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.

Fred's Missionary Blessing

Fred's missionary journal recounts how he was set apart by Joseph W. McMurrin for his mission on September 12, 1905. We happen to have a copy of his missionary blessing, which was recorded by Martin S. Lindsay. I've annotated it with scriptural references to language used in the blessing:

A MISSIONARY BLESSING

Given upon the head of Elder Frederick John Kohlhepp, in the Salt Lake Temple Annex, September 12th, 1905, by President Joseph W. Mc.Murrin. Brother Frederick John Kohlhepp, in the authority of the Holy Priesthood, we set you apart as a missionary to the Swiss and German mission, whither you have been called of the Lord through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. We bless you with the spirit of this calling and send you forth by the laying on of hands, with authority to call men to repentance and to teach and expound the doctrines of the everlasting Gospel as they are contained in the holy scriptures, ancient and modern. Study the word of God and be familiar with the doctrines and truths that have been revealed for the guidance and salvation of men, and inasmuch as you will do this with a prayerful heart, the Spirit of the Lord shall be with you and you shall comprehend the truth better and better. We say unto you, be glad in your soul that that you have this opportunity, that you can go abroad among the people who are sitting in darkness and who know not the truth and become unto them as a savior, having the principles of life and salvation to deliver to all who will be willing to receive the same [see Luke 1:79; Romans 10:15]. Remember that you go as the Lord’s servant, that you go by His authority, and if you will successfully accomplish this work, it will be through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; for it can not be accomplished by your own wisdom; you must have the help of God, and in order to have the Spirit of the Lord, you must keep the commandments. Shun the very appearance of evil; keep the Word of Wisdom and seek the Lord constantly for the companionship of His Holy Spirit, that He may be within you as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life [see John 4:14], leading and guiding you into all truth and warning you of danger [see John 14:18, 16:13]; and if you will do this, the Holy Ghost will be with you and you shall not be left to your own strength or wisdom [see Helaman 4:13; Mormon 2:26], but you shall have that strength that cometh from our Father in heaven. Be not discouraged because of the frowns of men; remember that the Lord has said that His servants will go forth and none shall have power to stay them [see D&C 1:5], and this promise is unto you, inasmuch as you will shun evil and will keep the commandments of the Lord and do your duty. We bless you, dear brother, that you may have health and strength and every needful blessing, that you may have food and raiment and a place to lay your head [see Luke 12:22-27; Matt. 8:20] and, above all else, that you may have the testimony of Jesus burning within you, which is the spirit of prophecy [see Rev. 19:10].

We dedicate you to the Lord and devote you to His service and to the accomplishment of this missionary work, and we say unto you, go in peace and return in safety, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Martin S. Lindsay, Reporter.

 The main themes/thrusts of the blessing:

a. You are called to serve a mission with authority, and it's a privilege
b. As you study and follow the commandments, God's spirit will be with you to guide and teach you
c. Don't be discouraged, you will have the Lord's help

Eda Lisonbee - Remembrance - Miraculous Protection at End of Fred's Mission

Following up on my last post, I've included another remembrance of Eda's in relation to Fred Kohlhepp. In the prior post, the story was around the family supporting Fred on his mission and the sacrifices (and ingenuity) they had to enable that. This next story contains an account of miraculous protection on Fred's behalf from the Lord in two separate instances when he was wanted by the German police. This oral story I've transcribed should be compared with Eda's written account of her father's life, which has a similar experience, and the notes I've made from Fred's mission letters and journal in that same entry (see note #2). They substantiate that Fred was running from the police, and this did cause a premature end to his mission. Frank V. Anderson was the companion listed in the story with the first event likely be in Köln, and the latter perhaps in Duisburg. This account is more fleshed out/dramaticized than Eda's written one, and does containing a nice touching family reunion at the end of it. Eda's story goes:

