Letter from Sister Ernestine Kohlhepp - December 19 1905

Several years before my grandmother, Laurie Teichert Eastwood, passed away, I had the fortune of visiting her home in San Bernardino, California. She pulled out her genealogy paperwork on the Kohlhepp's, and let me scan all of her work. I wish I had done some higher quality copies, but there was so much material, I am simply glad that I caught what I could. I've been unearthing multiple hard drives where some of this material was stored, and publishing it here into the cloud. Much valuable material comes from family letters. This first one comes from Fred's mission in December 1905, while Fred was serving in Thun.

Jamaica Plan
Dec 19th 1905

Dear Fred,

Your letter of the 4th was received with much pleasure. we also received one that you had written on Oct. 30th.
We are glad you are well, and enjoying your labour. also the wonderful scenery of the Schweitz.
Thun must look quaint with the overhanging roofs as you mentioned.
You didnot say whether
[p.2]
you had got a letter from me or not. I wrote to you in care of "Balliff" [Serge F. Ballif] if I remember correctly. I told you all about Eda's [Eda Henrietta Kohlhepp] death. But you said in your letter that you had heard it from Ella [Mary Ella Hickman]. I wrote it to you, before I wrote to her - didn't you get that letter?
Mr. Epple [Henry Epple] + Louis [Louis Epple] are living in the city in furnished rooms for the winter, and Eda [Louise Epple] has gone down to Florida. She was quite used up after her mother's death.
[p.3]
Was quite surprised to hear that there is also consumption there. I believe there is hardly a spot in the world free from it.
Father is well, altho' he often says this will be his last winter[.] he appears to be feeling all right. and I am very well. I have to thank you for your kind remembrance of Mr. Peavey.
I am glad you wrote it. P. V. It was a puzzle for Anna [Kramer], + she hasn't guessed it yet! We are having the real winter weather now, but not as
[p.4]
severe as last winter.
Well, Christmas is coming, I am afraid you won't get this till after Xmas, but I am surely in time to wish you a "Happy New Year" which I hope will be a self-satisfying one to you in regard to the work which you will accomplish.
Father and I both wish you the best of health + happiness.
Your loving sister

Ernestine [Clara Kohlhepp]
P.S. Oscar [Neuman] sends his love to his uncle Fred.

Observations:

- We can tell from the content of Tinnie's response that Fred described a lot of the surrounding beauties of Thun -- both in terms of its architectural quaintness and natural beauty with the lake and mountains.
- We see a "missing" letter from Tinnie from earlier where she mentioned Eda's death. It's not really missing, it just arrived late.
- We're seeing how many members of Eda's family handled the aftermath of Eda's passing.
- While responding about Eda's passing, Fred no doubt mentioned how consumption was already an ailment he'd seen in Switzerland. This month, Fred dealt with the death and burial of a Bro. Weber, who passed from consumption (see journal entries for December 8, 14 - 17 1905).
- We see that Fred's family is cordial in regards to his missionary efforts, even if they are not open to it themselves.
- We see some of Tinnie's playful behavior as relates to her eldest half-sister, Anna Kramer.
- It isn't clear when Fred received this letter from his journals.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Journal Entries - December 1905

1 December 1905 – Friday

Fri. Returned from Wimmis.

2 December 1905 – Saturday

Sat. 2nd Dec. Studied + went to Thun + Visited an ancient castle near Thun. It was very interesting. It is now used for a church. It was built in 1601.[N1]

3 December 1905 – Sunday

Sunday 3rd First day held meeting at Wimmis. Fraulein Toman of Thun was there, and we walked home togeather.

4 December 1905 – Monday

Monday 4th wrote letters home, Went to Thun in evening.[N2]

5 December 1905 – Tuesday

Tue. 5th Held Bible Class in Wimmis.

6 December 1905 – Wednesday

Wed. 6th Held Bible Class in Du[“]rrenast

7 December 1905 – Thursday

Thur. 7th Held Bible Class in Wimmis.

8 December 1905 – Friday

Friday morning visited Bro. Weber who is afflicted with consumption – administered to him, returned home to Durrenast same day.[N3]

9 December 1905 – Saturday

Saturday 9th Wrote letters[.] visited Bro. Luegenbihl stayed over night[N4]

[p. 21]
10 December 1905 – Sunday

came home Sunday 10th and held Sunday school + afternoon + evening meetings in Du[“]rrenast[.]

11 December 1905 – Monday

Monday studied and visited With [Lewers or Tewers or Sewers]

12 December 1905 – Tuesday

Tuesday went to Wattenw[i]l and held Bible class. Returned to Du[“]rrenast Land Yager [landjaeger] stoped us on the way and inquired about our buisness.[N5]

13 December 1905 – Wednesday

Pres. Mauss arrived in the evening Dec. 13th.

14 December 1905 – Thursday

Dec. 14th Held Bible Class in Wimmis. Went same night went to sit up with Bro. Weber who was very low with consumption, he passed away from this life quietly at […] 5 minutes past two.

15 December 1905 – Friday

Fri. 15th Dec. Bro. [John] Spr[i]nger + I washed and layed him out before going back to Thun.[N6]

16 December 1905 – Saturday

Sat. 16th studied.

17 December 1905 – Sunday

Sun. 17 Bro. [John] Spr[i]nger + I went to Wimmis to atend Bro. Weber funeral The Minister of the town said that any sexts could preach their funeral

[p. 22]
sermons in their meeting house but the Mormon’s. So I preached a short sermon in front of the house before going to the cemet[e]ry. There the Minister read the sermon and prayer at the grave after which we all went up to the old stone church, and the minister preached again, his Text was upon the Lords supper from 22 Chapt St. Luke.  Held afternoon Meeting at Roufmans house. After meeting returned to Du[“]rrenast and held evening meeting there.

18 December 1905 – Monday

Mon. 18 Went to Thun on buisness wrote letters,[N7]

19 December 1905 – Tuesday

Tues. 19th studied

20 December 1905 – Wednesday

Wed. 20 Studied + went to Thun on buisness.

