The Wyoming Woodticks. P. 1

On the McKinnon, Wyoming website (the city McKinnon being named after Archibald McKinnon Sr.), there are some memoirs written by the Stake President of the stake that was being formed there. Archibald was the 1st counselor and accompanied the stake pres on many occasions to the city - which is why they named it after him. Anyways, I will post every now and then a memoir written that has Archibald in it, or one that he was present for as he accompanied the author of the memoir.

They can all be found here:
http://www.mckinnonwyoming.com/the_wyoming_woodticks.htm

Below is written by Archibald Pullman - the first bishop in the McKinnon, WY stake.


In preparing this brief history of McKinnon, Wyoming, consideration is given to the origin of the Woodruff Stake of Zion, named after the late president of the Church, Wilford Woodruff. The McKinnon Ward became a vital part in the life history of President John M. Baxter, who was then president of the Woodruff Stake, and of his beloved uncle, President Archibald McKinnon. (McKinnon Ward became as his namesake).
The purpose of our people migrating into the McKinnon area was to homestead lands, in the hope of future security and happiness for their families. These were a hard-working people—good Latter-day Saints. Many were related through marriage. All the group had previous acquaintance with each other. Some had developed very intimate relationships. Others had had dealings with each other in the livestock business. This particular area afforded good land of 160 acres for each family, with grazing rights on the range for their livestock. In addition to this, desert entries could be taken up which would afford land holdings up to nearly 1000 acres for each family. This expansion of property over their previous holdings in Utah and Sanpete Counties greatly increased their potential for future success in the livestock business.

Their first consideration, however, was for their spiritual and social well-being. Through some missionary work and contacts with the stake authorities, a ward organization was effected in the 1918, involving some 300 souls.

I was the first bishop of McKinnon Ward. Many times we held campfire meetings when stake authorities visited us and we lacked conveniences for a large gathering. These were appointed to be held by a rippling stream of spring water which ran nearby and which made a perfect setting to listen to the counsel of this great man, President Baxter. We had a great interest in his exciting experiences in the building up of this far-flung part of his stake. He, in company with other stake officers, would travel from 90 to 100 miles by team and wagon, sleeping at night by the roadside, preparing meals as they traveled, and intermittently watering and feeding their horses as they traveled up steep hills and into passes where roads were hazardous and unprepared. It involved at times 10 to 12 days and 180 miles of travel to complete the circuit of the outlying wards and branches of his stake. This slow mode of travel gave opportunity for observation, not only of the condition of the people, but of the country in general.
One particular experience that President Baxter related was of great interest to our people. It involved a trip that he and his stake family took into our area on the way to Manila, some 15 miles beyond. President Archibald McKinnon was in company with his stake officers at that time. They had observed, during the day, many squatters settled upon various quarter sections of land. They camped that night on the very spot where we held campfire meetings. This particular spot seemed to be a prearranged place, as the spring of cool fresh water running through a grove of trees made a pleasant campsite. That evening comments were made by the group regarding the squatters. This conversation caused a deep contemplation in the mind of Archibald McKinnon. After the evening prayer he made this prophetic utterance. "Brethren, I want to say to you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that these squatters will never prove up on this land. There will yet come a day when a colony of Latter-day Saints will settle upon these lands, and they will prove up on them and make their homes here, becoming an organization of the Church in this very locality." This prophecy was made about the 1910. It was literally fulfilled. Peculiar as it may seem, President McKinnon died on April 22,1915, at the very time settlement began in this area – almost to the very day – by a colony of Latter-day Saints.

The success of our endeavors in this life cannot be claimed by one individual – nor can it be given to any one other. We ride, as it were, upon the shoulders of mighty men who have gone on before. Therefore, when a life combines not only goodness and virtue but also devotion to duty and patriotism in the spirit of sacrifice, and a deep, abiding faith in God, it becomes our duty to unfold such to our posterity.

by Archibald Pulham

McKinnon, Wyoming

Archibald McKinnon, Sr.

The Wyoming Woodticks - pt 3

On the McKinnon, Wyoming website (the city McKinnon being named after Archibald McKinnon Sr.), there are some memoirs written by the Stake President of the stake that was being formed there. Archibald was the 1st counselor and accompanied the stake pres on many occasions to the city - which is why they named it after him. Anyways, I will post every now and then a memoir written that has Archibald in it, or one that he was present for as he accompanied the author of the memoir.

 Below is a memoir written by Archibald Pullham - the first bishop of the McKinnon ward.

TRAGEDY AT MOUNTAIN VIEW

Writes President John M. Baxter, "In the spring of 1905, President Archibald McKinnon, Thomas Tingey, George A. Neville, and I made a tour of the state. We spent two weeks making this visit. While on this tour after leaving Milburn, we went to Mountain View, where we found the people in a state of excitement. A woman and a little boy undertook to cross Smith’s Fort River. The melting snows had swollen the stream, and the current was very swift. The party drove a team into the river, and the current took the team and wagon down the stream. In some unaccountable way, the little boy got out, but the woman and the horses were drowned. The boy had just reached the store at Mountain View when we arrived there, and we joined in the search for the woman. We found the horses and wagon some distance below where they went into the stream, but the woman was not with the outfit. The horses were both dead when we found them. We kept up a search for the woman all day—without success. The next day her body was found—some two miles below. This was the same woman who came to the meeting at Lone Tree last year with her little boy on the night we had organized the Sunday School among the cowboys."

