(This Aerni family was one of Trout Lake Valley's earliest settlers.
Even though this is a story of Joseph Aerni's life, pages 5-13 tell of this family's experiences in the early days of this community.)

T H E  L I F E  O F  J O S E P H  A E R N I Who was my grandfather
by
Esther Schmid Jennings

Containing quotes from the essay written in when he was 83 years old;
written in his beautiful script with an old-fashioned pen and ink

I am indebted to my Aunt Lydia Wooten,
for episodes she wrote of my grandfather's life in Trout Lake.

     My grandfather, Joseph Aerni, was born September 27, 1850 in Rossruti, Kanton St. Gallen, Switzerland. His mother, Rosina Bieri was born in 1829, and was 21 years of age when Joseph was born, so he was among the older of the nine children. His sister, Marie (Sickafoose), was born in 1860. His mother died in 1867, after being sick for five years.                  
     Joseph's father's name was Joseph, but we do not know anything more about him or our Aerni ancestors.
     When Joseph was 83 years old, he wrote: "From my early boyhood, I was religiously inclined. I believe with all my heart it was mother's prayers that gave me the desire to live a true Christian Life. My mother taught us children to always pray before arising in the morning, and retiring at night. My mother's prayers followed me all thru my life. My mother was a sickly woman. I well remember how she gathered us children around her bedside and prayed with us, and for us all. There were 9 of us. This is a sweet remembrance to me which I will never forget. I loved my mother dearly.
     "In my early teens, I loved to read the Bible. When I was about 12 years old, while reading the story of the crucifixion, it touched my heart and brought deep conviction to my soul. For several nights I wept and prayed, and all at once the burden of sin rolled away and peace and joy filled my soul.
     "Our home place was 1  miles from St. Gallen. There were 48 acres, mostly natural meadow, which made very good quality hay, especially the 2nd crop. We had good pasture land. A creek about the size of Trout Creek ran through this pasture with fine trout in it. We boys caught them by hand. We had plenty of wood for our own use, also apples, pears, cherries, prunes and plums.
     "That part of the country was all dairy. No grain raised of any kind. The hay was all made in bundles and carried in on our backs. In the barn was a big long ladder where the hay had to be carried up. The climate was a good deal the same as in Trout Lake. The winters were quite cold, and the snow was one or two feet deep. We kept about 15 cows, mostly Brown Swiss, besides young stock. The house and barn was one building, the barn on the lower level and the family home above. It was a good house, very well built, situated in beautiful country.
     "When I was 16 years of age, my father drove me away from home in a drunken rage. That is a sad remembrance to me. It was cardplaying for drinks that brought my father down to this low state. It gave me an abhorrence for cardplaying and drunkenness. I made up my mind as a boy that I would never do as my father did. I remember one time my father took me by the hand, and said, Joseph, don't do as I do. I well remember many times when he came home in a drunken state we children hid ourselves, as we were all afraid of him.
     "Our dear loving mother suffered much because of this. When he was sober he was as good as anyone could be.
     After I was driven from home, my dear Heavenly Father led me so that I got in the good Christian home of Abraham Boehi, in Schnidholtz, Kanton Thurgau. A family altar was set up in that home and the Bible was read every day. It was a blessed home where peace and the love of God were abiding. There were 3 sons and 2 daughters in the family."
     Ana Elisabeth (or Lisette, as everyone called her) 18 years of age, Daniel 16 years, Esther 10, Samuel 8 years, and Jonathan 6 years old.
     The next year, 1867, Joseph's mother passed away at the age of 38. Lisette Boehi had taken care for her for some time. When Joseph was 93 years old, shortly before his death, he received a letter from his sister, Marie Sickafoose, who wrote: "The thought came to me how our dear mother suffered mental and physical anguish, having to leave all of us children - and her own body suffering intensive pain for 5 years. I have been told by others who frequently saw her, and by our dear Lisette, who took care of her, that never a murmur of complaint came over her lips."
     Joseph told of his years on the Boehi farm: "In that part of Switzerland, the land was more level and farmed differently than on our home place. They raised wheat, oats, barley, rye and flax. Lots of carrots, beets and potatoes. For hay they raised alfalfa, timothy and clover. They had lots of fruit and a vineyard. Oxen were mostly used for farm work. Many times one could see a horse and an ox hitched together in the fields. Many farmers kept only one horse. Their roads were very good, and trees were planted along them. There were good schools, which a child had to attend from 6 years up to 14 years. School was kept all year, except for a few weeks during haying time. I worked on that farm for 7 years, mostly taking care of stock."
     Lisette's mother died on May 3, 1874 at the age of 55.
     "In the year 1874, July 22, in Rossruti I was united in marriage with Lisette, the oldest Boehi daughter from Schoenholzerswilen, Kanton Thurgau. She was a true faithful companion, so loving, peaceful and kind -- truly saved. The peace of God was abiding in her heart. We had a blessed life together.