And I'll tell you another story. While he was over in Germany he converted a lot of people to Mormonism and they were baptized. And the whole lot, it was against the law. The government said they couldn't go in and preach the gospel, the Mormons over there in that country. But They did it anyway. And they baptized them and made a lot of friends. And then they got our father. He was quite an outstanding looking man. He had a beard that was trimmed down, and a mustache, it came out the corners.  And he had nice, thick curly hair, and it was getting grey. He was a handsome man. And they had his picture in the paper where the police were all after him. And they came to find out where he was staying, him and his companion. They were staying upstairs in a little attic room. And "The police!" a man yelled up, "They're coming, they're here, they're here!" And they run there. And the young man he was only eighteen years old, but my Father, he was forty five. And the young man went through the window and he held on to those steep shingles with his fingers and hung on to the roof out there.

 And father he couldn't go out there, he was too old. It wasn't the place for him. So you know what he did? He went into the clothes closet, he got way back in the corner. And he pulled everything he could around him. He could hear those policemen coming up the stairs, and up the stairs, and they went in there and looked all over the room. They couldn't see him. And they said, well they have to go look in that closet. He said they put their hands on him and felt all over him in that closet. And you know they, he said he could feel their hands go all over his body. Belly, legs, and his head, and feet, but he said they said we can't find him. He isn't here. They couldn't feel him because Heavenly Father blessed him, and they got away.

And then he went to another friend and he hid out. He tried to back to the mission office to tell them how it was that he had to leave the country. They will put him in jail for two years. There were all the newspapers that had his pictures after him, the government was after him,  they were going to put him in an old dungeon for two years. And then he had to make his get his companion to get his suitcase. He had to go right down to the Depot. And he got word to his cousin to be sure and have it there. At 1 o'clock I'll be there waiting. And you know 1 o'clock comes and his companion wasn't there. He is still on, on the edge of the sidewalk at the Depot and a woman come up there when he's on the sidewalk there. She bumped into him. She had a big old tray of something in front of her. "Oh," and she said, "Oh, excuse me. I did not see you." And she went on. Soon a man came along and bumped into him. "Oh," he said, "I didn't see you." And then there's two or three people came right along they bumped into him. And he knew that Heavenly Father made him invisible. They couldn't see him. 

Then pretty soon his, his companion came along with the suitcase, and he got on the train. And he went into Berlin, to the mission office headquarters. And his, and his president, thought sure they'd had him because his picture had been in all the papers in the, in the whole state. So they said, "Oh, are you here? Oh, it's a fact that we've been praying for you." And he was there and he says, "We'll send you home just because we can. We'll send you out of the country, send you home. He'd been there over two years, and he talked the German language very well. And so he got out of the country and he came home to his, to his family. I'll always remember how happy we all were when dear father came home and how good he felt when he put our arms around him, and how he hugged all of us children, and Mother. How happy we was. And we sure thank the Lord for saving him and bringing him safely home.

Here is the audio version (always happy to have someone check my transcription):

Eda Lisbonbee - Remembrance - The Five Dollar Gold Piece

Joan Sowards, a descendant of Fred's daughter Eda, collected some audio clips of stories of her father on his mission in Germany and Switzerland, and the family's efforts to support him while he was overseas. I have made the effort to transcribe and annotate the transcriptions (see comments in brackets).

Well when I was oh, about 12 years old [1905], my father went on a mission over to Germany. We didn't have very much money and mother had a little store, and she'd tried to sell things [my prior entries note Ella's second hand store] to get enough money to send to my father. Because over there, he's way, way from home and had to have money to buy food. And so, we children -- My brother, he was a little older than me -- he was about 12 -13 years old [Frederick William Kohlhepp; he would have been about 14, even 15 at the time] -- And my sister. I had a sister too, three years younger than me [Sara Ella Kohlhepp]. Made her about, she was about 7 - 8 years old. And we used to go out, and take the wool that was along the fence and off of the barbed wire. And you know they'd been shearing the sheep in town. We lived in a town there. And we, My brother came in, and said, "All through shearing sheep," he told his sister and I. He said, "If we go there right now," he said, "there's boys, boys that go over there and they're picking it up all off the ground." And so we went over there and we got quite a bit. And then those boys they're with the sack, A lot just hanging down. Well we didn't hardly feel like taking it. But it would have just fell off when they went to load it in. So we picked it off the ground and off the sack, and we mixed a clean nice wool with other wool. And we got home with half a gun sack full or more. The three of us. And then we, after we'd all been gathered up around, we went home.

And my brother he, he took that sack of wool, and he sold it. And you can't guess how much he got for it. But you know he got a 5 dollar gold piece. They didn't have bills in those days. It was gold about the size of a quarter. A 5 dollar gold piece. And so there we had it. And my mother she'd worried, she was sick in bed, and she laid in bed all day, and she was just praying and crying that she could get money to send our poor father on that mission. And we came in, my brother  said, "Shut your eyes and hold out your hands, and I'll give you something to make you bright." So she shut her eyes, and she put out  her hand, and he put that 5 dollar gold piece right in the middle of her hand. And she looked at it and she looked at it. Oh, if you could have seen the look that came to that dear soul. Oh, it just brightened up her eyes and she just looked so happy. And she went like this, and she'd been praying all day, we knew she had been a-praying all day long. Then she sighed and said, "Thank thee dear Lord, for this money." And the next morning we sent it to Germany. And father then he had money to buy him food.

Her brother's five dollar gold piece would have likely looked this coronet head gold piece, which was minted from 1866 to 1908.

Photos: Bill Hickman

Fred married the last known child of William "Bill" Adams Hickman, Mary Ella Hickman. Ella's mother, Minerva Wade Hickman, left Bill and moved to Ogden, Utah, to live near her family shortly after Ella was born, so Ella never really knew her father. She heard tales from her brothers and mother, read letters of his, but did not have the personal relationship that other of her siblings had with her father.

The LDS Christian Church's historical archives have some great photos of Bill, of a quality I haven't seen anywhere else. Both were taken by Charles Williams Carter. Carter was a British immigrant who learned photography while serving as a soldier in the British Army. He converted to Mormonism and relocated to Salt Lake City in 1859, thereafter joining the studio of Charles Roscoe Savage. He opened Carter's View Emporium, and took photos of Mormons in the community. The Church Archives' photo has a pencil notation of the photo having been taken in 1874; this is incorrect for a couple reasons: (a) Bill would have been 59 years old; this is not the photo of a man of that age. He looks at least a decade younger. (b) Bill wasn't living near Salt Lake City at that time to have a photo taken of him.

The second is from Carter's glass negative collection, and contains incredible detail in how Bill looked. A much lower quality version of this photograph was used for the cover of Hope Hilton's Wild Bill Hickman and the Mormon Frontier. It shows how light Bill eyes must have been against his frontier leathered skin and dark hair. There is no claim of a date with this photo, although I suspect it was fairly close in time with the prior photo. The text on the right states "Bill Hickman," with some number below it.

In another post, I'll write about how when goings were tough for the Kohlhepp's, Ella offered to give some lectures on her father Bill Hickman to set the record straight while also gunning for some financial compensation.

Amelia, Gus & Fred Piquet -- Idaho Sojourns

Fred's sister, Amelia, joined the LDS Christian Church, and moved out to Idaho with her children, Augustus (Gus) and Fred. She spent two major periods of time in Idaho, moving temporarily back to Boston to care for her and Fred's father, Johann Friedrich, prior to his passing. Afterwards, she returned once more to Idaho. During her first residence in Idaho, Amelia didn't live near Fred in American Falls or Rockland, choosing instead to make it in the vicinity of Blackfoot, over in Rich, Idaho, over the southwest, on the other side of the Snake River. Some information about Amelia and her sons is available in the Blackfoot, Idaho, newspaper, The Idaho Republican.

Besides building a home and improving land for a farm (described as being below the Watson Ranch), the Piquets got involved in other matter. Amelia's son Gus was made in 1905 the constable for the Rich precinct, which he served in that capacity through 1907. He served in other county positions -- as a polling judge, and as a clerk for the Bingham County school district.

