Frederick Kohlhepp - Mission Journal Entries - April 1906 (2 of 2)

17 April 1906 - Tuesday

Tues. 17th Just received [a] circular letter from Pres. Serge F. Ballif of an intended Trip through Switzerland, and [a] Conference to

[p. 48]

be held In Zürich [on] May 25th [19]06.80 Received [a] letter from sister Anna [Kramer Schneidt] in [the] evening, stating that she and Lizzie were comming to Germany in the latter part of May.[N9] I am answering her letter now [at] 10 P.M.

18 April 1906 - Wednesday

Wed. April 18th 06 Went tracting to day[. I] am not feeling very well. Visited [the] Ketterers on [the] way home from tracting and had diner there. Met an old gentleman in a park, had [a] conversation with him + gave him tracts which he said he would read. Received the [Der] Stern from Zürich today.[N10] My money is all gone[.] my land lady lent me two Marks.

19 April 1906 - Thursday

19th Did not do anything[.] walked around town[. I] am not feeling very well.

20 April 1906 - Friday

20th Am feeling somewhat better today [and] went tracting to Guttenfingen [Gundelfingen]. Weather is rainy and cold. I have a slight head ache yet.

[p. 49]

21 April 1906 - Saturday

Sat. 21-1906 April. I just received new’s of [a] big Earthquake and destruction by fire of the city of San Francisco[,] Cal[ifornia].[N11]

22 April 1906 - Sunday

Sun. 22nd Bro. [John] Mack called on me in the morning, and we had a pleasant walk together for a way’s in the country. Then we went up town and had dinner togeather. after which we went out to Bro. Ketterers and held [an] after noon meeting, had supper at [the] Ketterers[.] in the evening we all went down to a woods outside of the town where there is a small stream of water, and I baptized Sis. Bertha Ketterer.[N12] I confirmed her the same night in their house. After which we sang a hymn, and Bro. [John] Mack and I went home togeather[.] our room’s are not

[p. 50]

far apart.

23 April 1906 - Monday

Mon. 23rd April 1906. Went tracting, around town. There are a great many students comming into Freiburg now.[N13] Many of the Students have scars on their faces from swords wound received

in fighting or duels.[N14]

24 April 1906 - Tuesday

Tues. 24 April 1906 Rainy and cold[. I] did not tract. In[the] evening went out to [the] Ketterers and held [a] Bible Class.

25 April 1906 - Wednesday

Wednesday April 25 tracted around town[.] Some more students arrived to day.

26 April 1906 - Thursday

Thur. 26 April Tracted in Freiburg[. The] Weather [was] Cloudy + Cold with [a] sprinkle of rain.

27 April 1906 - Friday

Freiday April 27 tracted in Freiburg[. The] Weather [was] still cold and disagreable.

28 April 1906 - Saturday

Sat. 28th Still cloudy + stormy.

29 April 1906 - Sunday

Sun 29th April. Went out [to] the Ketterers and held [a] meeting.

[p. 51]

30 April 1906 - Monday

Mon. 30th April 1906. Went trackting in Frieburg. Also visited a family of friends by the name of Stein. The weather has been a little more agreeable with occasional sunshine[.]

NOTES:

[N9] It appears they arrived in either late May or early June. However, Frederick did not see them until the end of July. See 28 July 1906 entry. I have much of their correspondence during their visit available to post later.

[N10] Der Stern [The Star] was the Mormon church’s German periodical, similar to the British Millennial Star. During Frederick’s mission, it was published semi-monthly.

[N11] The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco and the coast of northern California at 5:12 A.M. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. It ruptured along the San Andreas Fault both northward and southward for a total length of 296 miles (477 km). Shaking was felt from Oregon to Los Angeles, and inland as far as central Nevada. The earthquake and resulting fire is remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States. The death toll from the earthquake and resulting fire represents the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster in California’s history. The death toll resulting from various aspects of the disaster reached over 3000, and the damage caused by the earthquake was estimated at $500,000,000 in 1906 dollars.

[N12] Bertha Ketterer was Bro. Ketterer’s daughter. See April 16, 1906 entry.

[N13] Some of these students would be attending Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, an educational institution established by the Habsburgs in 1457. It is one of the oldest universities in Germany, and has a long legacy in the humanities, and the social and natural sciences. Around Frederick’s time it admitted around 3000 students.

[N14] Duels were consentual fights between two people, who fought with matching deadly weapons. Rules of engagement were typically predetermined by the parties before the match to ensure that there was fair sport. Duels usually ensued over offended honor or over the impass of some law. The goal of the duel was not so much to kill the opponent as to gain satisfaction, or to restore one’s honor by demonstrating a willingness to risk one’s life for it. Duels were often illegal, though in most societies

where dueling was socially accepted, participants in a fair duel were not prosecuted, or if they were, were not convicted. Only gentlemen were considered to have honor, and therefore qualified to duel. These students at the universities at Freiburg were probably the sons of gentlemen. By 1906, legalized dueling was extinct through nearly the whole world, so this would have been interesting for Frederick to witness.

Frederick Kohlhepp - Missionary Letters - March 3, 1906

A letter Fred sent on his mission on March 3, 1906 is informative. It gives details of how money was earned back home through renting property (ranch), and references a renter (St. Clair) back in American Falls, Idaho. Fred is concerned in letting his daughter know the joy he has in her daughter. He notes some of the success he had with the Kaufman's (Rufolf and Rosa) in Thun, and his prophetic fear of being moved to another region in the mission. We see the depth of sacrifice many missionaries had to make on their missions. This does not sound like current missionaries, but rather ones from his (or stories from his missionary company's) past, since it mentions them being "well off again now." Fred also seems to have deepened his appreciation of the restored gospel.


March 3, 1906

My Dear Ella,

Your letter of the 15th was received with much joy. I was pleased to hear that you got a renter for the ranch.[N1] I hope he will take good care of things. If St. Clair takes the reservoir field this summer, perhaps your renter can get the irrigation to tend to like I have when doing for watter.[N2] I was surprised to hear from you that Marie [Elizabeth Nash] did not get my letter with the thanks for that dollar. I answered right away. Perhaps I have made a mistake in the address I have forgotten wheather it is 955 or 595 W. Center I wish you would write and let me know which is right.[N3] I have just written to her again, thanking her again for the dollar. If she does not get the letter, you will have to thank her for me. When I wrote the first letter I sent two pretty cards with it. I am sorry that she did not get it. If she does not get the last letter you must congratulate her for me and kiss it for me, and I hope and pray that it will be blessed with long life and happiness, and that it will grow up to become a loving dutiful daughter.

Dear Ella, we are having interesting times here in the Oberlands. Three of my friends here in this Branch have ap[p]lied for baptisms lately, and there [will] be some more ready soon. I am waiting to baptize them all at the same time.[N4] They are shifting the missionaries around from one place to another a great deal since I have been here, I dont know what their object is. I would not be much surprised to find myself in Germany or some other part of the Schweiz some of these day’s.[N5] I was in hopes I m[ight] stay a year or so in this place, it is the cheapest place in the mission. I may stay, off course I can’t tell. The first thing an Elder knows he gets a letter from Zürich to go at once to such and such a place and labor. You know we are supposed to be minute men, ready to go when called.[N6]

But we must not worry about it. Missionaries have come here who have had to sell even their wagons horses farming machinery and every thing they had to keep them on their missions, and they have returned home, and are well off again now. The Lord has blessed them, and he will bless me if I do my duty. I realize the great importance of this great Gospel work, more since I have been out here than ever before. Give my love to Frederick, I hope he did well in school this winter. Give my love to all the rest of the children, and kiss Viva for Papa. hoping to hear from you soon. I remain Your loveing husband and father,

Fred. J. Kohlhepp.

Regards from Bro. Kunz.

He says the young Swise is a swell young man.


NOTES:

[N1] Presumably, the ranch they had on Warm Creek.

[N2] They also owned property in American Falls.

[N3] According to his daughter, this was actually 955 W. Center, based on another letter from Marie.

[N4] The three he mentions who have applied for baptism must be the Kaufmans, who did so in his 2 March 1906 journal entry. As for the others whom he believe will do so soon, that is unknown. However, since he wished to baptize them together, he may be referring to other members of the Kaufman family. If so, they were all baptized on 11 March 1906.

[N5] And such it was, when Fred received news to go to Freiburg, Germany, on March 20, two and a half week after writing this letter.

[N6] Frederick’s use of the term “minute men” reflects his Massachusetts upbringing. The term was used by his home state to refer to their militia who claimed to be ready for battle in a minute’s notice.

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 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.