Branding Cattle on the Probst Farm

Memories of the Probst Farm told by GWP:

Branding Cattle on the Probst Farm 1948.

This pic was taken in 1948. We are branding cattle up at the old barn on the mound. This is on the east side of the barn or the back side in the corral. Gene is on the horse stretching out the steer by its legs with a lariat anchored to the saddle horn. Bernard has just branded the steer and is clamping an identification tag in its ear. Karl (standing at right) is watching the operation. Bernard has just handed him the branding iron. I (Glen) am just outside the corral tending the fire and branding irons. I was age 12, and it was my job to see that the irons were red hot. I handed one to Dad, who then hurriedly took it to Bernard. I took this picture with an old Browne camera that my folks had bought me for my birthday. Branding was very hard work, and I didn't like doing it. I especially didn't like the smell of burning flesh and the blood that squirted out when they de-horned the young bulls.

Karl Probst and his Horse 1948.

This is Dad (Karl) and the horse Gene was using. This was a strange horse. At my age, I was afraid to ride it. I don't think it even had a name, but it was good for holding steady when branding cattle.

The Old Barn on the Mound 1948.

This is the old barn on the Mound behind (east) of our Midway home. Where the shadow is on the left is where I tended the fire during branding time. The branding corral was directly behind the barn. As you can see, this barn was old in 1948. It is no longer there. We kept hay in it, as well as a stack of hay just next to where the shadow is. You can see one pole of the old derrick that was used to stack the hay up high.

Probst Home - Midway, Utah

This is our Midway home. I think this picture was taken in the early forties or before. I don't remember those posts being there in the front. You can also see the south end of the old barn on the right in back. It was located about the length and a half of a football field behind the house on the Mound. There were several warm water springs on the Mound.

Probst Cabin - Snake Creek, Utah

This is our cabin up Snake Creek next to the old Huber place. We finished it on Dad's birthday, June 7, 1954, also the year I graduated from high school. Dad and I both carved our initials in the cement on the front step. We spent many good times at the cabin. The cabin is no longer standing today, but the foundation remains. Too bad it had to be sold to the Wasatch State Park in 1962.

A Close Call

Taken from "Experiences in the Life of Karl Lorenzo Probst"

"I had a male chorus of about thirty voices. We were on our way to sing in Salt Lake in the Tabernacle for April General Conference. We were to be there by 10:00 a.m. We left Midway early because the road was very broken up and it had snowed the night before. As we went over the Summit in Parley's Canyon toward Salt Lake, on the old road, we were going about fifteen miles per hour, and the car started to pick up speed. As we neared a turn in the road, I applied the brakes and the car started to slip around, and I had no control of it. Out on the end of the bend in the road there was an abandoned car, and I thought rather than go off the gravel and roll down 300 or 400 ft., I would guide the car to this old parked car, which I did, and hit the side of the car and the impact threw our car around so that it went right into the the gravel pit and buried the radiator into the clay and stopped. Riding in the car with me were my daughter, Beatrice, who was going to play the piano, and Roy Huffaker, one of the tenor singers. By the time we got out, other members of the chorus were coming to the car, and they stopped and helped us get our car out of the mud, and we went on our way. We arrived in Salt Lake in time to sing for Conference. This was one of the closest calls I ever had in my life. The Lord was on our side that time."

Merry Christmas, Grandma

From "Writings" by Carrie "Cree" Probst ©1985

Merry Christmas, Grandma

Merry Christmas, grandma.
If wishes all come true
A load of all good things in life
Would come addressed to you.

I love you, grandma, and today
I wish I could be near
To tell you all the lovely things
That make you seem so dear.

Thanks

From "Writings" by Carrie "Cree" Probst ©1985

Thanks

Give thanks for what?
Can you raise your eyes,
For the gorgeous blue of the morning skies,
Or see the glory of God's sunrise
And not give thanks?

Give thanks for what?
Can you gaze and see
A blade of grass or a stately tree
A butterfly or a humming bee
And not give thanks?

Give thanks for what?
Can you dry a tear
From a little face that presses near
Or hold in your arms the form so dear
And not give thanks?

Give thanks for what?
Can you see at night
The stars pinned round
With the moon for light
And feel that God makes all things right
And not give thanks?

