New Insights Into this Photo

There are new things popping up all the time it seems. Judith Moss recently discovered the following that should be of interest for descendants of Jennie Jameson Naegle Biesinger, the photo below has double interest: It includes both George C. Naegle (her first husband) and also Thomas Biesinger (the father of her second husband, T. K. Biesinger – she and T.K. served two missions for the LDS Church together, in Texas-Louisiana and Hawaii).

Born in 1844, Thomas Biesinger was 15 years older than George C. Naegle, although both were serving missions at the same time.  According to Wikipedia, Biesinger was called to serve a mission in Austria-Hungary and became the first Mormon missionary to preach in the present-day Czech Republic and Hungary.  Arrested in Prague during his mission, he spent 38 days in prison, and was then tried and found guilty of canvassing as a missionary for a sect not approved of by the state and sentenced to 30 days imprisonment at hard labor and a fine of 30 guldens. After his release from prison, Biesinger again met one of the men who had testified against him at his trial, and baptized him into the LDS Church.

Wikipedia also notes that Biesinger preached in Switzerland from August to December 1884; this was the period when the photograph was taken.  In 1928, at the age of 84, Biesinger travelled to Czechoslovakia as a missionary and obtained legal permission for the LDS Church to operate in that country. by Judith Moss

Swiss German Missionary Conference 1884 by Paul-Anthon Nielson

Always searching for more information about George Conrad and his life and I discovered this portrait was taken in the photograph studio of Moritz Emil Vollenweider (d. 1899) and his son, Emil Vollenweider (1849-1921), at Postgasse 68 in the city of Bern on 24 December 1884. A conference of the missionaries serving in the Swiss-German Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) convened in the Hotel Emmentalerhof in Bern on 20 December 1884 under the leadership of European Mision President John Henry Smith (1848-1911), a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (since 1880).

 

George Conrad Naegle second row third man to the right.

On that same day, David Kunz wrote in his diary: “[… on the morning of December 20th,] walked [from Niederstocken] to Thun. Got on the train to Bern. My brother, John, joined me at the station at Thun. As we arrived in Bern [at the mission office at] 36 Postgasse, we found Apostle John Henry Smith and several of the Elders there. At 5 P.M. a Priesthood meeting was appointed where all the elders that were present were called upon to speak their feelings. Afterwards Apostle Smith spoke to us for about two hours and gave us some extra good council and told us how to go on and fulfill our duties.

It was really a time of rejoicing for the elders to meet again and hear words spoken by one of the Twelve Apostles. I and three more of the Elders went to Brother [John] Teuscher’s to sleep. John Kunz III’s account of that day is somewhat similar: “[…] took train to Bern and there the first Thing we knew met President John Henry Smith one of the twelve Apostels, being then President over the European Mission. And we all had a good blessed time for in the same evning Dec. 20 we had a Priesthood Meeting in the English Languge and all spocke in turns and President Smith give us most exellent Instructions so that we thought we should never forget them it lasted until 11 p.m.”

Three sessions were held on Sunday, December 21, 1884, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Monday, the 22nd, general sessions were held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; a conference of the Relief Society was held at 7:30 p.m. that same evening. John Kunz commented that “The whole of the Conference was a decided Success, we received lots of good Teachings and the Spirit of God was there, we all felt to rejoice and to thank God for his Mercy and Blessings.” In his diary entry on Tuesday, John Kunz wrote: “Dec. 23 was spent in having a Jolly time counseled all the Time by John Henry. In the Evning we gathered in the Capacity of a Sonday School Meeting around a nice Christmus tree full of nice Gifts for the little ones. They done so remarkably well that President Smith give each of the Boys who Prayed by opening and dismissing a franc, or twenty cents in U.S. Moneys worth.” On Wednesday, Christmas Eve day, David Kunz commented: “Had our breakfast there [in the Hotel Emmentalerhof] in the morning and went down to [the mission office at] 36 Postgasse. About 11 A.M. all the elders, 14 in number, and Apostle John H. Smith went to Vollenweider’s Gallery to have our likeness’ taken all in one picture.

As all 15 of us were placed, we were taken once and Mr. Vollenweider told us to remain in our places. We did so for to be taken again, but before it could be taken again I fainted and fell to the floor. The brethren lifted me up and after a few minutes I came to my senses again and was placed on a chair among the others and our picture was taken. I spent the rest of that day in the office, also that night I stayed there.” John’s account of the experience is similar: “Dec. 24 was resolved by all of the Elders from Zion 15 to have each a Group Picture of all of the 15. We contracted and as we where about to be taken David my Brother fainted a dead faint, we doubted whether he would come again, but finely he got so we could take them, but later Experience learned us they where a failure. David I transported to the Officce and got Sister [Bertha Kunz] Pluess to care for him and went according to apointment in the Emmenthaler Hof to a Christmus Dinner where 14 of us had a good Time with an American Plum Pudding, allthough I missed my Brother very much and returned sooner and found him a great deal improved.