I thought this would be of interest as we remember Mountain View—a mail station during the years of our sojourn in McKinnon. It was one of the central exchange stations on the old-type telephone, the handle of which we turned and rang for various stations outside of Mountain View.

Many similar experiences were had by President John M. Baxter in organizing the outlying areas of his stake. He had many wonderful experiences. Archibald McKinnon, his uncle, accompanied him throughout all of those early experiences.

We come now to April 22, 1915—and the death of Archibald McKinnon. Writes President Baxter, "Archibald McKinnon, my uncle, and first counselor in the stake presidency, died at Randolph April 22, 1915. His funeral was held in connection with a stake conference which was held on April 24 and 25 at Randolph. President McKinnon was like a father to me when I was a child, and I grew up under his care and instruction. In my young manhood he was my bishop and directed my spiritual activities. When I became a man, my uncle and I became companions and were very much attached to each other. When I was chosen bishop of Woodruff Ward, we became more closely associated than ever. We traveled together to conferences in the Bear Lake Stake and discussed the problems of our respective wards. With our unity and affection, the people of Randolph and Woodruff became very closely united. When I was called to be president of Woodruff Stake, he was still bishop of Randolph Ward and fully sustained me as his president.
"Nothing of any importance was done in the Woodruff Ward on which I was not counseled. When President Byron Sessions was released as my counselor, my uncle was chosen to succeed him and continued in that position until he died.

"President McKinnon was faithful unto the last moment of his life. He never shirked any duty that was required of him at any time. He was wise in counsel, kind to everyone, honest in his dealings with his fellowman, strict in obedience to the commandments of God, and devoted his life freely to the service of the Lord. The speakers at his funeral were Apostle Heber J. Grant, Joseph W. McMurrin, George A. Peart, and Bishop . Many beautiful floral offerings and manifestations of esteem were attendant."

Continuing the history which President Baxter has written, I quote another passage:
"We had called our settlement "Mountain Home" for many years. The name "Mountain Home" was changed to "McKinnon" on September 8, 1922, in honor of President Archibald McKinnon."

 Then President Baxter relates in his history that on one of his trips to Manila, Brother McKinnon accompanied him and they camped on the spot that I had previously mentioned—where the McKinnon Ward is now located. "He reiterated by saying to me, "John, you will see that day when there will be a settlement of Latter-day Saints on this spot, as I have predicted in the past." A few years later this prediction was literally fulfilled. He little thought then, however, that the settlement would be named after him."

http://www.mckinnonwyoming.com/the_wyoming_woodticks.htm

The Wyoming Woodticks - pt 2

On the McKinnon, Wyoming website (the city McKinnon being named after Archibald McKinnon Sr.), there are some memoirs written by the Stake President of the stake that was being formed there. Archibald was the 1st counselor and accompanied the stake pres on many occasions to the city - which is why they named it after him. Anyways, I will post every now and then a memoir written that has Archibald in it, or one that he was present for as he accompanied the author of the memoir.

 Below is a memoir written by John Baxter - the stake president of the area. (Also our great great great cousin):

THE REORGANIZATION OF THE MANILA BRANCH

AND AN ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE

A SUNDAY SCHOOL AMONG THE COWBOYS OF LONE TREE

"In September of 1904, in company with Andrew Jensen, assistant historian of the Church, with some of our Relief Society sisters and sisters of the Primary association (we were accompanied also by Archibald McKinnon of the stake presidency), we made a trip toward the Manila Branch, 125 miles from the Woodruff Ward on the Henry’s Fork of the Green River. On the way, about 32 miles southeast of Lyman, there is a little village called Lone Tree, where a few families had located; and although we knew it was a pretty wild place, we thought we might organize a Sunday School there. A house had been built, not far from the road, among some of the pine trees. Here we saw children playing around the house. We drove up to the house and I, on entering, found a woman with a very large family of children. They were in very destitute circumstances. The children were very shy, not having been accustomed to seeing strangers. I told the lady that we thought it would be nice to organize a Sunday School there and, said I, "I see you have a lot of children here that need the benefit of a Sunday School. What do you think about it, milady?" She said, in a very drawling tone, "Wal, I dunno, but I don’t think it would work. They tried it once before, and it didn’t go. The cowboys rode into the house and shot up all the windows—scared the kids nearly to death—and broke it up, so I don’t think it’ll work." I said to her, "If we organize a Sunday School, would you send your children?" She said, "I reckon I would, but I don’t think it’ll work." I said to her again, "We are thinking of holding a meeting in the schoolhouse on our return. Do you think the cowboys will interfere with us?"" She answered, "Wal, I donno. They might shoot around, but I don’t think they would shoot you. They shot a man here last week, but he needed killin’."

