Alexander Neibaur

Alexander Neibaur is one of the first Jews to convert to Mormonism, understood to have done so on or about 9 Apr 1838. He was known primarily as a dentist, but also a match maker. He is known to have been at least one of the individuals who taught Hebrew to Joseph Smith, the first leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Alexander is the author of one of the eight versions of the story behind Joseph Smith's vision, called the First Vision by Mormons. Another item of note is that Alexander's father, Joseph Nathan Neibaurer, was an interpreter for Napoleon Bonaparte.

Obituary

[Transcription by Jason O'Driscoll]

Father Neibaur Dead.

The death of Father Alexander Neibaur, who has been lingering for some weeks past, has not been altogether unexpected. He passed away quietly and without struggle, Saturday afternoon about 4 p.m. He was born on the 9th of January 1808, at Ehrenbreitstein, Germany, of Jewish parents, and was educated in the law of Moses for a Jewish Rabbi. At 14 years of age he chose the profession of dentist, went to the university of Berlin at 17, and began to travel on the continent of Europe, as a dentist. In 1830 he went to the town of Preston, Lancashire, England, where in the same year, he married Ellen Breakel, of Vauxhall Road, in the same town. He was baptized into the Mormon Church, April 9th, 1838. He left Liverpool in the ship Sheffield, the first ship that ever sailed over the Atlantic Ocean with "Mormons." on Febuary 7th, 1841, arriving in Nauvoo, the same fall and from the fall of 1843 till June, 1844, taught Joseph Smith the Hebrew and German languages. He arrived in Salt Lake City, September 24th, 1848, and settled in the Thirteenth Ward, where he has resided ever since, having been the father of eleven children, with eighty-one grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. Deceased was highly respected by all who knew him, and this means the greater portion of the community.-S.L. Herald.

[Published in Ogden Standard Examiner Dec. 17,1883]

Wikipedia Biographical Summary

"...Alexander Neibaur (8 January 1808 – 15 December 1883) was one of the first Jewish persons to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was an educated man, fluent in 7 languages, and was a skilled dentist in his time, among the first dentists to practice in Utah.

Neibaur was born in 1808 to Nathan and Rebecca Peretz Neibaur in Ehrenbriestein, Alsace-Lorraine (near Coblentyz, Prussia, now Koblenz, Germany), which was at that time a part of France. Neibaur's father served as a surgeon of the French Army..."

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Alexander Neibaur', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 November 2010, 13:11 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexander_Neibaur&oldid=3...> [accessed 20 January 2011]

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE:

http://storiesoffaithandcourage.blogspot.com/search/label/Alexander...

Alexander Neibaur was raised in the Jewish faith in a devout family in France, during the Napoleonic era. Alexander's physician-father sent him to school to become a Rabbi. Here he was schooled in the Jewish faith and the Talmud. But Alexander wasn't satisfied with what he was learning, so he dropped out. He studied to be a Dentist at the University of Berlin. After graduating, he traveled around Europe, looking for a place to set up a practice. Instead he found Christianity! Converting to Christianity meant departing the Jewish faith.

He chose Preston England to set up a Dental practice, a move that would prove to be important to his future. He met his future wife, Ellen Breakel, in Preston. They married in 1834. He had been having dreams and visions, where he saw a strange book, a beautiful building he wanted to enter but couldn't and an angel.

In July 1837 the first Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to Preston, preaching near a large gathering hall called the 'Cock Pit.' The fame of these Mormons spread quickly, prompting discussions among neighbors as they performed their daily chores. A neighbor of Ellen's asked if she had heard about the 'new ministers from America who claimed to have seen angels' while they were cleaning their front steps. Alexander, hearing from the house, asked more of this neighbor woman. She gave him the address of the Elders, and Alexander ran to find them. Finding Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Orson Hyde and Joseph Fielding, he asked if they had a book. He was referring to the strange book he had seen in vision. If this was the right church, it would match what he had seen in his dreams. They indeed had a Book of Mormon.

