Samuel and Verena Goldenberger Weber

STAR VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HISTORICAL BOOKS INVENTORY DETAILS
1.
Overview
Title: Samuel and Verena Goldenberger Weber
Author: Martha E. Weber Kennington et. al.
Subject: Family History
Publisher:
Publishing Date:
Number of Pages: 35
ID#: 520
Location: Website
2.
Evaluation
Evaluator's Name(s): Kent and Polly Erickson
Date of Evaluation: December 2014
Key Words: Mormon Missionaries, Switzerland, Providence, UT; Freedom, WY;
Caribou Mountain
Included Names: Arthur Schulthess, Jacob and Maria Weber, Samuel and Maria
Goldenberger
3. Synopsis
Both Samuel and Verena were born in Switzerland where they married and
started their family. They were converted to the LDS faith and emigrated to the
United States settling in Providence, UT. Here they faced many challenges
including a language barrier. In 1893, they joined other Swiss families in Star
Valley, WY. Here they helped to settle a new area. The next section is devoted to
the family of Martha Weber Kennington. Life sketches of her children are
included.
4. Other
*obituary for Samuel Weber 12 Oct 1906
*obituary for Verena Weber 4 May 1917
^collection of letters and documents
*photos
SAMUEL AND VERENA GOLDENBERGER WEBER
12 February 1851
22 September 1855
Several different histories were written by their daughter, Martha Emma Weber Kennington. Those
histories as well as other histories by granddaughters, Alice Jenkins Hamilton, Elmina Jenkins Haderlie,
and Myra Jenkins, have been compiled by great-granddaughters, Janis Haderlie Siggard and JoLynn
Jenkins Barneck, along with a list of children and their birth/death dates and pictures
Samuel and Verena Goldenberger Weber
Parents of:
EUGENE WEBER
bom 14 July 1876
died 30 January 1917
LENA WEBER
died 14 March 1954
ROBERT WEBER
bom 9 January 1878
bom 5 July 1879
ERWIN WEBER
bom 25 December 1880
IDA EMMA WEBER
bom 21 January 1882
bom 9 January 1883
bom 26 May 1884
died
died
died
died
ERWIN WEBER
bom 7 November 1887
died 5 October 1888
JOHN WILLIAM WEBER
bom 9 December 1888
CHARLES SAMUEL WEBER
died 16 January 1889
died 21 August 1957
MARTHA EMMA WEBER
bom 1 January 1890
bom 20 April 1893
FERDINAND [FRED] WEBER
bom 14 November 1894
died 8 October 1958
LAWRENCE FRANKLIN WEBER
bom 28 March 1898
died 4 January 1949
WALTER WEBER
WALTER WEBER
died 17 October 1928
28 August 1887
25 January 1920
26 July 1883
12 July 1934
died 22 March 1960
Samuel came from a family who had to struggle to make a living, while Verena came from a family
who was considered well to do by the social standards of those days.
Life began for Samuel Weber on 12 February 1851 in Schmiedrued [or Schmiedenrug], and for
Verena Goldenberger on 22 September 1855. They lived in the same little town - Schmiedrued], Aargau,
Switzerland - throughout their lives until the event occurred which revolutionized their lives. [Samuel's
parents were Jakob Weber and Maria Weber.
Verena's parents were Samuel and Maria Elizabeth
Bolliger Goldenberger.] Samuel took his place
among the mill workers when he grew old enough
to help maintain his father's family. His was a
gregarious, friendly nature, and he was possessed of
a golden tenor voice. He with three friends formed a quartet and the four would serenade the villagers on
any and al! occasions. His desire for friendship would often lead him into taverns, drinking and smoking.
After his marriage Samuel worked in a factory where cloth and unbleached muslin were made. He
also worked as a cigar salesman in the small town of Aarau. He was probably in his element as a
salesman for he loved to meet and mingle with people.
Verena was retiring, sensitive, and ambitious. She was an expert seamstress and tailoress sewing
men's clothing for the stores and her work was in such demand, she made more money than her husband
did. One Sunday she had a baby and on Wednesday the manager of the store came and wanted her to
make a suit of clothes; Samuel thought it was too soon after her illness inasmuch as her big heavy machine
was difficult to tread and the large tailor's iron too much to handle. Other times, however, she began
sewing and working three days after a child was bom to her. Throughout the bearing and rearing of her
large family, she continued to augment the family income with her sewing and tailoring for various shops.
Often she would work far into the night or all night long to complete an order for a customer.
She further attested that she never spent longer than three days in bed recuperating from the birth of
a child, attended by no one more skilled than a "mid-wife," and she of dubious knowledge. She rose from
her bed not to leisurely convalesce, but to hard work. Often she would have one of the children "treadle"
the machine when the effort was too exhausting for her.
FIRST SIX CHILDREN
There were six children bom to Samuel and
Verena while they were living in Schmiedrued
[Martha mentions these children were bom at
Schiltwald (Schlat)]: Eugene, Lina, Robert, Erwin, Ida
and Walter. Walter, who was bom in January, 1883,
died when he was 6 months old [in July 1883]. His
parents did not have any picture of him, so they had a
portrait made of him lying in his casket with a bouquet
of flowers in his tiny hand, his lovely baby features
fixed and doll-like. Perhaps it gave his parents
comfort to have it.
Erwin, the fourth child, when between 2 and 3
years of age, was
stricken with a
The countryside of Schmiedrued
Heavy scabs covered his body from the crown of
his head to the soles of his feet through which blood and pus would
ooze. They kept his days and nights a constant torment. Medical
science and every known remedy was tried, but nothing seemed to ease
the awful condition which seemed to resemble nothing so much as that
scourge of mankind, "leprosy", and yet, it seemed unthinkable that an
innocent baby should be so stricken.
It was during the latter part of the year 1883, or early part of
1884, that the fam ily made their first move to another town. It is
surmised that the death of their little son, Walter, may have had
something to do with the move and also the sickness of Erwin, hoping
to find a doctor who could help his malady. They moved from
terrible skin disease.
•.mhcian Cliurcliiii Schmitdaicd, Swuzcrlafic
where Samuel & Verena Weber werer married.
Picfiire (flken in 1977
Schmiedrued across Switzerland to the northeast to
Weinteiden in the Canton of Thurgau, about 36 miles
east of Zurich. Weinfelden is a much larger place than
Schmiedrued.
Another baby boy was born on 26 May 1884 in
Weinfelden. He was named Walter to take the place of
the one who had died the year before.
INTRODUCTION TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
AND MIRACULOUS HEALING
A I lew ol'iiic
S" iss Inline ol'Sjinui-'l & Voroini WVIvr uikcii iii 2(HI5
It was while they were living in Weinfelden that a
young [19-year-old L.D.S.] Mormon Elder named Arthur [or Arnold] Schulthess knocked on their door
one day, announcing himself as "a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." [He
had arrived in Switzerland October 30, 1884.] He could not have made an instant impression; he seemed
so young, and he was talking about a religion they had never heard of. They listened for awhile, scarcely
hearing him, so engrossed were they in what seemed their more immediate problem, their stricken little
son.
Then they heard the missionary say, "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the Elders of the
Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith
shall save the sick." (James 5:14-15) Could their little one be healed? Their knowledge of God was
fragmentary; they had paid but little attention to the clergy, but of this they were sure; no one had ever
claimed to have the powers of God delegated to man as did this youthful representative of the "American
Gospel."
[Elder Schulthess] spoke logically and kindly, telling them of the restoration when angels had been
sent to again restore the Gospel to the earth; a strange new doctrine it would take time to study and
understand, but oh! How they needed the power of God to heal their little boy; and surely if the power of
God could operate through man, it would make itself known through one so fine and clean as this young
man. They believed him, and they would exercise faith. Were there moments of doubt as they watched
the young man anoint the scab-encrusted head with oil? With what anxiety they must have watched. The
children must have watched wide-eyed when the administration was performed. And since faith is
required when one is restored to health, we know these parents had faith from the beginning because
almost immediately, the little boy sank into his first restful sleep. Soon the scabs began drying up on his
body, and in a very few days the skin cleared and the cure was complete. This was miraculous to this
humble family. Surely there was a power here that was beyond that of man. Little Erwin ever after
called Elder Schulthess, "Little Doctor." Elder Schulthess had arrived in Switzerland 30 October 1884
from Salt Lake City.
When the ministers of the other churches (Methodist, Baptist, and Evangelists) heard of the healing,
they ridiculed it. So Samuel had them come to the house to meet Elder Schulthess. The arguments were
many - heated and bitter - and Samuel said, "I know one thing, if I join any church (he belonged to none
at this time), I will join the Mormon Church because 1 have found 1 am welcome at the other churches as
long as I give freely to the plate, but when I don't, 1 am welcome to stay at home."
Besides the deep gratitude for the goodness of God through the intermediary of a humble Elder,
there continued an interest in the doctrines and teachings of the Church. [Elder Schulthess] taught them
s
that a church which contained the power of God unto salvation would be complete in every detail; that not
only would it contain transcendent spiritual truths, but doctrines for the "temporal salvation" of the
members of the church such as the "Word of Wisdom." Thus, they learned that there were drugs and
narcotics harmful to the use of man, even the stimulants Samuel was wont to use only in a spirit of
conviviality; they learned they were "not ordained for the use of man" and must be shunned before they
could be candidates for baptism into the Church they were now absolutely certain was the true Church of
God.
Maria, Samuel's mother, seemed to accept the gospel more readily than the others; she was
baptized 26 April 1886, at the age of 66 years.
This sincere, faithful young man opened new vistas of spirituality hitherto undreamed of to Samuel
and Verena. He told them of America, of Utah where faithful saints might gather the better to live in
accordance with Church precepts. After thorough investigation and study, Samuel and Verena were
baptized and confirmed Saturday, 26 June 1886, by David Kunz, a young Elder from Bern, Idaho, who
was released just a week later to return home. They were probably baptized in the Thur River since
Weinfelden is right on the banks of this river. [Verena's parents and SamuePs sister, Eliza, also joined the
Church.] Samuel was 35 years old and Verena was 31.
[Lina was just 8 years old and Eugene 9 '/2 years, so both were in school. After the baptism of the
parents, as if by conspiracy, the rest ofthe students as w^i as the teachers sought tomake life thoroughly
miserable for the Mormon family. As a result the spirited Lina soon grew to dislike everything about the
place.]
A yearning to gather to Zion had taken hold of the parents following their conversion, and very
naturally the treatment accorded their children added ftiel to the flames. But to emigrate was impossible.
Their finances were not sufficient to enable them to make the long vc^age to Americaftnd furthermore,
they had six little children to consider.
After living in Weinfelden about three years, the family moved many miles back southwest to the
city of Wald in Zurich canton, not far from Lake Zurich and south of the city of Zurich. This is the last
place they lived in Switzerland before coming to America.
In Wald, tragedy again came to the family. The little boy, Erwin, who had been so miraculously
healed, was rushing with other children down the street td^see thf^ircus that had come totown. Some
way he was pushed or crowded under the wheels ofa wa^yi loa4sd with lumber tp bpild gates for the
circus.^[Martha listed this asa huge fire engine being p^ushed ^ children in another history.] He was so
crushe(f and injured SrteiSafff that he'®5^irca^Sh lv^V?'fedln''fer^the twenty-four hours thaf'h^ livedl
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In Wald the family met Elders Hansen and Biesinger, both from Salt Lake City, Utah; and they
were a great coSifort to them in their persecutions. As soon as the school teachers, who were always men,
l^ew itis^tthe children were Mormons, they lost no chance to whip and i^jstreat them. Eugene was called
to the front of the room one day for something someone else had done. He was made to hold his hands
out while the teacher hit them so h&rd with a thick ruler that it swelled his hands and msl% dark bruises on
them. The Elders told the family |^at in America the children were not whipped in sch(^ because of their
religion. The children in the neighborhood were forbidden to play wj|h the Weber children. Samuel was
shunned byhis co-workers at thefactory where he worked, and Verefj^^'s best sewing customers no longer
sent her their trade.
In Wald, on 23 October 1887, their eldest son, Eugene, was baptized into the Church by Elder
Thomas Biesinger. Two weeks later on November 7, another baby s^'was bom, and li^^as named
Erwin in memory of the little boy who had been killed in August. Th^lflgw baby, Waltgt^isI Ida were
blessed 4 December 1887. Erwin and Ida were blessed by Elder Biesinger, and Walter was blessed by
Johannes Kaegi.