"In thinking about this, I thought the prospect of our having a Sunday School at Lone Tree was very flattering. We thought we would try, so we posted a notice on the schoolhouse door, appointing a meeting on the following Monday evening at eight o’clock. The sisters pled with us not to attempt this meeting, but Brother Jensen and I thought it would be all right, so we went on to Manila, and there we held a branch conference and installed Peter G. Wall as bishop of the contemplated ward. Brother Jensen obtained his historical data, and after spending a pleasant time with the people of Manila, we drove back to Lone Tree."

"Arriving there a little before sundown on Monday evening, we heard of a man by the name of Harry Bullock, who had relatives in Provo, Utah, who were members of the Church, and we thought that he would be all right for superintendent of the Sunday School if he was a member of the Church; so we drove to his house. Now Mr. Bullock was not at home, but his wife was there, and they had a large number of hay men. They were just in the middle of haying. The wife hesitated for some time before she let us in but finally did ask us to come in. The boys took care of the team. She was preparing supper for the hay men and said that as soon as they were through with their supper, she would prepare some food for us. We had not been there long before the cowboys came in from the hay field. They were galloping as fast as the horses could run—shouting and yelling at the top of their voices. Our ladies were very nervous and did not want to stay, but there was nothing else to do. While the boys were eating I told them the object of our visit and asked them to come to the meeting. They said, "Shore, we’ll come." One said, "When you organize a Sunday School here and make it go, I will show you a white cow!"

"After finishing their meal they retired to their bunkhouse, and after we had eaten, it was time for us to go to the meeting. We had to walk about half a mile to the schoolhouse. It was very dark, and we had to go through the woods. One of the ladies took Brother Jensen by the arm and the other took me by the arm—one on each side of me. I never had ladies cling so tight to me before or since as those ladies did that night. When we arrived at the schoolhouse, no one was there. We found a coal oil lamp, lit it, and set it upon the cupboard in the center of the hall. Then we sat down and waited. About nine o’clock a woman with a little child came in. At ten o’clock a number of cowboys came. They had their leather chaps, with spurs—their six-shooters hanging at their sides. At eleven o’clock we commenced our meeting, with quite a little congregation. The cowboys were no particular about making any noise. They did not take off their hats but acted as if they had never been in a meeting before."

"Brother Jensen was the first speaker. He had recently returned from the Holy Land and carried with him some souvenirs, among which was a Star of Bethlehem which he had bought at Bethlehem, some stones from Mt. Carmel and the Sea of Galilee, and other little trophies. Showing these and talking of his travels through Palestine was quite interesting to that group of listeners. I then addressed the assembly, speaking of the organization of the Sunday School and of the benefit that it could be to the children of the community. Incidentally, I said that sometimes, under the auspices of the Sunday School, we got up dances. One of the cowboys started yelling, "Whoopee, let’s have a Sunday School!" The others all agreed with similar shouts, so we proceeded to organize.

"We chose Harry Bullock as superintendent. He could raise no objection because of his absence. Two girls who had attended the BYU at Provo, Utah, volunteered to assist. They were voted in, and we finally effected an organization. The voting seemed to be very amusing to the cowboys. One fellow sitting near the center of the room first voted with one hand, then with both hands, and finally with his hands and his feet also. As the voting continued., his enthusiasm seemed to increase. After returning home, I learned that the Sunday School lasted two weeks. The girls went on the roundup with the boys out on the range, and the Sunday School was broken up. Several years later, however, we did organize again and had a good Sunday School at Lone Tree, which is still functioning."

Found at:
http://www.mckinnonwyoming.com/the_wyoming_woodticks.htm

Death Certs

Death Certificate for Archibald McKinnon (Sr.)



Death Certificate of Mary McKay McKinnon



Elizabeth Bott and Samuel Brough

Elizabeth Bott and Samuel Brough

How we relate:

They are the parents of George Henry Brough

Who is the father of Mabel Brough Bingham

Who is the mother of Ella Mae Bingham McKinnon

Who is the mother of Don McKinnon

Samuel Brough was born on September 16, 1839. He was the son of Richard Brough and Mary Horleston of Staffordshire, England.  They had 12 children.

As a young man, Samuel worked in the coal mines around the city of Longton and also  worked in the trades of masonry and carpentry. British census records state that Samuel was working as a coal miner when he was eleven years old.

 Elizabeth Bott was born on March 18, 1838 to Benjamin and Elizabeth Bott. She was the oldest of nine children and did not attend a single day of school in her life. She and her sisters were china painters and decorators in the Staffordshire potteries.

