It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from this/these transcript(s) must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collection Coordinating Committee. [Notes added by transcribers are in square brackets. Dashes in square brackets indicate unclear words or letters. indicate words the author inserted to a previously written line.] MSS SC 1076 – Edward Schoenfeld Autobiography Number of Pages: 6 ----- new page (MSS_SC_1076_p001.jpg) HISTORICAL OUTLINES A faith-promoting series prepared by the Y. L. M. I. A. of Liberty Stake. NUMBER OF SKETCH 65 Period covered 8. March 1832 to 1. Oct 1912 Date written Girl's name Address Subject of Sketch Edward Schoenfeld Address 763 Windsor Street, 1. Ward. Ward 1. Ward. Salt Lake City. Mutual President EMILY H. HIGGS, MAY W. CANNON, SADIE G. PACK, Presidency Y. L. M. I. A. of Liberty Stake. ----- new page (MSS_SC_1076_p002.jpg) Subject of sketch—date of birth—where born—situation in life—what occupation (in childhood, man or womanhood) when first heard the gospel—circumstances of conversion— by whom baptized—when—where—how long on the sea—who was Elder in charge—how long on plains—how were the plains crossed—how camp was made—impressive events on the jour- ney—time of arrival—describe appearance of city—how and where located first year—what oc- cupation—what was worn and eaten—price of food and clothing—to whom married—when— where—how many children—names—all dates possible—acquaintance with prophet—mention some testimony of the gospel—acquaintance with Brigham Young—remarkable testimonies re- garding his divine calling—events of interest in early days—ingenuity of the people—excep- tional qualities. ----- new page (MSS_SC_1076_p003.jpg) #1 Edward Schoenfeld. I was born on the 8. March 1832 at the village of Magdeborn, near the City of Leipzig, in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany. Fathers name: Friedrich Wilhelm Schoenfeld. Mothers name: Sophia Krebs. Father died early, and I was brought up by an uncle, Wilhelm Bartholomaeus in Lichtenberg, near Freiberg, in Saxony After my 14th year I was educated at College in Freiberg, to become a schoolteacher under the Government. After graduating from College, I received in 1852 a situation as Teacher in the City of Dresden, which is the Capital of Saxony, in Germany. Here I made the acquaintance of a Teacher in the same school, by name of Karl Gottfried Maeser. We were soon became friends; we both married in the same family, the daughters of the Principal of the School; my wife's name being, Ottilie Mieth. Married on the 29. May 1855. In a conversation with some traveling men, my friend Maeser's attention was drawn to the name of "Mormon," which brought to his attention remembrance a description of the expulsion and travels of this wonderful people, which Maeser had seen in a picturebook, when he was a little boy (it may have been the expulsion from Missouri in 1838.) Our curiosity being aroused we obtained through the agency of a Bureau of Information the address of the then President of the Danish Mission, and just for idle curiosity and information, entered in a correspendance with this President, by name of "John Vancott" of Salt Lake City. He in turn handed us over to the President of the Swiss Mission, Elder Daniel Tylor in Geneva. Now we found out for the first time, that this peculiar people, (the Mormons) were a religious people , different from all other religious peoples. This roused our interest still more, and we arranged with President Daniel Tylor to send us an Elder, who could stay with us under the guise of a traveling Englishman, to learn the German language. This man arrived one day in September 1855 in Dresden. He was Elder William Budge (now the President of the Logan Temple). He could not speak one word of German, and we could not speak one word of English. But Elder Budge had a little Testament, printed in both languages, side by side, and in this way, and no doubt with inspiration and revela- tion it was made clear to us, that this wonderful work, called "Mormonism" was nothing else, but the old and everlasting gospel, brought back again to earth by an angel, and given to the world by a Prophet. So we had found something, that we had not thought of. ----- new page (MSS_SC_1076_p004.jpg) Elder Budge reported these facts to the proper authorities of the mission in Geneva and in Liverpool, and about the 6. of October 1855 Apostle Franklin D. Richards (then in charge of the European Mission) and Elder William Kimball, arrived in Dresden, and found that the seeds of the Gospel were to be planted in Saxony. On the 14. October 1855 we were baptized in the river Elbe near Dresden, by Apostle F. D. Richards. The first three, who were baptized in this dispensation in Saxony were: 1.) Karl Gottfried Maeser. 2. Edward Schoenfeld. 3.) Edward Martin. The first two gathered later on to Zion, the third died in Germany. The following Friday, October 19th 1855. The following persons were bap- tized: 1. Henrietta Mieth (my mother-in law) <2.)> Anna Maeser. 3. Ottilie Schoenfeld, 4.) Emil Mieth, 5.) Camilla Mieth (who is now living in Salt Lake City, and Known as a church-worker, under the well known name of aunt "Camilla Cobb." On the following Sunday, October 21st 1855 the first branch in Dresden was organized with these 8 members; all were then confirmed and the 2 Elders from Liverpool departed, to avoid the suspicion of the Police. Brother Maeser was apointed President of the Branch We opened up a little branch in Leipzig, in charge of Frederick W. Schoenfeld, (my brother), whom I had converted and baptized. He was then the only Saint and Elder in the whole German Army. On the 6. June 1856 I left with my wife and 6 weeks old baby for England, after giving up voluntarily my position as a schoolteacher. Bro. Maeser and wife and child, and Camilla Mieths followed in August and we both were apointed at a conference in Birmingham to labor in the London Conference, where Elder Budge was then laboring as President. In March 1857 I embarked at Liverpool on the Sailing vessel "George Washington" for America, where we arrived in Boston harbor after a 3 weeks and 3 days journey at sea. On the 29. April we arrived at the Camp at Iowa City (then the end of the Railway), where we fitted out for our westward travel. Then we went with Oxteam, and likewise by "handcart" to Florence, 300 miles farther west, and there the camps were organized for the final journey. Myself and family came in Jesse Martins oxteam Co. and arrived in Salt Lake City on the 22. September 1857, closely followed by the U. S. army, who was sent out against our people. After only 2 weeks stay, I was detailed to join our expedition in Major Blair's regiment batallion, to keep the U. S. forces back by ----- new page (MSS_SC_1076_p005.jpg) fortifying Echo Canyon. I moved with the Saints to Provo, and on returning looked at almost anything, that came along. We lived principally on what could be raised and produced here, (bread, beet-molasses at 400 per gallon etc.); such comforts, as we now enjoy, were out of question, what we happened to have, we had, and the rest we went without. In, 1852 I entered the employ of William Jennings in his mercantile business. In the fall of 1869 I was called to fill the place of President over the Swiss and German Mission, in place of Elder Karl G. Maeser returning. I labored there until June 1872. In starting on said Mission (in January 1870) I was the first European Missionary to start from Salt Lake City by railway on the "Utah Central". On the 4. July <1872> I returned to Salt Lake City in charge of a Company of Swiss Emigrants. I went almost imediately in the employ of Z.C.M.I. as salesman, where I still work at this date (1912.) Stop In a church capacity I labored, after my return, as a home Missio- nary in the Salt Lake stake until 1880, then for 26 years as Counselor in the Bishopric of the "Brighton" Ward until 1906, then again as home Missionary in the Pioneer Stake, and later as President of the German Saints in the Pioneer Stake. My removal change of residence to the 1. Ward in Liberty Stake made it necessary to be released from said position. Imprisoned for breaking Edmunds law. from 1. March 1887 I was married in Germany to Ottilie Mieth, on the 29 May 1855. Then sealed to her in Salt Lake City by Brigham Young in 1860 we had one Son (Horst) who died in London in 1857. (25. February Here in Salt Lake City we raised 3 daughters, 1. Camilla, Josephine born 15. May 1860 ; 2. Edgard, born 1. July 1863 ; 3.) Alice Theresa, born in Brighton Ward June 19th 1874. My 1. wife died in S. L. City 7. January 1911 I married in plural marriage on the 17. April 1867 in the Endowment house, and sealed by Apostle George Q. Cannon, Mary Alice Gringall from London, England. We had the following children: 1.) Ottilie Sarah, born in S. L. City 19. May 1868. died in S. L. City 19. June 1889. 2 Albert Edward " " " " 8. December 1869. 3. Wilhelm Emanuel" " " " 6 April 1873. died 16. July 1873 4. Laura Gertrude " " " " 1. May 1874. 5. Hildegard Sophia " " " " 26 May 1876. 6. Edith Else Iona " " " " 5. December 1878. 7. Theodore Adelbert" " " " 28 March 1881 8 Twins { George " " " " 6. February 1884 died 6. Febr. 1884} 9. { Frederick Wilhelm " " " " 6 February 1884 died 19. Febr. 1884} Twins 10. Hortense Elizabeth" " " " 12. February 1885 11. Victor Arnheim " " " " 3. June 1888. died 28.May 1891 ----- new page (MSS_SC_1076_p007.jpg) my family Biography. as handed in to the M. I. Association through the officers in 1st Ward.