Lena remembers going to Church with her father. Verena was not able to go much because of care
of the small children. Lena said her father would take her by the hand, and they would walk through the
beautiful woods about six miles to Church.
JOURNEY TO AMERICA
The family longed to come to America and after planning and saving, they prepared for the long
journey in the spring of 1888. Samuel got some huge wooden boxes about six feet long, three feet wide
and three feet high, and they were filled with clothing and bedding chiefly along with other necessities.
There must have been tears as they bade their native land goodbye, but Lena doesn't remember them. In
her childish mind there was no apprehension, no fear, only natural excitement that attends such a scene.
The family included Samuel, 37; Verena, 33; Maria Weber (Samuel's mother) [Samuel's father stayed in
Switzerland]; and six children: Eugene, almost 12; Lina, 10; Robert, 9; Ida, 6; Walter, 4; and baby Erwin,
seven months. Finally, on 3 June 1888, they left the Zurich branch to begin their long journey to America
and Utah. They joined with other saints and went to Basel where they were met by Elders J. U. Stucki, T.
H. Biesinger, J. S. Stucki and Elder Staheli. They all stayed at the Hotel Zum Folom.
On June 5, Tuesday, they left Basel at 5:30 a.m. and in five hours they were in Strasburg where
they had dinner. At Metz, Germany, a short time later, it was discovered that an axle on one of the [train]
cars was burning, so some of the emigrants had to change cars. It wasn't until 11 p.m. that they arrived in
Antwerp, Belgium.
On Wednesday, June 6, at 1 p.m., they boarded the steamer "Zebra" and left Belgium for England
and arrived in Hull a day later where all their baggage had to be examined. They then took the train for
Liverpool where they arrived at 10:30 p.m. and found a hotel for the night. On Friday, June 8, they
prepared to leave England, and the next morning at 10 a.m. the ship "Nevada" bore them out to sea.
Sunday they stopped for a few hours at Queenstown, Ireland, and at noon they departed for America.
There were other converts on the same boat fi-om Bern and other places. [Some of these were John
Moser's family and John Luthi's family who also moved to Freedom, Wyoming.]
A clipping from the Deseret Weekly News dated June 27, 1888, gives the passenger list on the S.S.
Nevada sailing from Liverpool, 9 June 1888; J. J. Stucki, president of company; Emigrants - "For Logan"Samuel, Verina, Mary, Eugene, Lina, Robert, Ida and Walter Weber." [Baby Erwin (7 months old) was
not listed.]
We can imagine the little group; the father busy with personal details frequently consulting with
Verena as to the best way to accomplish any task. Such it was always, for though shy and retiring, yet
Verena's intelligent grasp of any problem prompted Samuel to always seek her judgment. Then there
were the children: Eugene and Lina, wide-eyed and curious, somewhat bewildered by the jargon of
sounds, staying close to the mother, assisting in the care of the younger children; Robert, active and not a
little given to mischief, but restrained because of the strangeness of it all; Ida, shy, holding fast to her
sister's hand; Walter, sweet and obedient, his red curly hair an unruly mass; and baby Erwin, crying
because he was tired and upset. The mother, pregnant with her eighth baby, could not have done other
than dread the long ocean voyage. The smells that assailed her nostrils as the migrants were 'herded'
aboard the steering compartment, crowded, ill ventilated and vermin ridden, must have been most
repulsive to her.
Missionaries homeward bound from Switzerland supervised the emigrants and attended to their
needs. John S. Stucki was placed in charge of the emigrants, with Charles H. Haderli and John Staheli as
his counselors. They were as fathers to the bewildered, confused groups. Lasting friendships were formed
on board ship. Certain it was that there were song fcsts, for anyone who would join with Samuel in song
would be urged to join and make the welkin ring with their singing. The Mormons were a group apart.
They were passengers, it is true; but all of them were believers in a strange new way of life. [Later,
Charles Henry Haderlie's granddaughter and grandson, Wilma Haderlie and Conn J. Haderlie, would
marry Samuel and Verena's grandson and granddaughter, Evan Jenkins and Elmina Jenkins.]
Lina was afflicted with an awfiil seasickness; so severe that it was feared the bright, active, little girl
would never see the new world. The Elders administered to her, and she was again able to join the rest of
the group. They were also afflicted with head lice and Lena tells how she had to have her beautiful long,
black hair cut off close to her head in order to get rid of them.
On Tuesday, June 19, land was sighted, and it must have been a welcome sight. On the 20"^ they
arrived at Staten Island and customs officials came aboard. No one had any trouble, and in a short time
Elders Stucki and Staheli took the emigrants to pier No. 26, of the Old Dominion Steamship Co. where
they boarded a side-wheel steamer, "Wyonoke" at 3 p.m. for Norfolk, Virginia. They arrived in Norfolk
at 5:30 - one hour too late to catch the train west, so they had to remain over night. They stayed in the
cars with a temperature of 93, so they were glad when morning came, and they could be on theirway. On
June 22, they left Norfolk at 8 a.m. viathe Norfolk and Western Railroad arriving the next morning at
6:30 in Chattanooga, Tennessee where a train was waiting for them. They arrived in Memphis by night,
changed cars and laid in a supply of food. Sunday morning, June 24, they left for Kansas City where they
arrived Monday night. They transferred into Union Pacific cars and road the train all night to Denver,
Colorado, arriving Tuesday morning. On Wednesday, June 27'\ the group arrived in Ogden, Utah and
went directly to Logan, CacheCounty, Utah which really became a Swiss colony.
PIONEERING IN UTAH
They lived in Logan in a rented house during the
summer. In the fall the migrants were allocated three
acres of land in Providence, Utah. Samuel bought a
two-room rock house with a shanty attached to the
rear of the house filled with bedbugs.
It was a strange experience for them, most of
them millworkers, to be thrust into a life totally
unfamiliar. Samuel bought horses and cows, and not
recognizing the good points essential in either, fell
easy prey to the not-very-ethical bargainer who sold
them spavined horses and beef cows instead of the
Home of Samuel & Verena Weber
in Providence, Utah
milk cows they needed. They were exploited by
neighbors and friends, but while a loss of confidence
in the
no faith
in the
in
the individual
individual was
was natural,
natural, they
they lost
lost no
faith in
the
principles of the gospel.
Here baby Erwin, who had crossed the ocean with the family, died, aged two days less than eleven
months old —on 5 October 1888. On 9 December 1888, Verena had a baby boy, and they named him
John William, but he lived onlysix weeks and died 16 January 1889. Following his death Verena became
so sick with something like typhoid that they thought she would surely die, but after several weeks, she
began to recover. Then Walter became very sick, and he, too, recovered with the coming of spring. The
hand of the Lord was acknowledged in these healings. Thus it was, sorrow and pain came to them in the
new world as it had in the old. But no murmur of regret passed their lips; the testimony they had, the faith
they had acquired through a miraculous healing, and by subsequentstudy and prayer, remained with them
through adversity and whatever life had to offerby way of adjustment or experience. They knew the
Gospel was the way of life and salvation, and its teachings opened horizons hitherto undreamed of to the
humble, eager seeker after truth and righteousness.
They lived in Providence for five years and the children were sentto school there. Despite the
handicap of learning a new language, they adjusted themselves rapidly to the new community. Up to that
time Lena's name had been spelled "Lina". At this time the teacher wrote "Lena" and said it should be
that way to go with the way they pronounced it. And so it remained. Music, the art that knows no
language barriers, was an entering wedge. Samuel with his children formed a quartet-Lena, soprano; Ida,
alto; Robert, tenor; and Samuel, bass. They were very popular and in constant demand at church activities
and soon became an important part ofcommunity life. The children soon learned the English language
and Samuel's friendliness made adjustments easy, but for Verena it was much more difficult. Sensitive
and retiring, painfully conscious of language differences, she had manygood friends but never
participated in any church activities. Often after hearing a discussion, herquick alert mind would grasp
the solution, but she would express it only in the privacy of herown home. Lena was her intermediary
among English-speaking acquaintances. She learned to read her adopted language fluently and found
great pleasure in reading books and magazines.
Besides caring for the plot they owned, Samuel and Eugene (in his early teens)worked in a brick
yard in Logan, walking there in the morning from Providence and back at night after a hard day's work,
and on such meager food as the family could afford. Verena made pancakes and puta little sugar on them
for lunch, orsometimes it might be fried bread and that isall they would have. One wonders how they
ever kept going on so little.
Later they worked at thetithing office as brick layers. One day when they were up about 35 or40
feet, Eugene lost his balance and fell to the ground. Samuel saw him as he started to fall and yelled for
him to grab bricks, butthey had just been laid in the mortar, and they loosened immediately and fell with
him. Samuel thought sure he was killed, buthe gained consciousness after a while and they found that he
had broken both arms, one of them in two places. That ended his brick-laying for many months.
Verena did tailoring and sewing for the shops in Logan besides caring for herlarge and growing
family. The family raised strawberries, raspberries and currants to sell besides vegetables for their own
use. Lena says, "I gathered watercress in the spring and walkedto Logan to sell it. Later came the
strawberries, and I carried these things to Logan, then walked all over thetown trying to sell them; by the
time I walked home again, I was so weary that 1thought I would never be able to walk again, but the next
day it had to be done all over again. At some ofthe houses where I called, they would want me to help
with housework and run errands. At one house the woman was sick, and the man asked me to come in
and wash the dishes. Every dish in the house was dirty, and the food so dried on that I soaked and washed
dishes for hours and hours and received the sum of five cents for myday's work."
All of these things proved to be like a refiner's fire for this family causing them to become stronger
and more committed to the gospel.
PIONEERING IN STAR VALLEY - FREEDOM, CARIBOU, IDAHO
In 1890, several Swiss emigrants were encouraged toseek their fortunes and futures in Star Valley,
Wyoming - a new and undeveloped country. These people, most of them friends and fellow converts, left
Providence, Utah to find more land for their growing families.
By 1893, Samuel's family had increased by two: Charles Samuel, bom 1 January 1890, and Martha
Emma, bom 20 April 1893. Samuel and Verena consulted together and decided that they, too, needed
more land for their growing family. Verena had excellent judgment and an innate sense of values and
Samuel was wise to acknowledge that. He never made a transaction without first consulting his wife which was probably responsible for their healthy, steady economic well-being, together with their
willingness to sacrifice and work hard.
At this time Eugene, a lad of seventeen, was working away from home freighting in Montana, and
Samuel thought it was not good as Gene had started smoking with his associates and adopting their habits
which were probably rather rough, and he wanted him out of that environment. So in the summer of 1893,
they left Providence to make their home in Star Valley. Unlike most of the other migrants who chose
Bedford, Samuel looked around and said there were too many rocks in Bedford, so he bought the home of
Swan Sanderson up near the west hills in Freedom [on the Idaho side]. They were received into the
Freedom Ward 3 August 1893. Their choice was wise, for the soil was deep and fertile and even now
bears good crops of timothy and 'wild hay' and other planted crops as it did then. It consisted of one
hundred sixty acres with a two-room log, dirt-roofed house and an old log cow shed. That winter Samuel
and the boys got out logs to build sheds and improve the place. Here their twelfth child was bom 14
November 1894. He was named Ferdinand-shortened to Fred.
ir-^l hmiK' ol Saiiuicl a; Vcrciiii Wclvr in Mlulh^vcM
coriicr iirWcbvi' arain llclii in j i\.vil»ni. Idalix
Home of Samuel & Verena Weber
Samuel's mother, Maria, who came to America with them and lived with them while they were in
Providence, went to Salt Lake City to live with
her daughter, Elise Prye, when the family
moved to Freedom. Maria died in Salt Lake
City 2 March 1903.
It was a very homesick family that tried
to learn to like this lonely, isolated place.
Their neighbors were so far away and the
people so few. When they first came to
Freedom, there were no church services, and
Verena and Lena cried every Sunday. It
seemed they had left everything to come to
this place that had nothing. Bishop Low was
Hic fumiiy ofElizJi (Wcbcr) Pry (sislcr lo Samuel Weber)
the Bishop, but there were so few people and
1. lo R: John. M;iry. niecUi. Alicc. Mnillia. rJi/ii
most of them were working away from the
valley, so no services were held. However, in the fall when the people returned from their work and had
hauled their fruit, flour, potatoes and other necessities from Soda Springs, Snake River Valley and other
places, they had Sunday school and Sacrament Meetings; and a little later Religion Class was organized.