21 December 1905 – Thursday

Thur. 21st Held Bible Class in Wimmis.

22 December 1905 – Friday

Friday 22nd We worked at home getting things ready for Christmas

23 December 1905 – Saturday

Sat. 23rd Dec. Went to

[p. 23]
Bern to attend Priesthood Meeting + Conference.  I atten three meetings Sat.  In the forenoon the Elders gave in their reports. We met in the Local hall. President Serge F. Ballif and Jacob Mausse were present. There were twenty two Elders present. I met Bro. Harry Shephard who came over from Utah in the same ship with me, we were so pleased to meet we pretty near fell into each others arms. We had a fine time. The meeting was continued in the after noon. In the evening we met again and had a swill time togeather with Song’s, speeches + recitations.

24 December 1905 – Sunday

Sunday we met in the Hotel DuPont. In Conference. The were three meetings held in the forenoon from ten untill two

[p. 24]
in the afternoon from two untill four. And in the evening from six o’clock untill half past seven. Every Elder had an opportunity to speak. There were some young Elders who just come over, and could not speak german, Pres. [Jacob] Mause had to interpret for them. We had a swell time. Sunday 24th Returned home to Thun on the nine twenty train from Bern.

25 December 1905 – Monday

Dec. 25th We had Christmas doings here in Du[“]rrenast. We had a Christmas tree and a little Theater play in which the children took part.. Presents were also given out. Three oranges a piece and a lebkunchen.[N8]

26 December 1905 – Tuesday

Dec. 26th Went to Wartenw[i]l and held Bible Class. Bro. Gurtsch came

[p. 25]
with me from Bern to visit friends around here.

27 December 1905 – Wednesday

Wed. 27th Received word for me to take charge of Branch. Bro. [John] Springer to go to Solothurn.

28 December 1905 – Thursday

Thur. 28th Went to Wimmis and held Bible Class.

29 December 1905 – Friday

Fri. 29th worked on Branch books, and took sulpher back for the itch and visited with winterbergers.[N9]

30 December 1905 – Saturday

Sat. 31 [30] Bro. John Sprenger left for Solothurn to labor there.

31 December 1905 – Sunday

Sun. 31st Held Meeting at Wattenwyl, In the evening Bro. Kunz Gu[“]rtsch + I went and visited with Familia Tomans. At half past eleven we all went to Thun to see the old year out and the New in. There was sing, and band playing. The streets were crowded there were some dressed like clowns. The whole town was out on the streets.

[p. 26]

NOTES:

[N1] It isn't clear which castle Fred is referring to. The castle in Thun itself, Thun Castle, was built in the 12th century C.E. Oberhofen Castle to the east was built in the 13th century. My suspicion is that he is referring to the Spiez Castle to the south. While built in 993, a "New Castle" was built in the 17th century, with the old castle also receiving extensive expansion in 1600. The "New Castle" did end up being repurposed as a church for a period of time.

[N2] Missing letters.

[N3] This is the first mention of consumption of his mission. Compare this with my notes on consumption in this post (note 3) and this post (note 5).

[N4] Missing letters.

[N5] A term for a mounted country police person. Also, a common name for a kind of sausage today, but definitely not what Fred was referring to. Mormon missionaries were often arrested, banished, and/or imprisoned for encouraging immigration (by encouraging them to gather to Zion), and had
to be careful.

[N6] Speculation here as to Fred contracting consumption from this person. On the flipside, Fred as I noted in other posts met other consumptives too (think of his sister Eda who had died from it, and he'd visited just prior to leaving for Switzerland). Many had. Fred wrote his sister Tinnie (Ernestine) about those suffering from consumption in Switzerland, as evident from the letter where she noted surprise in hearing that consumption was impacting people out there as it was in the United States.

[N7] Missing letters.

[N8] A lebkunchen is a German ginger snap cookie eaten during the holidays.

[N9] Just as it is now, sulfur is used for various skin treatments: today sulfur cream, lotion, ointment, and bar soap are used to treat acne. Sulfur ointment is used to treat seborrheic dermatitis and scabies.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missisionary Journal Entries - November 1905

1 November 1905 – Wednesday

Wed. 1st Nov. Distributed tract around Du[“]renast and held bible class in the evening in Du[“]renast. [p. 17]

2 November 1905 – Thursday

Thursday Nov. 2nd 1905 Rainy. Held Bible class in Wimmis.

3 November 1905 – Friday

Nov. 3rd Wrote letters and studied.[N1]

4 November 1905 – Saturday

Nov. 4th Studied all day went to Thun in the evening.

5 November 1905 – Sunday

Nov. 5th Held Meeting in Wattinw[i]l. Bro. John Springer held meeting in Wimmis. In the evening we held a meeting in Durenast.

6 November 1905 – Monday

Nov. 6. We went to Wattenw[i]l on business.

7 November 1905 – Tuesday

7th Held Bible Class in Wattenw[i]l.

8 November 1905 – Wednesday

Nov. 8th Bro. [John] Springer and I tracted between Wattenw[i]l and went from there to Thun. It was market day in Thun, and the streets were crowded with people from the country towns. The wares of all kinds are put right on the streets for sale horses cow’s clothes shows in fact everything a person needs.

9 November 1905 – Thursday

9th Went to Wimmis + held Bible Class. [p. 18]

10 November 1905 – Friday

10th Friday came home from Wimmis. Tracted on the way home in a little village west of Dü[r]renast. Reutigen.[N1] The people would not accept our tracts we could only get two persons to take a tract.

11 November 1905 – Saturday

Sat. 11th Nov. Moved into new Local house.

12 November 1905 – Sunday

Sun 12th Nov. held Sunday School, Sacrament + Evening meetings in Dü[r]renast. Also held Priesthood meeting after Sacrament meeting.

13 November 1905 – Monday

13th Wrote letter home[N3], Visited Bro. Andregg in evening we had a very enjoyable time togeather.

14 November 1905 – Tuesday

14th Held Bible Class a Wattenw[i]l.

