Gion Antoni Degonda II (dee-GON-da; the Swiss spelling is "Degonda") was born 18 November 1828 in Tujetsch, Switzerland, to Gion Antoni Degonda I and Maria Turté (nee Schmedt) Degonda.  Gion was a trained soldier in the Swiss army (was not in active service, however) and was a farmer.

 At the age of 25 he married Onna Maria (Anna Maria, Mary) Muggli on 21 Feb 1853.  They made their home in Trun, Switzerland.  Both Gion and Mary were 100% Romansch (of Roman decent).  They had 11 children, four of whom died in Switzerland between the ages of three months and two years (likely victims of the plague).

Gion moved his family to Surrheimand prepared to take them to America.  They were about to leave when Gion died on 3 April 1866.  Mary Muggli Degonda was left a widow with seven children.

Mary’s brother, Lucius Muggli, had already settled in Stillwater, Minnesota, with his family and encouraged her to join him in America.  Four months after Gion’s death, with her seven children, this brave woman (who spoke only Romanch) came to America 14 August 1866.  Two of her children apparently died during the crossing since only five children were with her when she arrived in Stillwater.  One can only imagine the heartbreak she endured with her husband and children all dying during such a short period of time.