Elizabeth’s parents were members of the Church of England and bitterly opposed her keeping company with Samuel since his father was a Mormon and Elizabeth's parents were long time members of the Church if England . However, Elizabeth didn't care what her parents said and both she and Samuel, while dating, investigated the Mormon church and ended up being baptized in May of 1857. After Elizabeth joined the Church, her parents cut her out of their lives for many years. Years later, Elizabeth got back in contact with her siblings through letters.

On 7 February 1858, Samuel Brough married Elizabeth Bott in Edensor, Staffordshire. He built one room onto his father's house where they lived until they came to America. Four children were born in England: Mary Elizabeth (1858), Jane (1860), Samuel (1861), and Eliza (1863).     

Samuel and Elizabeth and their children left Liverpool on 30 May 1863 on the ship Cynosure. They sailed with a company of 754 Saints under the direction of David M. Stewart, arriving in New York Harbor on July 19.

While on board ship there was an epidemic of measles and two year old Samuel became very sick and almost died a few times.  After arriving in New York, the family started westward. They traveled part of the way to Florence, Nebraska in cattle cars. They crossed the Missouri River near Florence on a ferry. Shortly after arriving in Nebraska, little Samuel finally succumbed to the measles and died on August 7, 1863. He was buried in a dry-goods box, dressed in a little colored nightgown. 

     On August 15, 1863 they started across the plains in the Samuel D. White Company. Many families were assigned to each wagon. Elizabeth walked most of the way while carrying her 5 month old daughter, Eliza.  Samuel drove the team all the way to Utah. The wagon trained pushed forward everyday stopping for a half a day each week to wash their clothes in the nearest creek.

                   On October 15, 1863, they reached a snow covered Salt Lake City. Arriving at the beginning of winter made it cold and miserable, it was hard to feel at home. They lived in Bountiful, Utah the first winter and in the spring, moved to Porterville, Utah in Morgan County.  They lived in a little dugout in the hillside. It was lined with adobes, and there was a fireplace in one end.
  




      In the spring when the snow started to melt, the frost came out of the ground and the water washed down the chimney and part of the wall caved in. A little daughter, Emma, was born in this dugout on March 25, 1865. This same year two year old Eliza died.  Eliza had been ill for only a little while, and the night before she died, it is said she cried for a potato, but there were none to give. This death was extra hard for Elizabeth to bear because she always felt that her little girl died of starvation.

     The family was able to move into a two-room house and there another son, William Thomas, was born on December 11, 1866. In February 1867, the Union Pacific Railroad was starting down the Weber Canyon. They moved to Henefer and found employment. Prudence was born in Henefer on  September 24, 1868. Samuel then moved his family back to Porterville to work with his brother Thomas in a brickyard.

            In May 1870 Samuel left Elizabeth in Porterville with five children and her expecting another whil he traveled to Randolph to see the land that was available for homesteading.  He stayed the summer  in Randolph and worked as  an expert chimney maker. While Samuel built chimneys for the settlers they cut and hauled logs for the house he was building for his family. He received 20 acres of land to homestead. He built a two-room log house located on the corner of Field Street and Second East.  Their son, George Henry (who we come from), was born in Porterville on July 9, 1870. 

Samuel returned to Porterville in the fall to harvest his crops and move the rest of the family to Randolph. By the time he returned, Elizabeth had not heard from him for so long that she had  thought he may have died. She was sitting by the side of the house crying when she saw him walking over the hill.

Samuel harvested his crops, sold his farm to his older brother, Thomas Brough, and sold their house. With a horse, a pair of oxen and a prairie schooner, Samuel, Elizabeth and their six children left for Randolph. Ducks, pigs, chickens and all their belongings were packed in the wagon, which also had a box on the back. Their three cows along with some other cattle were driven. It took a week to make the trip.

It was after dark when they reached Big Creek south of Randolph. The wagon got stuck in the mud and they all walked into Randolph while Samuel stayed with their stuff. They reached a house and stayed with them while the husband of that house went back to help Samuel get the wagon out. It was near midnight when they finally reached the little two-room log house with a dirt floor. Samuel had gathered the chips from the hewed logs and piled them in the center of the room. At the time, it did not have any doors or windows in it. Elizabeth sat on the pile of chips and cried. A fire was soon started in the fireplace in the west end of the room.





Elizabeth and the children stayed and milked and fed the cows, pigs, chickens and ducks while Samuel went to Almy, Wyoming to work in the coal mines during the winter. In the spring Samuel cleared a piece of land and planted grain and had a small vegetable garden. They gathered hay from the "bottoms" east of town for the cattle. They carried their water from "Little Creek" for household purposes until a well could be dug--they called it the "Old Windless." They still had hard times as their crops were not certain. Samuel was a very good farmer and worked at this in the summertime, and worked in the coal mines in Almy, Wyoming during the winters.

While in Randolph, Samuel and Elizabeth had three more children:  Hannah (1872), Benjamin (1874), and Adria (1876).    Samuel spent years building the family's new brick home. Money was scarce and he would have to stop for awhile, harvest his crops, and sell some to obtain more money. He made his own brick, lime, and did the mason work on his home which was the first brick home to be built in Randolph. He  also helped build many other homes in Randolph.