15 November 1905 – Wednesday

15th Reutrned home Wattenw[i]l, received letter from home.[N4] Wrote to Bro. [John] Schwendeman in Bern to meet me at the Depot.[N4]

18 November 1905 – Saturday

Sat. 18th Arived in Bern all O.K. Met Bro. [John] Schwendiman in the Depot. He left for Arrenan on Sat.[N5] at 12.45 P.M. I remained [p. 19] in Bern and remained untill Monday evening.

19 November 1905 – Sunday

Held afternoon and evening meetings had good meetings and felt a good Spirit.  I made some good friends while there..

20 November 1905 – Monday

Left for Thu[n] at 5.30 P.M Monday 20th

21 November 1905 – Tuesday

Tuesday 21st Held Bible Class at Wattensessf [Wattenwil].

22 November 1905 – Wednesday

Wednesday held Bible class at Du[“]renast

23 November 1905 – Thursday

Thur. at Wimmis. Administered same day to Bro. Weber.

24 November 1905 – Friday

Next day Frid. 24 Went to Re[u]tigen a village between Wimmis + Du[“]renast to administer to an old sister named Kernen who was sick.

25 November 1905 – Saturday

Sat. 25th Stayed at home and studied.

26 November 1905 – Sunday

Sunday 26th. Attended Sunday School and afternoon + evening meetings in Du[“]rrenast. In the evening Bro. Kunze arrived from Meiringen where he had been sent to labor. He found the Saints there divided and scattered.

27 November 1905 – Monday

Monday We went to [p. 20] Thun on buisness.

29 November 1905 – Wednesday

Wednesday helped Bro. [John] Spr[i]nger make out monthly report[.] 29th held Bible Class in evening at Du[“]rrenast.

30 November 1905 – Thursday

Thur. 30th Held Bible Class at Wimmis.

NOTES:

[N1] Missing letter.

[N2] Reutigen is more directly south than west of Durrenast.

[N3] Missing letter.

[N4] John Schwendiman of Sugar City, Utah. A picture of this Elder is amongst Fred's mission papers. I've included both front and back.

According to the church's data, Schwendiman served 3 different missions. The one to the Swiss-German mission was his first.

[N5] Missing letter.

[N6] Arrenan is not a real city. Need to research.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Journals Entries - October 1905 (3 of 3)

10 October 1905 – Tuesday

Sept. [Oct] 10th Went back to Du[“]renast.

11 October 1905 – Wednesday

Sept [OCT] 11th Wrote letter home in forenoon in afternoon[N10] Bro. [John] Springer and I went tracting, had Gospel conversation with a lady bei Dürenast. Held Bible

[p. 14]
Class in evening.

12 October 1905 - Thursday

Oct. 12 President Maus [Mans] came to visit us and he turned the books of the Durenast Branch of[f] to Bro. John Springer, who will now be the presiding Elder of the Thun Branch. On the Evening we went to [Wimmis] to hold Bible Class stayed overnight at Bro. Millers.[N11]

13 October 1905 – Friday

13th Oct. Bro. [John] Springer and I went to a tow[n] called Wimmis and distributed trac[t]s and held some Gospel conversations with some of the people in the town. In the evening we went to Thun to make some purchases[.]

14 October 1905 - Saturday

next day 14th.

15 October 1905 – Sunday

Sunday 15th held Sunday School and Sacrament meeting in Du[“]renast.

16 October 1905 - Monday

Monday 16th Went to Thun on buisness. Bro. Hirschi left for Liverpool on his journey home.

17 October 1905 - Tuesday

17th. Went to Metlin to hold Bible Class.[N

[p. 15]
18 October 1905 – Wednesday

18th. Tracted on way back from Metlin to Durenast.

19 October 1905 – Thursday

19th Oct. Bro. [John] Springer and I went to Wimmis and held a Bible Class.

20 October 1905 – Friday

20th Went back to Durenast snowed all the forenoon in afternoon we went to Thun and bought us a Petroleum heating stove.[N13]

21 October 1905 – Saturday

21st. Cloud and stormy stayed at home and studied.

22 October 1905 – Sunday

22nd. Oct. Bro. [John] Springer went to Waternvil [Wattenwil] and I went to Wimmis and held Sacrament meetings came home same evening and held meeting in Du[“]renast. I got lost, took the wrong road coming home, and came late to meeting.

23 October 1905 – Monday

23rd Oct. Monday study in forenoon went to Thun on buisness.

24 October 1905 – Tuesday

24th. Bro. [John] Springer and I went to Wattenurgl [Wattenwil] and held Bible Class.

25 October 1905 – Wednesday

25th. Held Bible Class at Du[“]renast.

[p. 16]
26 October 1905 - Thursday

26th held Bible Class at Wimmis. Visited three Saints[.]

27 October 1905 - Friday

Friday distributed tracts.

28 October 1905 – Saturday

Oct 28th 1905. Saturday went to Thun on buisness, Received letter from home Oct. 28th 1905.[N14]

29 October 1905 – Sunday

Sunday Oct. 29th Held Meetings in Durenast.

30 October 1905 – Monday

Oct. 30th  Prest. Jacob Mause [Mans] who was visiting with us left for Langn[au] his head quarters, We spent the day studying, I broke one of my teeth in biteing a piece of bread and had to go to Thun next day Oct. 31st and get it pulled out.[N15] Wrote letter home, also one to father [Johann Friedrich] + Ernestine [Clara Kohlhepp].[N16] The letter I received from home Oct. 28 contained the sad news of my sister Eda’s death. Oct. 29th Studied the Scriptures + went to Thun.

NOTES:

[N10] I unfortunately lack this letter. It would have been great to get some of Fred's early impressions mentioned to his family since he is so brief in his journal entries without much description or feeling.

It could be that this letter is simply this postcard he sent, and started writing 2 nights before. It has a note across the front.

[N11] South of Thun, near Faulensee. 1891 map:

[N12] Metlin is not a real city. I'll need to study surrounding geography to figure out what this likely was.

