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Elias Andrea Manzinoja (1811-1887) 

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traveled at the age of 13 on foot and by stage-coach (see his letter from 1824) to Niort to help in his father’s tea-room “Café Helvétique”. He was not at all interested in a profession as a pastry confectioner and was said to have exclaimed: “I would rather blow my brains out than be a pastry confectioner all my life.” 

He returned home around 1830. Through personal studies he became well-versed in jurisprudence and held office as a lawyer and consultant and later as the canton’s chief magistrate. He was sought after for legal advice in community and private matters. He won the confidence of his fellow citizens through his skillfullness in legal affairs and was elected chief magistrate of the Canton of Upper Engadine (the last person to hold this office). After election, he was allowed to mount a beautifully saddled horse and ride around the church square in Samedan. He represented the Upper Engadine in the Legislative Assembly several times, was a member of the District Court and the Court for the Protection of Wards. Because of his dedicated work for the public welfare and his interest in the development of Pontresina as a health resort, his death in 1887 was deplored throughout the region, as is stated in his obituary. 

He married Verena Meisser (1806-1848) from Davos in 1830 at the age of 19.
The family lived in a lovely old house, typical of the region, in Unterdorf, built next to the Hotel Kronenhof. The house was sold to the Gredig vom Kronenhof family after Elias’ death and when the big, new Hotel Kronenhof was built, the beautiful old house had to make way for it. The place where the house used to be is now the entrance to the hotel. The splendid wrought-iron grating was mounted between the doors of the house and the front windows. 

 

There was a magnificent view of the Rosegg Valley to the southwest. An arbor led to the small sheltered garden.
Verena Manzinoja-Meisser was a loving and helpful companion. She was a solicitous mother and when she died at the age of only 42, her family was inconsolable. Her 4 young sons Andrea, Peter, Nuot and Elias and her 3 daughters Uorschla, Babigna and Victorina learned about grief at an early age and her husband was greatly afflicted by the death of his dear and thoughtful wife. 

Long after her death, he accompanied his 7 children every Sunday to the cemetery. The grave is still in the old cemetery near the church. Her eldest son, Andrea, who died at the age of 19, was laid to rest next to her. 

Elias Manzinoja never remarried. His eldest daughter Uorschla, called Dutta, did her best to be a mother to her brothers and sister and a devoted housekeeper took care of the household until his death.
Elias Andrea Manzinoja attached great importance to the education of his children. Explanations are found in his book “Cudesch del infaunts”, in which he listed for each child exactly what was spent on schooling and studies, as well as dowry and trousseau for his daughters, so that none of his children would feel disadvantaged. The daughters Uorschla, Babigna and Victorina were sent to finishing schools in Aarburg and Neuenburg. 

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