Otto was born “Frederich Otto Huesler”, but changed his name to “Otto Frederick Husler” upon entry into the United States. His god-parents were: Robert Pfenninger & Maria Haefliger.

Otto Frederick came to America from Switzerland on board the Steamship "SS La Champagne" on March 12, 1894. The Campania Steamed from Havre, France to New York City where Otto was processed through Ellis Island. On the Ship Manifest, Otto stated that he was a Blacksmith and his destination was Dixon, Ill (Dixon is in Lee co). This may explain why he didn’t show up in San Francisco until 1900. Once in San Francisco, Otto Frederick married Antonie Pauline Fabisch on 4 Nov 1902 and worked as a Metal Worker.

In 1903 the following two listings appeared:
Husler, Otto metal wkr r 357 30th
Husler Victoria widow r 2956 22d
While these addresses are about 30 block apart, they are in the same district.

Victoria appears again in 1904, but then disappears entirely. She didn’t come over with Otto, but the timing is curious. Perhaps a sister?

Otto lived at the same address both before and after the ’06 earthquake and the only difference in the directory listing is that his occupation changes from a Metal worker working for Sartorius & co in 1905 to simply Ironworker in 1907 (there is no directory for 1906).

The year after their eldest son (Otto Joseph) was born, Otto Frederick and Antonie move to 1710 Noe St. where they stayed from 1904 until 1915.

In 1913 World War I broke out and in 1917, Otto's occupation changes from ironworker to Ship fitter, we figure that means he got a job at the ship yard supporting the war effort. Once the war was over, he went into business with a partner to start Kern & Husler. After only one year the name was changed to Husler's Iron Works. He even tried his hand at advertising in the 1924 directory as the entry read:

Husler Otto F Antoinette F High Grade Artistic Metal Work Wrought Iron Lighting Fixtures Tables mirror Frames Door Grills Flowers Hand Hammered Iron Copper Brass and Bronze Ornaments 1364 Pacific r 567 Moultrie

Must not have worked very well, as he only tried it once. As you can see, he had moved to 567 Moultrie (this happened within a year of getting the shipfitter job. This would have been a relativly new house as it was built in great part from doors collected from the debris of the 1906 Earthquake. Many years later, my brother was doing some work in the attic and found the actual blueprints showing how it was done - unfortunately, these have been lost.

By the time of the Great Depression (1929), Otto Joseph, William, Antonie K and Hetty O had all come of age and were working. Since they were all still living at home, this may have helped lessen the impact of those hard times.

When the Great Depression came to a close (with the outbreak of World War II in 1939), all the kids were still living at home except William B who had married by then.

I know that my dad James J. served in the Army during WWII and Helen appears to have disappeared from the San Francisco Directory during the exact same years, so I am guessing that she also served. Unfortunately, Otto Frederick died in 1943 and never got to see his children return safely at the end of the war.

The 1918 San Francisco Directory lists:
Husler, Otto (Antonie) shipftr r 567 Moultrie

Otto Fredrick was survived by his wife Antonie. Death Certificate states birthplace as Stanstaad, but Petition for Citizenship states Luzern.

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Regarding the family name Husler, the first Husler was mentioned in 1444 called Jost Husler. According our heralding flag I'm (Hans Huesler) come from this line. These are Huslers originally from Neudorf, which is a small village near by Luzern.

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Found in the 1890 NY City Directory:
Huessler Frederick, painter, h 427 E. 77th

LA CHAMPAGNE 1885
The ship LA CHAMPAGNE was a 7,087 gross ton vessel, length 493.4ft x beam 51.8ft, two funnels, four masts, single screw and a speed of 17 knots. Accommodation for 390-1st, 65-2nd and 600-3rd class passengers. Built by CGT, St Nazaire, she was launched for Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (French Line) on 15th May 1885. Her maiden voyage started on 22nd May 1886 when she left Havre for New York. On 7th Aug.1887 she collided with and sank the French ship VILLE de RIO JANEIRO, sustaining serious damage herself. Rebuilt in 1896 with two masts, new engines and her 3rd class accommodation increased to 1,500. On 17th Feb.1898 she fractured her propeller shaft and drifted until 23rd Feb, when she was sighted by the Warren Liner ROMAN who towed her to Halifax. Her last Havre - New York sailing started on 21st Jan.1905 and she was then transferred to the Mexican service. She resumed Havre - New York for two round voyages in Mar/Apr.1906 and then returned to the Mexico service. In 1913 she was transferred to St Nazaire - Panama sailings and on 28th May 1915 stranded at St Nazaire and broke her back.[North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2,p.656]

From CA Birth Index66
HUSLER 12/10/1905 MALE TABISCH SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER ANTONIET K 01/05/1909 FEMALE FABISCH SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER HEDWIG O 11/09/1910 FEMALE FABISH SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER WALTER G 02/08/1914 MALE FALICH SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER HELEN H 06/27/1918 FEMALE FABISH SAN FRANCISCO

HUSLER JAMES JOHN 09/21/1948 MALE STITES SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER ROBERT OTTO 02/15/1950 MALE STITES SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER JOHN HENRY 06/09/1951 MALE STITES SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER WILLIAM JOSEPH 10/12/1954 MALE STITES SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER STEPHEN T 12/10/1957 MALE STITES SAN FRANCISCO
HUSLER TIMOTHY E 08/19/1959 MALE STITES SAN FRANCISCO

HUSLER SHAWN M 08/10/1971 FEMALE RUSTER SAN FRANCISCO