Robert Gfeller was born September 3, 1852 in Walkringen, Switzerland. He was the eleventh child of Peter and Anna Maria (Moser) Gfeller. At six months of age he came to the United States with his parents and ten older brothers and sisters aboard the sailing vessel, The Roger Stewart. They sailed from Antwerp in March of 1853. After a stormy journey of six weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a sailing ship, they reached the U.S.A., landing at the Port of New York in early May of 1853. Four months after landing, they traveled inland to Dunkels Grove, Illinois, which is now the heart of Chicago where Peter was a landed proprietor. He had acquired a 148 acre farm for $1500.Later they moved to Polk City, Iowa. Robert grew up on the farm in Iowa and when land was found in Kansas he accompanied brothers Fred, Gottfried, Adolph and brother-in-law, Fuegy, to look it over. The family moved to Alida, Kansas in 1875 where they homesteaded eleven miles west of Junction City, Kansas. Robert married Lina Keller on March 26, 1878. They had seven children. The family Bible lists their names and births as:Herman Theodore - December 22, 1878Peter Edwin - April 12, 1880Frederich Wilhelm - August 16, 1881 (died)Hulda Maria - November 6, 1883Fredinand Arthur - June 2, 1885Ralph Robert - January 22, 1890Alice Louisa - April 15, 1893Robert and Lina moved to the Burns, Kansas area about 1900 and engaged in farming seven miles southwest of Burns. This farm was located on the southwest quarter north of First Street Road across from Rosemary Gfeller's parents farm. Robert was known for his kindness among his neighbors and was a loving father to his children. Robert, Lina and their children were active members of the Ebenezer German Methodist Church. Robert's untimely death occurred July 8, 1911 at the age of 58 years.Lina continued to live on the farm at rural Burns with the two youngest children, Ralph and Alice. When they married in 1917, Lina stayed with the Fred Frey (Hulda) family and later bought a home and lived in Burns. She was a true grandmother in that she had homemade goodies for everyone, which included her homemade version of soda pop. She entertained for hours with her stories, which included many Swiss superstitionsIn 1926 the Frey family moved to Wathena, Kansas and she moved with them. Her youngest daughter, Alice had married Preston Dubach who also lived at Wathena. Lina lived in a home there until she became terminally ill and upon her request returned back home to the farm at rural Burns. Her death occurred at Halstead, Kansas in 1933. She is fondly remembered by family members.Both Robert and Lina are buried in the family lot at the Ebenezer Cemetery, rural Burns, Kansas.*Lina's home in Burns, Kansas was the second house on the west side of the street in the block south of the post office corner.