BISHOFF, Joseph Peter

1872 - 1950  (77 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	BISHOFF, Joseph Peter
  Birth	22 Oct 1872	Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United States
  Gender	Male
  WAC	26 Apr 1899	MANTI
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Death	14 Jun 1950	Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States
  Burial	17 Jun 1950	Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I21057	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	BISHOFF, Jacob IV ,   b. 21 May 1837, Vollerup Gimlinge, Sorø, Denmark Vollerup Gimlinge, Sorø, Denmarkd. 15 Sep 1874, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 37 years)
  Mother	JENSEN, Marie ,   b. 10 Aug 1842, Haldagerlille, Sorø, Denmark Haldagerlille, Sorø, Denmarkd. 28 Apr 1897, Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United States (Age 54 years)
  Marriage	16 Feb 1869	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
  Family ID	F10698	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	OLSEN, Ellenora Christiana ,   b. 7 May 1877, Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United States Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United Statesd. 19 Jan 1953, Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States (Age 75 years)
  Marriage	3 Sep 1902	Manti, Sanpete, Utah, United States
  Family ID	F11415	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

• Photos		Eliza Marie Bischoff Anderson
  		Eliza Bischoff and John Anderson
  		John Anderson and Eliza Maria Bischoff
  		Burial site of John and Maria Bischoff Anderson, Fountain Green, Utah Cemetery photo taken July 2015
  		Eliza Maria Biscoff Anderson
  		Wedding photo of Eliza Maria Bischoff and John Anderson
  		Eliza Maria Bischoff Anderson
  		Eliza Maria Bischoff Anderson
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  
  

• Notes

  I was born in Fountain Green, Utah, 2 April 1894. Prior to this time my mother's family consisted of three little girls, Katie (4), Lyda (3), and Myrtle (15 months). On 18 August 1893 my father had died. Mother was very desirous that her last baby be a boy, and be given his name - - John. I was given the names of two of my father's sisters - - Emma and Augusta. (I have always been glad they called me Emma.) One month after Father's death, and six and a half months before my birth, my sister Katie became seriously ill and continued so for several years. it was impossible for Mother to take me to church to be blessed, but she called the Bishopric to the home to do this. A baby picture of my sister Lyda had been taken. Mother said I resembled her so closely that the same baby picture could serve for both. This was a time of financial depression, and Mother was deeply in debt as a result of Father's untimely death. As far back as I can remember, we had an organ. Mother traded it for a piano when I was eight or nine years old. For a long time Nephi Robertson was the only person in town own owned a phonograph. On summer evenings we used to sit on a ditch bank near his home and enjoy the music. I was about 7 years old when electric lights were first brought to our town. I shall never forget the first time the power was turned on. We children ran from room to room to see if it was really true that all the lights came on simultaneously. When I was 4 or 5, George Ed Anderson, a photographer came to Fountain Green. On a vacant lot across the street from our home, he pitched his tent, which he used as a photographic studio . . . I had a great desire to have my picture taken. I was baptized 1 August 1902 in the creek east of town. I rode home in my wet clothes in a wagon. I was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the next day. I was about ten years old when I first saw an automobile. It moved very slowly. I stood at the fence watching it until it disappeared from sight. When Myrtle started school, I was left at home with Mother. She taught me to read and write. On my sixth birthday, 2 April 1900, I was allowed to start in the first grade. At the end of the term, I was promoted to second grade with the others. From that time on, my sister Myrtle and I were classmates until we graduated from eighth grade. Our fourth grade teacher was Mother's unmarried brother, Joseph P Bischoff, who lived with us in our home. Fearing the other children would think he was showing us favoritism, he went to the other extreme and was severe with us to the extend that we were miserable. In fact, it was only when Uncle Joe was my teacher that I was ever unhappy in school. Otherwise, my school work was a delight to me. I rejoiced when it opened in the fall, and sorrowed when it closed in the spring. In the spring of 1907, Katie, Myrtle and I had typhoid fever, and missed many weeks of school. It was necessary for us to repeat a year. We graduated from eight grade in the spring of 1909. In September 1909, I went to Provo where I registered in the Commercial Department of Brigham Young University. I studied shorthand and typing. There my enjoyment of school continued. On May 1911, at age 17, I went to Price, Utah, to work for Consolidated Wagon & Machine Co . . . In January 1912 I stared working for Knight Power Co. in Provo; in June 1913 for Knight Bank. I worked at the bank until I received my mission call. After my mission, I worked at Knight Bank until my marriage. My mission call came through Provo Fourth Ward. When I went to Fountain Green for a couple of weeks to visit and prepare for my departure, the Fountain Green Ward treated my as royally and liberally, as though I had been called from there. I was almost 20 when I left Salt Lake 14 March 1914. I was sent to a certain area of