     Not long after our marriage, I rented the Boehi farm of 40 A. Abraham Boehi rented a farm of 100 A for 5 years, so the Boehi family moved onto that farm. Abe Boehi was a good farmer."
     Their daughter Elizabeth (my mother) was born a year after their marriage, August 30, 1875. Lydia was born a year later, September 30, 1876, but she died when she was only 2 weeks old. Joshua was born January 15, 1878, and Bertha just a year later, January 24, 1879.
     "God blessed my beloved companion with a sweet voice, and a gift for music. She taught our children when they were little tots to sing spiritual songs. We formed a habit for some years to sing a song after meals. Those years are a sweet remembrance to me."
     In the meantime Abraham Boehi had married again and when the 5 years of renting the 100 acre farm were up, they wanted to return to their own place again, so Joseph had to look for something else. Elizabeth was 3, Joshua over a year old and Bertha just a few months old.
     "I remember so well that I was much burdened about the matter and I prayed earnestly for guidance. At that time, 1879, the Brunshweiler Brothers needed a foreman on their farm, Hot Loch, Kanton St. Gallen. Their uncle was a close friend of my father-in-law, so knew me, and recommended me for the position. I accepted, for I could see the hand of God in it. I never would have applied for the position, for I did not feel qualified on my own, but knowing God's plan for me, I knew He would help me give satisfaction.
     "The farm consisted of 150 acres, later 20 acres was added. About 130 of the 170 A farm was in the highest state of cultivation -- 30 acres in timber and 10 acres of Dorfland -- land that was cut for fuel. It is cut in pieces about 4x4x8 [inches] -- very soft to cut -- then laid out on top of boards to dry. When dry it made good fuel for heating. It was black in color, and looked as if it consisted of little roots. The land could be used from 3 to 5 feet deep.
     "They had a fine big barn. I never saw anything in this country equal to it. The lower part was built of cement the height of the stable. A long fill was made for a driveway so we could drive into the barn with the hay loads right under the gables the entire length of the barn so we could pitch the hay down on both sides of the driveway. We had about 30 cows -- between 40 and 50 head of stock altogether. They were all curried and brushed every day and their tails tied up with strong string. We had 6 oxen, with one man to take care of them. Three men took care of the cows and young stock. Then I had 4 men all year to do all the other work, and then thru the haying season more men, and several women to work in the hay. Everything had to be done by hand. The hay had to be spread out and afterward turned as the ground was so damp it would not get dry without being turned. In the afternoon it was raked in windrows and the next day spread out again and turned.
     "There were several kinds of timber in Switzerland. Oak, ash, maple, alder, fir, birch and bracken, one of the most valuable timbers -- a hard wood, very good for fuel and furniture, and the leaves were much used in bed ticks for mattresses. We took good care of the timber. Where timber was cut, the stumps were grubbed out, the ground leveled, and replanted again. That was the law. In winter the trees were all trimmed up.
     "The tools were all cleaned and kept in their rightful place.
     "There was a railroad thru the farm, owned by the state, with good fences built on each side of the track. The state road went between the barn and the 2 big houses, one of which was built for 3 families.
     "We had 2 maidens to help with the housework and care for the fowls -- paid for by the company. Lisette kept the books for the farm and made out the bills for the month. My family was free of all expenses. The working men received their pay every Sat. evening. If any of them were taken sick, he was taken care of and his doctor bills paid and his salary paid also. I was required to read a chapter of the Bible and have prayers every morning, and every working man compelled to be present. Every evening at 9 o'clock, the house was locked. If a man came home drunk, I had the order to discharge him.
    "The Brunshweiler Bros. were real Christians. They lived in Hauptwil Village about a mile from the farm. They had a Dyeing Plant, employing about 100 workers. They built a meeting house, and supported the minister. Every Monday evening we had meetings for the brethren, our employees attended also. A real fellowship and brotherly love.
    "They built a Faith Home in the village and supported it. Many sick people came from all over the country to be prayed for, and many were healed. They had meetings there every day, which I often attended. As I entered that House of Prayer I could feel the Holy Atmosphere. I felt as if I was in the very presence of God. I've been in many meeting houses in my life, but nowhere have I ever felt the nearness of God, as I did in that House of Prayer. Our daughter Hanna was born December 23, 1880. "I was three years on the Brunshweiler Farm, from the spring of 1879 to June 1882, when we went to America. Those 3 years were the most blessed years in all my life, spiritually and otherwise.
     "I cannot understand, myself, how I ever could desire to leave that place and go to America, in the midst of the blessings I enjoyed on that farm. I loved the farm, and my employer, Jacob Brunshweiler and myself, were as brothers."           What a difficult task it must have been to get ready to sail to America! Lisette was soon to have another baby, and there were 4 other little ones to get ready. In St. Gallen they had the children's picture taken. Elizabeth would be 7 in a few months, Joshua was almost 4, Bertha almost 3 and little Hanna 1.
     What a sad parting it was for the families to tell each other good-bye, knowing in all probability they would never see each other again. Lisette's brother Samuel had already emigrated to America several months before, and was living with Boehi cousins, who had emigrated to Iowa in 1854. The family stopped at Lornthal, Switzerland, where Lisette's 21-year old brother Jonathan was working in a flour mill.
     Joseph and his family sailed on June 13, 1882, probably from Le Havre, France, the nearest large seaport from Switzerland. Before they landed in New York after the middle of July, Lisette lost her baby they were expecting. They arrived by train in Portland, Oregon the latter part of July. Joseph realized then that he had made the biggest mistake of his life, in leaving the Brunshweiler Farm.
     "After we arrived in Portland, I had no difficulty to get work. My first work was on a milk ranch. What a difference it was from my work in Switzerland! I had to make the best of the situation and never lost courage. It meant lots of hard work, but we were never in want, and have always had a home. The first few years were a hard struggle as the family increased, but year by year it got better."
    They moved to Bethany, a German Swiss settlement about 20 miles from Portland. There they rented a house belonging to Samuel Sigenthaler, who had emigrated from Switzerland 6 years before, in 1876. At that time (1876), Mr. Sigenthaler had advanced the traveling cost for a number of poor members of his church who wanted to emigrate to America. Among them were John and Anna Marie Stalder. The oldest of their children, Marie, 16 years old, was to become Joseph Aerni's second wife in 1892. Another daughter, Margaret, in 1890 was to marry Lisette's brother Samuel.
     Soon after they went to Bethany, Lisette's brother Samuel came from Iowa and stayed with them. Lisette, Joseph and Samuel joined the German Baptist Church, and Elizabeth attended a German school in Bethany.
     The two men worked around the neighborhood for $1 a day and lunch. That winter they signed a contract with Samuel Sigenthaler to clear 11 acres of land. In the spring of 1883, Samuel and Joseph bought 100 acres of  land together at $12 an acre. They did not have any money for a down payment. It was a good piece of uncleared land. They divided the land, but Samuel let Joseph have the land easiest to clear, as he had a family to support. That spring Joseph built a barn and a box house of rough lumber. Then Samuel went to Portland to work on a milk ranch and gave Joseph some money to support his family, for which Joseph did some clearing on Samuel's land. That summer Joseph cleared some land, and made some hay on shares. He had a few head of stock.
     Their son Joseph (Uncle Josie) was born November 3, 1883 in Bethany, Oregon.
     The summer of 1884, Joseph worked out much of the time. It was a very hard struggle to make ends meet.
     It was in the year of 1884 that he heard of Trout Lake Valley, and the wonderful wild grass hay which made it a good place to farm. Late that fall he went up to look it over and decided to go there. When he told his brother-in-law he wanted to sell his farm, Samuel sold his farm, which had no building on it, and bought Joseph's farm.
     Another son, Jacob, was born January 2, 1885.
     We cannot imagine how hard the trip to Trout Lake must have been that spring of 1885. Joseph had 15 head of stock to drive the 15 miles to Portland besides his family of 6 children and all their household goods and tools. Elizabeth would be 10 years old the coming August, Joshua 7, Bertha 6, Hanna 4, Joseph, 1 and the baby Jacob only a few months old. They all had to be on the river steamer when it left for the Cascades Rapids, where the town of Cascade Locks is now, and the passengers, cattle and all the cargo had to be portaged the 5 miles to another river steamer above the Cascades, which would take them to Giddings Landing (Bingen).
     Arrangements had to be all previously made with Peter Stoller to meet them at Bingen with his team and big wagon, and at that time of slow mail delivery, it must have been difficult to make contact.
     Joseph drove the 15 head of stock, and the family rode in the heavily loaded wagon. One of the children rode with Susie Stoller (Mrs. Charlie Pearson) who had accompanied her father on horseback. It took 2 days for the journey to Trout Lake and how glad they must have been when it was over!
     At that time every other section of land was owned by the railroad and this was secured by some of the settlers. For $200 Joseph bought the rights from Marie Stoller for land on which she had filed a claim(situated where the Hollenbeck Mill was later to be established.) A few years later this land reverted back to the government and Joseph secured permanent rights by filing under a National Homestead Act. There was about  ½ acre of land fenced in around a little 8x12 foot log cabin. There was no stove, so an open fireplace and oven were built in the center of the cabin, and an opening was made in the roof for smoke to escape. This arrangement did not produce sufficient heat, and it was often necessary to keep the children in bed in order to keep them warm.
     What a difference from the large comfortable home on the Brunshweiler Farm in Switzerland! The family of 8 lived in that little 8x12 foot cabin for over a year. How glad they all must surely have been when spring of 1886 arrived and the children could be outside. How joyfully they must have picked the wildflowers and played in the sunshine. Baby Marie was born in that cabin May 4, 1886.
     There were only 5 other settlers living in the valley that spring of 1885, when the Aernis arrived. Peter Stoller and his family who were the first settlers in the valley, 1880, (the first winter they had suffered untold hardships); their son-in-law, William Stadleman, and his family who came in 1883 from Iowa; Charles Pearson who came in 1883; Charles Kittenberg, who came in 1883; and Mr and Mrs. Peterson, who came in 1884. They were all emigrants from Europe. The new family of 8 made quite an addition to the new settlement. Later that summer more settlers arrived.
     The first summer, with the help of his neighbors, Joseph built a large barn with logs. Then he cut, with a hand scythe, enough wild hay to feed his 15 head of stock, and the team of horses that he had purchased soon after arriving. "I mowed the wild grass all day long. Ten-year old Elizabeth and 7-year old Joshua raked it and made shocks, as little as they were. Toward evening we loaded up and took home what was dry enough to haul. It was hard work."
     The upper section of the valley and the region about the many lava caves and sinks as far as the Ice Caves, produced a native grass in abundance, and one could see for long distances, as the Indians had set fire to the dry grass each fall as they left the valley for their winter homes. This practice killed the small pine and fir trees and chaparral brush, leaving large open space among the large trees for the wild grass to grow. The settlers pastured their cattle on this grass in the summer and fall.
     Of the 15 head of stock that Joseph drove into the valley, two were his own cows, and the rest were cows and heifers belonging to John Sigenthaler in Bethany. He had a contract with him to care for them on shares and give him half the increase. He kept Mr. Sigenthaler's until they were 2 years old. "So it was not long before I had a nice little bunch of stock of my own, without paying any cash for them," he wrote.
     Until they got a post office in 1887, the settlers took turns going to Gilmer, 18 miles away, once a week, on foot or horseback, to get the mail. The families each paid 25 cents to the carrier -- no more than the price of a postage stamp today.
     The second summer of 1886, Joseph built a larger log house. He hewed the logs down to 6" thickness. We cannot imagine how wonderful it was for the family of 9 to move out of their 8x12 log cabin into a big new house.
     The first few years they made butter, packed it into barrels and kept it thru the summer in the Butter Cave. In the fall he took it by wagon to Bingen, then by steamboat to Portland, where he sold it to Mathiesen Hotel for 15 cents a pound.              Several of the settlers used this cave to store butter and cheese. It is about 1 mile from Joseph's farm and had a uniform temperature throughout the year. It was in one end of a large natural sink (or depression) with a natural narrow doorway for which a strong door had been made, and two long poles installed, which served as a track on which barrels of butter and cheese were rolled into the cave. The poles were still in evidence a few years ago and probably still are.
     In 1887 they had the first school during the months of April, May and June. There were 7 pupils: Elizabeth, Joshua and Bertha Aerni, Mary and William Stadelman, Mary Eckert and Edward Fiene. None of the Aerni children could speak English. The teacher was paid $25 a month, and boarded with each family one week at a time for each child they had in school. The School was about 10x12 feet and had a dirt floor, and was about a third of a mile from the Aerni farm, an easy distance for the children to walk.
     The Lava Cave (or Cheese Cave, as it was later called) was discovered in 1888 by Elizabeth and Joshua while they were herding the cows less than a mile from their home. They noticed a hole in a pile of rocks, and when they dropped rocks in the hole, were surprised how long it took to hear the sound of the rocks hitting the bottom. They reported the discovery, and a short time later about a dozen of the neighbors gathered at the cave. Peter Schmid, a newcomer to the valley, was lowered into the cave by means of a rope tied around his waist. Later a long ladder was built, and still later, steps were built and the cave became a popular tourist attraction.
     The older school children went thru the cave on their field trips some years. Pine torches were used to light the way. The cave is over a third of a mile long, 40 feet high in some places, and up to 30 feet wide. The walls and ceiling are quite smooth in places, damp and moss-covered.
     Grandfather helped a neighbor in distress early one year. John Peters with his wife and 7 children had lived in the valley a short time when he established a claim eight miles west of Grandfather's farm in a large natural meadow of abundant wild hay -- now called Peterson Prairie. He built a cabin and barn and brought his herd of cattle there. Late one winter he ran out of feed for his cattle. He then attempted to break a trail so that he could drive his cattle down to the valley. He tied boards on his feet and tamped down the snow. He then started to drive his herd over the frozen trail, but before he had gone far, the snow became soft and slushy when the day got warmer. They made very slow progress and as night was coming on he was forced to leave the cattle and go to Joseph Aerni's ranch for help. He reached there after dark, and in the morning a number of the settlers broke the trail as far as possible with horses and then shoveled a path to the animals. They then returned to the Aerni ranch for hay and carried it on their backs to the hungry animals. They brought all but 2 of them to shelter and the next day brought out the other 2. They were taken down to Bald Mountain for pasture till spring. That summer the family moved away.
     Years later Mary Stadleman Keys told me that her mother used to visit Mrs. Peters, and one summer when she was about 8 years old, she went with her mother for a visit and took care of the younger children while the mothers picked huckleberries. They returned very late in the afternoon and said an Indian woman had been weeping, and told them a bear had carried away her little papoose, so they helped her search but could not find the little papoose.
     During the year 1889, just 4 years after they moved to Trout Lake, my grandmother Lisette became ill with consumption (tuberculosis) and on December 15, 1889 she passed away. When he was 83 years old, Joseph wrote: "On the morning of the day she passed away, she sang the song in German "In Heaven Is Rest." She sang the song from beginning to the end with her sweet and clear voice. It touched my heart and made me weep for I knew she would be leaving us soon. She went home rejoicing to be with the Lord forever. Oh what a consolation that is to me!" Elizabeth was a few months over 14, Joshua almost 12, Bertha almost 11, Hanna was 9 years old, Joseph 6 years, Jacob almost 5 years old, and the youngest, Marie 3. What a sad little family!
     On June 4th of the following year, 1890, their daughter Bertha passed away of tuberculosis. She was almost 11 years old. One of the families in the valley took her into their home during her sickness, but I do not know which family. How hard it must have been for grandfather to make a home for his family, besides the many tasks he had to do to make his farm productive in the new settlement, so far from civilization.
     On December 17, 1890 Joseph's daughter Elizabeth married Peter Schmid, a bachelor who had come to Trout Lake in 1888 and settled on the homestead on Trout Lake, near her father's place. How sadly disappointed Joseph must have been when he needed Elizabeth so much to care for the younger children at that time.
     During the winter of 1890-91, Noah Etter, a 200-pound man, had signed a contract to carry the mail once a week from Gilmer, 18 miles distant, for $80 a year. He had served 7 months of the contract when the snow became too deep for his horse to carry him. He persuaded Joseph to finish his contract for $60. On his first trip Joseph had gone only a few miles when his horse could go no further. He left his horse at the Yost ranch (near Dean Dodge's present home) and proceeded on snowshoes. He found the bridge broken down at the White Salmon River, but he managed a dangerous crossing on a snow-covered log. By the time he reached the Chris Guler homestead in Bear Valley, it was dark, his clothes were wet, he was cold, and he felt he could not take another step. It was raining, and the heavy snow stuck to his snowshoes, making them very heavy. He was given dry clothing, a warm supper and spent the night there. Early the next morning he was on his way on snowshoes, as the horse Mr. Guler lent him could not carry him. He led the horse as far as Steiner's home in Rattlesnake Valley and finally reached Gilmer, collected the mail and started home.
     It was dark before he reached the Steiner home and he might have lost his way if Mrs. Steiner had not hung a lantern out of doors to guide him.
     He stayed at the Steiner's overnight and reached home late the next day.
     He later said that those 3 days, because of the heavy snow, demanded more physical endurance and courage than any other event in his life. During the rest of the contract, until the bridge was rebuilt, he walked to Gilmer each week. He never fully recovered from that ordeal.
     Joseph had been praying for a companion and for a mother for his children, and early in 1892 his brother-in-law, Samuel Boehi, wrote, telling him of his wife's sister Marie Stalder Fitchner, who was recently divorced. After 9 years of marriage, her husband had left her with 5 little girls, and six months pregnant. She was living with her parents with her two youngest girls, and taking in sewing to help support them and the four older girls who were living with relatives.
     So in March, Joseph went to Bethany, taking Hanna and Marie with him, and leaving Joshua, Joseph and Jacob on the farm under the care of a Swiss neighbor, John Berniger.
     Mary Stadelman recalled many years later: "In 1892, was the year the Aerni boys were batching, as their father was courting a wife in Oregon. The boys brought 16 hard-boiled eggs to school each day, and we would bring bread and butter, and we would have a party. It was a treat for us as our eggs were saved for trade for sugar in The Dalles. Eggs were 7 cents a dozen then."
     Joseph pleaded his cause with Marie's parents, and she accepted as "he was a good Christian man, and recommended by her sister Margaret's husband, Samuel Bohi, so they were married on very short notice". She was born in Sumiswald, Kanton Bern, Switzerland, March 31, 1860.
     Joseph remained in Oregon on business but sent Marie to Trout Lake without him, which must have been a difficult undertaking for her, to take the River boats from Portland and Cascade Locks to Bingen, then the long trip to Trout Lake from there, with her 2 little girls, Dollie almost 3 , and Anna just 1 year old -- and Joseph's daughters, Hanna and Marie. She left her oldest daughter Josephine, 9 years old, with her sister Rose Zucker; Amelia 7, with her paternal grandmother Henriette Fichtner Wells; Ellen 6, with her maternal grandparents John and Ana Marie Stadler; and Elisabeth, 4, with her sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Samuel Bohi.
     In Joseph's home in Trout Lake were Joshua, 14; Hanna 12; Joseph, 8; and Jacob, 7 years old. Elizabeth, 16, was in her own home, with her 11-month old daughter Rose, and was expecting another baby (Lilly, May 5).
     Marie had a difficult time taking care of so many, with no modern conveniences. Besides, the log houses were built of pine logs, and the trees were badly infested with bedbugs, and they were difficult to get rid of.
     Their daughter Lydia was born March 22, 1893 -- exactly one year since their marriage. In the following years, they were to have 5 more children -- Ernest 1895, Martha 1897, Carl 1900, Clarence 1902 and Edna 1904.
     When he was 83 years old, grandfather wrote: "Marie was a true faithful, loving companion -- a good mother. We did not know much about each other when we were married, but the longer we lived together the more we loved each other. I know we were joined together by God.
     "We learned to trust God for all things -- for the healing of our bodies. When Marie came down with inflammatory rheumatism, she suffered untold pain and agony all over her body but she trusted God for healing. We sent for Brother and Sister Cole and she was anointed and prayed for, and the Lord healed her instantly. The first time I had severe pain in my side. I prayed almost all night, the pain was so severe, the next day while praying, I said, 'Jesus heal me,' and at that moment I felt the power of God thru my body, the pain left me, and I was completely healed."
     (After all these years, in my memory, I can hear my grandfather praying with his earnest, sweet and gentle voice) (he spoke with a German accent). "Lieben Vatter in Himmel, ve danken dee..."
     In 1894, when Marie's daughter Amelia was 9 years old, her Grandmother Fitchner Wells, with whom she had been staying for 2 years, went to Nicaragua to live with relatives who owned a coffee plantation, so Amelia was sent to Trout Lake to live with her mother. She proved to be very helpful to the family in the following years, especially nursing her mother during childbirth, and various illnesses, and caring for the babies and brothers and sisters. Later when her step-father was sick, she made the Swiss cheese that was a very important source of income for the family.
     In 1950, when Amelia was visiting relatives in Los Angeles she was in a restaurant where they were entertained by Swiss yodelers. She mailed a picture postcard of them to my mother and wrote: "I wish you could have been with us. It took me back to when we were all at home, and papa and the boys yodeled."
     My aunt Martha said her brother Jack was especially good at yodelling. Later at some of the Trout Lake Valley entertainments my mother sang and played chords on the organ, and her brothers Joshua and Josie and Jack would yodel, but I was gone by then and never heard them.
     Joseph and Marie's son Ernest was born on April 11, 1895, and that year Joseph added on several rooms to the house, as the original house, built in 1886, was too crowded for the growing family.
     In 1897, Joseph equipped a part of his woodshed to make Swiss cheese which he had learned to make in Switzerland. He became known for his high-quality cheese. This proved to be so profitable that a few years later he built a cheese-house with a huge fireplace, over which an 8-gallon iron kettle swung back and forth. He also built a good cheese cellar underneath the house with lava rock walls and window frames to provide proper ventilation. A few years ago, my Aunt Lydia said that if grandfather had kept on making Swiss Cheese no doubt eventually he would have established a successful business. All the children loved to eat the curds that were formed in the process. When Elva Woodruff was 87 years old, she recalled that she was always so happy to be home with the Aerni children and eat the curds.
     The cheese was taken to Bingen with a team of horses and wagon, then loaded on a River Steamer for either Portland or The Dalles. Almost a week was necessary for the long trip.
     Their daughter Martha was born July 4, 1897. All of the older children had gone on a picnic to the Ice Caves, where they made ice cream, using the ice that had formed in the cave. When they returned they found a new little sister.
     The family had secured their water supply from a spring some distance from the house, and it was difficult to keep such a large family supplied, so in 1897 grandfather had a friend bring him a 2" auger, 8 feet long. He cut down over 150 small trees, eight inches in diameter, into 16 foot lengths, as he needed 1200 feet of wooden pipe. He and a Swiss neighbor, John Berniger, constructed a frame to keep the auger in position. The 16' logs were secured on sawhorses or trestles; half the length of the log was bored, the log was reversed, and the other half bored.
     Then they had to whittle down the ends to make a fitting joint for the water to run thru. This was a tremendous task and took a whole winter of hard work. In Uncle Ernest's 91st year, he told me of remembering playing in the shavings when he was just a little "shaver."
     One of those early years, with the help of Frank Coate, he built a flume from Bear Creek, so that he could irrigate his fields, which was another difficult task.
     In 1900, December 8, their son Carl was born, but he had a harelip and feeding him was very difficult. Amelia was 15 years old at that time, and was a wonderful help to her mother.
     In 1902 the first 8th grade class graduated. Amelia Fitchner and Mary Aerni were among the 8 graduates. Mr. and Mrs. William Coate gave them a banquet in their new home. I do not know how much schooling any of the other older Aerni children had. My mother had four terms, one year in Switzerland and two years of it in Bethany. In 1898, the first nine-month term of school was held. In the late summer of 1902 the wild hay was scarcer than usual and grandfather made arrangements to pasture his cattle at the meadow where John Peters and his family had abandoned their homestead a few years earlier. It was more than 8 miles southwest of grandfather's farm (now called Peterson Prairie) but much different in 1892 than it is now, as much of the then meadow had been overrun with trees and brush.
     The Vernon family had a homestead just west of Jacob Schmid's homestead, and they joined grandfather in the venture. One of their boys, and Jacob Aerni herded the cows and milked them, with the help of Amelia and one of the Vernon girls. The girls would take the milk down to the farm while the boys herded the cows. The milk was made into cheese, and the girls would help with the numerous chores in the home. Then in the late afternoon they would drive the long dusty 8 miles back to the prairie and help with the milking and prepare their meal, and the next morning start all over again. One morning they found cougar tracks around the cabin where they slept. Uncle Ernest remembers going back with Amelia to spend the night when he was 7 years old.
     Aunt Martha remembers how her sister Marie knitted stockings for the family, while the little ones sat around her and eagerly listened to her Bible stories.
     In the year 1902, November 2, their son Clarence was born and Marie was very ill with phlebitis, and required constant care. When Grandfather became ill, Amelia learned to make the Swiss Cheese.
     In 1903, a Co-Operative Creamery was organized in the Valley and all the farmers joined, including grandfather. Being a good neighbor, he gave up his Swiss Cheese business and joined, too.
     The youngest of their six children, Edna, was born August 17, 1904 in Trout Lake. A Presbyterian church was organized on December 23, 1904. Grandfather was one of the 5 trustees. His daughter Lydia, 11years old, was one of the first members. A new building was started in 1905, and dedicated in 1906. It is still in use.
     In the years on the homestead, Elizabeth, Josua, Josie, Jack and Ernest all took on the job of herding the cattle in the wild grass pasture, as they became old enough. Then the next younger brother would do the herding, enabling the older brother to help his father with the haying. Then Josua and Josie worked in the mills around the valley. Ernest was only 8 when he started to herd, as Jack was needed in the haying -- a big responsibility for one so young. They rode a pony, and there were many lava caves in the region which they explored. The Pearsons and Petersons had the lower part of the pasture for their cattle, while the Aernis and Schmids pastured theirs in the higher region.
     Joseph's son-in-law Peter was killed in an accident in March, 1906. He had helped Joseph with haying and other jobs.        Joseph's health was failing. He had never recovered from his 3-day ordeal getting the mail in 1890-91 from Gilmer, and in 1906 he found a buyer for his property. He traded his farm in Trout Lake for a 5-acre dairy, cows and milk route with a Mr. Nickolson, and in December they were ready to leave.
     Lydia was 13, Ernest 11, Martha 9, Carl 6, Clarence 4 and Edna 2 years old. His 21-year old son Jacob went with him and was an invaluable help during the years until Ernest and the 2 younger boys were old enough to replace him. Jacob then returned to Trout Lake.
     As they moved from the Valley in December, Joseph drove the team and big wagon, with his family and all their belongings, to the dock in Bingen. Jack and Josie each rode a horse and drove the two cows they were taking with them. Then Josie drove the team and big wagon back to Mr. Nickolson in Trout Lake, leading the pony. Fortunately there was no snow at that time but it was a long cold ride and no doubt took two days. Then they boarded a River Steamer to Portland. The Cascade Locks had been completed in 1896 so the boat trip to Portland was not as difficult as when Grandfather first made it in 1885.
     That winter the house in Trout Lake burned to the ground, due to a faulty chimney, and the Nicholson family lived in the cheese house Joseph had built until they built another house.
     The family was met in Portland and taken to their new home in Riverdale, 5 miles from Portland. Jack rode the pony and drove the 2 cows.
     In Riverdale, they had eleven cows, and Jack delivered the milk door to door on the milk route. Martha, 10 years old, took milk to a neighbor lady, who gave her cookies. One day this lady went to Martha's mother and asked if it would be possible to adopt Martha since the Aerni's had so many children, and would not miss her!
     The dairy proved to be an unfortunate trade, and 10 months later Joseph sold it and bought a 20 A place near Stafford, 12 miles away. So in October 1907 the family moved there. They had 5 or 6 cows, and sold milk, made butter and cottage cheese, and bought eggs, vegetables, and fruit from the neighbors. Then with whatever produce from their own place, Joseph loaded the wagon, and drove the team and wagon to Portland every Tuesday and sold the produce to stores and other customers. He would water his horses at the Skidmore fountain with the Elk statue and eat his lunch in a restaurant near there, which was a treat for Martha, and later Edna, who in the summer would go with him to help him, and they always had a treat of an ice cream cone. It was a long hard trip to make in one day, and especially hard in winter when the weather was cold and in the summer when it was very hot.
     Joseph's health was poorly and in 1916 they moved to a farm in Logan, on the Clackamas River, which he purchased from an old friend from Trout Lake, Henry Huber, who was his nephew Ulrich Zuberbuhler's father-in-law. They had a dairy there and some chickens. Clarence and Edna went to school there, and in June 1918, Ernest was drafted into World War I. He was 23 years old. (A later chapter will tell of his experiences in the army and later years.) They were on that farm 4 years.
     In 1936, when Joseph was 86 years old, he wrote: "In 1920 when I was 70 years old, I traded the farm I had in Logan, an even trade for a rooming house in Oswego. I estimated the farm to be worth $3,000. We lived in Oswego 7 years -- years of many trials and troubles because of undesirable tenants. Some would move out in the night and not pay their rent. We would have vacant rooms that would be hard to rent. It was quite an expense every month for utilities, and to keep the house painted, and in good repair. So naturally I worried. But the Lord showed me it was wrong to worry, so I repented and ceased to worry, but trusted in the Lord for all things, believing "All things work together for good, for them the love the Lord". If we fully trust in God, we shall see the Salvation of God, and that is what brings joy to the soul."
    They lived in an apartment in the rear of the building on the first floor. There were rooms in the front part of the building which were rented to various businesses at different times -- a delicatessen, printing shop, grocery, real estate office. There were ten or twelve rooms upstairs rented to tenants.
     Martha married Lewis Smith in 1922, and they had a little apartment in the back on the first floor. He worked in a cement plant. Two years later he was in a serious accident at the factory, where his skull was fractured. He was unable to work any longer and received compensation from the company of $30 a month for 13 years until his death in 1938.
     Ernest, Carl and Clarence all worked at logging near Bend, Oregon.
     Joseph wrote: "In 1927, when I was 77 years old, I traded the rooming house for a farm in Jefferson, Ore, and took possession in December of that year. I know positively that God gave us this place in answer to prayer. I prayed to God many times in real earnestness, trusting fully in Him that he would lead, and guide it all according to His Holy Will. He heard and answered my prayer, for which I give Him all the Praise and glory." Ernest and Carl were glad to give up logging, and run the farm for grandfather. Martha and her husband Lewis moved in with them, and Martha did the cooking for them all, and the Housekeeping, and took care of her mother, who had cancer. She passed away 4 months after they moved on the farm, April 26, 1928.
     Martha's husband had a small chicken business.
     Later Carl married Ann, who had a little boy, and later they built a house and had a son, Earl, and a daughter, Lynda.          After 1928 Grandfather spent summers in Trout Lake whenever he could, visiting in the homes of Uncle Josie, Uncle Joe, Amelia and my mother. Uncle Ernest or Uncle Carl would bring him there and the other would bring him home. Trips to the huckleberry fields were the most pleasant times for him, as he loved to pick huckleberries. On a few occasions when I was home, during huckleberry season, my cousin Olive and I would go with him. Her father would take us up, and leave us until he returned for us. One time it rained for several days. A friend of my cousin Gladys was camped nearby, and asked us to stay with them, as they had a nice big tent, while ours was very inadequate. How glad we were to see Uncle Josie.
     Another time Olive and I decided we would pick 10 gallons of berries the next day, so got up early. Olive got her quota of 10 gallons of berries but mine was a little short as I spent some time looking for the big bucket (a 5-gallon coal oil can) I had put under a snag, to refill, so a trip to camp wouldn't be necessary so often. Poor grandfather had to get all his own meals that day.
    In 1932, Grandfather's feet and legs about halfway to his knees swelled quite badly for some time and thru prayer he was healed. Some time later the swelling came back, but while listening to a radio broadcast, the minister asked that those listening join in prayer for the healing of another Christian woman who was ill. While he was on his knees, earnestly praying for her healing, he himself was instantly healed and the trouble never returned.
     While on the farm, grandfather would do what work he could. He planted and took care of a big garden, and always walked to the mailbox, about a quarter of a mile, for the mail.
     In his 87th year he wrote to my sister Mary "The greatest blessing I have in my life are in the still hours in the night when I an awake. Then I can pray and commune with my God. In those still hours, God seems so near. Oh, it is a wonderful privilege that we can go to God in prayer in the holy name of Jesus. The dear Lord will hear and answer prayer if we go to Him believing. I thank Him that he is my God. Often I have a deep longing in my soul to be with our blessed Savior. I long to meet my dear mother in Heaven. I know she is there, and all the loved ones who have gone before me. My only desire is to live closer to God the last days of my life than ever before."
     Grandfather copied many more poems and testimonials from religious papers the last years of his life and would send them to his relatives and friends he wanted to help.
     His health was beginning to fail in his 93rd year, and by January 1st of 1944 he stayed in bed much of the time. He passed away January 31, 1944.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer