Jules Ernest WENGER

<p>The home town for the Wengers where everything was registered is Uebeschi (Berne). They may not have ever lived in this town, just where they had to register births, etc. Neuchatel Canton in Switzerland was not formed until 1815, prior to that it was Bern Canton.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Jules was very young when his mother died. He was probably raised by relatives., (maybe his grandparents, theEymann's) </p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Jules and Marie were married in LeLocle, Canton Neuchatel in 1893. They had at least twins that died at birth and possibly another girl that died at birth before theyhad John born in 1894 an Marguerite born in 1896. They were born in Switzerland...</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Marie and Jules and their 2 children came to the USA in 1897. Jules never went back to Switzerland. His obit states that he arrived in the Big Hole Basin July 4, 1897. In 1912 Marie and Jules' father and 2 of Jules and Marie children returned to Switzerland for a visit. </p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Jules and Marie's first child to be born in America was August "Gus." They were living in the cabin owned by a cousin of Jules, Jim Tissot. They then filed on some land and lived at Cow Cabin Gulchwhere the next 2 children were born. The cabin at Cow Cabin Gulch was so well ventilated it would blow out the kerosene light. March 23, 1903 they bought a ranch one mile southwest of Jackson from Ludvig and Carveina Garlin, and that is where their other children were born and where they raised them. This house was a very tiny house and had 2 bedrooms in it. The boys slept in the bunkhouse.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Jules could speak and understand both German and French but Marie could only speak French. </p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>They sold this ranch April 2, 1941-43 to Dale Strodtman and moved to a smaller ranch in Wisdom. Dale came on the bus to meet Jules at the Metlen Hotel in Dillon. Jules took Dale into the dining room closed the doors and locked them and they made the deal. Just shook hands and then said good-bye.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>They moved to a ranch in Wisdom which was the original Al Noyes homestead. Al Noyes wrote the first autobiography in Montana "The Story of Ajax." </p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Jules was a lifetime member of the I.O.O.F.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>At the Wenger dinner table you sat down and ate; you did not talk. Children were seen not heard and manners were necessary. Rose used to tell about having Mary Woody come to stay and how they would always get in trouble because they would talk and giggle. Ruth was very young when she spoke in a loud voice "Please pass the Dog Nuts." Everyone laughed, even her dad, Jules. </p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Chief Tendoy of the Lemhi Indians used to come to the Wenger ranch in Jackson and camp along the creek.He would trade for a horse once in awhile. Jules had a bay that hadn't been ridden so he told the Chief if he could ride him he could have it and $10.00. So he did ride him, bareback. Henry Wenger tells of playing with a daughter or granddaughter of the Chiefs, named Julie, I think. He remembers that she had a doll she played with and he says she later became a teacher.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>I always heard as a child that Jules went to Dillon, to Eliel's Department Store, and bought a dozen shoes in various sizes and brought them home and the kids then found what would fit best and that wastheir shoes until the next trip he made to town. Also, they were not allowed to go barefoot because that was an indication that they were poor and could not afford shoes.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Julesdied of Broncho pneumonia</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>NOTE: I got the following from Craig Wenger. It is a little thing written by Esta Hirschy Husted - Note: she had wrong year of their arrival.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>In June 1896 Jules Wenger, 27 years old; Marie Wenger 23 years old, John Wenger, 1 1/2 years old, and Marguerite 1/2 years old when they came to the Big Hole.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>It was May 4, 1894 when Esta came to Big Hole. There were seven Hirschy kids when they came; Gus, Lena, Fred, Ida, Esta, David and Emma. Five more, Charles, Bess, Bill, Mable and Ellen were born in the Big Hole.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>At first they lived on the Old Gus Wenger place (what we called the Pope Place). Gus Wenger came in 1882. Jules and Marie in 1896.</p><p><p></p></p><p>History of the Wenger family and Hirschy family can be found in the book "Beaverhead County History - Volume I."

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