Chicago. After six weeks I became housebound with a contagious disease, whooping cough. While I was confined, I read all the missionary tracts and the Book of Mormon. I was given a strong testimony of its divinity. For 15 months, as secretary in the office, I was in touch with the problems, joys and sorrows of all the missionaries. I became well acquainted with President and Sister German E. Ellsworth and their fine family . . . there was a period of time when I was the only lady missionary in the office. During that time, Sister Ellsworth became my study companion. She and I spent many happy hours studying scriptures and preparing lessons for Relief Society and other meetings. In the summer of 1915 I was transferred to Muncie, Indiana. It was a joy to me to labor among the saints of this fine little branch. I love them all so much. the Northern Indiana Conference president was Elder Bernard Nash. Later when I was transferred to Springfield, Illinois, I enjoyed working with the saints of this fine branch which was active and well organized, with a Sunday School, Relief Society and M.I.A. I worked again in the mission office from January 1916 until my release in April . . . My sister Katie came by train to Chicago, and together we toured many cities in the eastern part of the country and New England; also Palmrya, new York, and Nauvoo, Illinois. We returned home 21 May 1916. While working at Knight Bank in Provo, I accepted the invitation of my friend Bessie Iverson to go with her for an overnight visit in Salem. We spent a most pleasant evening with her cousin Bernard Nash. From that time on our acquaintance developed into friendship and joy in the companionship of each other and ripened into love, which grew stronger with the years . . . We were married in the Salt Lake Temple, 17 October 1917. Bernard had employment in Magna. We lived there until 10 January 1919, when we moved to Fountain Green, where Bernard managed the grocery store which was owned by my mother and sister Katie . . . It was a great joy to me to have the association with my dear mother and my sisters. We had waited and wished and prayed for a child. It was at my mother's home that our first child, Paul was born 7 April 1920 on Bernard's 34 birthday. Our sorrow at losing him one hour after birth was keen. The only consolation we could get was our hope of having him with us in the Hereafter, and also the hope that other children might come to bless our home. Two weeks after the loss of this baby, Bernard's brother Oliver lost his wife. With my willing consent, Bernard brought motherless Pearl, not quite four years old, to our home, and later six year old Erma. We loved them and gave them a good home. We purchased a lot and built a two room house. Our dear little son Karl Edwin was born there 11 August 1921. How thankful we were! In the summer of 1922 I had a serious illness - - diabetes. My life was despaired of. But through the faith of my husband, mother, sisters, myself, and ward members, and the prayerful efforts of Bernard's uncle, Dr. Charles L. Olsen, I was restored to health and have never since had a recurrence of this trouble. It was a great trial to lose my dear mother 13 December 1923, a month prior to the birth of our baby girl, Zora Marie, 16 January 1924. In May 1925, thinking to improve ourselves, we took our cow, horses, chickens, sheep and household goods to live at Woodville, Idaho. Shortly after arriving there, it appeared that there had been a misunderstanding. We returned to Utah in July of that same year, locating at Salem . . . On 16 January 1926 our sweet little Mildred Josephine was born. And on 27 February 1927, our darling Berneice came to gladden our home. Bernard and I often remarked that, though we had little of this world's good, we were indeed rich in the things of greatest value, for we had such a fine family of children. We also had two stillborn baby girls - - one born 27 September 1928 and the other 5 August 1929. The last summer Bernard was with us was very miserable. On 20 August 1929 he had a paralytic stroke. He passed away Friday, 13 September 1929. Many times I had heard him say, "I am not afraid to die. Whenever my time comes I am ready to go." His life was a pattern of honor, devotion and honesty - - a noble example and the greatest heritage it is possible for a man to bequeath to his family. In spite of the overwhelming sorrow and the attendant responsibilities, I was blessed with a spirit of comfort and peace. For this I have surely felt grateful to my Heavenly Father. And in all our affairs since this separation I have left that Bernard's influence has indeed been with us. I hope it is not sacrilege for me to think of the words of the song, "Mingling with gods he can plan for his brethren," and apply them to our case. Knowing of the purity of his life and his worthiness, I feel that this is true and that we have had his approval in the thinks we have tried to do. It is a comfort to me to feel that he can see what we are doing and what the children are accomplishing. My dearest desire is that, with the help of the Lord, I may be able to set proper example before the children and exert an influence for good over them in order that we will all be worthy of being reunited at some glorious future time. Soon after Bernard's death I went to Salt Lake and found a position at Billings Stenographic Service. Brother and Sister Ellsworth arranged for me to rent a duplex from Nicholas G Smith, at 226 North West Temple. Katie came with us to Salt Lake, and was our housekeeper until her marriage 6 September 1930. Our first winter was a most trying one. In mid-December, Mildred fell onto the stove, burning her arm from elbow to fingertips, causing pain and distress . . This was but the beginning of sorrows . . . Berneice suffered from swollen glands . . . Katie got a bump on her bad leg which resulted in great pain. For more than a month it was impossible for her to put her feet to the floor . . . It was necessary to hire outside help. My employer, Miss Leona Billings, was exceptionally liberal and kind, insisting that remain at home each morning until the woman showed up. Berneice (almost 3) would have nothing to do with the strange women . . . The weather was extremely cold; our water pipes froze and burst. This added to the unpleasantness and discomfort. Before Katie and Berneice were entirely recoverd, all four children contracted measles. I hired a nurse to take care of them. (Zora and Karl were in Kindergarten and Third grade). Then when Karl and Zora were about to return to school, Zora became desperately ill with pneumonia. She was the sickest child I had ever seen in my life. Finally, at April Conference time, she was able to move about the house. This was one of the most trying winters I ever experienced. I have often wondered whether there was a purpose in it - - possibly to keep our minds from dwelling too much upon the immediate past. With the encouragement of Brother Ellsworth, I took the Civil Service exam. I passed second-highest, out of a group of 82 applicants. I started working for the U.S. Treasury Department, Bureau of Industrial Alcohol, 4 October 1930. (Emma retired from government employment in April 1956) On 7th November 1931 we moved into a new home at 1007 South Third East. It was within walking distance of downtown. We were blessed with wonderful neighbors, and opportunities to serve in Liberty Ward. We have been blessed with health, we have employment, and we feel deeply grateful to our Heavenly Father for His kind watch-care and blessings which are showered upon us daily. May we ever show Him by our conduct that we appreciate His blessings. This life sketch is abridged from the account written by Emma A. Nash in 1934 _________________________________________________________ Emma updated her life story in 1950, and recorded doings and accomplishments of her four children, including missions, military service, church callings, marriages, ect. From January 1939 until December 1948, Emma taught the 12 and 13 year old girls in Liberty Ward Sunday School. Berneice said: "Mama was one of the best Sunday School teachers I ever had!" And Mildred agreed. For more than twenty years, beginning in July 1943, Emma edited the weekly Liberty Ward Contactor (ward bulletin) Beginning in October 1948, she was scribe to Liberty Stake Patriarch Adolph Merz. With all her other duties and interest, Emma never neglected genealogical work. For about 50 years she was custodian of the records of her mother's family (Bischoff), her father's family (Anderson), and Bernard's paternal line (Nash). Emma's hands were always busy. She crocheted afghans, table covers and other beautiful things. Around 1951 she learned to knit. Her stitches were uniform and perfect. She knitted sweaters and baby shawls for family and friends. With the approval of her superiors in Government service, Emma used her "vacation" leave to report countless conventions and funerals. For many years she reported the annual convention of Utah Bankers Association. Twice a year, for many years, she reported the semi-annual Bishops' Conference, where she would be the only woman among thousands of priesthood bearers, in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. (Imagine how many times she had to show her "pass" signed by the Presiding Bishop to various ushers!). She transcribed her shorthand notes at home. Today is called "moonlighting". Emma called it "putting butter on our bread." In Fast Meeting, whenever a baby was blessed, Emma wrote the blessing in shorthand, neatly transcribed her notes, and mailed it to each baby. Emma made wise use of her time. Because of her dual role as breadwinner and homemaker, she was often in the breakfast nook (her office), with frequent interruptions to prepare a meal, to iron a few items, to put the bread in the pans, to call one of the children in to practice clarinet or piano, to to assign tasks to the children. Emma's faith saw her through the tragedies, disappointments, serious illnesses and heavy responsibilities that came to her. She showed her faith by strict adherence to gospel principles. Through the years she paid an honest tithe, donated freely for fast offerings, budget, building fund, welfare, and other worthy causes, accepted and fulfilled calls to serve, attended Sunday School and evening Sacrament meetings with her children, observed family prayer morning and every evening. In daily conversations at home, she mentioned faith promoting incidents of her own life or someone else's. In preparing a Sunday School lesson, she gave her children insights into the lesson. There was family participation and discussion. Her children relied on her faith and testimony, as they developed testimonies of their own. Mention should be made of her joy in welcoming each grandchild. Emma retired from her secretarial job with U.S. Government service in April 1956. Then she worked as a secretary for a realty firm. Following the death of Mary S. Ellsworth, Emma married her former Mission President, German E. Ellsworth (for time only) in the Salt Lake Temple, 12 October 1956, on his 85th birthday. Emma was 62. They flew to San Francisco for a honeymoon. Brother Ellsworth died 31 December 1961. Emma Augusta Anderson Nash Ellsworth died 19 July 1969, at age 75. Funeral was at Liberty Ward, 23 July 1969; burial at Fountain Green Cemetery.