Elizabeth’s granddaughters recall her as a dainty lady; mannerly, polite and refined. Proper in everything she said and did. When working in her home she could always be found with a long black skirt, frilly black satin blouses, and a long clean white starched apron, edged in lace at the bottom. She always had pretty bonnets that tied under her chin. Her home and Elizabeth were immaculately clean and neat.

Samuel and Elizabeth’s yard was beautiful and well kept. Flower beds lined the board walks. The house’s sunny bay windows were filled with plants and blooming fuchsias and geraniums. Her cupboard held the English china painted by her sisters, straight from the Wedgewood potteries in Staffordshire.

Samuel Brough was a religious man and attended to his Church affairs with dedication. He died 29 May 1911 at the age of 71. He left Elizabeth well provided for financially. On hand were all six of her daughters. Three of her four sons passed away before she did.

Elizabeth’s life was an example of true devotion to her husband, family, church and friends. She was a hard worker and often said, “It is better to wear out than to rust out.” In later years she accepted help from her granddaughters to clean her house, but no one was allowed to polish her stove. She was known throughout the valley for her hot cross buns, raisin bread, and butterscotch candy. Her daughter and granddaughters delivered hot cross buns to loved ones on Good Friday as they had seen her do.

Elizabeth was the only one of her family to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She always defended her faith and encouraged her children and other Latter-day Saints to remain faithful to their beliefs. Of Elizabeth it was said, She never regretted the sacrifices and hardships she went through to come to Zion. She died 23 Nov 1921 at the age of 83.

Brough family picture.

Back row Left to Right; Hannah, William, Prudence, George, Emma
Second row; Mary Elizabeth, Samuel (Father), Elizabeth (Mother), Jane (plural wife of Archibald McKinnon)
Third row: Adria, Benjamin

Not pictured: Little Samuel and Eliza who died in their childhood.

 

Sources:

·         http://ancestralties.blogspot.com/2009/06/samuel-and-elizabeth-bott-brough-family.html

·         http://www.broughfamily.org/history/brough_bott.html 

·         History, Descendants, & Ancestry of William Rex & Mary Elizabeth Brough of 

     Randolph, Utah Ronald Dee Rex (pp. 65-69)

Hans Henry Hoffman

Hans Henry Hoffman

1815-1888

How we Relate:

Hans is the father of

Elizabeth Hoffman who is the mother of

Archie Leo McKinnon who is the father of

Byron Eugene McKinnon who is the father of

Don McKinnon.

He is Anna's husband

This is a biography written by Hans' granddaughter Phebe. I thought about editing and adding little things, but then realized that this was the best source of her life there was. Phebe is Selina's daughter who is Elizabeth's older sister.

BIOGRAPHY OF HANS HEINRICH (Henry) HOFFMAN

By a granddaughter, Phebe N. Smith , written in 1940

Hans Heinrich Hoffman was born December 26, 1815 at Maur, Zurich, Switzerland. His parents were Hans Jacob Hoffman and Anna Fahrner. He was the fourth child in a family of five children, two girls and three boys. They were: Anna and Emerentina and his brothers were Johannes and Rudolf.

We know very little of his early life. He had a fairly good education and learned a trade, that of stonecutter and mason. He was an expert workman and built for himself a house that is still in use and in good condition. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. He married Anna Katherine Gut, June 9, 1845, at St. Peter, Zurich, Switzerland. To this union, three children were born---Kasper, Rudolf, and Johannes.

His wife died at Pfaffhausen, Zurich, Switzerland, on November 28, 1850 leaving him with three small children, one of them only six months old. How he managed, we will never know, but he got along somehow until the 14 September 1857, when he married Anna Barbara Baumberger. She was a good, kind mother and loved his children. John (Johannes), the baby, received an injury to his head and was retarded the rest of his life. They made a home in Fallenden, Zurich, Switzerland, and to this union four children were born: Selina, Elizabeth, Harry and Jacob. Little Jacob died at the age of four months.



Children: Harry, Elizabeth and Selina



 Hans Heinrich was a kind and loving father, but like most old country fathers, was very strict with his family. He loved to work at his trade. The children, as they grew older, took care of the small farm and garden. They also raised fruit, had chickens and a cow. They would cut the lucern with a scythe, rake it with a hand rake, pitch it on the wagon with a fork and hook the cow to the wagon and haul it to the barn. They also raised a little wheat and would cut it with a scythe, rake it by hand, beat it out with a flail and as they needed bread or flour, the children would carry it to the mill and exchange it.

Hans never had his picture taken because he read in the Bible, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any likeness of anything that is in the earth." When the family was in Switzerland, they lived in a stone house which is still in use. The home was occupied by two families. The half of the house that they lived in consisted of a kitchen, dining room, and weaving room, three bedrooms, and a hall upstairs. In the dining room, Hans built a fireplace of stone. In the hall upstairs was a chest where they kept dried fruit.

When the L.D.S. missionaries came to their door, Anna Barbara soon became interested, but Hans Heinrich would not listen to them. Whenever they called he would go upstairs. When Barbara was baptized in 1862, she tried to convert him, but he was satisfied with his own church. Her two sisters were living in Utah and no doubt wrote glowing letters about the opportunities to be had in Utah.

Finally in 1877, he surprised his wife one morning, after they had engaged in family prayer, by telling her that if she still wanted to go to Utah, he was willing to go. We have no record of him being baptized in Switzerland.

They were a very thrifty family and had saved enough money to pay the fares and expenses of the family. Kasper, Selina and Harry had been baptized. They left Fallenden June 11, 1977. It was a sad day for the family, Rudolf was staying behind, and they were leaving a host of friends, and relatives. Those making the trip were Hans Heinrich, Anna Barbara, his wife, Kasper and his wife, Ida Durich, Selina, Elizabeth, Harry and John; also a friend, Karl Kramer. They traveled by boat and ship to New York and boarded a train for Utah. Mother often told us how her father enjoyed the soup in the restaurant and asked for a second dish, and then when it came time to order the meal, he didn’t want anything else, the soup was a full meal. When they arrived in Evanston, Wyoming, a brother-in-law, Henry Bluemel, and a nephew, John Benzley, met them. They rode in a wagon until they came to the old river bridge north of Almy, here they turned out their horses and camped for the night. The next morning they had a long search for their horses as there were no fences at that time. After cooking breakfast on a campfire, they had a long tiresome ride to Randolph. About the first thing grandpa did was sit down on the wagon tongue and have a good cry. He didn’t see how he could make living for his family in this barren land all covered with sagebrush.



Immigration Passenger List



It was not long until they were established in a home of their own. They bought a house and four city lots from Orson J. Spencer. Kasper was a very good carpenter and it was not long and he had made most of their furniture.

It was not long before Kasper and his wife moved to Logan, Utah. Hans Heinrich, or Henry, as he was now called here in America, was called to work on the Logan Temple. He was baptized July 11, 1877. No doubt he stayed with Kasper while working on the temple. At one time he got so homesick to see his family that he walked home, carrying his food and his bedding on his back, and camping out at night as it took him several days to make the trip.

He also worked on the Paris, Idaho Tabernacle, and it is still in use. He was ordained an Elder, and he and his wife journeyed to Logan, to the temple where they received their endowments September 19, 1888.

He died December 5, 1888 of pneumonia, after a short illness. A few days before his death, he went to Laketown and back for a load of flour. It was a cold, wet trip by wagon and team and he contacted a bad cold from it. He was buried in Randolph, Utah.

His children were all married and settled in homes of their own, except John, who never married. His family and a host of friends sadly missed him. He has a large posterity now, who honor and respect his name. He was sealed to Anna Kathrina Gut, July 9, 1891 in the Logan Temple.

Anna Baumberger Hoffman

 How we Relate:

Anna is the mother of

Elizabeth Hoffman who is the mother of

Archie Leo McKinnon who is the father of

Byron Eugene McKinnon who is the father of

Don McKinnon.

She is Hans' wife.

 

This is a biography written by Anna's granddaughter Phebe. I thought about editing and adding little things, but then realized that this was the best source of her life there was. Phebe is Selina's daughter who is Elizabeth's older sister.

 

LIFE OF ANNA BARBARA BAUMBERGER HOFFMAN

Written by Phebe Norris Smith – 1940 (granddaughter)

On August 31, 1826, at Fallenden, Zurich, Switzerland, Anna Barbara Baumberger was born. Her parents were Elizabeth Gachnang and Cristoph Baumberger. She had three brothers and two sisters. They were Jacob, Casper, Heinrich, Eliza and Elizabeth.

Barbara passed her early girlhood in the little village of Fallenden. She went to school until she was 10 years old, and also learned to weave silk. Her brother was superintendent of the silk factory in the village, and she would weave on her loom at home and then send it to the factory to receive her wages. She was paid by the yard, so she put in long hours.

Fallenden, Switzerland

When she was about 31 years old, she married Hans Henry Hoffman, a widower with three children. She set about to gain the love and confidence of these children, Casper, John and Rudolph. John had a head injury as a child and would remain mentally handicapped for his life. They were soon won over by her kindness, that is, all except Rudolph, who did all he could to stir up trouble for the new stepmother.

During the next ten years, four children were born; Selina, Elizabeth, Jacob and Harry. The family belonged to the Lutheran Church. One morning, when they were all ready to go to church at Phaufhousen, which was about 2 or 3 miles away, Rudolph revolted and said that he was not going to church, but was going to go shoot crows, as they were eating the walnuts in the woods nearby. Barbara remonstrated with him, as she always kept the Sabbath Day holy, but he only laughed at her and her religious ideas, so they went to church without him. When they returned, he was suffering intensely as he had blown the fingers off one hand in an accident with his gun.



Hoffman Children: Harry, Elizabeth and Selina



Her son, Jacob, died in infancy. One of her brothers died and she took his daughter, Bobetta, at three years of age and cared for her until she was 12 years old, when she went to live with her mother's people.

The country was beautiful, and the land so productive that every inch was utilized. When Spring came, the woods nearby bloomed gaily with wild flowers and berries. The children would gather the berries to make delicious preserves and dried fruit from May, when the strawberries were ripe, until late in the fall. Barbara and the children kept busy preparing food and keeping up the little garden in the rear of the house.

Hans Henry raised a little grain which he cut with a scythe and threshed with a flail. The children then carried the carefully harvested wheat on their backs to the tow of Bence, which was about 3 miles away. The miller of the town would grind the wheat to flour. The bread Barbara made from this flour was dark and course, as the finely milled white flour was a great luxury. Sometimes Barbara would let the children take the grain to the baker to get some "white" bread, which was always an expensive delicacy.

They kept cows, chickens and pigs and there was always plenty of butter, milk, eggs and pork. They raised hay for the cows and it was cut with a scythe and raked with a hand rake. Then they hooked the cow to the wagon and hauled the hay to the barn. Every day they would take the cows to the town watering trough. The water was piped into the trough from a spring. All the children of the town gathered here to water their stock. It was a happy time--a time for chatting and playing before returning the cows to the barn.

One of Barbara's brothers raised a lot of grapes. In the fall, the whole family would go to his place and help gather in the grapes to make wine, and then they would have a party and drink the fresh grape juice.

In Switzerland, everyone learns a trade and then specializes in that type of work. Hans Henry was a mason and a stone cutter who knew his profession well. Barbara never did a washing. She always had a wash woman. She always had a tailor do her sewing. She could make more money weaving silk. The girls knitted all the stockings. As they grew older, they helped their mother weave silk, and each earned 30 to 40 francs a week (a franc was about $.20 in U.S. money, but would buy as much as in America). They were a happy industrious family, and with the children beginning to earn money to add to the family income, they were quite prosperous.

The Mormon Elders Seek Out Barbara

One day Barbara and the girls sat weaving silk, and they were singing as they enjoyed working the many colors into a pretty pattern. A sudden strange feeling came over Barbara and she turned to see if someone was present. Coming up the walk were three Mormon elders-Elder Stuki of Paris, Idaho, Charles W. Penrose of Salt Lake City, and William Budge of Logan, Utah. Grandma welcomed them into her home and when she found that they were traveling without purse or scrip, she invited them to stay for supper. The elders soon became good friends of the family.

Hans Henry did not object to Barbara listening to them tell of their religion, but he would always leave the room and go upstairs. The more Barbara learned of the Gospel the more anxious she became for him to see the light. She prayed that she might find some way to convert him. Her two sisters, Elizabeth Benzley and Eliza Bluemell and families, joined the church and went to Utah in 1866, but Barbara had to wait for 10 more years before her husband became converted. Finally, one day he surprised her by saying, if she still wished to go to America he would go with her. For this she was overjoyed as she found it hard to live her religion in her native land. They sold their home and belongings and were soon ready to go.

Barbara's three children, Elizabeth, Selina, and Harry; two stepsons, Casper and John, Casper's wife Ida, and a friend named Karl Kramer, were in the company. When they were ready to leave, almost everyone in the village (mostly relatives) turned out to see them off, and there was not a dry eye to be seen. They all knew they would never meet again and it was sad to part. Harry cried until his stepbrother, Casper, threatened to throw him overboard if he did not stop. Harry was only 12 years old, and he was leaving many of his beloved playmates and happy times behind.

A Trip To Zion

They sailed down the Rhine River in a boat, leaving home on June 11, 1877. They sailed from Liverpool in a ship called The Wisonsin and were on the ship 18 days. Barbara and the girls were sick most of the time. The food on board was always poor in those days--everyone complained about it--the bread was hard as a rock. Harry would go to the ship's cook and get a little bucket of gruel for the sick which was about the only thing that was fit to eat. They were so happy when they heard it was about time to land that they got up before daylight and made themselves ready. When they got to New York they took in the sights for a day and visited Castle Gardens. They then boarded the train for Zion.

They got to Evanston, Wyoming the first part of July, 1877, and were met by Barbara's nephew and her sister's husband. They rode in a wagon until they came to the old river bridge north of Almy, Wyoming, and camped for the night. When they ate the lunch prepared for them, everything seemed new and strange. They had never tasted pie and they also had cookies, an unheard of luxury for these people who were not used to pastry, and scarcely knew what sugar was. In the old country, cereal, rice and fruit were eaten without sugar. They turned their horses out and slept on the ground. Next morning they hunted until noon before they found their horses, as there were no fences at that time--all the country was open.

 They got to Randolph that night and stayed with Barbara's sister, Eliza Bluemell. A happy reunion took place when she saw her sisters, Eliza and Elizabeth, and their families. They had been living in Randolph for ten years.

