Weber Purse

Purse crocheted from shoelaces

This purse is finding a new home at the DUP Museum.  Crocheted from shoelaces, it is an artifact from the Weber family.  It is believed to have been made by Maria Weber, grandmother to Martha.
Maria and her daughter Eliza came to America with Samuel and Verena as converts to the LDS Church.  Maria passed away in 1881 at Salt Lake.  The purse would have been a tender momento for Martha.  If anyone has more information on it, please leave a comment.

July 7th, 1913

Signature found inside the book, Character by Samuel Smiles

Before they were married, George sent Martha to a sewing school of some sort according to family traditions.
 In the letter from Myra (a Weber Cousin) to Gwen Kennington Ray Los Angeles, Ca. 7 October 1989,
"Then I heard at school one day that 'George Kennington was sending Martha Weber to Salt Lake to a fancy dressmaking school (Bessmer, or some name) to take a sewing course.'  She was gone a long time (1 1/2  -3 months).  I don't remember if he went down to meet her and get married at the end of the course or if she came home for a while first.  They never returned to Freedom to live.  He was now working in Burton's store in Afton and they went to Afton to live."

Gary and Karlene brought out a red book, Character, by Samuel Smiles which had been in Esther's collection.  On the inside page was the inscription.  There is our evidence that Martha was attending some sort of classes in Logan (rather than Salt Lake) in July of 1913.  She and George were married October 23, 1913.

By the way, I think that's a pretty smart strategy.  George was marrying a girl much younger that himself who had never been away to school.  Giving her an opportunity to have some experiences on her own could only have a positive outcome on their marriage.

Maurer in Schmiedrued

Strohhaus in Schmiedrued, aus Ein Bauart aus alter Zeit einem Kalender fur das Jahr 1918.
Im Strohhaus wohnte die Familie Maurer Sigwarte.
Es wurde ca 1917/1918 abgebrochen.
Am rechten Bildrand im Hintergrund der Giebel des alten Restaurant Sternen.

Rough translation: Thatch house in Schmiedrued, out from Ein Barat, out from an older time
Calendar for the year 1918.
In thatch house resided the family Maurer, Sigwarte His rank/title about 1917 hand in/deliver to broken.
In the right hand pictured in background the gable of old restaurant Sternen.

Maurer is the family name of 4th & 5th great grandmothers: Anna Mauer 1743 who married Sigmund Bolliger and Margaretha Maurer 1681 who married Heinrich Wirz.

It's interesting to think that several generations back folks would have been living in homes just like this. All the wood stacked and ready for winter makes me think it must have been very cozy this time of year. Imagine it with a coating of snow.
Merry Christmas!

Schmiedrued - from the air

Flugaufnahme von Schmiedrued mir Lohren, Eggschwill und Obereggschwil, im Hintergrund der Benkel.

Translated caption: Arial view of Schmiedrued with Lohren, Eggschwil and Obereggschwil in background der Benkel.

Bemerkenswert sind die vielen Obstbaumgarten.
Remarkable great fruit tree growing garden/region.

Die neue Strasse Dorf-Kehracker ist noch nicht gebaut.
Something about the new road between villages is still not improved.

Schmiedrued is in the foreground - note the position of the larger buildings. This shows a great view of the Rueder Valley. Compare with google maps or the previous postcard to get your bearings.

Webers - Kirchrued

Caption: Postcard of Kirchrued with post office mark 4 June 1910.
At right is picturesque old parish house in background different straw roofed (thatched) houses.

Kirch translates to Church. This small hamlet seemed to be centered around the church which also served Schmiedrued. The small cemetery is in back of the church. This is where the Webers and Goldenbergers attended their meetings, were baptized, married and buried. It replaced an older church which burned - so this is known to locals as the new church. It was built about 300 years ago. A stone plaque from the original church can be seen in the chapel.

Webers and Schmiedrued

Rough translation of caption on the back of this card:
"Colored postcard from Schmiedrued with post mark 17 Aug 1929".

George's wife, Martha was born to Swiss Immigrants, Samuel and Verena Weber. After a series of events which forced Samuel and Verena from Schmiedrued to find work, they met the LDS Missionaries and through another series of events, eventually made their way to the United States. Martha was born a few years after their arrival.

Pull out your genealogy and read up on their story. They were very courageous in a strange country. I regret that we lost the German - maybe some of the older children's families learned some, but I feel that Martha's family didn't have that exposure. Luckily for us Google has the translator option.

This postcard shows the hometown they left. It is a beautiful - as in Star Valley in the spring - place. It nestles in the bottom of a valley with green fields surrounding it. The buildings are well cared for. The homes look large, but usually held 2-3 families. The weaving mill has been converted to a museum. I believe it may be the 3 story building just right of center. The postcards came from the Museum.

The Charles Weber Family

Charles and Johanna Weber and their family
In birth order: Elvera, Herbert, Elaine, Ardyth and Myrna, not shown, born in 1930.

