March is Women’s History Month and there are countless resources available online now to research and learn about all the incredible women in our history.
From researching hero’s like Rachel Carson to Rosalind Franklin there is no shortage of ways you could spend your time this month but since you’re reading my column now you’re going to learn about my great great great grandma, Sophia Ruesch, a woman who refused to put up with social norms and lived life according to her own terms.
Sophia was born on March 11, 1841 in St. Gallen, Switzerland to a life of moderate comfort. Her parents owned a hotel frequented by touring vacationers eager to experience the Swiss Alps, a livelihood that allowed them to send my Grandma to school.
She used this opportunity to become a medical doctor, training in Germany and returning to her home as a skilled and enthusiastic healer.
During this time she married a man who turned out to be an unfaithful flake, who she, in shocking contrast to societal norms for women, promptly kicked his rump to the curb. After ridding her life of this unneeded baggage, Sophia met some Mormons who were sent by Brigham Young to Europe to preach and convert others to their cause. Persuaded by their Zionist messages, Sophia felt this was the path for her and was baptized a member of the LDS faith that year.
Her family was not nearly as enthusiastic about her new faith as Sophia and decided to send her to stay with her brother who had taken up residence in Naples, Italy, in an attempt to dissuade her from this new life choice.
Her bother was slightly more understanding but tried his hardest to get her to stay. He took her to the opera and showed her the finer things in life she would be giving up if she decided to make the journey to Utah. After his attempts to persuade her to stay failed, he bought her passage to America and provided enough funds to make a return journey home if she found Utah less than satisfactory.
Sophia arrived in Salt Lake City in June 1874, where her presence and extremely valuable skills as a physician were quickly noticed by Brigham Young who sent her south, to serve the sweltering community of St. George.
Before her journey down to Utah’s Dixie, Sophia attended a General Conference held by the church’s leadership in which she met my great great great grandfather, John Mathis, who Brigham Young saw as a suitable match for Dr. Sophia. (Excuse me while I grind my teeth).
No considerations were given for feelings or romance and the ever-faithful Sophia yielded to Brigham’s “suggestion” and married Mr. Mathis.
Imagine the surprise when John returned home to St. George with a brand new immigrant, physician wife. Now imagine that surprise if you are John’s first wife. Yep, Sophia found herself the second wife in a new polygamous family. You can guess how well that went. Sophia was an intensely intellectual and devout woman, and John’s first wife was the undisputed (up to now) ruler of her domicile, two forces that did not mesh well together.
It isn’t known when the two women’s issues came to a head, but from what we can tell, it was a long, arduous road that led to a breaking point.
Sophia had two children, first my great great grandmother Lisette Pauline Mathis and then a boy who only lived a day. While raising her daughter, Sophia encountered more struggles with John and Barbara, the latter of which showed a lot of preference to her own 10 children while neglecting Lisette.
If we have learned anything about my Grandma Sophia it’s that she doesn’t put up long with nonsense, so she packed her bags and left once again, divorcing her second husband and leaving the hostile home life with Barbara behind forever.
Sophia would go on to serve as an invaluable asset to the lives of those living in southern Utah, birthing children and saving lives all the while raising a healthy and happy child who would go on to raise my Great Grandma Maudeen Garden (nee’ Prisbey).
Sophia lived life the only way she could, fearlessly and on her own terms. Should we all be so lucky to be as brave as Sophia.
March a good time to tell you about Sophia
NEW NATHANIEL WOODWARD