Returning Home from a Dance

Taken from "Experiences in the Life of Karl Lorenzo Probst"

"One night about the middle of April, our orchestra went to Duchesne to play for a dance. After the dance let out about 10:00 p.m., we started on our way home. While coming up Deep Creek in Dolph Duke's car, he was driving, he went to sleep at the wheel and I could feel the car swerve, going to the side, and the car tipped down against a quaken aspen tree and was braced across this tree. I opened the door on my side and crawled out and helped the piano player out, and then Dolph crawled out. Seymour Duke and Albin Hansen were in the back seat, and Albin said, "Seymour, don't step on my violin," and Symour said, "Hell, you have got it under your arm." At the same time, Albin was stepping in the middle of Seymour's drum. From then on, Albin carried his violin under his arm to protect it. We gathered some wood and made a fire. Seymour and I walked to the State Road Shed in Strawberry Valley about five miles away. We arrived at sunup and Ronald Johnson was the only man there working for the State. He got a state truck and equipment and we rode back with him to the wreck. He pulled us onto the road, and we got on our way, arriving in Heber about 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning."

Fishing with Karl

Memories of Karl as told by GWP:

Dad (Karl) and I were "fishing buddies" for as long as I can remember. He started me fishing at about age four. My first memories were of the Mahogany Spring at the mouth of Pine Canyon and not far from our cabin in Snake Creek––maybe a couple of miles. Dad took me in through the brush to a small stream and said, "Glen, come and look at this." I crouched over, went up to where he was, looked into the clear water and saw about a dozen Brook Trout feeding in the quiet current. That was my first experience and it "hooked" me on fishing. I was so excited. Then Dad baited his hook, dropped it into the stream, and I watched as one of the fish quickly took the bait, and Dad pulled it out and onto the grassy bank.

Now I was really excited. Those Brook Trout were so colorful. From that day on Dad and I fished several times a week. As I got older, we went to Deer Creek Reservoir, Strawberry Reservoir, some of the high lakes (Brimhall Lake, Lake Catharine, Pittsburg Lake, Blood Lake, Island Lake, Lake Mary, and others) in the mountains above Midway towards Park City and Brighton and Alta. We also fished the Provo and Weber Rivers a lot. Whenever we could, we went fishing.

My mother (Cree) both bottled and froze fish for use year around.

When Dad (Karl) was in his late eighties, he still wanted to go fishing with me, if only to watch me fish. I remember one day we went to Rainbow Bay on Deer Creek, one of his favorite places. I drove as close to the reservoir as possible and then helped him down the embankment and over to the edge of the lake, where I put him on a chair, and we fished and caught our limits. Dad loved to fish and so did I.

Karl's favorite places to fish at first were up Snake Creek--the stream that ran through our orchard and right next to the old cabin where he was born. In later years he liked to fish the reservoirs--Strawberry first, Deer Creek next, and then Schofield. He also enjoyed going with me to the Uinta Mountain lakes.

He mostly fished with bait--worms and cheese. He only fished with flies when he was with me doing evening fishing on one of the lakes. I tied many, many flies that were very effective, and Dad would use a fly and a bubble on his spinning outfit when we fished the lakes in the evenings or early mornings. Sometimes we would get up at 3:00 AM to go to Strawberry and fish with large streamers or bucktails, trolling them behind a boat with the motor running very slowly. This was very effective. We'd fish into the morning and catch fish as long as the fog and mist remained on the lake.

Dad was famous for being able to catch fish on the streams around Midway. This is how he taught me. He would walk into the most brushy places with a short fishing pole and line, sneak up to the side of the creek, drop the bait in along the undercut banks, and catch fish at will. He always told me this was the way to do it, because most people would not fight the brush to fish those places. He was right, I caught my limit of fish almost everyday doing this. We had fish regularly.

Dad used a spinning rod only, once they came on the market in the fifties. Before that he used a bamboo pole or steel telescoping rod to fish on the streams and rivers close to home--mostly Snake Creek, the Big Ditch behind our house, Mahogany Springs, and the Provo River. He never used a classic fly-fishing rod on the rivers and streams like I did.

Karl's Fishing Hats. Originally these were his "Dress Hats" before they were commissioned as "Fishing Hats."

Karl's Tackle Box

Karl's Fishing Hat filled with flies tied by GWP.

Browne Lake Fishing Trip 1962

Memories of Karl as told by GWP:

Karl L. Probst - Browne Lake 1962

In 1962 Dad (Karl), Harold Hullinger (my father-in-law), and I took a fishing trip to Browne Lake. Browne Lake is north of Vernal, UT, on the eastern end of the Uinta Mountains, north slope near Flaming Gorge.

