Frederick Kohlhepp - Mission Journal Entries - March 1906 (1 of 3)

1 March 1906 - Thursday

Thur. 1st March Bro. [John M.] Kunz and I went to Wimmis

[p. 33]

and held Bible Class.

2 March 1906 - Friday

Fri. morning 2nd Mar. Kaufman’s applied for baptism. Returned to Dürrenast. Wrote letter home in afternoon.[N1] Went to Thun in the evening.

3 March 1906 - Saturday

Sat. 3 Visited Reusers, and went to Thun to diner.

4 March 1906 - Sunday

Sun. 4th Bro. Andregg and I went to Fruitigen [Frutigen] and held meeting We had splendid time. It was a beautiful day The sun shone bright. We walked It is about Five [hours] walks from Dürrenast[.][N2] We watched a snowslide come tearing down the mountain with a roar. We held meeting in a friend[']s house by the name of [Anna] Schluchter a good Spirit prevailed. Sister [Anna] Schluc[h]ter is seventy six years old and has born twenty four children. She gets about and does her house work yet. They fed us and invited us to

[p. 34]

come again and hold meetings and also to start a Bible Class there, which we will do if possible.

5 March 1906 - Monday

Mar. 5th 1906 Bro. [John M.] Kunz and I went to Thun, and from there commenced a trip into the Oberlands[.] we distributed tracts by the way, Walked to Interlacken [Interlaken] the first day stayed over night at Fabers. 

6 March 1906 - Tuesday

Next day we walked to Brienze [Brienz] and from there took the train to Meiringen then walked to Unterstock and visited Von Almen’s next day returned to Meiringing [Meiringen] had din[n]er with Frau Steiner took train from there Brienze [Brienz], and from there took ship, on Brienzer See to Interlacken [Interlaken] from there took train to Sherzligen[.] A[r]rived home Wed evening 

7 March 1906 - Wednesday

7 Mar. found Pres. J[acob] Mauss + Conrad

[p. 35]

Weber in Lokal waiting for me. Bro. [Conrad] Weber has come to labor with me in this Branch

8 March 1906 - Thursday

Thur 8th Pres. [Jacob] Mauss Bro. [Conrad] Weber, [John M.] Kunz + I went to Thun had our pictures taken[.] Took a boat and rowed on the Lake. Had a fine boat ride for an hour, Then walked to Wimmis and held Bible Class.

9 March 1906 - Friday

Friday morning Pres. [Jacob] Mauss + I went visited Müllers and then returned to Dürrenast, Weather rainy. Cleared up in afternoon Pres. [Jacob] Maus Bro. [Conrad] Weber & [John M.] Kunz + I went to Thun and had dinner and then Pres. [Jacob] Maus left for Biel.

10 March 1906 - Saturday

Sat 10th Mar. Tended to Local buisness.

NOTES:

[N1] This letter is in my possession. Once posted, I'll provide the link.

[N2] The route to Frutigen is approximately around 14 miles away from Dürrenast.

Ernestine Kohlhepp - October 22 1905 Letter (Eda's Passing, First Letter to Fred)

Fred noted in his journal how he learned about the death of his sister, Eda Kohlhepp Epple, from a letter from his wife, Ella on October 28th. He wrote his father and sister on the 30th, no doubt asking why they had not told him about it, so that he would need to hear about it from his wife Ella instead. Tinnie (Ernestine) wrote back explaining that she had. She questioned if Fred got her letter. The wonders of the post office that a letter from Boston took longer to get to him than a letter that Ella wrote from American Falls, given that Ella had to first be notified by a letter from Tinnie herself.

The letter transferred from New York on October 22nd, and didn't get to Thun until November 2nd. We have that letter:

Jamaica Plain
October 22nd 1905

Dear Fred,

We got your letter from Liverpool, Eng, all right, and were very glad to hear from you, and glad that you had a good voyage. It was beautiful weather here all the while that you were in the water, and I was in hopes you had the same on the ocean.

