~ Biographical Sketch ~

Magdalena was the oldest child of Johann Ulrich and Anna Maria (Hofer) Minger. She was baptized in the Reformed Church of Messen, a neighboring village to Mulchi, where she lived with her parents. At the age of 15, on Sunday, 4 April 1841, she was confirmed in that same church. In the spring of 1845, when Magdalena, as she was known, was 19 years old she and her family immigrated to America. Her name appears on the French passport as "Madelaine". The Minger family settled on a farm in the area near New Philadelphia, Ohio.

On 26 August 1845 Magdalena was married to Johann (John) Anderegg who also had immigrated to America from Switzerland. Various spellings for the name Anderegg appear on record as Andregg, Andregge, Andrech, Andrik and Underick. Magdalena and John had three children born in Ohio - John, Anna Elizabeth (Lizzie) and William. We believe that it was in the year 1852 that the Anderegg family left Ohio and moved to Clayton County, Iowa where John conducted a building and contracting business in the town of Guttenberg. The construction for the Evangelical Lutheran church (now known as St. John's) was started in the year 1854 and John was given the contract for the carpenter work, since his bid of $1100.00 was the lowest. This was the church attended by the Anderegg family and as Magdalena was described as a profound religious person, we can believe that she took an active interest in this church throughout the rest of her life. In time the Anderegg family settled on a farm on Section 32, southwest of Guttenberg. In the year 1856 Magdalena's parents also moved from Ohio to Iowa and located on a farm just a short distance west of the Anderegg farm. Three more children were born to Magdalena and John - Charles, Julius and Amelia. All of the Andregg children no doubt attended the Jolly Ridge country school which was built in 1858. John "Andregg" is listed as a director of the school in that year.

On 16 August 1862 John Anderegg enlisted in the Civil War. He was then 39 years old, with a wife and six children. Eleven days after the date of her husband's enlistment, Magdalena had a seventh child whom she named Lydia. John served in the 27th Infantry and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. He was discharged after two years of service and returned to his farm. During the time he had been gone, his little daughter Amelia and also Magdalena's father had both died.

Magdalena and John became the parents of two more children - Lydia and Herman. The Sunday School on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guttenberg was organized in 1876 and classes were conducted from one to three on Sunday afternoons. In later years Herman told of how he, as a young boy, would take his noon lunch with him and then spend all day Sunday in church.

All of Magdalena and John's children married. John made his home in Boise, Idaho. William and Herman both farmed at West Bend, Iowa. Emma, who has been described as a very loving, generous lady, lived in Ireton, Iowa and worked as a midwife and physician's assistant at home deliveries of babies. Several times throughout the year she would be absent from home for a week or two as she would stay with an expectant mother both prior to and after the delivery date. She died from a chronic congestive cardiac disorder possibly with kidney complications as she had a great deal of edema in her legs and feet. Julius Anderegg was adventuresome. His wife and child lived in Texas; however, Julius was away from home much of the time travelling back and forth from Galveston to Vera Cruz and Tampico, Mexico, via steamship, yearly. It is believed he was drilling for one of the big companies. In 1913 he returned to Texas and drilled wildcat wells for Sinclair in Texas. He died in Houston from heart problems.

Magdalena lived the remainder of her life in her farm home. She died of heart disease at the age of 58 and was interred next to her little daughter, Amelia in the cemetery near their home.

Following Magdalena's death, her husband John retired from farm work and moved into Guttenberg where he engaged in the insurance business and became an auctioneer. In September he married Louisa Frese and they had one child, Martha Maria Magdalena, known as Mattie.

Probate: Circuit Court at Clayton County, Iowa

Estate of Magdalena Anderegg, Final Report for Discharge Now comes T. M. Davison the duly appointed guardian for Herman F. Anderegg, minor heir of said estate and for account herein alleged that he has written knowledge our information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth on corrections of the report and petition for discharge herein of the advice wherefore her prays the court herein to protect the interest of said ward.
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In Circuit Court, Clayton County, Iowa
In the Matter of the Estate of Magdelena Anderegg State of Iowa in Clayton Co., Iowa, I Charles G. Anderegg being duly sworn say I am the Administrator of the estate of said decedent, and that the following named heirs of said estate cannot be personally served with the original notice in said cause within this State Court: John Anderegg, Jr. and Julius P. Anderegg.
Dated Oct 16/85 Charles Andregg.^1,3