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' ffiHm '",. -'»; HE JBmMBfOSE *^c?*y JCSOk jQIBr- ^^3X9 ^^^ This book has been given to the Rexburg library, just to show people hov,r a family book can be gotten out using an > easy method, providing you have the records all on family group family sheets If each child that is married is starred on the sheeti jou come back and pick it up in the next generation. The book can be large or small. If small it can be stapled. whs hq zoo oo o / Obi 333"lT0D SMIH ' FO Ek I i p> ^Y USE ONLY cbavid ©.JAc'cKag 9M>«*jmj cs 71 K35 REX6URC UPPER SNAKE RIVER BRANCH genealogical library t-, v9 \ To r FOR LIBRARY USE ONLY Digitized by the Internet Archive 2012 with funding from in Brigham Young University-Idaho http://www.archive.org/details/whatweknowabouthOOkemp p WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE HAYER FAMILY (HYER) Published 1954 Logan, Utah WALTER HAYER AND FATHER OLIVER HAYER E. First Compilers ANNIE HYER KEMP Present Compiler 46673 That we may know about our ancestors; that we may learn about each other in this large family; and that we may become friends, indeed, is this record gathered and printed. Kemp Loverill Beutler (537) Dayton, Idaho. With the deepest appreciation Of our ancestors noble and true, The present-day generations Now give them the honor that is due. And with diligence and affection For the family that's living today, These records have been gathered all To treasure along the way. And now may our children's children we All cherish the records as Y/ho feel in our hearts its a privilege A part of this family to be. And so may we leave this message: Will every one earnestly try To faithfully keep and send their records To compilers as the years go by. Maude Olson Judson (454) Corpus Christi, Texas. - - 3 PRELIMINARY NOTE my After the death of Uncle Joseph Hyer, son of Christian Hyer, the records which he had gathered of the Hayer people and those published by Oliver Hayer in the booklet "What Know About the I Hayer Family," were given to me. In order to get the records up to date put the families given in the Hayer book on family sheets and I sent them to the respective families for corrections and additions. This book attempts to bring the records of the descendants of Andrew Hayer up to date as much as possible. wish to thank the following who have cooperated in this work: I Walter E. Hayer, who gave consent to use anything needed from the Hayer booklet, Elizabeth (Bessie) Hayer Knutson, Audentia Hayer Kelley, Beatrice Constance, William Ethan Hayer, Percy Hayer, and all other members who have so willingly sent in their data, and to Elna Kemp Wallace and Lillian Budge Hartwell, typists. I hope that all of you will cooperate in the correction of mistakes When or omissions in this printing. you have a birth, a marriage, or a death or any other information you think desirable, will you please send it to me, giving the date and the place, so that I can continue to compile this information, and for supplements. Mrs Annie Hyer Kemp (216) or son Harry H. Kemp Logan, Utah. * * * GUIDE TO ABBEVIATIONS a Either wife or husband of direct descendant abt about b born, or second husband or wife when with a number Co county d died father f junior Jr m mother md married Sr Senior * same number will be found later with wife or husband * * see later *** ~ see war list x added later 1, 2, 3, and etc. _. 1 first generation, 2 second gen., 3 third gen, and etc. when was - still alive, this written L.D.S Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints U.S.A.C Utah State Agricultural College Supplement see back of book _ _ 4 WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE HAYER FAMILY (HYER) (Taken by permission from Oliver Hayer's book.) We are unfortunate in that no effort has ever been made to com- mit to writing any historical data concerning our family. All that we know is what has come under our own observation and what has We been handed down by tradition. are, therefore, in possession of only a few facts. — Our a—ncestors, for many generations how long no one seems to know resided in Norway. They occupied the rural districts following agricultural pursuits, with the possible exception of serving in military duty. It is a matter of regret that the date of the emigration from Norway, and many other facts connected therewith have not been preserved. All the information we have received is that the branch from which we descended left there in the early spring of 1842. The evident cause of their migration was to better their future conditions. Wages were low, taxes very high, and it was by the strictest economy and frugality that they were enabled to eke out a scanty subsistance. They had hoped to find conditions more to their liking in America. This, the southeast part of Norway had been their home for generations. The nearest town was Konksberg, located not a great distance from Christiania, the capital. Leaving their home, they traveled by land some distance, mostly on foot, and took ship from Larvik, Norway. We can hardly realize with what heavy hearts they must have had as they moved out. They must say farewell to friends, relatives, and their native land, where for generations they had sojourned, and the remains of their forefathers were laid to rest, and try the unknown We strange land far across the mighty deep. can but admire the courage of those brave people who would dare to go forward in the face of such untoward conditions, and try the realities of life in the Western World. We, their descendants, should try to appreciate the advantages that have come to us by their wise and courageous undertaking. A voyage across the Atlantic ocean at that time meant a great deal more than does now in our day. Steam boats were unknown it to them, and the slow sailing vessels were the only means of travel. This ship on which they sailed was old and heavily loaded with a cargo of iron. It surely looked like a hazardous undertaking. Bu: nothing daunted, they bravely stepped on board, set sail, and were headed for America. Their progress was very slow and tedious. They suffered much from seasickness, and to make matters worse, they ran short of water; each being limited to only a small portion daily of the stale, and slimy liquid, having been fourteen weeks on same the vessel. -5- It is not positively known where they landed on the American we shore, but from the best information available are of the opinion it was at New York. They then went up the Hudson River as far as Albany, where they changed to the Erie Canal, sailed over the Great Lakes, finally landing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was their desti- nation by water. It was now September (1842), and it would be difficult for us to realize the relief that must have come to them after having been so long a time on the water. About one year previous to their arrival, in 1841, two families from the same locality in Norway, and connected by some family tie had preceded them. It was only natural for them to desire to locate in the same vicinity. These earlier immigrants had gone some distance southwest from Milwaukee, and settled in what is now Rock County, Wisconsin. Our people finally located them, and were soon there.** Strange were the sights and sounds that greeted them on every hand. No one could speak a word of the English language. For a time they were bewildered and confused. But a home the family must have. So, securing a small claim, a rude cabin of logs was soon constructed, and gradually they adjusted themselves to these new conditions. The country being new, there was more or less sickness among them, and not a few died during the first twelve months after their arrival. There were many things with which to contend, sickness and poverty prevailing everywhere. Up to this time they had been believers in the Lutheran doctrine. But sometime during the first winter after their arrival, a distant relative, in company with another man, came into their neighborhood preaching, and advocating the doctrine as held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or as they were frequently called 'Mor- mons.' These elders, Ole Hayer, and Goodman Hougas, were quite successful in converting these newcomers to their theological ideas. A story is told of the difficulties these elders encountered when they first came up from Illinois, which may be well to relate here. A report of their coming had preceded them. The Lutheran preacher, fearing these elders might have some influence on his members, ran ahead of the incoming elders, stopping at every house warning the inmates "Do not invite them in." When Lars Hayer and his wife saw the elders coming up the road she was very much agitated. Ole Hayer. relative whom she had not seen in several years was coming. She felt she was not equal to the occasion, so as a last resort ran up stairs in the house. Mr. Hayer, when the elders rapped on the door, opened and invited them it in. She however, kept her ear to an opening in the floor, and listened. After the usual greetings, the elders began conversing on religious matters. Everything he said seemed so reasonable, his voice so natural, she said to herself, "What a fool I am, I shall go down and visit with them, too." - - 6