John Shaffer

JOHN SHAFFER

 

John Shaffer was born on June 10, 1755, in Berks, Pennsylvania, United States to Johann Jacob Shaffer and Catherine Delaplank.  He died on 27 April 1847, in Washington, Virginia, United States.

John married Eve Kelchner (many different name spellings).  He served in the Revolutionary War with General Washington.

It is said that John was a small man of about 155 lbs., dark hair, and yet known for his strength.  During the war, the Brits sent out a man to egg them on every day for quite awhile.  The man sent out to taunt the American soldiers was large and fierce.  Finally, one day, General Washington had enough.  He said, "John, go take care of him for us."  So, John accepted the Brit's invitation to fight.  John won.  When the Brit realized he had lost the fight, he pulled out his sword and injured John's thigh severely.  As a reward for his service and bravery, General Washington made John his personal secretary for the remainder of the war.  He was in Valley Forge with him, at Cornwallis' surrender, and all of the famous battles.  John walked with a limp for the rest of his life.

 

George Powell & Maria Mousley

GEORGE POWELL & MARIA MOUSLEY

 In the year 1863 they decided to immigrate to America, but lack of means for transportation forced Grandfather George Powell to leave his wife and family in England. He joined his son-in-law, Edward Payne, Emma's husband, who had come to America the year before, leaving his family with Grandfather Powell. Edward had come to work in the coal mines in Pennsylvania in order to obtain money for passage for their families. 

 They worked together, and in a few months saved what they could, and then borrowed the remainder for passage for their wives and families and also the family of James and Ann Price, who had been caring for the families in England. Grandmother Powell worked day and night at her profession as a seamstress to support the family and save what money she could to help with the fare to America. 

They set sail in a sailing vessel the first day of June, 1864. They were six weeks on the ocean, landing in New York City in July. From there they traveled to a pioneer campground in Omaha, Nebraska, where they stayed for some time, making preparations for the journey to Utah. 

President Brigham Young had counseled them to make haste because of the Civil War threat. Grandfather Powell and daughter Emma Powell Payne met the family, leaving Edward Payne in Pennsylvania to work to pay off the indebtedness. While at the camp, Grandmother Powell supervised the making of tents and wagon covers. Due to a sprained ankle, Grandmother Powell was lame, so she rode most of the way across the plains. As she was unable to walk, she would care for the children. She would wash their faces and comb their hair while others fixed camp, built fires, and did other camp chores. 

Grandfather walked all the way across the plains. After a hard and toilsome journey, they arrived in Heber City, Utah, October 20, 1864. 

-excerpt from familysearch.org. "History of George and Maria Mousley Lunn Powell." Contributed by: Lisa Ratzlaff

James Price & Ann Powell

JAMES PRICE & ANN POWELL

On 28 March of 1857 or 1858, Ann married James Price. They heard the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and accepted it. They were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1861. James and Ann and some of Ann’s family desired to travel to Zion, or Utah Territory. Most of the men in the family worked in the coal mines. 

 Ann’s father, George Powell, and her brother-in-law, Edward Payne, left during the night and went to America. They found work in the coal mines in Pennsylvania and sent back every cent they could so their families could pay for passage to come over. If George and Edward had been caught as they left England, they could have been forced to stay and work longer in the coal mines. At the time, the owners of the mines treated the mine workers as slaves to some degree. 

The three families finally were able to sail on 21 May 1864 on the sailing ship General McClelland. It was a rough, stormy crossing but after six weeks they arrived at Castle Gardens, New York. The group of three families then went by train to Winter Quarters where they bought wagons, teams and supplies and joined the Joseph S. Rawlins wagon train. 

Leaving in early July of 1864 they had traveled for two weeks on the plains when James William, the little son of James and Ann, died on 21 July. They had to bury him on the plains wrapped in a quilt. They piled rocks over his grave to discourage wild animals from finding him. It was very hard for them to leave him there. 

 A few weeks later on 22 August 1864, the wagon train stopped at Ash Hollow, Nebraska just long enough for Ann to give birth to a baby girl, Maria Rawlins Price, and then they moved on. They reached the Salt Lake Valley on 20 September 1864 and were assigned to go to Heber Valley. For a time all three families lived in one room with a dirt floor and dirt roof.

-Excerpt from familysearch.org titled "Ann Powell."  A summary of available histories compiled in 2010 by Debra Edwards Plane. 

William Thacker & Rachel Tonks

WILLIAM THACKER & RACHEL TONKS

In l856, William and Rachel embarked on the ship, Amason. We landed at Philadelphia after six weeks on the ocean. We spent a little over 4 years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  During this time, William and Rachel worked at a bucket factory.

In the spring of l861, we started on the trip to Utah in wagons with oxen to pull them. The Captain's name was Joseph Horne. The teamster's name was Charley Cowley. They were both fine, good men. We had plenty to eat all the time. I remember the horsemen chasing the antelope and other wild game. There were herds of buffalo. I remember seeing these people, men and women, wade the river; some holding to each other's hands. They would sing as they walked along. Mostly the Mormon hymns. Father had an old musket he used to carry with him. One day he killed a Prairie Dog and we cooked it. It was good meat. One day Father was walking along as usual and he saw what he thought was a bunch of mushrooms. He took them to camp and cooked them. We all ate some except the baby; and were all very sick. But the Elders administered to us and we vomited them up and were all soon well again. Just as we were starting out, the United States officers took charge of Father and was going to draft him into the army; but the emigrant agent got him free and we were all very thankful. We traveled on an average of fifteen miles per day. Some days we would lay over for washday, and to rest the oxen and cows as well as the people. Mother had a nursing baby. She was a very fleshy woman and couldn't walk very much. The rest all walked most of the time. I walked some, but not much. The last day's travel was Emigration Canyon. Soon after leaving the head, we could see down through the mountains and see the Salt Lake, and how the people did cheer! That night we reached Salt Lake City. 

Excerpt from William Timothy Thacker's autobiography about 1940.

Alice Carlisle Wilkin Freestone

ALICE CARLISLE WILKIN FREESTONE

Alice Carlisle was born in 1835, in Lincolnshire, England.  She was the daughter of Richard and Jane Fields Carlisle.  There were 11 in their family- three were triplets.  The queen of England sent them some presents when the triplets were born. Two of them lived to be one year old.  The other died when five years old.

Her family had intended on coming to America, but joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints hurried their dream along. Her father was baptized in 1847.  She joined in the fall of 1850 along with two of her brothers.  Their family arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 14, 1851.  They went up the Mississippi River to Saint Louis, Missouri, for a year.  

While there, her mother, Jane, passed away from Cholera. From there, the family came at different times. Alice left the banks of the Mississippi on June 1, 1853, with the David Wilkin company. She arrived in the Salt Lake valley on September 9, 1853.  There were 122 souls, with 28 wagons, 9 yoke of oxen, 2 horses, 60 cows, and 2 chickens.

In 1854, Alice married David Wilkin, Jr., in the Old Endowment House in Salt Lake City where they made their home.  Her husband was an engineer. He built many homes and bridges in the valley and became distinguished in the field. They had three children together. Within 6 years they were divorced.  Her husband, David, left for Nevada.

On Christmas Eve, 1861, she married George Freestone. They were blessed with 4 children.  Alice passed away a month after her last daughter was born due to a staph infection she got during child birth.

Thomas Freestone

THOMAS FREESTONE

Thomas Freestone, the son of George Freestone and Ann Youngman, was born on 19 May 1795, in

Flixton, Suffolk, England.  About the year 1835, he left his home with his sister, Sarah, and her husband, William Ward, and headed for Prince Edward Island, Canada.  Prince Edward Island was green, peaceful and prosperous.  The Indians called it "the home cradled in the waves."

While there, he met and fell in love with Ann Fall.  They were married on August 4, 1836.  He was tall, well-built, muscular, had dark hair, and a serious countenance. 

When their oldest child, George, was almost 2, they left Prince Edward Island on a sea journey along the east coast of America.  As they were almost to the harbor of Boston, their second son was born. They settled in central Ohio.  Three daughters came into their family.  The youngest one died when only two months old.  Two more daughters came later. 

Thomas' second son, James, although only 9 years old, would frequently go into the woods to pray to God that if He had a people on earth, he would be able to find them.  One day two Mormon missionaries came into the neighborhood preaching their message of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. James heard them and went home and told his parents of the meeting.  His mother, Ann, agreed to go with him.  They were both converted. Within four years, all members of their family were baptized.

In family council, they decided to sell the farm and start for the gathering place of the saints.  They had been told that Mormon emigrants used cows as beasts of burden to pull their wagons, so they hitched their unbroken, untrained and unwilling cows to the wagon. 

They reached Mount Pisgah on Christmas Day in a snowstorm. Ann wrote a letter to the Branch President of Council Bluffs (100 miles away) telling them of their financial plight.  The letter was read in a meeting and many tears were shed.  The President wrote back and told the family that if they could get to Council Bluffs, the branch would help them get through to Utah.

The winter was hard.  They had little food.  Thomas got what work he could.  During the winter, they decided to press forward a little further and went 20 miles to Winterset.  One of their cows died that winter, so they hitched a two year old heifer with the other cow and started out early in the spring, reaching Council Bluffs in April.  They joined a company of 50 wagons heading for Utah.  They were given a better wagon and began their last journey on June 10, 1853.

In 1855 their final child was born- another girl.  In 1858, Thomas went south to look for a new home.  As he was entering the Parowan area, a group of Indians killed him.  According to stories, they had made a pact that the next white man who crossed a certain spot would die.  Unfortunately, he was the one.  No one knows where he was buried, but at least one of the Indians felt remorse for his actions.  He buried Thomas, went through his possessions, tracked down his wife, Ann, and told her what had happened.  But, that is another story!

George Freestone

GEORGE FREESTONE

"I was born of English parentage of Prince Edward Isle, 12 Aug. 1838.  When I was under two years of age, my parents emigrated to America and settled in Hardin County Ohio.

"When I was about 13, an Elder of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints visited us, converting my parents, and we started for Utah. One year later we arrived at Mt. Pisgah, Iowa, one of the impoverished camps of the Mormons who were emigrating westward.  The hardships of the winter were intense.  The next spring we came on to Winter Quarters, where we found a company of Saints preparing to cross the plains to Salt Lake City.  We joined them and I drove a four-yoke of oxen on a heavy laden freight wagon to Utah, where we arrived September 9, 1853.  Our captain was Daniel Miller."

-Story quoted from his autobiography he wrote shortly before his death.

Sarah Freelove Howard Bawden

SARAH FREELOVE HOWARD BAWDEN

In the year 1856, at the tender age of 17 or 18 years of age, Sarah Freelove Howard came west. She came alone, because both her father and mother had passed away from the cholera epidemic in St. Louis, Missouri. 

After the death of her father, she and her brother had to find work and earn their own way in their early teens. Grandma Sarah found work as a nanny and maid for several years to earn enough to make the long arduous trip to Salt Lake. When she had worked and saved enough, she joined with the Saints in Winter Quarters to come west. She was assigned to a family with the agreement that she would help with the cooking, washing and care of the children, and they in return would carry her supplies on their wagon. After the about the first 200 miles out on the trail, the first family she was assigned to decided to go back to their previous home. She was assigned to another family with the same agreement. She walked almost every step of the way to Salt Lake. 

She had many memories of the buffalo herds. She said that when the company would encounter a herd crossing their path it would take a week for the herd to completely disappear from their view. They were so large in number. 

One day a group of Indians came into camp. The pioneers did some trading with them to keep the peace. The Indians braves looked at her in a very strange manner. After they left, it was decided by the company leaders that if the Indians returned, they would have to hide her to keep her safe. As the story goes, they did return, and grandma, a young lady of about 17 or 18 at the time was hid in an empty flour barrel. There she remained safe until the Indians left.  

She would gather buffalo chips along the way to use as fuel for her cooking fires.  Many times her feet became sore and she fainted by the wayside, but she never became discouraged, nor lost sight of the goal she had set out to accomplish.  She arrived in the Salt Lake Valley early in September.

-Story taken from memories of Donna A Wilkins from familysearch.org and from the History of Sarah Freelove Howard (author unknown).

William Cradock Price

WILLIAM CRADOCK PRICE

Born: April 2, 1833, Cwmtwrch, Breconshire, South Wales.

Died:4 Oct 1925 Pleasant Grove,Utah,USA

"The life of my father, William C. Price, was one of colorful settings, high tension activity, and dramatic experiences. In his early boyhood days, he lived on his father's farm and helped operate a small inn." 

He worked in an attorney's office, Marshall & Snelgrove Department Store in London, studied law.  "He was a well educated man, and few were better versed in the language, literature, and history of the Welch people.  He was regarded everywhere as a veritable encyclopedia. With all his knowledge, however, he was extremely modest and unassuming." 

