Johannes REBER

                   Anc. file as of 2/94 lists his birth place as Rothenback, Bern, Switz. and the
place Chr. as Schangnau, Bern, Swtz.  Death date has also been listed on other
records as 1875.

NOTE:
       Historical detail found in NOTES

Although he was a young man, Johannas became afflicted with rheumatismuntil his back was bent and his hands gnarled and mis-shapen. In themidst of his suffering he often prayed for God's help that he might becured of this painful disease. Before his mother passed away she hada manifestation that missionaries would bring them the Gospel, so whenit came Johannes was eagerly awaiting it. On a cold December nightthe ice was broken in the river at the place of baptism and JohannesReber was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and was blessed for therestoration of his health. He told his father and friends that hebelieved he could go home without their help. He threw away his twoshort sticks, which he had used for years to help him get around, andwalked home alone, and healed.This miracle brought many people to investigate Mormonism, and manyjoined the Church. Of Johannas brothers, only his youngest Samuel, wasbaptized with him on that December night of 1859. His older brother,Christian and his brother, Peter never did join the church, butthirteen years later his brother Frederick was baptized and migratedto Utah.This first group of converts were very eager to gather to Zion,although they considered very deeply when the time came for them tosell their homes and green valleys with the thought that they wouldnever see them again.The sailed down the Rhine River, crossed the English Channel, andlanded at London, where they joined a group of converts fromScandinavia. They sailed on the ship William Tapscott, leavingEngland on May 11, 1860. The ship had been chartered by the churchand among them were 85 from Switzerland.They were six weeks on the water, for their little sailing vessel metwith bad weather and adverse winds. On several occasions the Elderswould gather the people together for a prayer meeting and sing thehymns during a raging storm. It is a matter of record that during theperiod of greatest immigration to America not one ship that waschartered by the Church was lost, and sea captains always thought itwas a good omen to have Mormon converts on board.The ship landed in New York Harbor on June 18, 1860. The pilgrimswere so happy that they wept for joy at the sight of the Statue ofLiberty in the harbor. From New York they traveled by train toFlorence, Nebraska, the journey being pleasant for the country wasstrange and interesting.At Florence they found that there were not enough wagons for theemigration, so they waited and helped make their own handcarts. TheSwiss group were organized with Oscar O. Stoddard as Captain, andcontained 126 persons. The trip was long and hard, but they arrivedin Salt Lake City in September 1860.When they arrived, Johannes Reber was 31 years old. He had with himone son, Jonas, by his first wife, who had died in Switzerland soonafter the birth of the boy. His second wife had her 9 year olddaughter, Rosina. Samuel, his brother, was a young man in his 20thyear.