Lena was a teacher in Religion Class. They also had dances and parties and some good times in the log
meeting house which stood back of where Phillip Jenkins' stables now stand. They held Sunday School in
Freedom and the evening meeting in Glen, then alternated holding Sunday School in Glen and evening
meeting in Freedom.
The first year was a very difficult time for the women folks as they had no close neighbors, and
they missed their friends and their life in Providence. For Samuel and the boys, it was not as bad, busy as
they were with the work in the canyon, cultivating the ground, and acquiring livestock; but for Verena and
the girls, it was well nigh unendurable; soon the heavy work required of them in the garden and home
alleviated the homesickness. As Lena was older, she "hired out" and Ida stayed home probably taking
care of younger brothers and sister. As Ida grew older, she and Lena worked out in various homes:
sometimes in Afton, [Wyoming] or in some other town. They were very good workers and received the
extravagant sum of $ 1.00 or $ 1.50 per week. Between caring for her family and household duties, the
mother was again kept busy sewing for family, neighbors and friends and soon became oriented to her
isolated home and pioneer environment.
A gold mine in the Caribou Mountains west of Freedom was operated by a man from Chicago
named Ricks. It gave employment to many men from the valley and among them were Samuel, Eugene
and Robert, and Lena was employed as cook. The work was apparently more lucrative than farming
although mining operations were continued only in the summer because of the deep snow. They worked
in the mine for three or four summers. The pay was pretty meager. Lena was a table waitress for two
large tables of 30 men each, and also she served another table in a separate dining room for the bosses.
Her hours were from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and she received $3.00 per week which was considered top
wages in those days.
[While working in the gold mine,] Samuel contracted typhoid fever which for six long weeks
threatened the life of the husband and father. The only doctor in the valley, a Dr. Stoughton, was called
on the case and did all in his power before announcing solemnly that he could do no more; that if the
patient recovered, it would be a higher power that would bring it to pass. The doctor, not a Mormon, was
nevertheless a Christian. Sometimes it seems that great faith that will acknowledge no defeat is aroused
only when there is no other recourse. There had been other administrations, but [Samuel] recovered after
a prayer circle [was held] in his behalf in which the priesthood participated.
Robert was stricken with acute appendicitis. Dr. Stoughton was again called in; he listened
helplessly with the others to the lad's screams of pain. Then again there was an administration, and
Robert slept. Either the appendix had broken and the patient would surely die, or some miracle had
happened for which science had no explanation. The family knew with humble thanksgiving that faith
had again triumphed and restored Robert to health so completely that he never had a recurring attack.
MARTHA WEBER KENNINGTON'S FAMILY SKETCH
May I, as the last survivor of a wonderful family pay humble tribute to my family!
Father, or Papa as we younger children addressed him, was a man of about five feet ten inches in
height, quick tempered, but he had such a lovely voice. I remember his yodeling [which he may have
learned from his father, Jakob, who was a yodeler also]. He used to stand out doors often and sing and
yodel. How I loved it. Actually, I was a little in awe of him and was often in disfavor because I was
forever breaking something, or reading when 1was supposed to be helping with the work or tending little
Lawrence, who was bom March 28, 1898.
10
I recall how humbly he would accept mother's verdict on a problem they were trying to solve.
Father was inclined to impulses which after due consideration he knew to be unwise.
Music and singing were the loves of his life. His last day in mortality was spent in his favorite way.
Although he was not well enough to go to Sunday School, he did feel well enough to sing the songs of
Zion with Ida and Lena.
I slept on a couch in Father's and Mother's room. I went to bed soon after father did, which was
before Mother had gone to bed. Suddenly I heard a fearfiil, gurgling sound issuing from across the room
where Father lay. I called to him twice, but received no reply. I dashed out of the room and called Mother
who came immediately. She called to him, but he did not answer. The Angel of death had come and
taken him away, the 7 October 1906, at the age of 55. At this time Eugene, Lena, Robert, and Ida were
married which left Walter, 22, as the oldest boy at home.
Funeral services for Samuel were held Wednesday, October 10, in the Freedom chapel under
direction of Bishop Aaron F. Bracken. Bishop Osbome Low of Afton and Wilford Hyde of Afton spoke
and praised the integrity and other good qualities of Samuel. A special musical number was given by
Edward Olsen and Mark Hurd who sang "O My Father."" Prayers were given by Albert Rolph and D.
Rainey, and Samuel's body was interred in the Freedom cemetery, not very far from his home.
A brief word picture of Mother as I knew her. Mother was short and plump; she had dark hair and
piercing, dark eyes. She had a high intelligent forehead, small hands and feet, a strong chin. She was shy
in public. But often I have heard her say, "I would have liked to say something about that question if I
could have expressed myself a little better." She was very conscious of her broken English. She had a
keen, alert mind. Perhaps if her executive ability had found ftill expression, unhampered by selfconscious knowledge of her broken dialect, she would have been a power in the community or founded
some enterprise. But never could anyone in a lifetime of effort have done a better job of mothering a
family of children, instilling in them high ideals, faith in the gospel, and at the same time sitting for long
hours over a sewing machine. One wonders how she ever did it. She read English well, although her busy
years must have allowed but little time for reading. Toward the last of her life, she read avidly. One
reason, possibly, was that her husband had no patience with reading of any kind unless it was purposeful.
Church books, yes, and the newspaper to keep up on the current events, but he frowned on fiction and
light reading of any sort. I can still remember the pleasure mother derived from reading when her leisure
time permitted it.
[Mother] was afflicted with a goiter which grew steadily larger and interfered with her breathing.
This family had learned through experience that there was an infallible power ready at the call of faith and
through the medium of the elders to heal the sick and restore health and strength. So it was not at all
strange that they should appeal for aid. The goiter was cured; the only evidence of its ever having been
present was the fold of loose skin which had formerly stretched over the unsightly irritating mass.
Verena could never overcome the habit of drinking coffee; such a hold it had on her that an attempt
at stopping would bring on illness, whether real or fancied, sufficient to make her believe that its use was
justified. Samuel however, overcame the habit so deeply ingrained. It must be admitted that it was Lena,
whose faith was sincerely dynamic, who persuaded him and encouraged him in his efforts. Verena,
realizing and fiilly converted to the gospel as she was, never quite gained the strength to overcome its use,
was still not the hypocrite to withhold from her children something in which she herself found pleasure.
From earliest childhood, not one of the children drank coffee nor broke the Word of Wisdom consciously
in any particular.
Mother was a wonderful woman, so dynamic, intelligent, faithftil and very humble before the Lord.
I remember when Father died, how Mother cried and said if only Walter's call to the mission field had
come a few days earlier, he would not have died. She believed that in some mysterious way Father's
lo
11
death would not have occurred when it did if he had known Walter was going on a mission. But there was
no question of acceptance to his mission call. He was set apart 8 January 1907 and labored in the Central
States Mission until 14 May 1909.
Mother, with her usual courage, gathered the management reins in her own hands, knowing that she
would have full cooperation from her sons. Nobly, she and the boys planned together. The indebtedness
on the recently acquired farm would be paid, for Mother hated debt like a plague. I think throughout her
lifetime. Mother never had to worry about the chores for in her life she had never learned to milk; her
many sons had always made that unnecessary. She managed back stage. 1think her firm calm guidance
ofeverything made her influence felt through every detail ofthe farm management. But beyond gathering
eggs, she never went near the out-buildings. The boys were wonderful to cooperate and were absolutely
trustworthy. Eugene and Robert came over from Etna every few days to see how conditions were and to
help out. Lena and Ida were good to provide her companionship. Although she missed Father and Walter
whose mission called him to Texas, she got along very well.
Charles was old beyond his years; and with the help of his younger brothers, Fred-oniy twelve, and
Lawrence-not yet nine, did the work ofmen. Charles even entered the competitive field of buying and
selling cattle, doing extraordinarily well but always seeking the advice ofhis mother when making a
transaction. This is the more remarkable because many men ofexperience were active at that time. They
may or may not have yielded the advantage to thisyoung stripling; be that as it may, he was an
outstanding success at the work he had to do. So much so that the remaining debt on a place on the east of
Freedom was cleared. This farm was purchased just prior to his father's death. Besides the costof
maintaining a missionary and a family, a substantial sum was laid aside for a new house, to be built when
the missionary returned.
Verena died 9 May 1917 after an illness of but a few days in her 61^' year. Only Walter and
Lawrence were at home at the time of her death. A double funeral was held for her and Edwin Schiess on
11 May 1917, in the Freedom Ward. Speakers were John U. Moser, Thomas F. Burton, Walter P. Barber,
Arthur F. Burton and Bishop Aaron F. Bracken. Five sons had preceded her in death including her eldest,
Eugene, who had died the previous January.
VicM i>rold Siiniuul Wcbcr lioiiic in I'rci-iliiin, Wjvmint: (lakinin IWJ's)
Weber Home
12
EUGENE
Eugene was the eldest of thirteen children. He was bom 14 July
1876 at Schmiedrued, Aargau, Switzerland. He was 12 years old when
his family came to America. He was always a hard-worker. While his
family was living in Providence, Utah, Eugene worked on the tithing
office building in Logan. He walked from Providence to Logan and
back again each day. He hauled mortar in a wheelbarrow up on a
scaffold for the workmen who were laying the brick. One very cold
Eugene Weber
morning soon after he came to work, he slipped and fell 30 feet. His
father thought he would be dead, but he had broken both of his arms, one
in two places. It was very serious at the time [because the family]
needed all the work they could get just trying to get started [in the new
country].
He was a person of no ordinary ability. Although he had very little formal education, he was
always reading and was a real scholar. Eugene's thirst for knowledge was never satisfied. He read on his
way to and from the canyon to bring out wood, and he would read on the plow, in his later life, the first
superintendent of the school district said that "Eugene Weber took more magazines and papers and read
them than any other man in Star Valley." He was interested in science and had an intellect which could
have taken him far in that field if he had had the opportunity of an education. He took a short course at the
Brigham Young College in Logan in engineering and emerged fired with the idea that the east side of the
valley [later known as Etna] could be a place for homes and farms if water could be brought to irrigate the
dry, thirsty acres.
Eugene filled an honorable mission in his native land [the Swiss-German Mission] from 1900-1903.
He spent most of his time in Vienna, Austria. Here he devoted
himself to the work before him, using his abilities and gift of
leadership in a way that is remembered after these many years by
those associated with him; among them was Professor James L.
Barker, who became a president of the French Mission. He came
home to find a bride, Annie Cook, teaching school. They were
married in the Logan, Utah Temple 7 September 1904. Annie wrote,
"We lived in Freedom until we partly built our house in Etna,
Wyoming. We moved into it before it was finished. There was no
water for our land for 6
years except a small
comer near the house
Kugcnc A; Alinic Wchcr - I'l'M
lEugene is Una wcbcT Jenkins-broihcr)
for a garden. It was a
long, hard struggle."
Eugene and his brother,
Robert, had prcviously
filed on land in Etna where homesteads were available.
Realizing that this land needed water, he instigated a project
[in 1904] to bring water to these arid acres. By dogged and
persistent courage, he organized the East Side Canal
Company and pioneered what most everyone said was an impossible dream - bringing water to thousands
of acres of land in the area of Etna and Freedom, [Wyoming]. There were many trials and
discouragements while digging this canal including near mutiny by the workers, but he would never give
up. His brother, Robert, was by his side and had faith in Eugene's dream and was his main stay to the
end, and finally the East Side Canal became a reality in 1909. The canal is still a boon to that area after
more than sixty years of use. [This history was apparently written in the 1960/70's.]
In 1912, Eugene bought the first tractor to come into the valley. It was a huge steam outfit with
power enough to pull 6 plows at one time. It was fired with wood and proved to be so slow and expensive
that it was later used to run a saw mill. The first telephone line was put into operation by Eugene in about
1914.
Eugene and Annie were the parents of seven children, five of whom lived to maturity: Eugene,
Lorraine, Amy, Bryan and Mondell.
Eugene had poor health the last two years of his life. He died of pneumonia on 30 January 1917,
aged 40 years and 6 months.
LENA
Bom with a vivid enthusiasm for all things constructive, she
brightened the strange new world of America for her father and mother.
V
V
Learning the language and customs readily, her father and mother leaned
on her as an intermediary between them and their new surroundings. Her
energy and vitality were boundless. She loved the gospel and nothing to
her was a sacrifice, but a blessed privilege. She radiated inspiration to
everyone she worked with. She sought to instill that faith in her family.