On Christmas day, December 25th, John Kunz III wrote: “a good many of the Brethren left to their diferent fields of Labor and here I must state that my Brother David was appointed President of Central Swiss Conference and myself as such of the Bern conference.” He continued: “Dec. 26, 1884 left Bern and also took leave of my Brother who was told to stay untill more improoved in his health, this Occasion was a new trial and a hard one to me, but as I had resolved to Labor and do whatever the Servants of God placed over me, would advise and apoint me to do, I left all though cryeing and praying, changing untill my head and eyes requested some stop about it.” This photograph is the second shot. Front row, left to right: David Kunz (1855-1916), Assistant Mission Secretary Louis Frederick Moench Sr. (1846-1916), European Mission President John Henry Smith (1848-1911), Swiss-German Mission President Frederick William Schoenfeld II (1831-1918), Mission Secretary Joseph Albert Smith (1844-1926), Thomas Biesinger (1844-1931) and Conrad Vaterlaus III (1835-1917); back row, left to right: Gottlieb Hirschi (1837-1900), Gottfried Fuhriman (1859-1920), George Conrad Naegle (1860-1935), John Kunz III (1844-1918), Jacob Hafen (1836-1917), Jacob Arnold Bigler (1849-1916), Francis (Fred) Marion Lyman Jr. (1863-1957) and John Rudolf Boshard (1856-1928).  Information and Identification by Paul-Anthon Nielson kupan@bluewin.ch

During the years that George C. Naegle presided in the LDS Swiss and German Mission

During the years that George C. Naegle presided in the LDS Swiss and German Mission, he published numerous articles and reports in the Church’s long-lived (1869-2000) German journal Der Stern, starting with his “introduction”  (issue of  May 1, 1894) and ending with his farewell (issue of January 1, 1897).  The farewell letter was translated in 2013 by Kenneth Kronenberg, independent translator, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

President George C Naegle standing behind his wife Sabra while serving in the LDS
Swiss German Mission.

This farewell letter reflects George’s practice of marking a special day or time with verse – the four lines at the end clearly rhyme in the original German.  This letter’s point of view is different from that of the “introduction” letter, with somewhat more expression of “we” and the added signature of Sabra Naegle.

(Der Stern has been digitized and can be accessed – in German -- on line.)

Dear missionaries, brothers and sisters, and friends of the Swiss and German mission:

            As we have been called back to Zion, and having received our honorable release from President Wells in Liverpool, it is with joy that I take up the pen to dedicate a few words upon our departure and bid a heartfelt farewell.

George C and Sabra Naegle

            I left my homeland in Mexico in September 1893 and with Apostle Teasdale, president of the Mexican mission, and numerous others, I traveled over 1000 miles to Utah in order to attend the October conference in Salt Lake City, and to enjoy the blessings of the Holy Temple. I then hurried on to my beloved wife in southern Utah, who had already gone there in the spring for the dedication of the temple and remained there under medical care. During our absence, we suffered the painful loss of all of our children.

            In this sad position, I received a telegram from President Woodruff on January 4, 1894 containing the surprising news that I was to take up a mission in Germany. This truly tested us because we were far from our homeland, and I was to leave my wife in a weakened state of health in her disconsolate condition. But then I said, it is a call from God's prophet, and I will go. We immediately traveled to Salt Lake City, where the first presidency of the church decided that I was to assume the presidency of this mission, and that my wife was to accompany me. Three days later, on January 24, 1894, we departed . . . and reached Bern on February 16. I began my work . . . and the presidency of the mission was transferred to me 3 months later.

            The success of our work is recorded in heaven and well-known among our brothers and sisters in this mission. If we achieved something to promote the work of God in these countries, we feel the need to honor God for it and thank him from the bottom of our hearts for the fatherly blessings and support from him that we have enjoyed.

[Here George expresses specific thanks to a listing of mission staff, missionaries and members, European Mission officers and staff, and others named, then continues with comments to missionaries, Church members, and others interested in the Church.]

            Dear missionaries! You have done a noble work; continue to carry your divine message to the people. This time is the Lord's time; do not misuse it. Gather your courage and pray for strength from above to fulfill your blessed missions, and when you do and persevere steadfastly to the end, you will be counted among the 144,000 who will one day stand as redeemers upon the mountain of Zion.

            Dear brothers and sisters! Be joyous and trust that your cause is righteous. Remain pure and unsullied by the sins of the world. Be honest, steadfast, and faithful; pay your tithes, pay your debts, and be blessed. Fulfill your duties completely and wholly so that you may enjoy the blessings of God completely and wholly. Support the elders; listen to their suggestions because they are servants of God and care about your welfare and salvation.

            Dear friends! I urge you to examine our message thoroughly because I bear witness in the name of Jesus Christ that God has again spoken from heaven, and as surely as Christ is his son and the Redeemer of the world, so truly is Joseph Smith his prophet, and this, the Church of Latter Day Saints, is the church of the Lamb of God and the only one on earth with apostles, prophets, etc., and the perfect organization as it existed in the original church, and we invite you to become members of same and citizens of the Kingdom of God.

            Now at the conclusion of our mission, we for the third time experienced a wonderful conference at Christmas in Winterthur. "All good things come in three." Perhaps I will take up a mission for the third time. Gladly, if God calls me again and I can say that I would not rather be anywhere else but on a mission to Switzerland and Germany.

Now the time and hour have come for us to return to America.

Joyously, we leave the federal city of Bern,

And return to Zion in the name of the Lord,

I bid you a fond farewell and hope to see you again

If not on earth then surely in heaven.

Your departing brother and sister

Geo. C and Sabra Naegle

Bern, Archivstrasse 20, January 1, 1897