[N13] I can just imagine these 2 Americans getting adjusted to the realities of an approaching Swiss Winter.

[N14] Missing letter. We get some of its contents from the October 30th entry, which notes that it contained news of his sister Eda's death.

[N15] This mission is going to be very physically demanding on Fred; we have these health incidents, but for a man in his mid-40's traversing in the cold mountains.

[N16] No knowledge of contents of this letter. Likely a communication to his family regarding Eda's death and his condolences.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Journals Entries - October 1905 (2 of 3)

[p. 12]
5 October 1905 - Thursday

Left Steigwille [Gsteigwiler] and commenced our mountain climb to Wingern [Wengen], a village high up on the side of the Alps close to the Yung Frau [Jungfrau].[N7] We passed the Stoub bach [Staubbach] where the water falls hundreds of feet in the air into dust.[N8] We visited a friend in same place, a sister of Sister Gortch named Von Allman.

6 October 1905 - Friday

Visited Friend Anna Schluchter. From there we went to Lauterbrun[n]en where we visited a friend named Hansel Graf[.] Bro. Hirshi is all his these farewell before taking his departure for America. The weather is still stormy. Snowing this morning. Went by the Buentzer [Brienzer] See to Brientz [Brienz], from there took train to Mürringen [Meiringen].[N9] Visited a family by the name of Steiner. From

[p. 13]
there we went to Unterstock[,] a little village high up in the mountains. It is a steep climb over rocks where it was dangerous to climb. Bro. Hirshi is preaching to the friend 11 P.M. We have been so late every night[.] so late I am wore out.

7 October 1905 - Saturday

Left Unterstock for Bern to attend Con[ference]- Priesthood meeting

8 October 1905 - Sunday

[At] Mettlen by Walternvel [Wattenwil we] held [a] Sacrement Meeting at Bro. Berlers. Held evening Meeting at Dür[r]enast.

9 October 1905 - Monday

Sept. [Oct] 9th. Went to Engestein [Enggistein] bei Biglen to visit sister Gross. Her daughter was prepering to go to America with Bro. Hirshi. Stayed over night there.[N10]

NOTES:

[N7]: A little further south from Interlaken. 1891 Map:

Wengen is even further south:

[N8] Fred was not exaggerating here. He was in the valley of 72 waterfalls, many of which did plummet a hundred feet or more.

[N9] These were on the east side of Brienzer See. 1891 map:

[N10] This is likely the place Fred mentioned in this postcard, where he pinpoints where he stayed the night in the photo.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Journals Entries - October 1905 (1 of 3)

1 October 1905 - Sunday

Arived in Paris [at] 8 A.M. Left Paris for Zürich [at] 8-45 a.m. We were delighted [p. 9] with the trip through France the scenery was grand, The scenery of both England + France is more charming then anything I ever expected to see on this earth.[N1]  In our Journey through France, we saw only about twelve children. It seemed good to me when we reached Switzerland to see children playing about.

2 October 1905 - Monday

We are staying at the Weisse Kruetz [White Cross] Hotel in Zürich.  I am writing this by candle light. Zürich is a beautiful city with many modern improvements. It is a very clean city. It still has a quite appearance. On ariveing we took trolley car to the Conference house on Hoeshgasse No 68.[N2] The brethren received me kindly. Slept that night in a German bed, between feathersticks

[p. 10]
Bro. Richard Bridge My Traveling companion can speak but a very few words in german, but he is a young man and will soon learn,  Bro. Flamm + [his] wife were also of our company, They have come to visit their son, who is hear on a mission, and they are also to seek up genealogies.  I have just been called by Bro. [Serge F.] Ballif to go at once to Thun to take up a labor there. Left Zürich [at] 2-55 P.M. Oct. 2nd [and] arrived in Thun [at] 8-15 P.M. Took cab for Dürrenast bei Thun[N3] Thalacker St. [Talackerstrasse] Met Bro. [John] Springer there.[N4] Bro. Hirshi had gone to another place I will meet him to day.

3 October 1905 - Tuesday

Walked 2 ½ hours to a village called Foulenssee [Faulensee; N5] where I met Bro. Hirshi, he was visiting with a friend named Herrn Emile Bishof.  Bro. Hirshi is making [p. 11] a farewell tour through the Thun branch, + Meiringen branch. I am to take charge of the Branch in place of Bro. Hirshi.  I will make the tour with him to become a[c]quainted with the people. I can not understand the dialect yet.[N6]

4 October 1905 - Wednesday

It is still cloudy, it has been raining and storming ever since I arrived in Europe. Left Foulensse [Faulensee at] 11 A.M. [and] Arived at Interlacken [Interlaken] at 1:30 P.M.[N7] [In] Untersee [Unterseen] Visited friend Von Bergen, Visited Matten [Matten bei Interlaken] same day[.] Visited with Sister Faber. Bro Faber was away to work in the cabinet factory.  We went to Steighwiller [Gsteigwiler] same day. Visted with a friend widow Hoesler.  Also visited friend Fraulein Durtche in same place. I Got a view of the Yung-Frau [Jungfrau] from Interlacken [Interlaken].

NOTES:

[N1] Curious as to why this was so charming for Frederick. He'd grown up in the Eden of America, Jamaica Plains. What is the natural beauty that was so astounding to him, or was it rather the towns, the layout, the architecture, etc.? Scenery can be more than just nature.

[N2] Location of this in 1896 Zurich:

1911 Zurich:

[N3]: Durrenast was a town just south of Thun. 1890 map:

[N4] John Springer (1879 - 1973) was born in Switzerland and set part only a month before Frederick. John's family had moved to Utah; he received the call in SLC. They worked together quite frequently while Fred served in Durrenast/Thun.

[N5]: Although October, I bet it was still a brisk 2.5 hour walk from Durrenast down to Faulensee. On the south side of the Thuner See, a little further east. 1891 map:

[N6]: This must have humbled Fred some, to see that his advantage in better understanding of German did not mean that he'd be able to understand people immediately.

[N7]: Interlaken is a city, as the name suggests, that is "between the lakes" of the Thuner See and the Brienzer See. It's a nice town, at least in 2008 when my wife and I visited.

You can see Matten just south of Interlaken, which Fred also visited. A postcard of Fred's that he sent his family also gives a somewhat easier map of the region in less granular detail:

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Letters - September 22 1905

Fred set sail for Great Britain on September 11, 1905. The following day, Fred wrote a letter to his family about his visit with his family and some details of the journey:

S.S. “Arabic”
Liverpool.     22nd Sept. 1905 

Dear Ella + children. 

Out on the briney deep; I am writing this letter about two hundred miles out from land. We left Boston yesterday at 3.30 p.m. Anna [Anna Wilhelmine Kramer], Tinnie [Ernestine Clara Kohlhepp], + Ern[e]st Schneidt accompanied me to the Ship. I had an e[n]joyable time while in Boston, although the weather was wretched it drizzled and rained all the time. It is lovely now and the ocean looks grand. There are about twenty Latter Day Saints on board. There are two bound [for] Germany besides myself. Bro. Flamm and his wife and another young brother. I wish you were with me. I have been somewhat home sick the last day or two, but I must get over it. The steamer Arabic [Arabic II] is just grand, 600 feet long, and elegantly furnished, like a Palace.  I visited Eda [Eda Henrietta Kohlhepp Epple] on the 20th I found her looking very bad I do not think she will live much longer.[N1] But she has hopes, consumptives alway’s do have, you know. She is going to move to New O[r]leans for her health, They are going to sell their home in Roslindale[, MA], and leave for good. I tried to preach our Gospel to father but he said he did not want to hear anything about our religion. He said he was a Free-mason and that was all the religion he wanted but they all treated me very well, and made the time pass pleasantly for me, but not I getting anxious to get to my field of labor.[N2]  I have not been sea sick yet and I feel splendid phisicaly. I hope you are feeling as well as I am, I hope Viva [Survivor Kohlhepp], is feeling better now. I suppose he is calling for papa yet.[N3] Bless his little heart, kiss him for me a thousand times. I study some but there is to much excitement + bustle around. Father gave me ten dollars + Anna two dollars when I went aboard, to help me along. I will will try to write again when I get to England. 

Your loveing husband + father.
Fred. J. Kohlhepp.

Notes:

N1:  Eda would never make this trip (interesting that here is noted as New Orleans and in his journal he mentions Los Angeles, California). This is the last time Fred would visit with his elder sister. Eda passed away only a couple weeks after Fred's visit on October 2, 1905. 

N2: This point to Johann Friedrich's general irreligious attitude. He didn't seem to join any particular religious sect, although Lutheranism did run in different strains of the family, including in his own children.

N3: Viva would have been only a little over 2 years old at this time, and definitely still yearning for the parent he long knew after coming into tworld.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Letters - September 17 1905

Fred's journey across the United States to get to his mission in Germany conveniently ended up with him in Boston, from which the steamer S. S. Arabic (II) would take him across the Atlantic. This meant that he got to visit with his family before entering the mission field, a family no doubt he rarely saw while in American Falls, Idaho. When Fred arrived with his father in Jamaica Plains, he wrote his family about his journey and family visits:

Jamaica Plain
      Sept. 17th 1905
Dear Ella + children, 

At last I have arrived here after a tedeous Journey of nearly five day’s. I stood the trip fine so far. I did not have the least bit of a headache and felt well all the time.[N1] I found the folks all well, found is looking well and Tinnie [Ernestine Clara Kohlhepp] you would hardly know her she has fleshed and is fine looking. She is engaged to a young widower by the name Pevee.[N2] I saw her two boy’s, Harry [Harry Leopold Neuman] + Oscar [Oscar Edwin Neuman] and Amey [Amy Clara Neuman] came with Anna [Anna Wilhelmine Kramer] and young [Anna Elizabeth Schneidt] + Ernst [Ernest Schneidt] and wife and her brother Ernsts wife is a fine looking lady she is taller than he is. We had a splendid visit togeather. My fare from Salt Lake City to Liverpool cost me $67.00[N3] My other expenses were quite heavy, I have still a hundred and twenty dollars left, but I can see I will have to live very economical, the rates were reasonable, but I called on Bro. Feljstead [Christian D. Felstead] the President of the Seventies, and he told me that the German mission was a hard one, and that I would have to be careful.[N4] There would be much traveling expences. I will no doubt have to go to Switzerland to[o]. I feel well, and I know that the Lord will be with me, according to promise.[N5] We had wreck at Greensprings[,] Ohio, that is we wrecked the other train. The freight train was switching on a cross track ahead of us when we collided, I was just in the midst of prayer, praying for the safty of you and the children, when we struck with a crash into the other train, The Engineer claimed that the air brake failed to work, and he could not stop the train quick enough. We knocked two of the other car’s of the track, our Engine was derailed, and somewhat damaged. We were delayed five hours.[N6] There were ten in our company, I left them at Chicago and came on to Boston ahead of them. They wanted to stay over a day in Chicago, I told them I would rather go on, and visit father, so it was all right. I will meet them to day at the North Union Depot.[N7]  Our Ship the –Arabic [Arabic II]– sails on the 21st Sept.  It is the biggest steamer that sails between Boston + Liverpool. We received good instructions before leaving Salt Lake City, in regards to our behavior + conduct aboard, I will wear my clothes that I left home in untill I get to Europe; They are plenty good enough.[N8] I bought me two grips [N9], one large one for my clothes in Pocatello[, Idaho], + a small leather one for my books in Salt Lake City.  I could only get one german book the Doc. + Cov. in the City.  I have been studying in it some, and I understand it, so If I can not preach at once in German, I can read. You see the advantage I have in this way.[N10] I hope you are all well, and that Vivi [Viva] is better now, I have prayed for him and for you all. I felt somewhat blue at first, I guess I am the poorest man financially in the party, nevertheless I feel that the Lord will be with me, according to promise. I am young yet and I can stand some knocks, So dont you worry either[.] The Lord will be with us, we will all get along, and all be united happyly togeather again. I must close my letter now, as I must go and meet the company. There are two Sister in the crowd, one going to meet her husband, and the other goin on visit. I will write again when I get to Eourope[.] 