He returned to Wales and established his own business in Blina, Wales. It was of considerable size and included a bank, insurance house, post office, and department store, and employed about 75 people.

On June 12, 1862, he married Rhoda Wynn Parry. They had two daughters, Rhoda and Ellen.  The girls were raised and cared for by their paternal grandparents, Evan and Margaret Price.  

During the depression of the late 1860's, William became interested in expanding his business pursuits in the United States.  In 1868, he came to New York.  He and his daughter, Rhoda, came to Utah that year.  He left his daughter, Ellen, in Wales with his parents.

He became a cattle rancher in Skull Valley (south of Tooele, Utah). After a terrible catastrophe one winter, he lost almost his entire herd.  Instead of giving up, he decided to herd sheep.  He loved the mountain ranges.

He was a poet.  In 1903, he returned to Wales and was given a substantial prize for one of his poems.  Upon return, he started a mercantile business in Tooele, Utah.

He never joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

-This is an excerpt from "A Brief Sketch of the Life of William C. Price" by Rhoda Price Daw.

Rhoda Wynn Price Daw

RHODA WYNN PRICE DAW

 

Born: September 10, 1863 Blina, South Wales

Died:23 Apr 1949 Orem, Utah

 

Rhoda Wynn Price is the daughter of William Cradock Price and Rhoda Wynn Parry.  She was born on September 10, 1863, in Blina South Wales.  In the spring of 1868, her father came to New York.  Not long afterwards, she and her mother joined him, leaving her sister, Ellen, with her paternal grandparents. 

Her mother returned to Wales to settle business affairs.  During her absence, Rhoda and her father, William, came to Utah.  After her mother returned to America, she remained in New York where she worked as a nurse in the Belle View Hospital until the spring of 1872 when she came to the home of her mother in Tooele, Utah.

While Rhoda's mother was in New York, she lived part of the time with her maternal grandmother, part of the time with Mrs. John Davis at St. Johns in Rush Valley, and part of the time with the Paxton sisters at Stockton Lake, Utah. Her father was in Skull Valley and other places, herding cattle on the range.

In 1872, Rhoda and her mother lived in a dugout in Rush Valley.

Fannie Alice Jones Godfrey

FANNIE ALICE JONES GODFREY

James Jones and Ann Brooks welcomed their third child into the world on December 9, 1855, in Powick, Worcestershire, England.  They named her Fannie  Alice Jones. Fannie grew up in the LDS culture, because her parents had joined the church before she was born.  It was their desire to join the main body of saints in Salt Lake, Utah; however, the family had to come in shifts due to financial abilities.

Fannie Alice came with her father in 1878.  They left Liverpool, England, on June 3, 1878, and made great time and ran into no problems their entire trip.  When they reached Salt Lake City, they went to the home of Joseph Bull and stayed there overnight until Daniel, her brother, came and took them to Thomas Wheeler's home in South Cottonwood (Wheeler Farm).  They stayed there until her father could find work and a home and arrange for her mother to join them.

Fannie married James Godfrey on December 23, 1880.  He left on a church mission a few months after they were married, leaving her to care for his 7 children until his return a year and a half later.

Together they had 11 children.

Carolina Trott Godfrey

Carolina Trott Godfrey

 Carolina married Charles Godfrey, SR, on December 31, 1821.  To their union seven children were added: William, George, Charles, Mary Jane, Sarah Ann, Carolina Trott, and James. Charles passed away when James was only three years old.  Prior to this time, their oldest son, William, and their three daughters had passed away.  

Not too long after the death of her husband, two Mormon missionaries were in the area where she lived.  Seeing a small group gathered on a street corner, she paused on her way home to listen.  Later that evening, she shared her experience with her family.  George said he was not at all interested, but Charles wanted to hear more.  She and Charles joined the church in 1847.

A couple of weeks after her baptism, a minister from the Church of England approached her and tried to dissuade her from her new found faith.  In response, she said, "I have learned more from these fine young men in two weeks than what you have taught me in forty years."

Carolina and James set sail from London to America on June 3, 1861, on the ship Hudson. They reached the United States of America during the Civil War. She and James came across with Captain Warren S. Snow's Company and arrived on October 27, 1861.  Her son, Charles, met them at the Green River and helped them come on ahead of the regular company. They spent their first winter in South Cottonwood with Charles and his wife, Sophia.

Information for this story came from a history titled, "Our Grandfather- James Godfrey" written by Arthur J. Godfrey. 

James Godfrey

JAMES GODFREY

James Godfrey was the last addition to his parents' family.  He was the baby of their 7 children coming into this world on Jan 5, 1840.  At the time, his family lived in North Petherton, Somersetshire, England.  

His father, Charles Godfrey, Sr., passed away when he was only 3 years old (1843).  His mother raised him to manhood.  Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came to England and his mother, Caroline Trott Godfrey, his brother, Charles Godfrey, Jr., and himself were converted.   James was baptized a member on March 2, 1864, in Bristol, England.  

He and his mother immediately made plans to leave England to join the main body of saints in Utah.  Charles left before they did.  James and Caroline embarked on their journey on June 3, 1864, on the ship Hudson, and finished their journey in the Warren S. Snow wagon company arriving in Salt Lake City on October 27, 1864.  His brother, Charles, and his wife, Sophia Clifton, met them and helped them get established.

Unfortunately his brother passed away three years later leaving his wife with four young children all under the age of 5. The baby was born only 6 days before he died.  James could see the need his brother's family was in and decided to marry Sophia a year later (1869).  To their union seven children were born.  They made their home in South Cottonwood (Salt Lake), Utah.

Sophia took ill and passed away in 1878.  James had a large family to care for.  He met another English native and fell in love with her.  James and Fannie Alice Jones were married on December 23, 1880.  She raised all of his children and added 11 more of her own.  

Not even one year after their marriage, he was called to serve a mission to the Northwestern States.  He left in 1881 and returned in 1882 due to ill health.  While on his mission, he and his companions rented a hall in Montecello, Minnesota, to hold their meetings.  While they were teaching, a mob attacked them, threw a lasso on James, and dragged him a large distance.  Fortunately, the rope broke, and he was unhurt.  As a souvenir, he brought home the nine foot long piece of rope.

