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.