Your loveing husband
+ father  F.J. Kohlhepp.

Notes:

N1: That Fred called out that he did not have headaches, and that this is something he anticipated he would have so as to mention to his family suggests that this was a common health ailment for Fred.

N2: **Note for future research** I do not know about this widower and what happened to her marriage on the Neuman side. Tinnie married a Charles Alfred Barrow in 1916; it doesn't appear that she ever married this Pevee gentleman.

N3: Accounting for inflation, travel expenses were $1,952.02 in equivalent 2020 dollars.

N4: Christian Daniel Fjeldsted (1829 – 1905) was a general authority of the LDS Church from 1884 to his death. Fjelsted was one of the first Scandinavian converts to Mormonism and was a prominent Mormon missionary in Scandinavia. As a general authority of the church, Fjeldsted served as the president of the Scandinavian Mission of the church from 1888 to 1890 and from 1904 to 1905.

N5: Fred seems bolstered by his missionary blessing and instructions he received in Salt Lake.

N6: See the September 16, 1905 entry in his missionary journal.

N7: The North Union Depot of Boston opened in 1893 and was located at the intersection between the Causeaway and Nashua streets.

N8: Another testament to how his finances were tight.

N9: Grips is an old term for suitcases or luggage.  He must have purchased these grips somewhere in between the 10th to 12th of September, before he was set apart.

N10: A second generation American, we can see how some of his German had left him. He could read it, but speak/understand when spoken was a different matter.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Journal Entries - September 1905 (2 of 2)

22 September 1905 - Friday

Weather was fair.

[p. 3]

Spent the day reading + walking about the deck, also wrote [a] letter home.[N12]

23 September 1905 - Saturday

[It is] Wet and foggy. Bro Fife + Jorgenson are somewhat sea sick. I am feeling well so far, I have taken a bath on board ship which has done me good. I feel that the Lord is with me on this journey.  British Art Galery Walker R. [in] Liverpool.[N13] Off [the] banks of New Foundland [at] noon [on] the 23rd [of] Sep. with rain and fog.

24 September 1905 - Sunday

Sunday still foggy. [There are] Baptist Missionaries bound for India + other points of the eastern lands to preach to the heathens, [they] held meetings at 10-30 a.m + 7 p.m[.] I attended.[N14] 9 P.M. still foggy. [The] fog horn [is] blowing every few minutes. The sea has been calm so far. retired for bed. [at] 9 P.M.

[p. 4]

25 September 1905 - Monday

[Ship coordinates are] Longitude [-]38.42 Lattitude 48.21[.][N15] The weather has been pleasant all day with [a] breeze from [the] N.E. We sighted some porpoise this afternoon not far from the ship.[N16] My appetite is good aboard ship and I am feeling well, but I feel anxious to arive at my field of labor. Sighted steamer bound for Liverpool, about noon, was loaded heavy, and sailing slow. We past it in a few hours.  I have a birth [berth] to myself about amidship. Spent the day reading some + walking the deck. It is very monotinous on a ship. Our company are all feeling well now. Three more missionaries bound for Switzerland + Germany came aboard at Boston.[:] Bro’s. Flamm, [Harry] Shepherd, + [Richard K.] Bridg[e]. [It’s] 9 P.M. [and I’m] going to bed.

[p. 5]

26 September 1905 - Tuesday

Cloudy + somewhat cold, Have not been on deck much today.  Spent the day mostly in the Laibrary + in my birth [berth] and chatting with the brethren. [A] Man died on board last night. unknown.[N17]

Names of our party.  Where bound.[N18]

Bro. Flamm + Wife Germany

“ Baker + “ England

“ Webster “

“ Pike “

“ Kohlhepp Germany

“ Fife Scotland

“ Chris. Mortensen Denmark

“ Frank Mortensen “

“ Jorgensen “

“ Brown England

“ Midgely “

“ Shepherd Germany

“ Bridg[e] “

“ Reeves England

[p.6]

“ Hardy England

“ Anderson England

“ Hoagland Sweeden

“ Hatch England

“ Rich England

Sister Boyer “

27 September 1905 - Wednesday

The man who died aboard [on Monday night] was consigned to the waves last night at midnight. Gulls were sighted near ship [in] the morning, A bird called mother Carey’s chicken fell on the deck last night.[N19] Sea quite rough this morning. [Ship coordinates are] Lat. 50-13 Lon. [-]19-27[.][N20]

68 Hoechgasse

Zürich

Switzerland

Co/ S. F. Ballif [Serge F. Ballif]

Bought stamps, and mailed two letters on board.

[p. 7]

28 September 1905 - Thursday

Rough sea in the morning and windy. Came in sight of the cost of Ireland about noon. We had a good view of the shore [and] passed some sailing vessels, Also passed [the] Steam Ship Majestic bound from Liverpool to New York, [at] about 3 P.M.[N21] Arived at Queenstown [at] 6 P.M. [A] Small Steamer came alongside + took on passengers + baggage. Also the mail, bound for Queenstown. I have been a little sea sick today. Passed [the] Fastnet light house [at] 3 P.M. [and] Daunts Rock at 6 P.M.[N22]

29 September 1905 - Friday

Arived in Liverpool [at] 12.30 P.M. We were met by Elders at the wharf and were conducted to a hotel where we had diner, after

[p. 8]

dinner we went to the conference house at #1 Holly Road Where we received instruction in regards to our missions, Bro. Heber J. Grant gave us some splendid countsil and instruction.[N23]  I leave for London at 12.30 P.M. tomorrow, from there we go to Paris, from there to Zürich.

30 September 1905 - Saturday

[Left] Liverpool, for Zürich[,] Switzerland, After parting with our friends at the Iles hotel on Norton Road, We went from Central Station, at 12-50 P.M. [and] arrived [in] London [at] 5-50 P.M. Left London by Victoria Station, for New Haven at 9-10 P.M. Left New Haven [at] 10-50 P.M. Leeft On the Steam Ship [to] Paris for Dieppe[,] France.

NOTES:

N12: See 22 September 1905 letter.

N13: The Walker is the major art gallery of Liverpool, which houses one of the largest art collections in England, outside of London, causing some to refer to it as "the National Gallery of the North". Designed by local architects Cornelius Sherlock and H.H. Vale it opened in 1877.  The Walker Art Gallery is located on William Brown Street (the only street in the UK to consist of nothing other than Museums, Galleries and Libraries) in a neo-Classical building. It seems likely Fred was making note of a nice place to visit in his journal; when he arrives in Liverpool, in the September 29-30 entries, there's no sense that he actually made it to the gallery.

N14: Notice how Fred was completely comfortable hearing the claims of other Christian faiths.

N15: These coordinates on a map are:

N16: Harbor porpoise likely.

N17: It is unclear from Frederick’s journal whether the man who passed away was unknown, or if this referred to the cause of his death. I presume the latter. It's quite likely he wouldn't have known the person.

N18: *Future research note* -- Try to resolve this folks to their full names as much as possible

N19: Mother Carey's Chicken. Fred's constant notice of the local fauna is an interesting aspect of his character. You don't see this attention to wildlife in say the journal of Richard K. Bridge.

N20: These coordinates on a map are:

N21: The SS Majestic was a steamship built in 1890 for and operated by the White Star Line until 1914, when it was sold for scrap metal.  It could carry nearly 1500 passengers.

N22: Fastnet Lighthouse:

Daunt's Rock:

N23: In 1901, Elder Heber J. Grant (LDS Apostle) was sent to Japan to open the church's Japanese Mission. He served as mission president until 1903, when he returned home but was almost immediately sent to preside over the British and other European missions of the church. He returned from the British mission in 1906. It's impressive that before getting into his individual mission, Fred and the other missionaries got to hear from the apostle presiding over all European missions.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Journal Entries - September 1905 (1 of 2)

My mother Elisa Pulido inherited a photocopy of Frederick Kohlhepp's journal, along with his correspondence (postcards, letters, photos, etc.). I transcribed this years ago in 2006, and will be posting the material on here with our annotations. Each entry may include up to a month's worth of journal entries, so these will be lengthy posts.

[Cover]

[Inside Cover]

P No 1 P 95 – old,

New/Now 124 “129”

“ 192 “107”

[Mathematical problems upside down.]

[p. i]

12 Sep. 1905

F. J. Kohlhepp

American Falls

Idaho.

[p. ii]

Left Am. [American] Falls for my Mission Sept. 10th 1905. [see N1]

[p. iii]

Was set apart for my Mission to Switzerland and Germany, In Temple by Elder McMurrin [Joseph W. McMurrin; N2]. There were ten Brethren set apart for various Missions, on this occasion.  We received instructions, and good council in regard to our behavior + conduct while on our Mission, Especial[l]y in regards to the opposite Sex, that we should let them strictly by [be] alone, lest we be led into temptation. Spent this day in preparing for the Mission, Purchasing clothing, books, etc. and receiving instructions for our journey and labors abroad [N3]. Roomed that night at the Wyoming House. Salt Lake City[,] Utah[.]

[p.1]

13 September 1905 - Wednesday

Left Salt Lake for the East Over the O.S.L. [Oregon Short Line railroad]  Arived at Green River at four P.M.  The town has grown considerably in twenty Years since I last saw it, in 1885 [N4].   I am the only Missionary in this group bound for Germany.  Arived at Cheyan [Cheyenne].  Sept 13th at 11 P.M. 

14 September 1905 - Thursday

Arrived at Omaha Sept 14th.  Left Omaha for Chicago Sept. 14th 8-35 P.M. [?].P.M. [more initials] 

15 September 1905 - Friday

Arived at Chicago at 10-40 a.m. 15th Sept. 

16 September 1905 - Saturday

Arived at Buffalo 7.35 am. Sept 16th over Nickle Plate Road from Chicago. Wreck at Green Springs Ohio! Our train ran into freight train which lay on crossing ahead and was switching! the air brakes would not work in our train, [but] No

[p.2]

one was hurt.[N5]

17 September 1905 - Sunday

Arived in Boston. Found everyone feeling well. [N6]

18 September 1905 - Monday

Went in city to meet the other brethren of the party from Salt Lake.  Went together to State Street to arange births [berths] aboard Ship [Arabic II].[N7]

19 September 1905 - Tuesday

Father gave some history of his people in German[y.]  Father’s cousin, Urban, [lives] in Salsungen [Bad Salzungen], in a village called Laimebach [Leimbach], Fathers mothers folks also live in Laimebach [Leimbach].[N8]  I went to visit Eda [Eda Henrietta Kohlhepp] on the 19th found her looking very bad. In Oct, she will go to Los Angeles Cal, for her health.[N9]

20 September 1905 - Wednesday

On the 20th Anna [Conhepa?] and I went to visit the Ship Arabic [Arabic II], which sails from Charlestown harbor on the 21st Sept. I visited the Art Museum with our company. [N10]

21 September 1905 - Thursday

Fathe[r] made me a present of 10 Dollars, + Anna of two dollars.[N11] Left Charlestown [at] 3:30 P.M. [I am staying in] Birth [berth] No. 130.

NOTES:

N1: The Deseret Evening News article had Fred leave one day later on Monday, September 11. It's hard to image Fred got down to Salt Lake City in 1 day for his blessing, so the 10th from his journal seems more accurate. Regardless, the Neeley community threw a party for him at the schoolhouse prior to his departure. Fred accepted his mission call on June 30th, and so departed roughly 2.5 months after. There were steps in preparing for an international mission, such as securing his passport, which was granted on August 16th (application I also have, but it isn't dated).