James served as a Young Men's President in South Cottonwood, served in the Black Hawk War, served in the 72nd and 73rd Quorums of the Seventies and then as a Patriarch.  He passed away on November 4, 1928, in Murray (South Cottonwood). 

Richard Carlisle

RICHARD CARLISLE

Orphaned at a young age, Richard Carlisle was taken in by a well-to-do lady who raised him as her own son.  He was an avid learner and student of the Bible.  He became dissatisfied with the Church of England  and explored other religions in attempt to find the truth.  The Quakers wanted him to join them and even entrusted him with their money.  One day he told his friends that he would not join another church until God set up His Kingdom here on earth.  They asked him if he thought it would be in his day.  He replied, "I think it will."

Richard's son, Joseph, had a dream.  In this dream, he saw a message come across the sea and the place where it would land.  He told his father about it and then went to see what the message was.  There he found a Mormon missionary preaching the gospel. Upon returning home, he told his family.  They all went to see for themselves and within one year, the entire family was baptized. 

The majority of their family was able to cross the ocean to America at the same time, which was quite a feat.   Their daughter, Mary, saved every penny for two years to make this possible.  They set sail on the ship Ellen in 1851.  On board were five of their children and Richard and Jenny.  

When they reached St. Louis, Jenny caught cholera and died on June 24th. Because of this, they stayed a year in St. Louis.  The following year, Thomas, his oldest son, joined them from England. Most of them crossed the plains in 1852, although not all together. Richard and two of his sons came in the H.B.H. Jolley Company.  It was the 7th company that season.

He reached the Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1852 and eventually settled in Alpine, Utah.

-Taken from History of Richard Carlisle written from information from Annie V. Thompson, Martha Healey Strong, and Dawna Daw Carlisle.

Notes: Richard Carlisle was born on April 30, 1798, in Riseholme, Lincolnshire, England, to Thomas and Elizabeth Taylor Carlisle. He died on April 10, 1879, in Alpine, Utah.

Isaac Daw

Isaac Daw

Born: December 21st, 1826 

Trull, Somerset, England

Died: January 12, 1913

Buried in the Cedar Fort, Utah, Cemetery

Isaac Daw became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Thursday, November 9th, 1848.  He married Jane Davswell Balls. They had 2 children. Together they made plans to join the main group of saints in Utah.  

"They set sail for America on the ship Samuel Curling on April 22, 1855."  When they reached America, they joined the saints at Mormon Grove.  They spent 3 months preparing for their overland journey. While there, black cholera struck the settlement.  Jane took ill with cholera.  She passed away on June 7th.  It is said that she and her baby were buried in the same grave in Hutchison (Atchison also known as Mormon Grove), Kansas Territory.    

The night before their departure, Milo Andrus was asked to lead this group to the valley.  He had not been planning to leave Mormon Grove.  He was the one who had procurred their teams and provisions.  He accepted the call and was determined to get this company to the valley.

The company began their journey at Mormon Grove quite late in the year (later than the Willie Company a year later).  They departed on August 3rd. Two days later, they were 30 miles west of their beginning point.  In a letter written by the captain of their company to Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 22nd, he said that they were pushing forward as quickly as possible due to their late departure.  The previous day they traveled 25 miles and were planning to push as far forward as possible because he expected to hit inclement weather when they reached the Rocky Mountains.

They had troubles with the Indians.  Indian attacks were very common during the beginning of their trip.  More than one person died.

By the time the company reached Fort Bridger, they were moving slowly.  Their teams were worn down due to lack of feed and the loss of several of their animals.On September 9th, 1855, they reached the Salt Lake Valley during a terrible snowstorm.

 

Isaac and his son, Walter, stayed with Bishop Gardner in West Jordan.  A few short months passed, and Walter died.  Isaac was alone.  He had left his native land; lost his wife and baby; lost his only son; and was in a strange land. 

And yet, life went on.  His testimony of the eternal nature of the human soul, the plan of salvation, and the hope of resurrection and reunion with his loved ones helped him to move on- to put one foot in front of the other and take another step each and every day.  

Written by: Dari Peterson Thacker, May 11, 2014.  3rd great-granddaughter. 

Sources for this: 1)"History of Isaac Daw" written by his grandson, Albert William Daw.

2) https://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/companyDetail?companyId=52

3) Photo found on familysearch.org.

  

Hannah Knight

HANNAH KNIGHT

John and Hannah Yendell Knight welcomed not only their third child, but also their third daughter on the 27th October, 1830, in Wellington, Somerset, England.  They were not well-to do.  In fact, they were yeomen (tenant farmers).

As a young adult, Hannah worked for a family as governess/nanny.  Her dear friend, Sarah Williams, also worked for this family as a housekeeper and cook.  Their lives became inseparably connected throughout the remainder of their lives.

The two of them joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and felt the desire to join the main body of saints in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah.  Through their associations with this new found religion, they became well acquainted with two men- John Waters and Isaac Daw. Hannah and John fell in love despite a large age difference and were engaged to be wed when they reached Salt Lake.

Isaac and his wife, Jane Balls, left for America in 1855. The others left in 1856, Sarah being the first.  John and Hannah left on May 4, 1856, on the ship Thornton.  After crossing the ocean, they joined up with the Willie Handcart Company and the Hunt Wagon Company.  Hannah didn't have enough money for to pay for the Hunt Wagon Company. John was insistent that Hannah ride in the wagon company and he walk.  So, although they left at the same time, they were separated.

"Rocky Ridge was where many members of the Willie Company met their Maker.  Facing a hillside so steep, windswept, and seemingly never ending, the haggard emigrants tugged at their carts-most numb to the cold, many near death.  That any of them made it up the ridge speaks of divine intervention and their strength of spirit" (Sweetwater Rescue: The Willie & Martin Handcart Story, pg.91). Rocky Ridge was the highest point on the trail 7,300 ft. "Men would dig graves for their brethren, and before night, die themselves" (pg. 88).

John was one of those.  On the morning of October 25th, thirteen of their company were buried in a large hole.  He helped dig the burial plot, but passed away before the company set out for the day's journey.

The really tragic part of this story is that Hannah had no idea.  The Hunt Wagon Company was behind the Martin Handcart Company until about the time they reached Martin's Cove.  Here most wagons were abandoned.  When she arrived in Salt Lake City on November 30th, she discovered that John had not made it.  She also discovered that Isaac's wife, Jane, had passed away and both of his young children. 

Isaac, Sarah and Hannah became close once again- drawing on the support of each other. Many tears were shed.  Isaac and Sarah were married that winter.  On June 28th, 1857, the following year, Isaac stood proxy for John.  Hannah was sealed to him.  Afterwards, she married Isaac for time only. 

Written by Dari Peterson Thacker May 4, 2014 (3rd Great Granddaughter).

Charles Simpson

Charles Simpson was about 5 ft. 8 in. tall and weighed about 145 lbs.  He was very active and a good boxer. 

In his life story written by his daugher-in-law, Sena Fredrickson Simpson, she said, "[He] had too many irons in the fire. He owned two butcher shops, a shoe shop where they repaired shoes, a brewery, a beer counter and a farm.  Of course, he could not take care of them all himself, so he lost it all and became a poor man." I wanted to leave this out, because I think there is more to this man than this weakness; however, it is a vital part of his story.  I believe Charles was a very ambitious man, excited about life, willing to take risks, wanting to grab hold of every opportunity that presented itself.  I believe it is his drive that made him who he was.

Charles came into this world to a wealthy family.  His parents are Edward Simpson and Mary Turville.  He began his mortal life on Saturday, May 25, 1839, in Leicester, Leicestershire, England.  He was the baby of the family of eight children.  

When he grew older, he met and fell in love with Susannah Moore, and they were wed on 17 Mar 1860, in Leicester, Leicestershire, England.  To this union four children were born.  

As mentioned earlier, Charles lost all of his investments.  His family wanted to help him out, but he would not hear of it.  So, in 1881, he left his wife, children, family, and native country and headed for America.  When he arrived, he went to Nevada and worked on the railroads. After a short while, he headed to Idaho where his sister, Em Simpson Hawthorne, lived.  She and her husband had come over and settled in the Weston, Franklin, Idaho, area.  So, Charles made his home there as well.  

A year after Charles came, his wife, Susannah, and his son joined him.  

He and his son, Henry Simpson, homesteaded 160 acres of land 4 1/2 miles west of Weston.  They built a little one room log cabin and lived together. A year later, two of his three daughters came across the ocean to America as well.  One daughter, Annie Elizabeth, never left England.

They were constantly having issues with the sheepherders letting their flocks eat from their fields.  Although Charles was a small built man, the sheepherders were scared of him.  He could box really well.  Whenever he was around, the sheepherders kept their flocks in check.  

Eventually, father and son split up their land into two farms.  They worked the farms together and shared the horses and other farm implements.

His dear wife, Susannah, passed away on Jan. 13, 1902, in Weston, Franklin, Idaho.  Charles passed away on April 5, 1910, in Weston. 

Nielsine Marie Larsen

THE STORY OF HER TREK WEST

 

(Taken from the History of Ferdinand Fredrickson and Neilsine Marie Larsen written by their daughter, Sena Fredrickson Simpson, of the Daughters of Pioneers, Lone Rock Camp)

"My mother, Neilsine Marie Larsen, was born September 25, 1834, in Binslev, Hjorring County, Denmark. 

She married Ferdinand Fredrickson on December 26, 1855.  "On August 30, 1857, my brother Lars was born, and Marcus was born February 20, 1860.  [In Ugerby] my brother Johannes was born, on December 9, 1862.

"When Father left for America, Mother and the boys stayed with her father and mother for one year until they had a chance to come to America. A man by the name of Jens Christen Holt loaned Mother enough money to get as far as the Missouri River.  So she bid goodbye to her father, mother, sisters and brothers.  The boys cried.  They had grown attached to their Grandpa Lars Christensen Jensen, but they soon forgot that, for they were going to America, where Father was.  They sailed on May 8, 1865, with 557 emigrants on board.  It was not a passenger ship, but only a regular freighter.  They nailed bunks across in double rows.  They had lower and upper bunks.  The two oldest boys had the upper bunks and Mother and the baby had the lower one.  There was a narrow alley between each row.  They hung a few lanterns in the ceiling for light and when the ship rolled most of the lanterns would fall down.

"The 557 emigrants were all i one room- men, women and children.  Sickness came upon them. Johannes was very ill, and on May 26, 1865, he died and was buried at sea.  Mother did not go up to see him buried- she said she couldn't.  Just think, they had no conveniences of any kind- just an old bucket.

"The landed in New York on June 16, 1865 after 40 days on the ocean.  They went by rail to St. Joseph, Missouri, and on steam boat up the river to where Omaha now is, or a place near there called Wyoming, which was the outfitting place for freight teams there.  They waited 34 days until the merchants from Salt Lake City got 45 wagons shipped from Chicago and got them set up.  They had all the young men in the company to do that.  They also had to help load the wagons with 4,000 pounds of freight on each wagon and 10 emigrants were allowed to go with each wagon, being allowed 50 pounds of baggage.  The passengers walked, as there was no room to ride.

"The merchants bought eight wild steers (called four yokes) for each wagon which had been brought in from the Nebraska and Iowa prairies by cowboys.  They were loaded to full capacity for such motive power.

"The Church did not come after emigrants that year, so all had to come by the freight trains.  Their trains were wagons, and the power was that of oxen.

"An old plainsman by the name of Miner G. Atwood was chosen to be captain.  When Mr. Taylor asked him how long he thought it would take to cross the plains he said eight weeks.  Mr. Taylor did not think it could be done in so short a time with such heavy loads and unbroken teams, so to make sure, he gave them provisions for ten weeks time.

"They started July 31, and the going was rather difficult with the combination of wild steers and green drivers- drivers who had never driven oxen with a whip instead of lines and bridles.  One man from Copenhagen had never seen an ox before, and expressed his feelings about them in Danish- asking that the Devil hammer, rasp, thunder, lightning and burn staves in the damn beasts.  The first day some of the teams made it three miles out of camp, and some not at all.  When night came they were strung out over the three miles, and the people were hunting for the wagon to which they belonged.  Some had been stalled in the sand, among them wagon number 17, for which Mother and the boys were hunting.  They finally found it about two miles out from camp.  They rolled their bedding out in the sand and went to sleep. 

"Sometimes, in the hot sun, the steers would have their tongues out, panting like dogs, then all at once they would get a kink in their tails like a corkscrew and stampede.  You could see teams running in all directions with their loads.  Some would run across behind another wagon that had stalled in the sand and tear off a hind wheel, then there was another stop while they fixed the wagons.  On one such stampede they ran over a nineteen-year old girl.  They buried her right there.