Hans Henry still had money left after paying $800 for fares and the expenses of the trip. He used this money to purchase four city lots and a 3-room house from O.J. Spencer. They were on Church Street below the canal in the southeast corner of the town. He also bought 80 acres of hay land located east of town on the Bear River, but he liked most to work at his trade.

Casper was a first-class carpenter and he made most of the furniture. The only things they bought were a kitchen stove, heating stove, rocking chair, and later on a red plush lounge. This was all the furniture she ever owned, but she was always happy and contented in her clean, orderly home and made everyone feel welcome.

The children went to work in homes to learn the language. Selina worked for John R. Smith, and Elizabeth, who later married Archibald McKinnon, worked for Sarah Tyson. They received their board and room. Harry played with the neighbor's children and soon learned the language. Casper settled in Logan, Utah.

Hans Henry worked on the Logan Temple for two or three years. At one time he carried his bedding and walked home from Logan. At that time Randolph was a part of the Bear Lake Stake and he was called to work on the Temple. He was paid from the tithing funds or products given for tithing. However, these products were located in the Bear Lake Stakehouse in Paris, Idaho, and he would have to hire a team to go there and collect the potatoes, flour and other food-stuffs that were his pay. He was paid with cows that were turned in at Randolph. He also worked on the Paris tabernacle. He died December 5, 1888 after three days of illness. He made a trip to Laketown to get a load of flour and caught a cold which turned into pneumonia and caused his death. This was a great trial to Barbara as she was 62, all of her children were married and she was practically alone.

John was the only son at home and he tended the cows and garden. She always kept a pig and chickens. The corral was always kept clean, even the pig pen was clean. Of course, she did not do this work, but she was a good manager and saw that it was kept just so.

I used to visit her as a little child and it was an inspiration to see her well kept place. Every inch of the ground was cultivated--3 1/2 acres of the prettiest lucerne I have seen; a well kept garden where a weed never had a chance to thrive, a beautiful flower garden watered with water drawn from the well, and a currant patch.

She did not go to church much in the winter as it was hard for her to walk and she did not understand the English language well. She never tried to speak English, and when we visited, she would speak in Swiss-German and make us understand it. I remember once when she wanted me to understand that she wanted me to go to the store and buy some black lining. I knew it was "black" but could not make out "lining". She took me by the ear and led me into the bedroom to her clothes wardrobe. She pointed to the lining in her dress and said, "Das is Swartch ferter." In those days, they always lined their winter dresses and also wore many petticoats as the houses were always cold, and even in church they only had one pot belly stove which warmed only the first few front seats.

 Every Sunday she would read her Bible. My cousin, Barbara McKinnon, and I would often go to visit with her. I can see her now, seated on the red plush lounge reading her Bible, dressed in a brown cashmere dress with a gored skirt and a ruffle on the bottom, and with a row of buttons down the front. Her hair was braided in two braids and parted in the middle, the braids crossed in the back and wound around her head. She always wore a black crochet hat.

The first thing she did after taking off our wraps was to go in the bedroom and open a large box which had a white curtain tacked around it and a white scarf on the top. It sat in one corner of the bedroom and in this she kept her best clothes. We knew there was a can in one corner of the box where she kept some peppermints and horhound candy. Of course, we would peek, but we always got this treat and a handful of raisins or a few prunes. Then we would sit quietly while she read the Bible aloud, although we could understand very little of what she read.

When I was about 10 years old, I stayed with her for the winter. She would let me cook hot cakes and set the table. She would not let me have any sugar on my cereal--not because she was stingy, but she had been brought up that way. I could spread all the honey and jam on my cakes that I wanted. She taught me a Swiss prayer and songs in her language. She would let me take the butter to pay tithing and to the store to buy her groceries. Butter generally sold for $.18 per pound. She had a friend, Aunt Ann Peart, and often she would let me carry her some butter, groceries or a mince meat pie, but she would always say not to tell anyone. Her motto was do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Casper went back to Switzerland on a mission. Harry went on a mission to the Northern States on January 4, 1900. I remember how she cried as she did not think she would live to see him again, but she lived a year after his return.

John died in the fall of 1901. Then Grandma could not live alone as she was sick quite a lot and John had always done the hard work. So she came to live with my mother. I guess it was pretty hard to leave her quiet, well ordered home and live with a family of 14. Mother had 10 children at home and my Grandfather Norris was living with us.

But, she was always kind to us children and told us many interesting stories and knitted our stockings. How well I remember my grandmother's log cabin, and the old-fashioned flowers that grew around the door.

She died of dropsy, December 5, 1903. Although she had only three children, her posterity now numbers 172. (1940)

I appreciate the sacrifice Grandmother made, as I am sure that she would have been much happier in her native land, as she was 51 years old when she left there, but through her sacrifice, 172 of her descendents are enjoying the blessings of the Gospel, and although Uncle Casper and his grandson went back to Switzerland on a mission, not one of her many relatives living there ever joined the Church.