Family: Christian David Kellenberger / Anna Magdelene Tobler

m. 19 Oct 1857


 

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Extracted from Kellenberger Family History and Record Book - Revised 1978


 Christian David Kellenberger

 Born December 12, 1827 in Walzenheusen, Switzerland

 Died March 2, 1895 in Bern, Kansas

 His wife Marie Magdelene Tobler

 Born April 4, 1828

 Died February 13, 1901 at Richards, Missouri

 In Heiden KT. Appenzell Switzerland to this union six children were born:

               Christian David   -   March 24, 1856
               Samuel Gotlieb   -   April 12, 1858
               Christina Kellenberger-Brunner - September 21, 1859
               John Henry   -   October 10, 1862
               Marie Kellenberger-Volz   -   January 1, 1867
               Daniel   -   December 23, 1868
               Martha - 6 months old - 1873 at U. S. arrival

 In 1873 the family came to America.  There trade was doing embroidery on fine linens, so they had to live in the cities to get work. 

They lived in Peoria, Illinois a while, then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where they found lots of work for the rich people.  They did lots of beautiful work for folks like Anhauser-Bush Canery and Brewery and the like.  As the children grew older they thought they liked the country better so they moved to Tremont, but the parents kept on with their trade while the young folks learned farming and housekeeping by working for other folks as hired men and maids.  The father would make two or three trips a year to St. Louis to deliver, the finished work and bring more work back with him.  I remember them working initials in a man's handkerchief for $25.00 a piece, a large design in the center and corner of a linen table cloth for $75.00.  They embroidered in the yolks and around sleeves and bottom of infant dresses - beautiful fine work. 

The father never learned farming or even to harness or drive a horse and mother never learned cooking or housekeeping.  Father took a walk each day in the fresh air; one day he came home with some small kittens in his hat and told the hired man to kill the cat they had - he found some pretty ones, you guessed it, they were young skunks.

On February 24, 1895 he walked five or six miles to Apostolic Christian church from Bern to the country.  Took sick in church and was taken to his son John Henry's home and died the following Saturday.

------------------------

Extracted from Kellenberger Family History and Record Book - Revised 1978

Christian David Kellenberger
Born December 12, 1827 in Walzenheusen, Switzerland
Died March 2, 1895 in Bern, Kansas
His wife Marie Magdelene Tobler
Born April 4, 1828
Died February 13, 1901 at Richards, Missouri
In Heiden KT, Appenzell Switzerland to this union six children were born:

              Christian David   -   March 24, 1856
              Samuel Gotlieb   -   April 12, 1858
              Christina Kellenberger-Brunner - September 21, 1859
              John Henry   -   October 10, 1862
              Marie Kellenberger-Volz   -   January 1, 1867
              Daniel   -   December 23, 1868
              Martha - 6 months old - 1873 at U. S. arrival

The father and mother were Lutheran from childhood.  Then one day as the
mother walked home from church in the rain with an umbrella open, a man
caught up with her and began to ask questions about church.  She said she
was in church.  He wanted to know, did she believe it was the right
church, the Bible's way.  She said no, but she never found the church she
believed the right one.

He told her he was an Elder of the church he believed in and he came to that town once a month.  He would preach there in a private house in four weeks; if she feels to come, she was invited so she went and after the preaching he asked her how she felt with them.  She said she believed this was what she thought was the right church.  He asked her questions, proved her and then he asked the members how they felt about her.  They all said they felt good.  He told her to bring her husband along the next time, so he went along and said he believed too and they both repented and were baptized.

After that two sisters, a brother, a cousin, and a niece and a nephew, joined the church. Apostolic Christian church.  This happened in 1859. After that all the family followed.  When John Henry was born, a sister insisted he must be baptized.  As the parents did not approve, a sister smuggled him out of the house and had him baptized without his father and mother knowing it.  When he grew up as a young man he repented and was baptized.  So we thank the dear Lord for his love and mercy for us, that we all was led to be his followers. The mother could not believe in her church because they baptized children.  She said babies are innocent and the Bible says we must have faith and repent and become as a child.  Her first or childhood preacher said she was right but he must please the congregation.

In later years, sorry to say, many of the younger generations turned away and found the worldly lust alluring.  The path was too steep and thorny for them to follow, and too narrow.

In 1873 the family came to America.  There trade was doing embroidery on fine linens, so they had to live in the cities to get work. 

They lived in Peoria, Illinois a while, then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where they found lots of work for the rich people.  They did lots of beautiful work for folks like Anhauser-Bush Canery and Brewery and the like.  As the children grew older they thought they liked the country better so they moved to Tremont, but the parents kept on with their trade while the young folks learned farming and housekeeping by working for other folks as hired men and maids.  The father would make two or three trips a year to St. Louis to deliver the finished work and bring more work back with him.  I remember them working initials in a man's handkerchief for $25.00 a piece, a large design in the center and corner of a linen table cloth for $75.00.  They embroidered in the yolks and around sleeves and bottom of infant dresses - beautiful fine work. 

The father never learned farming or even to harness or drive a horse and mother never learned cooking or housekeeping.  Father took a walk each day in the fresh air; one day he came home with some small kittens in his hat and told the hired man to kill the cat they had - he found some pretty ones, you guessed it, they were young skunks. 

On February 24, 1895 he walked five or six miles to Apostolic Christian church from Bern to the country.  Took sick in church and was taken to his son John Henry's home and died the following Saturday.

Kellenberger, Christian David Biography

History of Christian David Kellenberger


File nameKellenberger Christian David.TXT
File Size6.41k
Linked toFamily: Kellenberger/Tobler (F0147)

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