[Tribute by Martha]
..
ilHWI
^ January 1878, the first daughter of Samuel and
Verena Goldenberger Weber in Schmiedrued, Aargau, Switzerland. She
Lena Weber
second child in a family of 13. After her parents joined the LDS
Church and came to Providence, Cache, Utah when Lina was ten years
old, she was quick to leam the new language and American ways. She interpreted for her parents and their
friends. Her family loved music: Samuel formed a quartet with his children with Lina singing soprano, and
they were very popular. One of her teachers in Providence advised her to change the spelling of her name
to the way it sounds: Lena.
Lena was baptized 1 August 1888 in Logan or Providence, Cache, Utah.
i
The family moved to Star Valley - Freedom, Caribou, Idaho in the summer of 1893. It was a lonely,
isolated place. Lena worked out in various homes for $l-$3.00 a week. Lena
was employed as cook at a gold mine in the Caribou Mountains west of
-iv
'
-k Freedom. "One summer when I came home from Caribou, I had $70.00. I
bought a winter coat for $3.50, shoes for $1.50, black cashmere cloth for a dress
at $.25 a yard and gave the rest of the money to the folks. I paid my tithing
^ before anything." Martha, her sister, remembers that when she was about seven,
^ Lena gave her avelvet dress for Christmas bought with the money Lena had
W
Eugene and Lena went to Logan, Utah to attend school. They met
1 William Jenkins from Newton, a small town in Cache Valley. On 3 October
\V I' ami l.enaJcnliiRs ahl. IWI
1901, Lena Weber and William Evan Jenkins were married in the Salt Lake Temple. William taught
school in Freedom on the Idaho side of the town with about thirty pupils covering most of the eight
grades. When spring came, they built a shanty on a homestead and bought some cows. Willie had come
with a brand new wagon, cover and harness; the covered wagon box served as their bedroom, and the
shanty was the kitchen and living room. In 1905, a large frame house was begun with four rooms on the
ground floor and four upstairs. They were blessed with six daughters and one son: Myra, Edyth, Alice,
Norma, Evan, Elmina and June.
Lena worked at the side of Willie all her life helping with the farm work. She milked cows
although she was afraid of them, drove the teams on the farm implements and helped haul hay and hauled
and stacked bundles when harvesting the grain. Willie and Lena raised a large garden and shared produce
with everyone. They hosted meals for the extended family as well as friends, especially for Thanksgiving
and Christmas.
When Lena was 18 years old, she was called to be president of the YWMIA and served for 9 yearsWillie & Lena were always leaders in Church and civic activities. Lena had a beautiful soprano voice and
sang many ducts with her sister, Ida. Her daughter, Myra, remembered them singing "Oh, My Father" and
"Somewhere the Sun is Shining" accompanied by Ida's husband, Ray Clark.
In 1906, at the age of 28, Lena was called to be president of the Freedom Ward Relief Society
which position she held for 26 years. She spent countless hours caring for the sick, sometimes 2-3 days at
a time; cooking food and taking it to the needy; washing and dressing the dead and sitting with the body
through long nights; sewing the burial clothes, lining the caskets and helping provide food for the
bereaved families. Martha knew about Lena giving a coat to a youngster whose parents were unable to
provide one; they thought the coat had come from some relatives.
She also gave ten dollars to a poor widow whose only son was in
Ltii
the army and the woman was destitute. She was a strong leader
with an unshakable testimony of the Gospel and influenced many.
A
but through diligent study and Willie's tutoring, she became a well
educated person and was anxious for her children to have good
education. All seven children attended college in Utah. Six served
term foreign
operation for a bowel obstruction. She was 76 years old. She was
I
•ffi
•
1
I
The WVjrirt icna Jenkins VAmiK
loK Alice(iUi nilKmVMvr^ Jiin'tl><r^«Jbinl11.
buried by Willie m the Freedom Cemetery.
^rciiiT S roK hvHn.I.cn:\, WiUixni,Kimtu(rMni(>hdk)
Aii^t
ROBERT
Robert was the second son of Samuel and Verena Weber. He was born 5
July 1879 in Schmiedrued, Aargau, Switzerland.
He married Alice Louise Hayes in the Logan
Temple on 10 June 1903. They were the parents of five
children: lola, Wilford, Grant, Verena, Alice and Delia.
Martha writes, "1 remember his debonair air of
light heartedness. He was a sandy complexioned, curly>
^ T
H
haired boy, fond of a good time, and popular with his
Robert Wcbcr
Kobcn Hi Aiitc Wcbcr
companions. He was quick-tempered, easily provoked, quick-witted, and gay—meaning happy-golucky." He, with his Father and two sisters, comprised a quartet before they came to Star Valley in 1893.
He was an apt student. So quickly did he Icam and understand the ways of farm and ranch life that he was
given much responsibility around the home place. Always with a song in his heart or on his lips, he went
about his work.
the laiiiilv oIKiiK'ft .t Altec \Vi.-tk;r
'- .V
He never shirked responsibility in any form. He worked
••
i
• t
ri
<
i
•
•
side by side With Eugene when they were boys at home, and
,
f i.
even after marriages, they lived in the same vicinity. Robert, or
everyone called him, had great faith in his brother's
^ vk
^
m" r
/
f:
< ^ •• ' ' "
f^ 5 ability
all his
especially was he a
pusher and
and helped
helper inhimtheinEast
Sideprojects;
Canal project.
* ' iC
He accepted the calling to be Bishop of the Etna Ward, a
position he occupied until he moved to Weiser, Idaho. There
again he made good. Hard work and a degree of imagination
were a formula for his success wherever he lived. He died 17
October 1928, in Weiser, Idaho after a hernia operation - 49
IDA EMMA WEBER CLARK
^
Ida Emma Weber was bom 21 January 1882, in Schmiedrued, Aargau,
4 Switzerland, the fifth child bom to Samuel and Verena Goldenberger Weber.
They immigrated to America in 1887 when Ida was 5 years old.
While on the ship, Ida had a narrow escape. She was out on the deck
ocean when she started to fall in the ocean. A man close by
grabbed her dress and pulled her back and saved her from going overboard.
hH
When Samuel and Verena moved to Star Valley in the summer of 1893, Ida
was then 11 years old.
Ida was a very slim woman before she was married; afterward, she was
Idd Wcbcr
quite fleshy. Her niece, Myra Jenkins said, "She had clear, blue sparkling eyes,
half laughing all the time and one ofthe heartiest laughs I have ever heard - with ajolly musical sound.
She laughed very easily and often."
Ida and Lena used to work out for people wherever they could get a job to earn a little money. Ida
worked for Dee Rainey in Freedom and milked 25 head of cows [by hand] night and morning; [she would]
feed the cows and separate the milk and chum butter every day. For this work she received $2.50 a week.
Ida Emma had a beautiful alto voice and was the alto in the duet team with Lena. They
harmonized so beautifully. They both must have been very young, Ida especially, as they were a popular,
well known quartet, singing with Father and Robert, when they were still living in Providence, Utah.
They left there when Ida was in her 12^ yearand Lena was sixteen.
The Clark family who also had a home in Freedom, used to visit a lot with the Weber family. They
would spend a lot of time together singing and discussing the gospel. Ida became interested in one
member of the family, Arthur Raymond Clark, and he was also much interested in her. During the early
summer of 1901 ...they set the time for their marriage for the 3'^'^ of October. William Evan Jenkins was
also interested in Ida's older sister, Lena, and after they heard of the plans of the younger couple, they
decided without much hesitation to accompany them to the temple and start their life together, too.
They were happy to have someone a little older to take the lead
P9I!A||||E!|^^
in such an important trip —230 miles to Salt Lake City. They took
separate wagons so they could bring home fruit and some furniture.
y
Alice Jenkins Hamilton recalls her parents telling how they stayed with
some of Papa's Jenkins relatives in Farmington and Newton, and they
were such teases that Aunt Ida and Mamma [Lena] didn't know how to
^
take them. The trip was made in four days, and after the marriages,
they attended the semi-annual conference of the Church. That was their
honeymoon. They were married 3 October 1901, in the Salt Lake
Temple by John R. Winder. Ida and Lena's wedding dresses were
V
made alike, white satin with a wide ruffle.
Ida's life was full to the brim with work; she was restlessly
ambitious. She married at eighteen. She longed to have a good home,
I
••
II
11
«!•«
to have land, and above all, to be free of debt. She was a splendid
^
w
lib 1NVcticT> & Arthur Clark IJila
Lena Wehcr*««i^lcr}
manager, an indefatigable worker, and soon she saw around her cultivated land where once there had been
only sage brush. She had a comfortable, modem home and a fine family of healthy, happy children. Her
son, Wilford, remembered, "My mother would call me in and we'd discuss the farm business. I remember
what big ideas I got from her and how important it made me feel to think she would consult me in talking
about the business of the farm since I was only 13 years old. She was a very efficient business woman,
and she had a lot of very workable ideas. From her I learned to love horses and cattle, and she also loved
the land. She iiked to be out working out on the land, farming and running the equipment and machinery.
She'd always go out in the morning and milk the cows and while we were finishing feeding the cows and
getting the horses harnessed, she'd be in the house and have breakfast ready [for us]."
Ida was a wonderful wife and mother. No sacrifice was too great for the good of her children.
She worked tirelessly while they were building their home. She often drove one team while her husband
drove the other to the canyon for logs, [and then] to the mill to be sawed for lumber. They milked a lot of
cows and sent the milk. They were the parents of ten
^
children: Hilda, Wilford, Hazel, Florence and Neva were
some favorite cousins of Lena's children. Lena's daughter,
Alice, said, "1 loved to go to Aunt Ida and Uncle Ray's
place. [They] were such nice people and always treated me
so well. I loved to go and stay all night."
H
Ida was destined to enjoy her children not for long,
however, as she died during the flu epidemic of 1920 with
her two youngest sons, Gerald and Byron. She died the 25^^
of January 1920. Neva was six years old. Lena's daughter,
Myra Jenkins, recalls, "I certainly do remember the morning
[Aunt Ida] passed away. Papa took the milk to the creamery
•'
All.i
ll.wil
hilford
l».lU»T
- that was the news media of the whole town. Papa and I
Th(f lamtly
lamtly of
of Anhur
Anhiir ;md
;md [do
Ida Clark
Clark (Ida is
is asister
a sister of
of Lena
Lena Wchcr
Wchcr Jenkins)
Jenkins)
The
were the only ones not in bed with the flu. We had beds all
over the dining room floor and our whole family was in that one room except Alice (at Uncle Charles'
place and Edyth up at Uncle Lewis') and everyone was so sick. Papa came in and said, 'Lena, 1 have
some sad news, your sister, Ida is gone...six o'clock this morning.' Mamma was crying and she said,
'What will those poor little children do?' Then she closed her eyes and was gone into that semi-conscious
coma again. Sometimes her eyes were open, glassy and staring, not knowing us, and other times they
kllford
were closed. The kids were all quiet and motionless, too. Every morning we wondered if all were still
17
living and thankful that they were. So many people were dying; not a day passed that there wasn't a
death. I hope we never have another such scourge."
WALTER
Walter was bom May 26, 1884 at Schmiedrued, Aargau,
Switzerland. He had red, curly hair and the mildest temper. He was kind
and understanding to all his family and particularly toward his mother. He
inherited a beautiful tenor voice from his father. He loved music, both
Waller Weber
vocal and instrumental. He practiced on the trombone for hours at a time,
to the annoyance of most of the family. He never had a lesson in music of
any kind. He played the trombone real well and was the choir leader for the
Freedom Ward and other auxiliary organizations all his adult life.
I [Martha] remembered how kind and understanding he was. Father
^temper and such a thing as an accident - particularly when that
accident was caused by carelessness was to him inexcusable. On one occasion I was carrying a lamp
across the room. The chimney was wobbly at best, crashed to the floor because 1 held a book in the hand
which was supposed to hold the chimney firm. 1 remember 1was terrified when 1 saw father coming
toward me, but Walter, sweet and understanding brother that he was, stepped between us. 1 realize now
that I deserved whatever reprimand where was in store for me. But I did appreciate his defense of me. He
was always so sweet, gentle and unobtrusive... A peacemaker and a settler of impending conflict in the
family.