Alexander couldn't eat or sleep for the three days it took him to read the Book of Mormon. Finishing, he asked the Elders if he could be baptized; they counseled him to wait until he learned more to prepare for this important ordinance. He used this time to help Ellen. She wasn't so sure. Alexander wanted Ellen to read the Book of Mormon so she could know of the truthfulness of the restored gospel, as he did. She wasn't unsupportive of Alexander, just personally disinterested. She said it was a 'pretty story' but wouldn't go any further. Alexander persisted, reading aloud from the pages of the Book of Mormon to her in the evenings well into the night. Finally, she awoke in the middle of the night after dreaming of seeing Willard Richards' face among clouds. She took that to mean that she should pay heed to what he had taught her. She listened to Alexander read the Book of Mormon with an open heart. On April 9, 1838, both Alexander and Ellen Neibaur were baptized by Isaac Russell in the River Ribble nearby. The family finally had the whole truth!

The water would have been extremely cold in April's England, but their friendships and associations would turn out to be colder. Alexander and Ellen's friends and associated did not approve of their decision to join the Mormons. Alexander's dental practice suffered, and their friendships became strained. The Neibaurs immigrated to America to join the body of the saints, where they became close friends with Joseph Smith and his family, as well as Brigham Young and his family. There, they entered the Holy Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, recognizing it as the beautiful building he saw in his dreams and wanted to enter.

Alexander Neibaur was the first Jewish male convert to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. His conversion was the first of many to fulfill the prophecy of Nephi, found in 2 Nephi 29: 13 and 2 Nephi 30:7.
And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites (the Book of Mormon) and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews (The Bible); And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall become a delightsome people.

Alexander Neibaur was guided by God to find the truth he sought. He was open to the inspiration he received and acted upon it. Embracing the truth separated him from his previous family, friends and business associates, but opened up new friendships and family relationships that now extend into eternity. More importantly, it changed his families' lives forever. As a descendant of Alexander and Ellen Neibaur, we are the grateful recipients of this gospel through their sacrifices.

Obituary

[Transcription by Jason O'Driscoll]

Father Neibaur Dead.

The death of Father Alexander Neibaur, who has been lingering for some weeks past, has not been altogether unexpected. He passed away quietly and without struggle, Saturday afternoon about 4 p.m. He was born on the 9th of January 1808, at Ehrenbreitstein, Germany, of Jewish parents, and was educated in the law of Moses for a Jewish Rabbi. At 14 years of age he chose the profession of dentist, went to the university of Berlin at 17, and began to travel on the continent of Europe, as a dentist. In 1830 he went to the town of Preston, Lancashire, England, where in the same year, he married Ellen Breakel, of Vauxhall Road, in the same town. He was baptized into the Mormon Church, April 9th, 1838. He left Liverpool in the ship Sheffield, the first ship that ever sailed over the Atlantic Ocean with "Mormons." on Febuary 7th, 1841, arriving in Nauvoo, the same fall and from the fall of 1843 till June, 1844, taught Joseph Smith the Hebrew and German languages. He arrived in Salt Lake City, September 24th, 1848, and settled in the Thirteenth Ward, where he has resided ever since, having been the father of eleven children, with eighty-one grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. Deceased was highly respected by all who knew him, and this means the greater portion of the community.-S.L. Herald.

[Published in Ogden Standard Examiner Dec. 17,1883]

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via son Hyrum Smith Neibaur by SmartCopy: Oct 31 2014, 0:27:39 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

Alexander Neibaur (seated left); (left to right) Joseph William Neibaur, Hyrum Smith Neibaur, Isaac Neibaur (also seated), Nathan Alexander Neibaur

<u>Nauvoo, Illinois Tax Index, 1842
</u>Name: Alexander Neibaur
Residence date: 1842
Residence place: Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois USA