Martha Weber Kennington wrote of her older brother:

"Charles Samuel, the brother who did so much to help me through the years. It was wonderful, the easy manner of his death. But it made the void all the more deep and lasting.
How I enjoyed him and Aunt Joan, his lovely wife, and family. Naturally since death is inevitable for all of us, one day all of us will be called to answer the final summons. May we all be as ready as he was. He chafed at inactivity. Unless he could accomplish something with his hands, life did not seem worthwhile to him. Even though he was aware of the happiness he shared with his family and sisters- work and lots of it seemed the only thing that made life seem worthwhile.
So even though there is happiness in the sweet memories of places and events we went with him, we miss him.
It was wonderful how rich and full he made his life and unselfishly did all he could to help others. Aunt Lena and I are witnesses and recipients to his out giving generosity and kindness..."
Martha Kennington 1959

Weber Reunion

The reunion was great! Lots of information shared, a great copy of the portrait of Samuel and Verena was available - I'd never seen it in color - so that's a treat.

They compiled a history in the first person about each of the original family and had a descendant present it while photos were being shown. All that material and more is on a CD or DVD. They may have more. Contact Judy: judy@legacyfundingusa.com for details.

The Webers went to a lot of work and really made a nice day for the rest of us. Thanks Gerry and Judy!

Talk turned to Schmiedrued and the subject snowballed into a trip in 2013 if anyone is interested. Don't know details or have things organized yet, but ideas are hatching. There are a few photos farther back showing the area- it'd be a fantastic trip - especially with cousins.

Address for Weber Reunion Sat.

Cobble Creek Stake Center
8150 S. Grizzle Way (5410 W.)
West Jordan, Utah

Time: 10 a.m. Historical presentation in chapel with a power point presentation then to the cultural hall for lunch.

Please bring a salad, main dish or dessert, enough to feed 12-15 people. Ham and Rolls will be furnished.

CDs and other things will be available. If you have family artifacts to display there will be a place.

Hope to see some family there!

WEBER REUNION JUNE 26TH

A fast heads up for all Weber cousins-

The reunion has been changed from Freedom to West Jordan - same day- just different location because of travel issues for the balance of those folks wanting to come.

Jerry and Judy W. still ask everyone to bring artifacts for the display table and copies or discs to share information you may have. They say there will be material from the 1975 Weber history book, improved photos, etc. For lunch we're also asked to bring a pot luck dish.

We'll post their email reminder as soon as it arrives. Otherwise I bet you could give them a call to get on the mailing list.

It should be a great opportunity to meet some Weber cousins and make new connections for family history work. Hope to see you there!

Attention Kennington/Weber Folks

In case you didn't get in on the mass emailing, here is a reunion announcement:

Dear Family Member

Many, but not all, have heard from me before. I am Gerry Weber, Jr., oldest grandson of Fred & Hazel Weber. I (with the help of many others) am organizing a family reunion for all of the descendants of Samuel & Verena that I can find. I knew that just finding as many descendents as I could would be a formidable task but I had no idea how much work it was really going to be. My best estimate is that there are over 1500 households & over 7000 living descendants.

It will be fun to get acquainted with such a large family. It will also be wonderful if everyone would bring histories, photos, and any artifacts to display. It would be wonderful if those who have computer skills would put all of their photos & histories on CDs & make extra copies to share.

We intend to present a history of Samuel & Verena, their early lives, conversion, journey to America and much of the early history of Freedom & the family. This has been gathered by Jolynn Barneck, granddaughter of Lena & Willie Jenkins.

The best option to feed the large crowd that we are anticipating is to ask everyone to bring a main dish, salad or dessert to feed 12 – 15 people. That way the cost and work can be evenly spread to everyone.

Following our family presentation, we will serve lunch in the Cultural Hall, enjoy visiting and viewing pictures etc. Tables will be set up for displays. Then we will travel the short distance to the cemetery and gather around Samuel and Verena’s gravesites for a short service.

Please bring your families and join us in beautiful Star Valley June 26, 2010. We hope it will be an enjoyable and informative event, and that we will gain a greater perspective and understanding of our Weber Family history. The younger generations may not be thoroughly aware of their heritage, and this will be a good opportunity for them to see and hear where we come from.

As you receive this email be aware that I have probably included only about 1/3 of the descendents of Samuel & Verena. Would each of you forward this email to all of your family members? It would be better for all to receive it twice than not at all. I am sure that there are typos in much of my data entering & obsolete information as well. If each family would reply to this email with correct & current information on themselves it would be appreciated. This is especially true of those who receive this from a family member rather that directly from me. I am interested in name, pedigree, address, phone # & especially email address.

If there is enough interest it would be great if we could establish a web page or blog for Samuel & Verena’s extended family. That way everyone could add to it & get other information they don’t have.

I am excited about this reunion and hope to see as many of you there as possible. I think it will be great to be together and establish connections that we may be able to maintain in the future.

Sincerely,

Your Cousin,

Gerry Weber