I remember when Father and Mother went to Salt Lake City to visit my grandmother and aunt. I
was left in charge of the house. I was about nine years old. I am sure my cooking left something to be
desired. I tried to make cocoa to drink and possibly cooked fried eggs. The eggs were of the consistency
of rubber and the cocoa colored. When 1 served them, Walter took one look at them and burst out
laughing. I was mortified to death because we had a hired man. Otto Moser, who was about Walter's age.
It didn't matter his age. I would have been embarrassed whether he was old or young-he was a stranger
and to see Walter so [un]kind and understanding[?] reduced me to tears. I think I never again during their
stay tried cooking anything.
1remember how kind and thoughtful he was to mother after Father's death. The Christmas
following our father's death, he played Santa Claus for the benefit of my youngest brother, Lawrence.
On the night of Father's funeral, Walter was asked if he would go on a mission. Mother cried when
he was handed the letter saying if the letter had been received earlier, our father would not have died.
Such was her faith. But it was at the same evening that it was dccided to have Walter go on his mission
despite father's death. Charles, our next eldest brother, said he could do the work with the help of all of us
younger children, do all the chores and keep up the work.
1, [Martha] who had felt guilty for a long time because I had not learned to milk, readily assented.
I think that she [Mother] never once worried about her sons getting home to do the chores, no matter if
there was a celebration or game or anything of the sort. The boys were on hand at chore-time, even after
Walter had gone on his mission.
Under our Mother's guidance matters were pretty much as they were before. Charles was a
wonderful manager, though he was but seventeen years of age. He bought and sold cattle, competing in
that field with such seasoned men as John Robinson and Walter Barber and others.
Walter was near twenty-four years of age when he left for his mission - marriageable even then.
Mother worried a good deal about that. She so often said, "I do so hope Walter finds a good wife. He
deserves one." Though he was gifted and everyone liked him, he was not popular with the opposite sex.
In trying to analyze the reasons, maybe he did not have enough dignity, had a too ready sense of humor.
He was very good in the Ward dramatic roles, usually in a comic character role--often times as a darky or
some comedy role. He was always good in anything they asked him to do. He loved music as did our
father. He was the possessor of an unusually fine tenor voice. I sangoften with him. Hecould sing any
part necessary to harmonize with another voice.
Mother, as I have said, was anxious that he get married. Even while on his mission, she hoped that
he would find a sweet understanding girl that he might be safely launched on the seas of matrimony while
she lived. He reminded her, laughing, that he was on his mission to preach the Gospel and not to go in
search of a wife. She was in full accord with that idea, naturally, but he went on his mission and returned,
still romantically unattached.
He turned his interest to music, learning to play the slide trombone and the organ.
Mother, to whom he was devoted, died in May of 1917. He had been a son, but took the place of a
daughter, too, assisting her with work in the house along with the chores. Mother never demanded that
her sons help her - she reasoned that there was plenty of work for them out-of-doors.
Walter never once complained about an illness or discomfort of any kind. Once I saw him turn
deathly pale; we asked anxiously what the trouble was. He held his hands in front of him and said, "I
don't know. 1just can't see." He had an abscess lanced shortly afterward from which about a pint of fluid
was drained. He had been on the vergeof fainting but had never uttered a word of complaint during the
misery he must have endured while the infection was gathering.
How children loved him, his small nieces and nephews in particular.
He was never happier than when he was doing something for them.
The winter after mother died, he with Lawrence, our youngest
brother, went to California for the winter, to assuage their loneliness.
While there, they came in contact with a Mr. Clark of Idaho who was there
for his health. It was easy to learn that Walter was an eligible bachelor.
Mr. Clark had two unmarried daughters. I did not meet his daughter,
Sylvia, until after she was married to Walter. Their courtship was brief and
Walter seemed happy. He was so happy when a baby was in prospect. To
be a father seemed to him to be the ultimate in human accomplishment.
And when twin boys arrived, his happiness knew no bounds. Sylvia was
»
jfe
1
,
Walterconti uedactiveintheChurchafterhis
so busy with her duties in their home that there was little time to cultivate
sweet friendships among her new in-laws. She was a good homemaker;
abmihcrorLenawebcrJcnkmsi
she was efficientand painstaking. [They became the parents of 11 children: Royle, Doyle, Donna, Cleo,
Paul, Helen, Ella and Eldridge who died soon after birth, Betty Lou, Edith and Clark.]
marriage. He served as a counselor to Bishop Carl Robinson,
as well as serving in the Priesthood and Auxiliary
organizations of the Freedom Ward. He also accepted a call
to the West Central States Mission for six months.
All too soon his health was undermined by illness that
demanded an operation, not necessarily serious. He must
have had a foreboding; a premonition of fear. When he
stopped briefly at Charles and Johann's home enroute to the
hospital for his operation, he seemed his usual jolly self, but a
bit sad. No doubt as he was thinking about his children,
n*; f»inilyin'WalK-r£ SylvU \lU>cr(W«llCT i»» huHK-T of Uiu Wcbct ii;iiklril
HfcVLluR [>iyIc.Ro>te. Piul
From: Hdcn. tJyih. Bcil} Lini.C'lci)
19
[wife] and responsibilities he was leaving. He asked for a drink of water. He said, "This is the last drink
of water I will ever have in Freedom."
Within a week he died in Afton, Lincoln, Wyoming in the hospital. [12 July 1934 —50 years old]
After his death he lay in state at the home of his sister, Lena, until the time for services to be held. He left
to mourn his death his wife, Sylvia, three sons and four daughters. Nothing pleased him more than having
his children honor him by being good faithful Latter-Day-Saints and good citizens of the community.
Two sisters and three brothers mourned his passing. Also, a host of friends would remember him as the
kindly, genial personality that they all respected and honored.
CHARLES
Charles Samuel, known as Charley to everyone, was the brother who
did so much to help me through the years. How 1 enjoyed him and Aunt
Johanna, his lovely wife, and family.
They were so good to me and my family, always thinking of
something to do for us, and their gifts were numerous. Charley chafed at
inactivity, and he was a tireless worker. Unless he was doing something
with his hands, life did not seem worthwhile to him.
He was thoughtful of his family and his friends and neighbors [in
Freedom] —so conscious of others needs. It is wonderful how rich and full
he made his life and how unselfishly he gave of himself to others. I have
Charles Weber
such sweet memories of places and various events Lena and I enjoyed with
him and Johanna. We were recipients of his out-going generosity and kindness so many times. We had
such happy times together. He died peacefully of a heart attack in the early morning at his home in
Freedom, Wyoming. [21 August 1957]
[From Charles' personal history]:
1 was three years old when we arrived in Freedom. 1can still remember many happy times in my
boyhood days, such as playing baseball with the neighborhood boys, pitching horseshoes, riding horses,
and hiking in the hills near by and many other interesting things. Those were our main pastimes.
I smile as I remember when I saw the first horseless buggy or car that came to town in about the
year 1906. Everyone that heard about that vehicle coming to town came out to see it as it was a real
marvel to both young and old. It was driven by a Mr. Nelson, a relative of the Nelsons and Sandersons,
who still live here. To see something to ride in without being pulled by horses or an oxen team was a real
marvel in those days. It was in the year 1912, before anyone in Star Valley owned an automobile. Vasco
Call, Charles Henry Haderlie, and Marion Heap were the first ones to own and drive autos in Star Valley.
It was real hard going when we first came to the valley, in regards to making a livelihood. My
father, two oldest brothers and Lena went to work in the Caribou gold mine in the summer time to get
enough money to sorta tide us over the winter with plenty of flour, potatoes, sugar, clothing, etc. They
went to work there as soon as the snow was off in the spring and things dried up a bit until late in the fall.
They received $1.50 and board per day and worked ten and twelve hours each day. They had to ride
horses to get to the mine as there was no wagon road. We only had two horses at the time, a sorrel and a
gray, named Bill and Barney. They pulled the wagon that brought all our earthly belongings from
Providence to Star Valley and now they answered the purpose of draft horses and riding horses. As the
20
four of them went to Caribou to work, Walter would go along to bring the horses back and of necessity
one of them would have to walk. They would change about walking and riding, two on each horse
without saddles. As a small boy, I went to the mine with Walter one day. We took the horses to the mine
so the four of them could come home. We borrowed one horse from the neighbors, so we could leave the
two horses there and we could come home on the third one in time to milk the cows and do the other
chores. The mine is about eighteen miles from Freedom.
As I think of it now, 1 often wonder how my father, mother and older brothers and sisters went
through it all - especially my dear mother. How she did work for us: planting a big garden, keeping the
weeds out of it, sewing for us and for others who needed a seamstress. She was an expert seamstress and
many a time she sewed and mended until the wee hours of the night with only a kerosene lamp with which
to see.
The water had to be carried from the ditch or creek in the summer time and snow carried in when
the creek went dry and froze over in the winter time. After a few years a well was dug and cased in with
lumber close by the house, and a rope was tied to a bucket which was lowered into the well and the water
was drawn in that way. A few years later we got a pump that had a large iron handle on it, and the water
was pumped out of the well in that way, which was quite an improvement over the bucket type.
At harvest time when the grain was threshed with the old horse power threshing machine, many
times we had as high as eighteen or twenty men for dinner and eight or ten for supper and breakfast. If it
happened to rain a little or they'd have a break down, this would go on for three or four days and the
women folks would be in for the big end of the work. Each farmer's wife wanted to feed the thresher men
just a little better than they were fed at the last place. Tve heard men say it pays to be a thresher hand just
for the sake of the good meals they received. They would thresh for 13 Vz bushels on the hundred and
furnish all the men it took to run the machine. The farmer had to be responsible for feeding the machine
or pitching the bundles, stacking the straw and hauling or packing the grain away. It was only one or two
years that we ever raised much grain.
As for my schooling, it was very meager. The first public school that I ever remember of attending
was located where Luther H. Haderlie's home now stands, it was a little log one room school with one
lady teacher. One thing that happened there I can still remember. One day a large boy about three years
older than I hit me in the back with a heavy snowball. It hurt me so bad that I could hardly endure it, but it
stirred my anger as well; mainly because this boy was always picking on us younger kids. I went behind
the school house and made a real hard ice snowball, and when this boy wasn't expecting it, I threw the ice
snowball and hit this boy in the face and nose. He bled a stream. Some of the kids went to tell the teacher
what I had done. She tried to stop the bleeding. Some of the kids came out where 1 was and said he was
bleeding to death and that I would be hanged by the neck. At that, I ran to tell my side of the story to the
teacher. You can believe it when I say how plenty scared I was. It seemed a long time, but it wasn't long
until they stopped the bleeding and I promised I'd never do that again. The last public school I ever
attended was located one mile north of Freedom. My schooling was very limited and all together I don't
think it was more than twenty months. What little I did learn, I'll have to give the credit to my parents,
brothers, sisters and my church activities. 1 liked manual labor much more than school. If there was a
good excuse and sometimes not so good, I'd stay home and work. I've regretted that ever since because
schooling is the most desired thing anyone could ask for in life.
I loved all kinds of sports early in life, especially baseball. I played as catcher for our baseball team
from the time I was 16 years old until I was 40. I was quite proud of the fact that the boys always called
me the Home-run King. I think I made about as many home runs in my prime as any man that ever played
on our team.
21
One of my dearest pals was Asper Bracken, the bishop's son. We would practice for hours
together. But it came to an abrupt end on one day in June 1907. We saw each other in the morning about
9 o'clock and agreed to meet each other at the ballpark at 3 o'clock. He was on his way to get his father's
horses that were on the range west of town on the hill, and I was doing some irrigating on our place on the
east side of the river where I now live. I was going back about one o'clock to our place on the west where
Rex Weber now lives, and Bishop Bracken was walking back and forth in front of his store. He asked me
if I had seen Asper, and I informed him that I saw him this morning as he was going after his horses. The
bishop said he saw the horses on a ridge not far from our house and he said, "If you see him, tell him to
come home at once because we are worried about him." As I drove my team and buggy toward our place
and got about to where the ball ground is, I saw a dog on the bridge just in front of our house. As I
approached nearer and nearer, I could see it was Asper's dog. When I came within a few rods of the
bridge, my team of horses pricked up their ears and stopped. 1 got out of the carriage and ran across the
bridge to see what was lying there on the ground. I was horrified to see my dear friend and his horse lying
there dead. He had been struck by a bolt of lightning and was lying on his back with his feet about four
feet from the saddle. I turned and ran to my team and went as fast as they could run to tell the neighbors Ed Vincent. A friend, Mr. Booth, was there at the time. Mrs. Vincent and Mr. Booth went to get Asper's
father and Mr. Vincent and I went back where Asper was lying. When Bishop Bracken arrived on the
scene and saw his lifeless son, he fainted and fell to the ground. Mr. Vincent lifted his head to his knee,
and I ran to the ditch and got a little water in my hat. Sprinkling a little in his face, he soon became
conscious again, but I shall never forget how grief stricken he was. We loaded Asper's body into my
buggy and took it to his home where his mother, three brothers and two sisters were waiting. I was told
that his little sister about four years of age at the time was in another room when the loud thunder clap was
heard - which killed Asper - and she came running into her mother crying and said, "Asper! Oh, Asper!"
