Karl Heinrich Buchmiller - Part 5

     Karl and Emil lived on the road with the railroad crew, but as often as possible came to Logan to visit their mother and sister. While attending church in the Logan Fourth Ward, Karl met an attractive young German immigrant named Christine Gertraude Walz. It was not long before their friendship became more serious in nature, and they began planning their marriage. Karl promised he would love and care for Emilia, Christine's 15-month-old daughter, as his own.

Endowment House

     Karl's sister, Mary, now 17, married Julius Kraus February 6, 1883, in Providence, a small community southeast of Logan. She wore a beautiful dress of black silk with purple flowers. Two months later Christine borrowed Mary's wedding dress to be worn after her own marriage. Both couples traveled to Salt Lake City together. Karl and Christine were married April 8, 1883, in the Endowment House by Daniel H. Wells. Mary and her husband, Julius Kraus, were sealed that same day. Karl used the American version of his name, Charles, on the temple record and on the ward record.

     The railroad assigned Karl to a camp settlement-near Beaver Canyon, Idaho, not far from present-day Spencer in Clark County. He took his new wife and daughter with him. Karl's job was to "walk track."

It meant he was to look for problems as he walked the track from Beaver Canyon to the Montana border. The family lived in a railroad section house and it was here that John Henry Buchmiller was born February 3, 1884.

     Meanwhile, Christine's older sister, Christina Magdalena Walz, and her family, who had stayed in Logan, had accepted a call to homestead in the new Church settlement of Rexburg, Idaho. The community was located about 70 miles south and east of Beaver Canyon, Idaho, and about 170 miles north of Logan, Utah.

Conrad Walz, son of Christina Magdalena, invited Karl and his family to also come and homestead at Rexburg. The Buchmillers decided to accept the invitation so that Christine could enjoy the help and company of her sister.  Christine and her two small children had spent a lot of time alone in recent months while Karl was away working. With both families in Rexburg the sisters would be company for each other. Besides, Christine was expecting her third child and could use her sister's help. However  the Walzes would not arrive until October, about two months after the birth.

     The Buchmillers moved as soon as they could, probably in the late spring. They rode the train south to Market Lake (now Roberts), crossed the Snake River on a ferry, and walked the 20 miles north and east to Rexburg. Conrad was there to meet them. Also welcoming them were many of their German friends from Logan and their non-German former bishop, Thomas X. Smith.

     The first Rexburg "homes" for both the Buchmillers and the Walzes were primitive side-by-side dugouts burrowed into the bank of a new canal. The canal ran south through the southwestern section of the community. Arriving families moved into the dugouts as a temporary measure until the men could build

more conventional homes. So it was in the Buchmiller dugout, hard-packed dirt floor and all, that Christina Magdalena, my grandmother, was born August 5, 1885. Warmly greeting her were her parents, a sister, Emelia, 3 1/2, and a brother, John Henry, 1 1/2. The infant was given her mother's first name and her aunt's middle name. Her father, Karl, was happy to see that she was a healthy child, and pleased that Christine also came through the ordeal all right. Family members and others soon shortened the baby's name to "Lena."

     Approximately six weeks after Lena was born, Karl, now 25, and his nephew, Conrad, 20, returned to Logan to get Conrad's family. George Ludwig Walz was now an invalid and was put on the train for Market Lake. From there he was ferried across the Snake River and then transported to Rexburg on a wagon. George Ludwig stayed with the Buchmiller family in their dugout until his own family could join him.

Rexburg 24 July 1909

     It was very difficult for Christina Magdalena Walz to leave her comfortable home in Logan. She had acquired many friends and had helped many women as a midwife. Some were calling her "Auntie Walz" - because they felt so close to her. The name stayed with her the rest of her life. Many people came to see the family depart. Karl and Conrad loaded two covered wagons with furniture, bedding, and personal effects. It was about four in the afternoon before the party could leave Logan. They were anxious to get to the Bear River to meet some men who were driving their cattle to Rexburg in a community herd.

     It took seven days for the group to reach Rexburg. Only three streams could be crossed on bridges. The rest had to be forded. They endured storms and fog as it was well into October. Each night when darkness overtook them, they camped by the roadside. The animals were turned loose to graze. A campfire, fed by wood gathered along the way, provided heat for cooking and hot drinks, and warmth for bodies.

     While they were crossing a creek near Preston, a possibly dangerous incident occurred. Karl was driving a team pulling one of the wagons. Mary Walz, Conrad's 13-year old sister, was sitting on the spring seat beside him. Karl also kept his gun on the seat should Indians threaten them or wild game come into range. The gun accidentally discharged. No one was hurt but Christina Magdalena ordered "no more loaded guns where the little girls might be." Conrad's other little sister was Christine.