N2: Elder Joseph W. McMurrin was one of the first seven presidents of the Seventy. He is most well known for being shot twice in the bowels by a United States deputy marshall who was looking for Mormons violating the Edmunds acts in 1885. He was told by doctors that he would not live. While expecting to die, Apostle John Henry Smith visited him and said, “Brother Joseph, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus, I promise you in the name of Jesus Christ that if you desire to live you shall live, no matter what doctors may say to the contrary.” Having a family to care for, Elder McMurrin had such a desire and miraculously recovered.

N3: This most likely included the German Doctrine and Covenants that he mentions in his September 17, 1905 letter to his family, and A Voice of Warning, by Parley P. Pratt, which is among his missionary books. This German Doctrine and Covenants is most likely the 1903 edition, published by Hugh J. Cannon in Berlin. It is known for extra sections of scripture that contain revelations to President John Taylor on individuals to call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

N4: This would have had to have been during Fred's frontier travels, prior to meeting Mary Ella. While Eda doesn't mention Green River in her account of her father's journeys, Frederick mentions in his autobiography about wandering from Lander City to a place in Green River called Brown’s Hole.  He traveled with Indians and taught how to bake baking powder bread.  It was at Green River that Frederick thought of going to Utah.  A man advised him to turn towards Idaho Falls, and avoid Utah or it could cost him his life.  When he came to a fork in the road that would lead towards Idaho or Utah, he left the decision up to his horse, and his horse picked Utah. This must have been a nostalgic moment for Frederick to pass through this city, knowing what that decision had entailed for his life since.

The Green River population did fluctuate throughout its history. Census records do not go back as far as 1880, so it's hard to know what it would have look like in 1885. But it was around 222 in 1900, and moved up to 628 by 1910, so it was in the middle of population growth when Fred was passing through.

N5: I haven't found any obvious records of the wreck, so it could not have been that bad. That said, Seneca/Sandusky county newspapers are pretty sparse from this time period. Fred wrote of the incident to Ella in a September 17 1905 letter, noting "We had wreck at Greensprings[,] Ohio, that is we wrecked the other train. The freight train was switching on a cross track ahead of us when we collided, I was just in the midst of prayer, praying for the safty of you and the children, when we struck with a crash into the other train, The Engineer claimed that the air brake failed to work, and he could not stop the train quick enough. We knocked two of the other car’s of the track, our Engine was derailed, and somewhat damaged. We were delayed five hours."

N6: Fred understandably took the time to visit with his family in Jamaica Plains; those are they he found feeling well. He'd left some of the other missionaries in Chicago so he could get to Boston early to see his father and family. He noted in his letter to Ella written the same day, "I found the folks all well, found is looking well and Tinnie [Ernestine Clara Kohlhepp] you would hardly know her she has fleshed and is fine looking. She is engaged to a young widower by the name Pevee. I saw her two boy’s, Harry [Harry Leopold Neuman] + Oscar [Oscar Edwin Neuman] and Amey [Amy Clara Neuman] came with Anna [Anna Wilhelmine Kramer] and young Anna [Anna Elizabeth Schneidt] + Ernst [Ernest Schneidt] and wife and her brother Ernsts wife is a fine looking lady she is taller than he is. We had a splendid visit togeather."

N7: The Arabic was laid down as Minnewaska (II) for the Atlantic Transport Line in 1902, but was sold to White Star Line before launching. She could hold over 1400 passengers.  She was launched on December 18, 1902 as the Arabic. The Arabic made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on June 26, 1903. She ran on the Liverpool to Boston service in 1905 and then alternated with New York at approximately two yearly intervals. On August 19, 1915 the Arabic was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-24 off Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland with the loss of 44 lives.

N8: It isn't clear if this cousin Urban is on the Abe [Mother's] or Kohlhepp [Father's] side of Johann Friedrich's family. Family search didn't show names of any cousins for any of his many aunts and uncles, unfortunately. More research to be done here. It's great to at least have this clue, and for Fred to call out the geography.

N9: Eda would never make this trip, and this is the last time Fred would visit with his elder sister. Eda passed away only a couple weeks after Fred's visit on October 2, 1905. Fred predicted this in a letter to his wife on 22 September 1905: "I visited Eda on the 20th I found her looking very bad I do not think she will live much longer. But she has hopes, consumptives alway’s do have, you know. She is going to move to New O[r]leans for her health, They are going to sell their home in Roslindale[, MA], and leave for good."

N10: This must refer to the Museum of Fine Arts located at Copley Square.  It opened at the nation’s centennial on July 4, 1876, and then was  home to 5,600 works of art. Over the next several years, the collection and number of visitors grew exponentially, and in 1909 the Museum moved to its current home on Huntington Avenue.

N11: In a letter to his family, Fred notes again the family financial kindness, and his attempts to preach: "I tried to preach our Gospel to father but he said he did not want to hear anything about our religion. He said he was a Free-mason and that was all the religion he wanted but they all treated me very well, and made the time pass pleasantly for me, but not I getting anxious to get to my field of labor.  ... Father gave me ten dollars + Anna two dollars when I went aboard, to help me along."

Fred - Missionary Certificate

After being set apart, Fred received a missionary certificate, as was standard practice:

Holiness to the Lord

Missionary Certificate

To all Persons to whom this Letter shall come:

This certifies that the bearer Elder Frederick J. Kohlhepp is in full faith and fellowship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and by the General Authorities of said Church has been duly appointed to a Mission to Switzerland and Germany to Preach the Gospel and administer in all the Ordinances thereof pertaining to his office.

And we invite all men to give heed to his Teachings and Counsels as a man of God sent to open to them the door of Life and Salvation – and to assist him in his travels, in whatsoever things he may need.

And we pray God, The Eternal Father, to bless Elder Kohlhepp and all who receive him and minister to his comfort, with the blessings of Heaven and Earth, for time and all eternity in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Signed at Salt Lake City, Utah. September 12th, 1905, in behalf of said Church.

Jos. [Joseph] F. Smith
John R. Wender
Anthon H. Lund
First Presidency.