"Their first battle with the Indians was on September 22, some distance west of Fort Laramie.  At noon the train had just driven into camp in two lines, making a corral of the wagons, open at both ends- as they always did, both for corraling the stock when they had to hitch up and also for defense in case of an Indian attack.  A woman named Mrs. Grundvig had stopped about a quarter of a mile behind, saying that she was tired and wasn't going any further.  She was determined to go back to Wyoming, Nebraska, and her husband was with her coaxing her to come into camp.  She told him she would rather go with the Indians than with him to Utah- little realizing how soon she would be taken up on her decision.

"The Indians were in plain sight.  Mother could see them from the camp, where she had just started a little fire close outside the camp to cook some dinner.  On the opposite side of the camp, the oxen had been driven to water with three men left to guard them and bring them in at the sound of the bugle.  They had barely got the oxen to water when they were attacked by a large band of Siox Indians, who tried to run off the oxen.  They shot arrows at the three men, who were hit several times, but not so badly but what they could pull them out themselves, and get the oxen started back to camp.  With the yelling of the Indians, and the arrows flying around, the oxen went back into camp on the run.

"Captain Atwood gave orders to pack up quickly and be ready to leave.  Mother hurried inside with her cooking utensils just as the Indians came up to the camp on a dead run.  They met such a heavy rifle fire that they turned, after which they hung on the sides of their horses and shot arrows from under their ponies' necks.  The air was full of arrows, they they were so high that no one was hurt.  One of the foremost of the Indians threw a lasso on a girl who was out picking up wood, but she was quick enough to throw the loop before he could tighten it up, else he would have dragged her to death.

"When their force was turned, they went toward Mr. and Mrs. Grundvig.  He was shot full of arrows, and she was picked up by the Indians, never to be heard of again.  Several of the Indians were hit, but they picked up their wounded and took them with.  Mr. Grundvig managed to pull all the arrows out, then crawl into camp.  He dropped unconscious by a wagon, and all thought he was dead.  The captain, however, put him in a wagon, where he stayed for three weeks before he was able to walk again.

"As soon as the teamsters had hitched up, they went on without dinner and kept on until 10 pm to where the captain knew there was a natural place of defense, for he feared an attack during the night.  After that first battle, the captain always sent out enough guards with the oxen, and the camp itself was kept well guarded.

"On the third night they came again but the guards saw them and drove them away with a heavy fire.  One of the mean was wounded in his thigh, but he managed to pull the arrow out himself.  He limped for a long time afterwards.  Another man was shot through the jaw by an arrow.  It stuck out on both sides.  He could not pull that out himself.  He came into camp like that.  Captain Atwood cut the feather end off with his pocketknife and pulled the arrow through.

"When they arrived at Fort Laramie, the captain could see that it would take more than ten weeks, so they were put on half rations.  That was the coldest and hardest part of the trip.  It was quite late in the fall and stormy, as they were crossing the Rockies. Every night some weary traveler would lie down to sleep and never wake up.  It became a regular affair to bury one and often two or more every morning.  Of their company of 557, only 400 reached Salt Lake City.  Mother and the boys walked every step of the way, and waded all the streams except the Green River, which was too deep and swift.  Mother told me that as soon as they camped at night she would sweep the snow away, make the bed, and put the boys to bed.  After they were short rationed, they were put to bed without supper.  She thought they were tired enough to sleep without food, but they could not walk in the morning without breakfast.  She told us that was the hardest thing she ever had to do.

"Their shoes were all worn out, and they had to walk in the snow and the mud bare footed.  The boys were encouraged when they thought they would soon get to Utah where Father was, then they could have plenty of time to rest and just remember the hardships.  With the hardships Mother went through, it is a wonder that she lived to be 88 years old with fairly good health until the very last few years of her life.

"It was late in the evening of November 8, 1865 that they camped at the mouth of the canyon, east of Salt Lake City.  On the morning of November 9 when they awoke, the sun was shining, and they thought Salt Lake City looked very beautiful.  It was not much of a place at that time, but Mother and the boys thought it was.  They arrived in the city about noon, where Father met them with his oxen and the old wagon- a first class outfit to them.  They were happy now that they could ride the rest of the way to Logan.

"When first she came to this country, she didn't have much of this world's goods.  She told me she always had plenty of bread, but sometimes she would long for something to go with it.  She certainly knew how to take care of things.  After a few years, especially when she had a little more to do with, she would help others who came to this country and were struggling to get along.  We would say to her, 'Why do you do so much for those people?  They are younger than you and more able to work.' She would tell us to keep still, saying, 'You don't know what a struggle it is to get along.  I know.  I have gone through the mill.

"Mother had a sweet disposition.  No matter what hardships she underwent or what trials or trouble she had, she never complained.  She made the best of everything."

 

Ferdinand Christen Oliver Fredrickson

This is a condensed version of the History of Ferdinand Fredrickson and Nielsine Marie Larsen written by their daughter, Sena Fredrickson Simpson, of the Daughters of Pioneers, Lone Rock Camp.  She said that most of the information was taken from the records of Lars Fredrickson [who is her brother].

"My father, Ferdinand Fredrickson, was born June 9, 1830. His mother was left a widow with four boys.  My father, being the oldest, was only seven years old.  The boys stayed with their grandparents on their mother's side while she went to learn nursing.

"Father was interested in blacksmith work and spent all his spare time in the farm work-shop.  When he was [18], he had to go into the army.  He was in the Cavalry, and was an expert swordsman.  His opponents said that his wrist was quicker than the eye, and they could never break through his guard.

"After his release from the army, he went to work as a general repairman and blacksmith on a large farm called Borlum Closter (a monastery).  He worked there until December 26, 1855, when he married my mother, Neilsine Marie Larsen.

"In 1863, a Mormon Missionary, Nels Lee, from Brigham City, came to their home and converted Father and Mother to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and baptized them.  The were ostracized and ridiculed by all his relatives and friends.  The people called him the 'Holy Blacksmith', and if he hadn't had a non-mormon partner, he would not have had any work.

"In 1864, they sold the shop and divided the money.  Father bid goodby to Mother and the two boys and started for America on April 28, 1864.  He sailed from Liverpool, England in a sailing vessel, the Monarch of the Sea.  There were 975 emigrants on board.  They were on the ocean for thirty-six days and arrived at New York on June 3.  They then went by rail to Atchison, Missouri, where freight teams were loaded to cross the plains.  Father was hired to drive a four yoke ox team to Salt Lake City in the Sharp Spencer Company.  The first captain was Sharp and he died on the Plains.  Spencer took his place on the wagon train.  There were 80 wagons belonging to the Salt Lake merchants.  Just imagine how hard it was for Father, never having driven an ox team, but he was quick to learn.  They arrived in Salt Lake City, October 1, 1864.  As soon as Father got his pay for driving the ox teams, he walked to Logan, Utah- one hundred miles- and went to work for Cyrus Card, where he did farm work, canyon, work, and fed stock for one year.  It was certainly hard.  He couldn't understand the language, but again he was quick to learn.  In that year, he earned one yoke of oxen and a cow; also an old wagon with some provisions.

[His wife and two boys came a year later.  They stayed with her parents during that time.]

"On the morning of November 9 [1865, Neilsine and their boys arrived in Salt Lake City].  They arrived in the city about noon, where Father met them with his oxen and the old wagon- a first class outfit to them.  They were happy now that they could ride the rest of the way to Logan.

[The first winter they lived in a dugout Ferdinand dug.] "The dugout had an open fire place in the side used for heating and cooking in the winter. 

[They moved from Logan to Hyde Park to Weston and back again].

"Father played the violin.  He never had any lessons but if he heard a tune he could go home and play it on the violin.  He was Weston's first violinist, and played at all the dances for a great many years.  Later when they had better musicians, he played at all the dances in Cedarville, North Cedarville and Silver Star until he became too old to go out at night.

"1871 was another unsuccessful year [for crops]. The crickets and grasshoppers were [terribe].  Father and Mr. Gill got their heads together and invented and built a machine with a pair of rollers in one end and a propeller in the other.  They put it in the ditch with the rollers up stream, the lower roller half submerged in the water and driven by the water wheel in the lower end.  When the crickets jumped into the ditch, they would float down and catch hold of the lower roller.  They went through so fast that the water below was as brown as tobacco juice.  There was just enough wheat saved for food stuff.  

"In 1872 the crickets and grasshoppers took all the crop, so nearly everyone had to move away to other settlements to work in order to get wheat for flour, as well as seed for the next year.  Father moved to Hyde Park, and put up his shop.

"Father had signed a note with a Salt Lake merchant, Thomas Taylor, in 1865, for the emigration across the plains for Mother and the two boys.  The note was for $200 with Cyrus W. Card of Logan as surety.  This winter of 1875, he sent a collector, Mr. Winberg, to Mr. Card and wanted him to pay the note and interest.  Mr. Card took the collector with him to Hyde Park to see what Father could do.  Father and Mr. Card talked it over and Father, rather than let Mr. Card pay the note, decided to let the collector have all his live stock.  It took the team, a yoke of oxen, and the wagon, two cows, two yearlings and all his sheep.  That left Father with one cow, which was all the stock he had left, and no team.  Toward spring, when he wanted to move back to Weston, Father had to write to three of his friends to come with their teams and haul them back to Weston."

Eight children were born to Ferdinand and Neilsine.

He passed away on June 12, 1908, in Weston, Franklin County, Idaho, at the age of 78 years and is buried in the Weston cemetery. -Dari Peterson Thacker (3rd great grand-daughter).

 

Frederick Albert Rindlisbacher

Charles Price

Charles Price came into this world on Monday September 1st, 1800.  When I visited Nauvoo, Illinois a few years ago, I had the opportunity to stop at the Records Office.  They had a lot of info about him.  From the early church records, I learned that his father was James Price.  His mother's first name was Mary.  That is all that I know about his heritage.  One of the treasures from those records I got in Nauvoo was a history of him in a compilation titled Ten Men of Nauvoo, written by Faye V. Bell (1986).  Here are some excerpts:

A SONG IN THE SILENCE

CHARLES PRICE

"Think not when you gather to Zion

Your troubles and trials are through

That nothing but comfort and pleasure

Are waiting in Zion for you;

No, no, its designed as a furnace,

All substance, all textures to try,

To burn all the "wood, hay and stubble",

The gold from the dross purify."

Charles Price, born in Kimbolton, Herefordshire, England (1800) was in the prime of his life when he heard the gospel from the apostle, Wilford Woodruff.  As the honest in heart everywhere are touched by the word of God, so was he. From his first patriarchal blessing given by the Patriarch, Hyrum Smith, at Nauvoo, September 13, 1841, com the words that proved his life, "Your name shall be had in honor unto future generations."

For the first time, Charles Price, was baptized in 1802 and the event is recorded in the Register of the Parish, Kimbolton, Herefordshire, England.  His tender years, according to general family knowledge, appeared to be managed by an orphanage in the shire.  His mother is believed to be Mary Price.  Beyond that, his beginnings are nebulous.

Kimbolton, England, is about 40 miles from the highest mountain peak near this part of Great Britain, the Penterfau in Wales.  The River Wye runs with salmon and flows near Kimbolton's green rolling hills.  Often the weather is sunny and splashed with rain.  Typical ten-foot hedges and a three-toned green panoramic view is visible from any direction.

When Charles was seventeen years old (1820), he was a member of the British military.  He enlisted in the 53rd Regiment and joined the Depot of the Regiment oat Aleany BArracks, Isle of Wight, January 5, 1820.  Nine months later, he was waiting embarkment for India.  Exactly thirteen months later, October 25, 1821, he landed in Madras, India, just a month before a notable hurricane hit the China Sea.

Thereafter, Charles served in Bangalore, Camp Chiltoor, and Ft. George in Madras and Calcutta.  At first he served simply as an occupation soldier but later he fought in the Burma War and was stationed six months at Arracan-- an unhealthy site where he was in and out of the hospital with malaria.  While on the Ganghes (Feb. 15, 1826), he was promoted to Corporal, but finally was recommended for return to England for recovery.  Five months of illness prompted his return and he took ship from Calcutta, January 17, 1827, and arrived back at Chatham, England April 17, 1827.  He appeared before the Chelsea Hospital Commissioners and received a discharge with an out-pension which was certified for two years only.  At this time Charles was 23 years old.  His military service recorded 6 years, 136 days.

For the first time, his military records describe the young soldier: 5 foot 7 1/2 inches tall; dark brown hair; gray eyes and fresh complexion.  A one-word character description is fitted to him: good. [During this time he married Sally Andrus. Nothing is known about her death. I assume no children were born to this union].

Between 1826 and 1840, he built up a business. [The history says that there were no records about this and assumes that he was a farmer; however, I found a record for 1840 stating that he owned a pub].    By 1840, Charles was listed as a preacher with the United Brethren.

In 1840, when the apostle Wilford Woodruff went to John Benbow's farm, Charles was among the group of United Brethren who were baptized.  Charles was baptized by Wilford Woodruff on March 6, 1840, at Hill Farm (property of John Benbow), Herefordshire, in a makeshift pool for the occasion and confirmed by the apostle on March 8, 1840.  Subsequently, he was ordained an Elder 21 June 1840, under the hands of Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards.

As soon as he was ordained, he was placed in charge of the Churches at Ledbury, Moore-End Cross and Ridgeway Cross.  His circumstances were such that he was a full-time missionary and set apart at Manchester.  

Charles Price left Liverpool on the ship, North America, September 7/8, 1840, and landed in New York harbor on October 12, 1840.  He went to Nauvoo.

He began his tithing labour on the temple on November 23, 1840, and worked five and a half years on it.  Much of this time he was sick.  It is not known if his malarial issues returned or if he suffered greatly from hunger.

[On October 9, 1841, he married Mary Jane Shelton.  Elder John Taylor performed their ceremony.  

They welcomed their first child, Benjamin P. Price, into their family on August 11, 1842.  Their second child, Mary Jane was born on December 22, 1843.]

On December 23, 1843 he paid $40 for a one half acre lot in the city boundaries.  He was a member of the Nauvoo 4th Ward. [He served in the Nauvoo Legion]. 

Charles was ordained a member of the 10th Quorum of Seventies in 1844 by Joseph Young.  

[Their third child, Sarah Ann, was born on September 5, 1845.  He and Jane received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple on December 18, 1845.]

On April 4, 1846, he sold the land he owned in Nauvoo for $300. [The following month brought tragedy for their family.  Sarah Ann passed away in May.]

He would go to Council Bluffs, to Pleasant Grove, to Lehi, to Harmony, Utah, wherever he was called.  He consecrated all of his property to the Church in 1872 from Lehi, Utah.  Furthermore, he would add to his career as a military man by fighting Indians in Utah.  Charles Price was a true man of Zion for Zion was where Charles was.

In addition to this history:

Their dear Benjamin passed away in October of 1850 somewhere between Nauvoo and Utah.  They had another daughter, Sarah W., born in 1849 in Kanesville, Iowa, but she died before they reached Utah as well.  

In 1851, they came in an independent wagon train and settled in Lehi.  Here he buried his beloved wife.  So, from his first marriage, only one child lived to adulthood.  

On February 19, 1857, he married two women- Ann Collett Oakey, whose family he had close ties with in England.  Her family were also members of the United Brethren.  Her father also served as a minister for that order and as the first Branch President of the Frogmarsh area in England.  The second woman was Caroline Gaston Blakey.  She was a widow with children of her own.  

He and Ann had 5 children. Their first, Charles Christopher, was born in Lehi and lived for less than 2 years. The remainder of their children were born in Slaterville, Weber, Utah.  

He and Caroline's first child, Emily Maria, was also born in Lehi.Their other child was born in Slaterville.  

Tragedy struck again for Charles when his dear young wife, Ann, 31 years old, died in February 1865, in Slaterville.  

Charles was the county surveyor down in Levan, Utah.  He served another mission later in life. He passed away on 27 May, 1873, in Harrisville, Utah.  His burial place is unknown.  It is known that he was not buried by any of his wives; however, at this time it is not known where his grave resides.

Christian Rindlisbacher Sr

On Christmas Day of 1830, Peter and Barbara Mausli Rindlisbacher welcomed a little son into their humble home in Lutzelfluh, Bern, Switzerland.  They named him Christian.  Fitting don't you think? Christian born on Christmas?  

This little community is located in the western part of the country and a little to the north of the center from North to South.  The primary language spoken there is German.  It is an agricultural community.  25% of the area is covered with dense forests. In 2012, the population was 4,052.  Interesting tidbit for genealogical purposes.  Small town.  Not many out-of-towners.  Maybe I need to go over there and do some family history digging.  Ahh! If only I had the money and knew the language. 

Christian was a comedian. "They said he could dance with a glass of wine on top of his head.  He wold let go of his partner, go down on his knees" and do all sorts of tricks.  "He would step dance, at the same time swinging a broom handle back and forth between his legs.  He could sit on a small bench and keep bouncing it up and down for a time; suddenly he would swing himself around and be sitting on the bench the opposite way."  

Eventually he settled on entertaining one young lady.  Her name was Magdalena Schenk.  After courting, they were wed in the same little town he was born.  To their union 8 children were born (3 sons and 5 daughters).  Their first son, Johannes, died when he was only two years old.

When their second son, Christian, was seventeen years old, he became ill with the dropsy.  The doctors left him for dead.  His older sister, Mary, came home to take care of him.  She had been living in the city, and while there, had joined the LDS Church.  She hid a bottle of consecrated oil into her dress.  When no one was looking, she fed a drop or two at a time to her brother.  This helped.  About two months later, their uncle (Magdalena's brother), Samuel Schenk, stopped by.  He, too, had converted to the strange religion.  He was on his way to a meeting and had a feeling he needed to stop by.  Hesitantly, he offered to give him a blessing.  

Three days later, their family had to move from their home.  Their rent had expired.  Although Christian, Jr., was still weak, he was able to walk to their new home.

Christian was baptized on July 9, 1877.  The others quickly afterwards.  As soon as they became members of the church, the desire to join the saints in Utah took hold of them.  

The first one to emigrate was Christian, Jr.   He came over in 1884 and went to Providence, Cache County, Utah, where some of the Schenk's had settled.  He worked and paid off his emigration expenses.  In 1885 he sent for the two youngest girls, because their fare was the least amount.  The following year he sent for his father, mother, and other two siblings.  My 2nd great grandfather, Frederick, was one of them.  It took only one month to come via train. 

The family settled in Providence, Cache, Utah.  They worked hard and made a living by growing fruit and selling it in Logan. On February 18, 1886, Christian and Magdalena went to the Logan temple and were sealed for time and eternity.  It was a very special day for them.  Seven of their eight children, including Johannes, were sealed to them on this day as well.  

Christian passed away on July 4, 1899, at the age of 69 years.  He is buried in the Providence, Cache County, Cemetery. 

Sources for this post: Wikipedia.com (Lutzelfluh Switzerland), Christian Rindlisbacher Sr. found on familysearch.org, and documents I found and made digital copies of at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.