When Amelia moved exactly back to Boston is unclear. In June 1907, Gus got married and moved over to Blackfoot.

Shortly after Gus moving out, and no doubt struggling to think of how to manage the farm without him, Amelia put her farm up for lease. In August 1907, we see notices in the 16th and 23rd newspapers:

We see notes sharing Amelia was in Boston (back at her father's place on Brookside Avenue), the earliest of which started on December 25, 1908.

We see others later in November 1909 and June 1911:

Amelia kept subscribing with and corresponding with the newspaper to get updates on her Idaho friends, as well as her boys. Some of this correspondence was published and contained interesting notes. One such letter from January 18, 1910 (and published in the February 11, 1910 IR issue) stated:

"Mrs. Amelia Piquet

Mrs. Piquet, who formerly lived a short distance south of Thomas and near the old Watson ranch, writes from the suburbs of Boston as follows:

Jamaica Plains, Jan. 18, 1910.

Mr. Trego,

Dear sir: I have received your hearty greetings of the 10th and I can understand the spirit of it, we do indeed need to gain a little fun from one another once in a while to keep life sweet and while dull care away. But I have not much of an account to give of myself since I left Blackfoot. I am keeping house and taking care of my father, who is all alone and is now eighty-four years old. He has been living in the same house for the last 44 years. Our house is within three minutes walk of the Franklin park, which is very beautiful with lots of wood land. I love the wood, and I missed it so much while I lived in Blackfoot, and then we have the beautiful Charles river near us where we can go boating in the summer. Still I often tell my friends here of the wonderful Snake river in Idaho just back of where I use to live and the lively trout we use to have from that river, and some how I am always praising up Idaho. I have met a number of Mormon elders here this winter from near Blackfoot, they say they are doing well at their mission work, and have a good attendance at their meetings and like Boston, but would not like to live here always. Well Mr. Trego I don't know if you can make any use of this letter, but you have all my good wishes for the success of your paper and can be sure that I enjoy reading it. Yours truly,

Amelia Piquet

P.S. If you have any Free Masons among your readers of your paper perhaps they will be interested to know that the Morning Stare lodge No. 13 of Woonsocket, R.I., are celebrating their one hundredth anniversary this month from the 23[rd] to the 27th. My good father has been a member of this lodge over 50 years."

After her father's passing in 1912, Amelia returned the summer of 1913 to Idaho. An article on July 11, 1913 captured some of the detail:

"Mrs. Piquet Returns

Mrs. Amelia Piquet who left here seven years ago take up her home with her aged father in Boston, returned to Blackfoot the first of the week, and expects to remain a couple of months or more.

Mrs. Piquet once owned some land near the original Watson ranch at Thomas, and now she has some other property in this locality. Her son Augustus who lived in the Kennedy addition has removed his family to Bates in the southeast corner of Madison county, near Driggs, and she will visit there for a while during the hot weather.

Mrs. Piquet related an incident of what an awful shock she received three or four years ago when she received her copy of the Idaho Republican and thought her son was dead. Augustus was driving the delivery wagon for the Blackfoot Stream laundry and the paper came to her with an article head, "Laundryman Fell Dead," and went on to say that a very unexpected thing happened to the driver a few days ago. He went to the Trego house for a sack of clothes as usual and Mrs. Trego told him how well pleased she and her husband were with the way they were finishing off the linen since they installed their new machine. That so much of their work was equal to that done in Salt Lake, it was the duty of the home people to have their work done at Blackfoot and stand by the man who was developing  this home industry.

Mr. Piquet was so surprised at receiving an acknowledge in lieu of more or less complaining which are always freely given, that he figuratively fell dead. His mother nearly collapsed at the introduction, but regained her strength while she finished reading the article."

 I found the article that rightfully gave Amelia such a scare:

As well as another discussing Gus' duties:

 In 1914, an article noted how Amelia moved closer to where Fred resided in American Falls: