Ancestors in Wood

Dad finished this wood carving of his grand parents, John Jacob Frederick and Maria Bull Schmidt.  He took it from an old family photo his cousin has.  Born Lutheran in 1867, John was introduced to the Church around 1890.  He parted ways with his current girlfriend, who showed no interest when he decided to be baptized.  

Shortly afterward he met Maria Bull where they both lived in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.  She had also joined the Church.  Soon they were making plans to marry and decided to do it in the Salt Lake Temple.  A group of converts were coming to America, so they worked hard to earn the money to immigrate also.   You can just imagine the events at doing everything in their power working odd jobs, to save enough money which took about a year. 

Can you see them taking a train to meet the ship, sailing to America, disembarking at the Ellis Island check point and boarding another train to Salt Lake.  How their love must have grown as they sacrificed for this dream.  They were married in April shortly after arriving in Utah  on March 24, 1895. 

Goals and sacrifices make for great stories.  Read their life history some day when you get a chance.