolitionist’s I am one too but of course my tongue is silent and will have to be if utter ncessity does not compel me to speak. If any one new what I am at present writing to you they would hate instead of loving me bit is indeed hard to hear everything that one love scorned at and talked about in religion as well as in politic’s I sometimes begin to doubt if people possesed with so little love for others can be Christians but there is no use argueing or speaking a word against it for it would just be throing oil into the fire.

Marie Elizabeth Dubach Isely Letter to Christian H. Isely – June 28, 1863

Eliza pleaded with Christian not to write about his political views, as she was forced to read his letters to his parents. Christian was shocked by the way his parents treated his wife. In his letters, Christian sympathized with Eliza while commending her for enduring his family’s ill treatment. “I am not willing to sacrafice you, for the sake of narrowhearted and uncharitable copperhead’s although they are my own relatives.”3 Christian requested that Eliza report all treatment regarding her religious and political views to him. He asked her to tell his father that he was no longer willing to let his wife be submitted to “treasonable conduct & talk.”4 After more than a year, Christian wrote his wife a lengthy letter reflecting on his astonishment of her treatment.

But I must also confess, that it has long been and is now a matter of grievious thought and sore reflection when I consider that you have left your peaceful abode with your dear Father in his Willow Dale home in Kansas, or even our own little cottage in St. Joseph Mo. to cast your lot among strangers in a strange land, with my beloved and aged parents in Holmes Co. Ohio – a country and people you had never before seen – to aid and comfort them while their son’s have gone forth to fight their country’s righteous battles; and while you are engaged in your work of love and benevolence, while your husband, whom you love tenderly, is far from you undergoing many dangers, hardships and privations to avenge our insulted flag and outraged country – to struggle far our blood bought liberties – you are often shocked by epithets from the lips of Southern Sympathizers, who are living in the free and enlightened North, and yet sympathize with Jeff. Davis and his slavewhipping, labordespising, truth hating Confedercy; the assumed power which is determined to overthrow our cherished American Liberties and national Existence… Not allowed freedom of speech in the free State of Ohio! … [those] who continually clamor about “freedom of speech” “Freedom of press,” and yet diny this priviledge to a harmless female – a soldier wife – because she upholds the cause for which her husband fights.

Christian H. Isely Letter to Marie Elizabeth Dubach Isely – September 24, 1864

While Christian was a devoted and loving husband, the nature of their relationship perhaps made Eliza’s experiences as a refugee more difficult. Christian was fifteen years Eliza’s senior and the age difference affected the dynamics of their marriage. At times, Christian spoke to Eliza more like a father to his daughter, rather than a husband to his wife. He often corrected her grammar, spelling, and chastised her for speaking on what he considered inappropriate topics. In one letter, Christian reprimanded Eliza to help her improve as an individual.

You have also written things which need admonition. and things that need reprove. “How is that?” says my dear Eliza. Well. I will tell you. First things to be reproved: I can no longer desist from disclosing to you that one of the greatest faults that my poor Darling has is this: She is a little to sensitive about the faults of others. If persons don’t suit you exactly you soon discover their faults, and if they suit you, why then you are equally ready to cover up their faults; well this may be right & proper. but still it shows much partiallity. See what Paul wrote to Titus 3rd chap 1st _7 verse A volume of meaning is contained in those 7 verses. But now my dear you must not be affended because I hold up facts to you for I mean it for your good. and improvement.

Christian H. Isely Letter to Marie Elizabeth Dubach Isely – March 12, 1864

Christian’s attempts to enhance his wife’s character can be found throughout their correspondence. When their first child, Adolph, died in his sleep in October 1861, Eliza was crippled with grief and sought comfort from her husband. Christian’s initial response was to console Eliza, but then he began to question their possible culpability. He wrote, “we are taught in a most warning manner that we merrit nothing. that our works and troubles accomplish nothing. if God in His tender mercy does not turn them into blessings. One solemn question has forced itself upon my mind: Was it on account of our sinfulness and unthankfulness that God has taken our dear Child from us. and thus punished us? Such may be indeed be Gods designes.”5 Despite Christian’s seeming insensitivity at times, their devotion to each other was undeniable and their efforts to support one another through the turmoil of the war years were exceptional.

After the war, Christian and Eliza returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, where they lived until 1872, when they moved to Fairview, Kansas, with Christian’s brothers, Henry and Frederick Isely, to start a farm. Christian and Eliza had eleven children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. Christian died August 8, 1919, and was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.6 Eliza lived in Kansas until her death on October 26, 1936, and was buried next to her husband.

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1. John Mattox, The Isely Information Project: Of-By-For-Ourselves, “Elise Dubach Isely”, http://www.isely.info/Elise/.
2. Elise Dubach Isely, Sunbonnet Days, (Coldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printer, Ltd, 1935).
3. Christian H. Isely. Letter to Marie Elizabeth Dubach Isely. 19 October 1863. MS 88-31, Wichita State University Special Collections and University Archives, Wichita, Kansas.
4. Christian H. Isely. Letter to Marie Elizabeth Dubach Isely. 19 October 1863. MS 88-31, Wichita State University Special Collections and University Archives, Wichita, Kansas.
5. Christian H. Isely. Letter to Marie Elizabeth Dubach Isely. 09 October 1862. MS 88-31, Wichita State University Special Collections and University Archives, Wichita, Kansas.
6. John Mattox, The Isely Information Project: Of-By-For-Ourselves, “Index of Descendents of Christian H. Isely,” http://www.isely.info/gedcom/g0000003.html.