His death was one of the saddest times of my young life. My father died when 1was 16 years old, my two
oldest brothers were married, and Walter, just older than I, was on a mission; so I really felt lost without
my pal, Asper.
As a deacon, 1 was chosen as president of the quorum in our ward. I well recall it was our duty to
sweep and clean the meeting house, start the fires [in the stoves] for any function which was held there such as meetings, dances or parties. Two of us deacons were assigned to care for the meeting house for
one week at a time. It was my duty to see to it that the assignments were carried out and that some
deacons were on hand to start the fires early on Sunday morning so that the building would be warm in
time for Sunday School. I can't recall that we had a ward janitor or caretaker until after we built our new
dance hall in the year 1914. After that, the job of taking care of the church property was largely up to the
janitor.
As a small boy, it was my job to get the cows in at milking time from the hills where they would
graze west of Freedom. Many times I would have to walk after them as the horses were in use plowing,
mowing or raking hay, 1 would walk after the cows up Weber Canyon and down as far as where George
Snyder lives. Of course, we had a good faithfiil dog that always went with me, or I'm sure I would have
been afraid to have gone that far in the hills alone, only being ten or eleven years old.
The first job I ever had which paid me a daily wage was when I worked for Albert Fredrick. It was
driving a three horse team on a sulky-plow, and I received $.50 a day. He lived where Alice Jenkins now
lives and I walked each morning to work and back again at night, a distance of about one and Vz miles.
The trail led past the grave yard, and 1can remember how frightened I would be when it was nearly dark
and the coyotes were howling from the hill tops. I wasted no time in getting home when it was this time
of night. There were a lot of coyotes in those days, but I was always told that they would never tackle a
person. They would kill small calves, sheep and chickens, but I never knew of them tackling a dog.
22
My next job away from home was when I worked for Thomas White and Tom VanNoy in a
sawmill making shingles. I took my team to drag a log. It was easy for the horses as just a few logs
would keep us going all day. The team and 1received $1.00 a day, and I thought 1was really getting rich
to earn that much for eight hours work. The sawmill was located one and Vi miles north of Thayne about
100 yards east of the present highway.
1helped my brothers, Robert and Eugene, in the year 1902 plow the sage brush land that they
homesteaded one mile south of Etna. I held the plow handles that plowed the first furrow of ground where
the east-side canal runs from the south bridge that crosses the canal to Flat Creek. John Hokanson drove
the team that pulled the plow. Eugene started the enterprise in 1904, such as surveying, and the plows and
scrapers started work in the 1905. It was really slow and hard going with only horses and scrapers,
especially along the side hills a mile east of Thayne. It took several years before it was completed so they
could get water for irrigation in Etna.
Early in the year 1911,1 received a call to go on a mission to what was then called the Swiss
German Mission. 1 left Salt Lake City May 10, 1911 and returned December 23, 1913. I went to Zurich,
Switzerland, where the mission headquarters were at that time.
1 was assigned to labor in Biel, Switzerland for six months. From there I went to Dromstadt,
Germany, Tilsit, and then to Mamel, Germany where I was the only missionary for nearly eight months.
There were a few saints there - about twenty in all. We had several baptisms while 1was there. I
wondered how 1could stand it being the only missionary, to stay alone, tract alone, hold cottage meetings
alone and visit the saints alone. Although it was against missionary rules, there were not enough
missionaries to go around. So the mission president had to send some of us to labor in different cities
alone. I was really never lonesome as my time was always well taken up. 1was glad, however, when 1
was released from that assignment and called to labor in Konigsburg where there were about 200 saints
and another Elder to stay with. The last four months of my mission, I was assigned to labor in Bern,
Switzerland, as president of the branch, a group of 75 members at that time. Early in December, 1913,
there came an Elder to take my place in Bern, who had labored in Cologne, Germany about a year before.
I well remember of how we talked about the hardships some of the saints had to endure to embrace the
Gospel of Jesus Christ or so called Mormonism. He told me about a lovely girl that had been baptized a
little more than a year ago in Cologne, Germany and how her father first gave his consent for her to be
baptized and then would change his mind after talking to his Catholic Minister. After much persuasion, he
said "yes", and after she had been baptized, he again became embittered against the church and told his
daughter she should renounce her baptism in the Mormon Church. If she didn't, she would be sent to a
Catholic Nunnery and work there until she would come to her senses. Her father sent her to work for this
Catholic Priest - so this Elder told me. With the help of her mother, the Elders, and the advice of
President Rudger Clawson, President of the European Mission, she was sent to London. This Elder said,
"When you go home, you should be sure to visit in London and give this girl
my best regards." He said her name is Johanna Bollig. He showed me a
small picture of her; so when I was released to come home along with several
other Elders, we went to London and I recognized her as soon as I saw her
from the snapshot the Elder had shown me. We were introduced to each
other and soon struck up a friendly acquaintance. We Elders stayed in
London for a few days to see the sights while waiting to sail for home.
While we were there, the show "Joseph and His Brethren" was being played.
Miss Bollig preferred to go with us and show us the way to the theatre and
back to the mission home. I can truly say I had never before enjoyed a show
as much as I did that one and never since. It showed Egyptians on their live
23
camels and Joseph being taken out of the pit and sold for twenty pieces of money to the Egyptians. The
boy was lifted onto the camel's back, and this show portrayed the life of Joseph until after the famine in
Egypt.
It may have been partly because of the company I had that made the show so very enjoyable. I
think Miss Bollig sorta took a liking to me right from the start, and I'm sure I took a liking to her.
Anyway, we promised to write to each other after 1 arrived home, which we did and she expressed a desire
to come to America if only she had the money to come. I talked to my mother and brother, Walter, about
it. They agreed with me that it would be all right to send Miss Bollig enough money to come to America.
We sent her the money and she set sail for America late in June and arrived in Montpelier, Idaho on the
12"' of July 1914 at which place I promised to meet her. She stayed in StarValley for a short time after
which she went to Salt Lake City. I might say while she was in the Valley, she persuaded me to the idea
that I was old enough to have a cook of my very own, 1 being 24 years old at the time. The more I thought
about it, the more I became convinced that she was right. So we decided to get married. We were married
in Salt Lake City Temple on September 23, 1914 for time and all eternity. It has now been more than
forty years ago and I can still say no one ever married a truer, lovable, trustworthy and devoted companion
than 1 did when I married that lovely little girl I first met in London, England in December, 1913.
After I returned from my mission, I engaged in farming, ranching, and dairying for a livelihood
which occupation Fm still following although in a very limited way at the present time.
As to my Church activities, I was chosen to act as 1®^ counselor to Superintendent Lewis I. Jenkins
of the Freedom Ward Sunday School in the year 1914. 1 labored in that capacity until about 1919 at which
time Brother L. I. Jenkins was called to act as Stake Sunday School Superintendent and I was chosen by
him to act as 1®' counselor. In 1923 L.I. Jenkins was taken into the Stake High Council, and I was
sustained as Stake Sunday School Superintendent and acted in that position for nearly 17 years. I was
released in 1937. I filled a six month mission to the Northern States from November 9, 1937 until April
22, 1938. I was sustained as Freedom Ward Sunday School Superintendent Januaiy 19, 1941 and acted in
that position until August 30, 1942 at which time the bishopric was reorganized in the Freedom Ward and
I was chosen to act as 1 counselor to Bishop Reynold F. Robinson. I was released from that position on
August 22, 1948. Bishop D'Orr Child was sustained as Bishop of the Freedom Ward. I can't recall just
when I first acted as a ward teacher, but I'm sure it was ever since I returned from my mission, with the
exception of when I was in the bishopric.
Marriage ofCharles Samuel Weber and Johanna Bollig
Charles and Johanna left Freedom, Wyoming on September 21, 1914 to go to Salt Lake City to be
married. They went in a buggy as far as Montpelier, Idaho where they met the train which took them to
Salt Lake City, Utah. That night they stayed with Electa's mother, who lived in the Sugar House area.
They enjoyed their visit with them very much. On September 22, 1914 they went to the court house to get
their license with Brother Joseph Wiedner and Brother Phillip Tadge acting as witnesses.
It was cloudy and raining some when they went to the Salt Lake Temple September 23, 1914 to be
married. The officiators were very nice to them but they were lonely as none of their folks were able to go
to the Temple with them. The ceremony was very impressive and Mother [Johanna] said she just had to
cry for joy as the Temple President said, "You are sealed for Time and All Eternity." Entering the
Temple at eight o'clock in the morning and not getting out until six at night made a very long day of
fasting. "After we got out of the Temple," Mother said, "we went to a very nice restaurant to eat and
stayed at Hotel Utah over night."
24
The next morning they came back to Wyoming and stayed with Daddy's folks for a few days until
they fixed up the old house. Aunt Lena gave them a small shower and they received many lovely gifts.
Those Mother still has and remembers gifts from Aunt Ida, some beautiful painted plates and a set of
spoons, and from Mother Weber, a butter dish, sugar bowl and pitcher which are trimmed in gold and also
a beautiful linen table cloth which Daddy brought home from Germany.
They were married for a glorious 43 years before Daddy was called from this frail existence to a far
more wonderful place.
MRS JOHANNA WEBER HONORED AT REUNION [from the Star Valley Independent]
Mrs. Johanna Weber of Freedom was honored as "Queen of
the Day" at the Weber family reunion held recently in Central Park
in Logan, Utah.
The relatives gathered from as far away as California and
Oregon. There were 137 persons attending. In charge were the
William and Lena Weber Jenkins descendants who were
commended for a job well done.
Mrs. Weber is the oldest survivor of the Samuel and Verena
Weber family. Her daughter, Ardyth Rasmussen, gave her life
history, and another daughter, Myrna Bradley, sang, "That
Wonderful Mother of Mine."
Mrs. Weber gave a talk beginning with her life in Germany as
a girl, as a convert to the LDS Church, and her life in the United
States, emphasizing what the church and country have meant to her. Mrs. Weber will be 84 years old In
November. Everyone enjoyed the gathering.
Elaine BtaJculo' & Jcdianna W<;h<T(Quocii fnra Day)
MARTHA EMMA
"Aunt Martha" as we all called her, was a lovely, sweet lady; so full of life
and energy. She was optimistic and cheerful with a ready smile for everyone. All
her nieces and nephews loved her; she used to tell the best stories and never
seemed to exhaust her supply. She taught us songs to sing as trios in programs and
never seemed to tire of our bothering her and following her around. Alice [Jenkins
Hamilton] says that she [Aunt Martha] and Minnie Luthi Robinson were the best
Sunday School teachers she ever had.
Her friends were numerous; and wherever she went, she was a leader and
the life of the party. She had many talents; was a wonderful wife and mother and a
Martha Weber
prolific writer. We are indebted to her for most of the information and history
about Grandpa and Grandma Weber.
Martha was bom 20 April 1893, in Providence, Cache, Utah. She was barely six weeks old when
her parents decided to moveto Star Valley, Lincoln, Wyoming. Her formal education ended with the 8^*^
grade. "1 loved Grammar. The printed word had fascination for me. Ever since girlhood 1 loved reading
and with that I seem to have developed a little talent for writing. In my lifetime, I have written all sorts of
things: tributes, obituaries, funny papers, pageants, dramas, short stories, skits, none of which I have kept.
25
They always were so short of what I considered my best; I thought I would do better next time. I won a
prize in the Stake Short Story contest. This was accepted for publication."
Martha was married to George Seward Kennington 22 October 1913 in the Logan Temple. His first
wife, Ada Caroline Kimball, died after the birth of twin girls, Berniece and Clarissa, on 18 April 1912.
"We [George and Martha] lived in a small house without heal or running water, and the only convenience
was an old fashioned refrigerator that required blocks of ice to keep things cool.
'The twins survived my inexperienced hands." George and Martha became the parents of ten
children: Garth Stanford, Guinevere, Gordon, Beverly, Forrest, Audine, Neldon Craig, Eugene Seward,
Ruth Mignon, and Martha who died when 3 months old.
In addition to raising a fine family, "there was community and Church work to be done, and I loved
it. I have always liked people, and I have always enjoyed every form of Church work." She worked in
the MIA and Relief Society on the ward and stake levels.
"George, though he loved to be at home, enjoyed people and did have wonderful leadership
ability." He served as a counselor to a bishop, bishop, city councilman. Mayor of the town of Afton "on
several different occasions." Early in 1937, "George was showing signs of not feeling well." He died of
cancer 23 July 1939, when their youngest, Ruth, was 4 years old.
"I had had high blood pressure for a number of years without being aware of it. 1 suffered the first
of five strokes when 1 was fifty [1943]. My entire right side was affected." Craig, Eugene and Ruth were
still young, but Craig "had gone to California to go to Jr. High School at Ontario near Gwen's home. As,
usual, the twins were my best help." [Berniece and Clarissa]
Martha recovered enough to work in Stayner Call's Star Valley Book and Music Store, "the most
enjoyable work I had ever done. While there 1had the stroke that permanently incapacitated me
November, 1948." She later broke her hip and never walked again but was lovingly cared for by
Berniece, Clarissa and Ruth. She passed away 22 March 1960 and was buried in Afton, Lincoln,
Wyoming.
FRED
Fred, or Ferdinand as he was christened, was bom to Samuel and Verena
Weber 14 November 1894, the twelfth child and the first born in Freedom,
Wyoming. His formal education was completed after the eighth grade. He was
called upon to assist in running the family farm as his father died when he was
Ferdinand Weber
eleven years old. He, with his two older brothers, Walter and Charles and
younger brother, Lawrence, managed to develop the family homestead into a
prosperous farm.
When Fred was 21 years old, he fell in love with Hazel Beattie Brown, a
step-daughter of August and Sarah Dabel. They were married 11 November 1915
in the Salt Lake Temple. They purchased a farm from Ted Vincent one mile west
of Freedom, and Fred spent his entire life establishing a lovely home and
surroundings for Hazel.
In 1918, Fred was called to serve a mission to the Northern States Mission. He sold all of his
livestock, cleared his debts and left for his mission. Their first son Gerald was bom 17 November 1916,
and Hazel was expecting their second son. Earl. Fred, with permission from his mission president,
returned home for the birth of a beautiftil baby boy 15 November 1919. Earl became ill with influenza
and died 26 January 1920. Shortly after his burial, Fred retumed to the mission field to complete his
mission.
26
Fred and Hazel had two more sons, Winslow and Merrill.
Fred instilled a love of life in all of his sons. He was an
accomplished baseball player, pitcher and coach and loved to
have his sons play for and with him. Fred and Hazel instilled a
real desire for education in each of their sons. They
accompanied them to church and helped build testimonies of the
truthfulness of the Gospel and rejoiced when they all filled
missions.
Life to Fred was a wonderful
adventure. He loved activity and
Fred Weber
Hazel Weber
(Fred is Lena Weber Jenkins" brother)
found his greatest pleasure in
organizing games or some other activity and then leading out in it. He was an
interesting storyteller and always attracted a large group of young people
around him. He served in the Church auxiliaries and as a counselor to Bishop
Daniel Clark. Fred loved to sing and formed a quartet with his brothers. He
and Hazel found great joy and satisfaction in serving the Lord.
He had a cheerful and fun-loving disposition. He was ready to play a
good joke on someone; and many were played on him at which he laughed just
as heartily as anyone. Everyone liked Fred; he had hosts of friends wherever
he lived.
VrciJ
He knew the restored gospel of Jesus Christ was true. He bore his
Weber
testimony often and filled a six month mission with Haze! to the Central States Mission in 1949-50. They
moved to Murray, Utah to be close to Winslow and Merrill in 1957. He died of a heart attack while on his
way to work at ZCMI in Salt Lake City 8 October 1958.
LAWRENCE
Lawrence Franklin Weber, the thirteenth and last child of Samuel and Verena
Weber, was bom 28 March 1898. When he was born, Verena almost died. The
family once again turned to the Lord as they had done so many times in the past.
Lena made a special promise to our Father in Heaven that if He would only spare
her mother's life, she would always try to do whatever the Lord asked of her. The
Lord answered their prayers, and once again their mother's life was spared.
I [Martha] remember he was such a sweet, loving little boy, who was not
spoiled by all the loving and petting he received from his brothers and sisters. I used
to tend him a lot and one time I let him fall from a wooden contraption called a
"leveler." It was Walter's quick presence of mind that saved him because already
one of the heavy cross beams had passed over his small body. Walter stopped the
horses and Lawrence, though badly frightened, was not nearly as frightened as I.
Lawrence Weber
When Lawrence was eight years old, his father died. From that time on he took on many of the
responsibilities of a man. He recalled how he had to milk quite a number of cows by hand night and
morning when only eight years of age.
His mother died when he was nineteen years old which was especially hard on him. Soon after her
death when he was herding cows home from the hills on his horse, in the evening light his pony ran into a
barbed wire. Lawrence was thrown from the horse and found that an artery in his ankle had been severed
g Lawrence wasahardworker [farmer] andakindfriend to everyone. On 29
by the wire. He expected to die, but prayed for his life to be spared and promised that he would serve Him
all his life. "After the prayer all fear and panic vanished. To his surprise the blood had stopped spurting."
He pulled himself onto his injured pony and about three and a half hours later arrived at his brother, Fred's
house where Dr. Fink was brought from Bedford and sewed up the artery.
May 1919, he married Leone Augusta Barrus in the Logan Temple. He was a good
family man and so patient with the six children who lived to adulthood: Sterling
Lawrence, Rex Barrus, Nola, Arlene, LaNccc, Mary, and Karen. After Leone had
lost a baby girl because of a difficult 'breech' birth and was expecting their fourth
child, Lawrence received a mission call to the Northern California Mission. They
rented the farm to Wilford Haderlie. Fern and Wilford lived in part of the house and
Leone and her three little children lived in the other. When the time came for her
baby to be bom, Leone went to Fairview to stay with her parents. This birth agam
was a breech delivery, and the baby boy strangled at birth.
Lawrence loved his family very much. Those who knew him wondered if he ever lost his temper
or spoke a harsh word. His was a quiet disposition, never having much to say in a crowd, but he had a
jolly, happy disposition and was liked by everyone.
He died suddenly of a heart attack at the young age of 50 after coming home from a New Year's
party at which his friends said that never had they known him to be so full of fun and good humor as he
was that evening. He was the life of the party and they marveled at it as it was so unusual for him. He had
just retired when he had a heart attack and was gone in seconds. [4 January 1949]
Obituary in the Star Valley Independent —12 October 1906
Samuel Weber of Freedom, Wyoming passed into the great beyond. It has pleased our Heavenly
Father to call from this sphere of action our worthy friend and Brother, Samuel Weber of Freedom. We
had announced his serious illness in our last issue, his ailment, however, being heart trouble.
The deceased seemed to be improving and last Saturday was around the house doing small jobs
of work. On Saturday night he complained of a severe pain and went to the bedroom to lay down. He had
no sooner done so when his wife entered and found that he was expiring.
Brother Weber was highly esteemed in the community, was a man of character and integrity. He
was a hard worker and by thrift, economy and hard labor accumulated considerable means. He was a
native of Switzerland and was bom in Canton, Aargau, some fifty-two [incorrect] years ago. [12 February
1851] He in company with his wife and family immigrated to Utah in 1888 and settled in Providence,
Cache County, from which place he came here to Star Valley, locating himself at Freedom.
In Mr. Weber the community lost an honest upright citizen. A man who would wrong nobody,
always looking at the bright side of things, cheerful, and a good husband and father. The whole
community was shocked upon hearing the sad news and the sympathy of the people goes out toward the
bereaved family.
The funeral services were held at Freedom Ward assembly room and a crowded house paid respects
to the departed. Consoling and encouraging remarks were made by Bishop Osbome Low, W. A. Hyde
and John A. Hyde. Ed Olson and Mark Hurd sang very touchingly "Oh My Father, Thou that Dwellest."
A large concourse of vehicles followed the corpse to its resting place on the hillside [in the
Freedom cemetery].
28
"MAY HIS MEMORY BE PERPETUATED AND MAY HIS NOBLE LIFE BE A GUIDE TO
OTHERS."
Obituary in the Star Valley Independent - 11 May 1917
GRANDMA WEBER DIED WEDNESDAY MORNING
PIONEER OF THE LOWER VALLEY ANSWERS FINAL SUMMONS
At the home of her son, Walter Weber, in Freedom occurred the death of Mrs. Verena Weber on
Wednesday of this week. Mrs. Weber had been ailing for several months past sufTering from leakage of
the heart and dropsy.
She was bom in Switzerland and was at the time of her death 61 years of age. She was converted to
the gospel in Switzerland. She with her husband, who has been dead for eleven years, came to Star Valley
about twenty eight years ago.
To mourn her loss she leaves eight children, the five Weber boys, Robert, Walter, Charles, Fred and
Lawrence, Mrs. George Kennington [Martha], Mrs. Willie Jenkins [Lena] and Mrs. Ray Clark [Ida].
Funeral services were held from the Freedom meeting house today and interment took place in the
Freedom cemetery.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ANCESTORS
This is a message from our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, written as he would say it, we
believe, were he alive today. No one has a right to put words into another's mouth; but as we remember
him, his faith, his dreams, and aspirations for himself and those who came after him, we are to a degree
able to know what he himself would say were he alive today and were able to speak for himself.
The story of his and Grandmother's conversion is a true one. Little Erwin, the two year old child
afflicted with what was then thought to be an incurable disease, brought about a miraculous healing.
TO OUR DEAR CHILDREN:
Out of the dim past, I want to talk to you. None of you know very much about your mother and me.
We were too busy making a living to think much about our conditions in this country and in Switzerland
to talk much about it. We had our problems in that little country before we migrated and were not too
surprised to have them here. The only difference was that we were somewhat more disillusioned by them.
We expected perfection among the people. You see, we were not merely migrating to the United States of
America. We were migrating to Zion. We had learned of a new way of life; the way to the "Abundant
Life," Jesus talked about.
But let me tell you of our conversion which was the impelling force behind our migration. I
remember so well when that young Elder came to the door. Remember because he seemed so very young
to bear such an important message. The bloom of youth was on his face. I am sure a razor had never
touched it. I was young, too, but not so young as he. But I had cares and responsibilities.
That day I had been to the mill working hard all day. I was tired and cross, wondering why the
children had to be so noisy, and wondering vexedly why Mother had to be eternally sewing. I knew why
29
though - had I been reasonable. I knew that without the money that came from her sewing, we could
hardly have lived. I knew that she made more at her sewing than I made at the mill.
But then I couldn't be reasonable with the heavy weight of anxiety tugging at me. Always the first
thing I asked when I came home was, "How's Erwin?" And always the answer was the same. "He is no
better - that last medicine we had was no more effective than the first." Day after day with deadly
monotony that last hope seemed to be gone. We called it scurvy. You call it excema now. We knew
nothing about allergies then. To us it seemed so dreadful; it was like a scourge. It covered the body of
our little boy from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. Frantically, we consulted doctor after
doctor. Medical science simply did not know the cause nor the cure.
I remember the firm knock at the door that late afternoon. I remember I opened it in answer.
Before I said anything, he handed me a tract and said in halting German: "1 represent the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints." Then at my puzzled look, he quickly added, "Commonly called 'Mormon.'"
He spoke so earnestly and as he asked he seemed to be more mature, his blue eyes more darkly blue.
Through the door I held ajar, I could hear sound from within. There were little whimpering cries from
Erwin who lay bandaged from head to toe. It seemed to me that he never really slept. The other children
were noisy, too. Eugene and Robert were squabbling over a piece of wood 1 had brought home from the
mill. Lina was clinging to baby Ida. Mother was bending over Erwin, dressing his hurts. Suddenly he
shrieked. A look of concern came over the young man's boyish face.
