Southeastern Idaho Maps -- 1880 - 1920

There are no detailed maps of the settlements of American Falls, Neeley, or Rockland where Fred lived most of the time. Perhaps one of Pocatello could be found, where Fred at times went to work, but on the whole there are only general maps of Idaho made available to look at. I've selected many of these and tried to "zero on" on the region where Fred lived most of his post-married life. I'll share them in chronological order. You'll notice that the small towns of Neeley and Rockland are not always mentioned, but the creeks that ran by or through them are often noted on the maps.

1876:

1880:

1882:

1883:

1889:

1897:

 1903:

1911:

1924:

1927:

Minerva Teichert Autobiography Part 2

Minerva's autobiography contains other brief notes about her early family life and her relationship to her parents, as well as details on their personalities and values. On page 198, she writes:

We had been burned out [When she was 12/13 the family store in Riverside, Idaho burned to the ground] and were very hard up and back on the ranch when I entered Pocatello High School. I worked for my board but the lady I went to live with was called to Montpelier, Ida[ho] after two weeks of school, leaving me without a home [During Teichert's high school years (1902-1906), she initially lived with artist Isabel Ballantyne West, and later in a house in Pocatello owned by her mother].

I could not go back to American Falls to the old ranch I was studying. They pronounced the certificate [Minerva's first teaching certificate, for which she had to pass a qualifying exam] "fine." It was new and shiny but since I only taught to please my mother and hadn't opened the cover of a single book to prepare for it I had barely passed by the skin of my teeth, but after all that wasn't the trouble. Two, at least ,of the trustees could neither read nor write but they knew I wasn't "lickin" the kids enough and I was "awful young fer a teacher." A hint came to my mother that they were planning to surprise me by introducing a new teacher the morning after the holidays, so she sat up all night before getting my things ready and next morning at 3:30 took me fifteen miles to Rockland to meet the American Falls mail stage. It was thirty two miles to American Falls and the coldest day I have ever known.

I went to Soda Springs and taught there two years. My father was on a mission in Germany and I helped my family so altho John Held [unclear whether this refers to John Held, Jr., the popular illustrator of the flap era, or John Held, Sr.--the latter is more likel, since the senior already was an engraver and illustrator] of Salt Lake had persuaded me that I should study at the Art Institute in Chicago I never could see a dollar to start with. The next year I taught on Raft River 4 mo. As there was no store within 35 mi[les] I saved all my money. I had by now a serious case of sinus. Dr. Noth of Am[erican] Falls, with the aid of his good wife, who was an excellent nurse, operated on me on his kitchen table to save the expense of sending me to a hospital. He would not accept a cent until I finished my studies at the Art Institute, several years later.

This account notes at least the second incident where fire burnt down a piece of Kohlhepp property. The first incident was captured in a newspaper in June 1894, when Fred's residence and furniture was destroyed while he was in the Ogden hospital. This at least second incident was very hard on the Kohlhepps according to Minerva. They couldn't provide her room and board, forcing her to live with a willing, kind soul. Another tell incident of their lack of finances is how Minerva had an operation on a kitchen table to avoid the costs of going to a hospital. Her father's visits to hospitals must have taught them the cost of those expenses.

We see the strong influence and assertiveness of Fred's wife, Mary Ella. Minerva feels compelled to teach because her mother wanted her to (probably for financial reasons). Her parents at least had done some teaching throught the Mormon Church's sunday schools; perhaps they encouraged her to do it because it was something they were familiar with. The school system Minerva taught in must have been very poor if people on the board could not read and write. On the other hand, it is less surprising that she past the teaching exam if this was the case. Minerva's portrayal of the school board makes it look a little bit like a good old boys' club. Interestingly, we see another side of Mary Ella once the board plans to "surprise" Minerva: Mary Ella is not up to seeing her children publicly shamed. She makes a long trip to pick up her child and pull her out to save her the embarrassment. This is another instance of Mary Ella travelling as she pleases. Fred hardly tethered her down, nor does it seem like he could have.

During Fred's missionary years, Minerva describes herself as being mostly a teacher, trying to save her money to fund her education at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her father's mission costs must have made it quite impossible for Minerva to gain financial support from her parents to study art at this time.

Annalee Kohlhepp Skarin Baptism

From the passenger list of the S. S. Cedric, I learned that Fred was heading home from Liverpool to Boston on August 1, 1907. Although I don't know exactly when he got home to Idaho, it was probably within the month of August. I wouldn't be surprised if Fred had spent some time with his family in Boston before reaching home, but it would not have been too long. The next document I have regarding Fred is the certificate of the baptism and confirmation of his daughter Anna Olea (Annalee)Kohlhepp.

The certificate is dated December 10, 1907 in Rockland (for the Rockland ward, perhaps?), Idaho. It dates Annalee's birthdate as July 7, 1899 in American Falls, Idaho. It claims that she was baptized on November 7, 1907 by Fred, whose priesthood standing is listed as Seventy, and confirmed by an L. R. Stewart. The bishop at the time was Ephraim Ralphs, and the clerk was E. L. Howard.

I don't know exactly when people were baptized after reaching the "age of accountability," but it may have been the case that the Kohlhepps waited on the baptism of Annalee until Fred could get home from his mission and perform the baptism himself.