Well now you have crossed the continent

[p.2]
also the ocean. That is what I hope to do some day. Your discription of Liverpool was very interesting. is it anything like the size of Boston? You said its streets looked like ours. How did you like London and Paris? I think you can write us an intensely interesting letter from there. I mean now.

I have still something to tell you, it is not pleasant news. Just two weeks after the day we saw Eda she was buried.

[p. 3]
She died on Monday morning the week following the one we saw her. Aren't you glad you saw her once more, and did you think she would go so soon? Father feels pretty much broke up over it. Of course coming so soon after mother's death, makes it hard for him.

I hope you will keep in good health and continue and have success in the good work. You didn't lose any time in preaching your first meeting, The evening of the same day you landed.

[p. 4]
Write again when you have an opportunity, as we will always be glad to hear from you.

With love from father and myself. I am your affectionate sister

Ernestine

P.S. I wrote to inform Ella of the death in our family

Frederick Kohlhepp - Mission Journal Entries - February 1906

1 February 1906 – Thursday

Feb. 1st 1906 Sent the Deed with letter home, Gave the Lawyer a trac[t] to read.[N1] Feb. 1st Went to

[p. 30]
Wimmis and held Bible Class.

2 February 1906 – Friday

Feb. 2nd Visited family Wittur’s in Wimmis.

3 February 1906 – Saturday

Sat. 3rd Visited Iringers + Winterbergers.

4 February 1906 – Sunday

Sun. 4th Attended Sunday School and two meetings in Dürrenast.

5 February 1906 – Monday

Mon. 5th Went to Steffisburg a vill[ag]e, about a half hour walk north of Thun on buisness to see a Lawyer, about getting a new house to live in. Bro. [John M.] Kunz and I went togeather the roads were icy + slippery.

6 February 1906 – Tuesday

Tue. 6th I had to go to Steffisburg again. Visited with Sawers in evening.

7 February 1906 – Wednesday

Wed. 7th Stayed at home did not feel well.

8 February 1906 – Thursday

Thur. 8th Tracted along the road to Spietz [Spiez] and held Bible Class in Wimmis Thursday evening.[N2]

9 February 1906 – Friday

Returned home Fri. 9th

10 February 1906 – Saturday

Sat. 10th Paid rent on Lokal. Frau Feller gave me a german Calender

11 February 1906 – Sunday

Sun. 11 Went to Wattenw[i]l after [a meeting in Thun] and held [a] meeting. Bro. [Johann] Bäller died Friday after noon will be burried

[p.31]
tomorrow at 3 O’clock. Returned to Dürrenast and held Bible Class in evening. Bro. Lugenbühl went with me to Wattenw[i]l

12 February 1906 – Monday

Mon. 12th Bro. J. M. Kunz + I went to Wattenw[i]l and held funeral services over the remains of Bro. Johann Bäller, held Bible Class in evening Returned home next day to Dürrenast

13 February 1906 – Tuesday

13th Feb. Received letter Minerva.[N3]

14 February 1906 – Wednesday

14th Went trackting in afternoon, and visited Thomanns in evening.

15 February 1906 – Thursday

Thur. 15th Went to Wimmis + held Bible Class.

16 February 1906 – Friday

Friday 16th returned home to Dürrenast

17 February 1906 – Saturday

Sat. 17 Received letter from home with deed to have signed by Notary Public.[N4] Went same day to Langnau [im Emmental] to preach on following Sunday.

18 February 1906 – Sunday

Sun. 18th 1906 Preached in Langnau [im Emmental]. Visited among the Saints + Friends while there had an enjoyable

[p. 32]
time many of the Saints are going to emigrate in the Spring. Found some folks in Langnau [im Emmental] by the name of Abbe, My grandmother's name.[N5] Visited Mon. + Tue.

21 February 1906 – Wednesday

Returned home to Dürrenast Weds. 21st 1906

22 February 1906 – Thursday

Thur. 22nd Tracted on the way to Wimmis held Bible Class at [the] Kaufmans.

23 February 1906 – Friday

Returned to Dürrenast Fri. 23rd

24 February 1906 – Saturday

Sat. 24th Feb Stormed all day stayed at home and studied + read.

25 February 1906 – Sunday

Sun. 25th Attended Sunday School in Dür. and Afternoon meeting in Wimmis. Returned and held meeting in Dürrenast in evening.

26 February 1906 – Monday

26th + 27th made out Monthly Reports for Branch.

28 February 1906 – Wednesday

28th Feb. Wrote letters + went to Thun.

NOTES:

[N1] This letter has not been located. A notary public is an officer who can administer oaths and statutory declarations, witness and authenticate documents and perform certain other acts varying from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Generally speaking, a notary public in the United States of America has powers that are far more limited than the role of a civil law notary in the rest of the world. For the purposes of authentication, most countries require commercial or personal documents which originate from or are signed in another country to be notarized before they can be used or officially recorded or before they can have any legal effect.

[N2] The road he most likely tracted down was Thunstrasse St.

[N3] Minerva sent him a birthday postcard on 6 February 1906 that reached him right on time for his birthday on the 13th.

[N4] No copy of this letter exists.

[N5] This would have been his father's mother, Anna Maria Abbe.

Postcard to Ella Kohlhepp - October 9 1905

A postcard Fred wrote to Ella and his family in October 1905:

Durenast by Thun Oct 9th 05

Ella + children,

No letter has come from you yet. I hope you have received my letters. Examin[e] this card closely + you will find the house marked, where I spent one night with a friend. When you write let me know how you are progressing with the work on the house. I wish you were hear with me to enjoy the sights with me I am making many friends the people are friendly + loveing. Does Viva look for me yet and cry papa. I am getting along well my health is splended. I have been traveling about considerable. When you write again you can address Durenast bei Thun, Mt. Bern, Switzlerland

NOTE: The marked home looks to be in the bottom right of the picture -- see the black circular mark.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Journal Entries - January 1906

1 January 1906 -- Monday

Monday Jan 1st 1906 Visited with Bro. Lugenbühl. In the evening visited Bro. Andregg, we spent a pleasant evening togeather.

2 January 1906 -- Tuesday

Tues. Jan. 2nd 1906 Held Bible Class on Wattenw[i]l.

3 January 1906 - Wednesday

Jan 3rd returned home + wrote letters[N1]

4 January 1906 -- Thursday

Jan. 4th 1906 Wrote letters to Anna [Kramer Schneidt], Amelia [Kohlhepp Piquet], and Ernestine [Clara Kohlhepp] and Minerva [Kohlhepp Teichert].[N2] Went to Wimmis and held Bible Class.

5 January 1906 -- Friday

Jan 5th Returned from Wimmis. Wrote letter home.[N3]

6 January 1906 -- Saturday

Jan 6th 1906 Wrote letters.[N4] visited with Sawers

7 January 1906 -- Sunday

Sunday 7th held Sunday School + 2 meetings visited with Bro. Andregg.

8 January 1906 -- Monday

Mon. 8th Went to Thun in buisness + visited Sawers

9 January 1906 -- Tuesday

9th Tues. Held Bible Class in Wattenw[i]l.

10 January 1906 -- Wednesday

Wed. 10th 1906 Held Bible Class in Dürrenast.

11 January 1906 -- Thursday

Thur. Held Bible Class in Wimmis

12 January 1906 -- Friday

Returned home Friday. Studied and wrote letters.[N5]

13 January 1906 -- Saturday

Saterday  studied + visited

[p. 27]
with the Sawers family in evening.

14 January 1906 -- Sunday

Sunday 14th Went to Wattenwil and held Sacrament Meeting, an old man raised disturbance. He claimed that the women should have their heads covered in meeting[N6], In the evening held Bible Class in Dürrenast.

15 January 1906 -- Monday

Mon 15th Jan Bro. Hrieter[, John M.] Kunz + I went to Thun and got our pictures taken.[N7]

16 January 1906 -- Tuesday

Tues. 16th Studied and visited Frau Wolfli had supper there.

17 January 1906 -- Wednesday

Wed. Visited Sawer family.

18 January 1906 -- Thursday

Thur. Went to Wattenwill got the Zender childrens Trunk to the station + held Bible class in evening

19 January 1906 -- Friday

Frid. Returned to Dürrenast visited Sister Nussbaum + Lugenbühl on way home. Visited Winterbergers in evening.

21 January 1906 -- Sunday

Sun. 21st Meetings in Dürrenast

22 January 1906 -- Monday

Went to Gold[i]will Mon. 22nd Jan 1906 to visit some friends there could not find them. Gold[i]wil lies east from Thun on the mountain

[p. 28]
side. The road goes up through a beautiful forest, The road was covered with snow and it was packed hard, and many children and young men + ladies were coasting from Goldiwill to Thun as the road is quite steep all the way. In evening visited Bro. Ihrmzer.

24 January 1906 -- Wednesday

24th 1906 Bro. [John M.] Kunz + I went up to Wengen from Interlacken visited Von Allmens. The show is deep and it is very cold. We stayed a few hours with the family + their returned to Interlacken. Sister. V. Almen gave me $2.25 for a Song book, to send to her.

25 January 1906 -- Thursday

25th Returned from Interlacken went same day to Wattenwil + held Bible Class. Friday returned home Wattenwill. Borrowed from Jill for fr. 12.60 Paid.[N8]

26 January 1906 -- Friday

Fri. 26th Jan. Went to Thun and got picture.[N9] Visited friends in evening.

27 January 1906 -- Saturday

Sat. 27th Spent day [p. 29] writing letters.[N10]

28 January 1906 -- Sunday

Sun. 28th Jan. Went to Wattenwil and held meeting, Bro. Lugenbühl went along. Zehnder children left home that morning for America. I returned to Dürrenast and held meeting in evening -  The weather has moderated with heavy fog.

29 January 1906 -- Monday

Mon. Jan. 29th Made out monthly reports.

30 January 1906 -- Tuesday

The 30th Surprised my companion by coming home from Thun with my beard shaved off. Have been somewhat under the weather lately with the Influenza. Visited Iringers in the evening.

31 January 1906 -- Wednesday

The 31st Jan. Went trackting in a village south of Thun. Visited two families of Saints in the evening. Received letter from h[o]me, Containing deed for the Riverside property for me to sign before a Notary Public.

[N1] These letters have not been located.

[N2] These letters have not been located. Fred likely wrote in response to the letter he would have received from Tinnie around this time. 

[N3] This letter have not been located.

[N4] These letters have not been located.

[N5] These letters have not been located.

[N6] No doubt referring to Christian tradition of female head covering. This is referenced in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. Those who have a strict interpretation of the Bible, believing it to be a timeless moral and social code, typically think Paul’s admonition for women to cover their heads is in force today. Others believe Paul’s direction is correct in its historical context, as a means of directing the customs of his time period. A woman’s hair in ancient times was often a symbol of sexuality. If the
hair was let down, it communicated that the female was more sexually pervasive. Compare with the scandalous approach of a woman to Jesus in Luke 7:36-50. The letting down of the woman’s hair in the face of the Pharisee offends him. As a woman’s hair has ceased to share this symbolism today, Paul’s direction is no longer necessary.

[N7] These pictures have not been located.

[N8] Frederick often used his journal to keep track of money borrowed from church members, fellow elders, or kind German and Swiss residents.

[N9] This picture has not been located.

[N10] These letters have not been located.