"What is the matter? Is the child hurt?" "Hurt, yes but not in an accident. He has the scurvy or
something the doctors can't cure," I replied despondently. Then on a sudden decision, he said, "May I
come in and see him?" "Certainly, you may," thinking that only curiosity lay behind his desire, and
feeling chagrin that I hadn't had the courtesy to ask him before. I invited him in. I shall never forget the
look of compassion in his eyes as he came into the room. The child smelled strongly of the ointment the
doctor had prescribed. He was stirring restlessly. 1 remembered my manners as mother looked up
inquiringly. "Mother, this -1 hardly think I know your name," I said to the stranger. "Our name is
Weber." "I am Elder Schulthess from Salt Lake City. How do you do, Mr. and Mrs. Weber?" Then he
bent over the whimpering boy again. He put his hand on the bandaged arm and almost at once the little
fellow stopped crying and said something. I couldn't understand him. I never could understand the
children until they got beyond the prattling stage.
Elder Schulthess - that's what we called him forever - rose to his full height. He was not tall, not
as tall as I, but he seemed so tall when he asked, "Do you believe in the power of God?"
"I know very little about God or his Power." It was true. The clergy had very little interest beyond
the collection plate. But none the less, I felt guilty to have to make the admission.
The he continued, "I represent a Church which proclaims to all the world that God lives, that He
hears and answers prayers. And that same power by which His only Begotten Son healed the sick,
cleansed the lepers, and raised the dead, exists on earth today. And by that same power miracles are
performed - the sick made well."
Elder Schulthess continued, "I tell you good people that power is on earth today, delegated to His
Priesthood who have received the authority to act in His name. The priesthood of the Restored Church
has that power. And I, a humble Elder, hold that authority, if by faith we call on His name."
"What must we do? What can we do?" I asked almost trembling in my anxiety. You can't know
what it was to see our little boy so sick, so dreadftilly tormented, never to be able to do anything to ease
that terrible itching and burning, the heavy, ugly scabs which covered his fine little body from head to toe,
scabs that would crack painfiilly through which blood and pus would ooze. Doctor after doctor we would
consult. Maybe the condition would be relieved temporarily, then get worse than ever. We knew science
and skill simply did not have the answer.
30
Elder Schulthess was pale and seemed deeply moved as he spoke. "I do have authority to call for
that healing power, but you must have faith; you must believe that your little boy will be healed."
Mother whispered brokenly, "Oh, we will believe. We will have faith. I feel as sure that our little
boy will be healed as if it were already done." I, too, believed that he was what he represented himself to
be. His sincerity and firmness made me believe that. He certainly was a true representative of God's
power on earth. I knew so surely that he was no imposter.
Then after a moment - a few drops of oil on the child's head. Oil he said had been consecrated. He
laid his hands on the little boy's head and in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, he rebuked the disease.
For the first time in weeks, the boy fell into a restful sleep. The next day the bandages could be removed;
the heavy, unsightly scabs dried up and fell off little by little.
You can never know the joy that flooded our beings, when within a few days his skin was as fair
and wholesome looking as was the skin of the other children. It seemed we had no further ^need to be
converted'; we were converted. Little Erwin knew, too, that it was through his administration that he was
healed; and forever after so long as Elder Schulthess came to our home, he called him 'Little Doctor'.
Convinced though we were that Elder Schulthess represented the true Church of Christ on earth, we soon
found out that there were other things necessary in the conversion to this many-faceted Church than
healing. We needed to know something about its glorious truths. Something more than that. It was the
power of God on earth. We needed to know that in it there were obligations on its members. It had the
power to generate faith and that faith inspired a desire to repent of evil or wrong doing of every sort.
Elder Schulthess explained about the Word of Wisdom - about baptism and remission of sins, about
tithing, and every other principle and ordinance that is a part of the Gospel.
Then we were baptized, your mother and I. After we were baptized, everything seemed to change.
People with whom we were friendly became hostile. The clergy of the dominant sects were in particular
insulting. Though they had shown little interest in us beyond our occasional contributions, they now
sought ways and means to antagonize the community against us. People would not let their children play
with ours. Men at the factory stopped being kind to me. Of course, I no longer would smoke with them
nor join them over a fiiendly glass of beer. Some of Mother's best sewing customers no longer sent her
their trade.
But, somehow we didn't care. We got a restless urge to go to Zion. Leave all that was dear and
familiar and gather to Zion is what we wanted to do. Perhaps that seems strange to you that anyone
should want to leave everything and go across the sea, across a continent to come to rest among people
with strange ways and unfamiliar language. The Gospel was what did it. Nothing else on earth could
have had the power to induce us to emigrate so far away. Often we would count the cost of what we
would sacrifice. We would look up at the tall mountains surrounding our home - wonder with a sort of
nostalgic sickness if we would ever see them again. Switzerland, the home of our birth, was the alpine
country we both loved so well. But then we knew that stronger still was the Gospel founded in America.
We wanted to be among those who believe in its wonderful precepts. We knew that though this mortality
is only of short duration, its principles were eternal and everlasting.
There is so much I could tell you about our new home here in the mountains - about our
experiences. Everything we did was so new, but it would take too long to tell it. I leave you with a final
word. "There are essentials in the Gospel plan. Enduring truths we must obey to gain the 'Abundant Life'
are not comprised of material things. A fine home, land, cattle, possessions, all of them are desirable, but
they are not worth the price if you must sacrifice earning an exaltation in your Father's Kingdom. My
charge to you is that you work and pray to the attainment of a testimony of the Gospel if you have not
already done so. Study its principles - know that in them you will find eternal life. Cultivate your mind
30
and your talents. Sing if you like; I used to love it. Know why you live, and live to some purpose.
Mortality is so important.
Then one more thing—I wonder if you fully appreciate the wonderful country you live in. Let
everyone learn about its constitution, the priceless liberties you enjoy. Cherish them with your life. Don't
let men, greedy for power, take these blessed freedoms from you. It will be your own fault if you lose this
blessed heritage. Know the truth and the truth will make you free. Men cannot be saved in ignorance.
Overcome bad habits. They will be deterrents if you let them gain ascendancy over you. Cultivate the
spiritual things of life. They will bring you happiness and peace.
My beloved children—Be Faithful to the Best You Know.
—Your Loving Father
Some Interesting Lettersfrom Switzerland
In 1962,1 wrote to Brother Alfred Reichen (our genealogical researcher) and asked him if he could
fmd some relatives still living in Schmiedrued the next time he went into the area to do research for us.
He found one of our cousins living in a little village close by Schmiedrued. Her name is Mina Merz
Hafeli. She is the daughter of Ann Goldenberger Merz, a sister to Verena, our grandmother. We started
corresponding. She wrote three letters and 1wrote two more letters after that, but I never heard any more
from her. She may have become ill or passed away because she was in her 80's at the time.
I was very interested in the things she told me about the family and thought that many of the family
would enjoy her letters as much as I did, so I am writing a copy of these letters.
LeNece Weber
Ballif
FIRST LETTER
Dear Cousin,
I received your letters and pictures. It is to me a miracle that I was
able to find some relatives in America in my old age. My dear mother
corresponded for a long time with her sister, Verena. She often showed us
pictures that came to us from far away America.
Approximately 1901, our cousin, Eugene, came to Switzerland as a
missionary. During his mission he lived with my parents. He was a dear,
lovely, happy, young man. We truly loved him. However, we were all
Lutherans and very strongly so. We didn't accept his message and join
your church and this was a great disappointment for him. As far as I know,
he didn't continue to correspond with my parents.
By the looks of your picture, you have a wonderful family. The
children look so happy and healthy. I thank you for your pictures and
letters and wish you the best of luck and God's choice blessing.
With deep love.
Your Cousin,
Mina Merz Hafeli
The lady in ihe center is Mina
Merz Hafeli. the daughter of
Verena Weber's sister. Anna
Goldenberger Merz. The man is
Mine's son and the other woman
is her daugiuer-in-law.
32
SECOND LETTER
My Dear Cousin in America.
Many thanks for your lovely letter. I am very happy to be able to help you and will write you what
my mother told me about my grandparents. Samuel Goldenberger was a highly respected farmer in
Schmledrued, and was according to the existing circumstances, fairly wealthy. Also, he held the office of
town counselor for a long time in Schmiedrued. Elisabeth was for him a lovely wife and was a good
mother for the children. They led a very happy, free life in those days - they had time to enjoy one
another. Unfortunately, the grandfather died at the early age of fifty. At first, the grandmother with the
help of a farm hand continued to run the farm. They had 4 or 5 cows and several head of young cattle.
After this she turned the farm over to a daughter. She was for some twenty years a widow.
My father took over the farm from the grandmother
and Samuel Weber bought another farm a short distance
away. However, they both were quite unsuccessful In their
farming. For many years it rained a great deal and the
harvest was poor. They had a misfortune In their bam, and
it resulted in a fire. Samuel Weber was completely burned
out. After this he sold his land and moved to Weinfelden in
Canton Zurich and later from there to America.
The old family home still remains standing. It is
lomcol Samuel & MancUoldcnl)crgcr in
Schnitedmed. Swii/erland
approximately 150 years old. When my mother died, my
oldest and youngest brothers took over the farm. They built
a new bam where the old one stood and purchased some
Older man is now owner
more land along with the new machinery for the time was
long since passed when laborers with hand tools would
remain and work on the farm. Soon the old farm house was replaced with a new one. Now there is
nothing more remaining of the original farmyard except the picturesque well in front, which has for an
unknown number of years, provided water for both man and animal.
As long as I can remember the water stream has always remained the same. Not louder when joy
was in the home and not quieter when difficulty plagued its dwellers.
I am unfortunately unable to include any photographs. The nice old ones of my mother and Aunt
Verena have disappeared. Seventy years ago they were already faded; however, one could see that Aunt
Verena was a very beautiful and lively lady. If it is possible, the old family home should be photographed
before it is destroyed. If I can manage this, I will send a picture of it.
I send my love and best wishes to you and your lively family.
Picturc lakcn bv Nola & Bill Scars in 1077
Mina Merz Hafeli
Grandmother and Grandfather had an old album. Most of the pictures have been lost over the
years, but there were a few left, but no one in the family knew who they were because there weren't any
names on them. I [LaNece] sent them to Switzerland to Mina Hafeli in hope that she could perhaps
identify them for us. She was able to tell us about three of them.
3^
THIRD LETTER
My Dear Cousin in America,
First of all —many thanics for your lovely letter. Your questions bring to memory many of my
childhood experiences, i can give you some information concerning the pictures.
Picture 1. The older lady is Maria Weber, the sister of your
grandfather, Samuel Weber. She was married to a farmer with a
-, .
small farm in Schlossrued about I Vi hours walk from here. His
^ jt*
name was "Wullschleger." They are living in Zofingen in Canton
Aargau. From his second marriage he had one son who was killed
about 15 years ago in an accident. He was 23 years old. Maria
''
Wn ,
Weber was very closely attached to her brother and missed him a
i
great deal after he went to far-ofT America. Whenever she got a
letter from her loved ones in America, she would come this long
distance (1 Vi hours by foot) and bring the letters for my parents to
read. Whenever my parents got word, they would do likewise. We
K^uiiiiyot \ijria(\\dvi ijndRminirwimsdiieger
children were always very happy whenever we were allowed to go
<Maria is uicsisicrot s.iimici WL-heri
with them. Two or three would ride in a wagon while the rest walked along the side. Once in a while we
changed off, but oftimes, we had to pull the others. Maria's father lived with her. (This would be our
great- grandfather, Jakob Weber.) We avoided him somewhat; he was elderly and shaky and spoke with a
harsh voice. He often cried when anyone
spoke about his son. We always felt
sorry for him, but our mother used to say
JSJMv he was apoor fellow. At this time 1was
P * not yet going to school and didn't have
w—^\
-
1 any idea what old age meant and that
~^
money was a problem for aperson in his
./
V 1
A >
Picture 2. The friendly lady in this
picture is Lina Goldenberger, the sister of
\
I
your grandmother, Verena Goldenberger.
As I wrote to you earlier, she was married
with Albert Hunziker. She was always
very happy; her husband loved her dearly,
and they
a
_
Verena Goldenberger's sisier. fhe little girl between the
honorable
jm ^ gJH
parents is Manha Hunziker shown in a later picture bv herself.
family. Her
husband was town mayor for a long time, and they were among the highest class
of people and were without any financial difficulties.
.
'WfrnT
Pictures. Martha Hunziker, the youngest daughter of this family. Small
girl in the picture between father and mother. Of this happy family, the two girls
are the only living. They are now old ladies.
^
f
Mnnhii )Iim/.ikvr. limighicror
Albert & Lina I luiizikcr
34
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34
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Notice of death of Jatol)"Weber (Samuel Weber's
father).
NOTE the black border used.