<u>Journal of Alexander Neibaur - Sheffield (February 1841)
</u>Feb. 5th, 1841, left Preston, Lancashire, England, in company my wife, 3 children and a number of others for Liverpool to embark on board the ship the Sheffield bound for New Orleans. We left Preston by the 20 minutes past 8 o"clock train, reached Liverpool about 10 1/2 past went directly on board the ship where we found a number of emigrnts - the ship all in an uproar, luggage, men, women and children all huddled together. A number of us went to the Hargreaves Railway Office for our luggage, got this on board, got something from the cook shop for our families as it was very cold. Went to bed at dark.
Feb. 6th as soon as daylight began to grow all began to be live again. The passengers began to stir, some went to purchase provisions, some lemons, some salt fish, soap, candles, &c. I went to see a friend of mine, Mr. Hauk. He was very glad to see me and particular so that I had made up my mind to emigrate, he gave me a present for my wife, a boa, a muff for my daughter, and a pair of fur gloves for myself; wished me a safe arrival, that the Lord might prosper me - toward dark, Elders Young, Taylor, Richards, which 3 gentlemen had the superintendndency of the storing for the company arrived as Elder Hyram Clark, the president for the voyage. After the emigrants were called to order by B. Brigham Young and silence being attained the company was ordered to be on board by 8 o'clock on Sunday morning, and all those that had not paid their full passage money or deposited 2 L (probably meaning 2 pounds) towards their provision would be put on shore, luggage and all. Those that had not done so was ordered to go immediately to 72 Borlington Street. They would have to abide the consequences. There were several that were compelled to borrow. Proctor was forced to pawn his clothes.
Sunday, Feb. 7 about 8 o'clock Elders B. (Brigham) Young, (John) Taylor & (Willard) Richards in company with Clark came on board, all was now in an uproar, the Captain, R.K. Porter, a very nice little man gave his orders about 10 o'clock the ship was on her move, the shore was lined with spectators - a fine breeze soon(p.l) carried us down the River Mersey. Soon we was out of sight of Liverpool. Many of the compnay now made for their berths feeling some what uncomfortable. Wind continuing fine all day and night.
Feb. 8 Weather fair nothing particular. Stores delivered unto the camp. Most sick in berths.
Feb. 9 Wind brisk. About 6 o;clock wind changes from northeast to southwest. Blow fresh all night saw a sail.
Feb. 10 A sloop in sight her bulwarks chattered hove to inquiring her road having been as sea ll days laid to 5 days driven to the lands end bound from Liverpool for London in the course of the day a fine American showed here colors from New Orleans for Liverpool.
Feb. 11 Some passengers received aboard towards evening one of the passengers from Preston a woman dangerous ill died about 12 1/2 o'clock. Several of the ship's crew came to look at her as it was the first that died on board the Sheffield. One of our own company sewed her up in a sheet. Buried about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Towards 6 o'clock wind ahead blows fresh increases to a hurricane. Elder H. (Hiram) Clark just making some remarks on the burial of our beloved sister the ship heaving most tremendously tubs rolling about, pans, kettles and cans all in a uproar, women shrieking, children crying, all hastening to their berths. Wind continued all night right ahead, very strong.
13 Feb. Wind continued ahead. Blows fresh, rain.
14 Feb. Able prayer at evening.
15 Fine wind. Ship in its proper course. All cheery & merry. Heavy swuall.
16 Wind continues favorable, changes towards evening, blows fresh all night.
17. Wind favorable. Cook neglecting his duty. Got flogged 24 lashes having too much liquor given him by the company. Toward evening wind changes right ahead. Ship heaving all night 3 o'clock changes favorable.
18. Finemorning favorable all day. Night calm.
19. Fine morning wind southeast continues all day.
20. Becalmed some uneasiness respecting the fire. Calm all day wind changes toward evening, wind ahead continues all night.
Sunday, 21. Fine morning wind ahead - calm towards 11 o'clock. The whole company ordered on deck by Elder (Hiram) Clark. Meeting

Nauvoo Property Information:
Block 159, Lot 1, 2 S/2 (home site)
Map can be found in binder labeled ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ALEXANDER NEIBAUR in section "Alexander Neibaur Information Obtained from Nauvoo Land and Records Office, June 2002."

<b>Alexander Neibaur
Individual Information

</b>BIRTH DATE
8 January 1808
DEATH DATE
15 December 1883
GENDER
Male

Captain of Ten

<b>Companies
</b>Brigham Young Company (1848)Age at departure: 40<b>Sources

</b>“Father Neibaur Dead,” Ogden Daily Herald, 17 Dec. 1883, [2].
Source Location
Utah Digital Newspapers Website
Bullock, Thomas, Journals 1843-1849, fd. 1-4.
Trail Excerpt
Source Location
Church History Library, Salt Lake City
Journal History, Supp. after 31 Dec. 1848, p. 1
Neibaur, Alexander, Autobiographical sketch, in 5th Quorum, Biographies, 1845-1881, vol. 1, 10, in Seventies Quorum, Records, 1844-1913, 1929-1973.
Trail Excerpt
Source Location
Church History Library, Salt Lake City
Neibaur, Alexander, Journal, 1841 Feb.-1862 Apr., 26-38.
Trail Excerpt
Source Location
Church History Library, Salt Lake City

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