Karl would have been 65 years old in 1962. We went out to the Uintas specifically for this fishing trip and stayed in Harold Hullinger's camper.

The fish are Native Cutthroat fish, and each weighed between 2 and 3 pounds. We caught many fish that day. I don't remember what the limit was, but we kept only the larger fish.

Dad (Karl) always wore bib overalls. I still have his old hat and fishing license. In fact, I've used his old hat for years and have added some more of my home-tied flies to it.

Glen W. Probst - Browne Lake 1962

History of Karl Lorenzo Probst - Part IV

History written by Karl L. Probst in 1968:

"Besides teaching school and farming, I played for many dances, using the saxophone, trombone and guitar. we traveled in all kinds of weather playing in surrounding towns in and out of the valley."

Old Midway Social Hall where Karl and his orchestra played for dances.
(Notice the pot rock construction.)

"I was Sunday School and ward chorister approximately forty years and was Wasatch Stake Sunday School chorister for eight years."

"In the year, 1914, while attending B.Y.U., I was selected for the Wasatch Stake to take the Scoutmaster's Training Course that the Church had initiated. I was chosen Scoutmaster in midway and worked in Scouting for about forty years as Scoutmaster and on the Troop Committee. Also, I took a course for college credit that gave me the 'Scoutmaster's Key.'"

"I organized a male quartet composed of myself as second bass; Reed Kohler, bass; Rulon Huntington, lead; and Roy Huffaker, tenor. We did much public service, and sang for funerals, on programs, etc., for some forty years. This quartet took first place in the Utah Farm Bureau Contest. I organized other groups and put on about six or seven minstrel shows to help raise money to pay on the present Midway Second Ward meetinghouse., and after the money was matched, it made about $6,000 toward the chapel."

"My favorite sport was baseball, having pitched and won many games. I came by this naturally, because I could curve a ball when I was in the sixth grade. I have obtained a hunting and fishing license each year and never missed a year from the time I was fourteen years old."

"My wife and I served a six-months' mission in the East Central States from October, 1961, to April, 1962. We also spent several winters in Mesa, Arizona, doing temple work and enjoying the warm climate."

"Over the years, I developed the ability to do fancy handwriting and was asked many times to sign numerous certificates, invitations, etc."

"During my farm days, I got into the silver fox business and had a ranch of my own––about twenty pens. We made money for several years and had good luck, and then the styles changed, and the women weren't wearing fox fur. We sold the last ones for $10.00 a piece and got out of the business."

Fox Pens on the Probst Farm where Karl raised silver foxes for their pelts to be used for clothing, 1940's.
At the peak, he had about 500 foxes.

"I also had acquired by this time some black Karakul sheep; the first ram I bought from Texas at a cost of $250.o0. It was the only Karakul ram in Utah at that time, and I crossed him on Suffolk ewes, and their offspring were half bloods, and I kept crossing this ram until I got a 15/16th blood, almost purebred. I also purchased a ewe then, too, and kept inbreeding until I finally had a quality of pelt that was valued at about $25.00 to $30.00 a piece."

"I sold a carload of sheep to Hemingway in California, keeping twelve yearlings that were the highest quality of broadtail type fur. I kept one ram lamb to breed on these twelve, having let the old ram go to California. I figured I had the best ram, and these twelve ewes were the best in America for their quality of fur. I figured now that I would really make some money. I had this valuable ram in the corral with some horses, and about two weeks after I had sold the other sheep, I went up to the barn one morning, and the ram was lying dead. He had been kicked by a horse and had a broken neck, so I had no ram to breed these twelve ewes with. so, I wrote to California to try to get the old ram back, and they informed me that they had already killed him because they didn't think he was worth anything. So, with this disappointment, it put an end to my experiment in the sheep business."

"We also raised peas for silage, sugar beet seed, milk cows, head lettuce and hay. Just recently, I have purchased two rare Mouflon sheep, almost extinct. The ewe now has a lamb."

"We also had a raspberry patch up Snake Creek in the apple orchard which produced berries very abundantly for some time. However, the State Park has now purchased this ground, but I have continued to lease it back since that time. This year is the last time I will take care of the raspberries up Snake Creek. The bushes are just about all dead."

"The last year I taught school, I decided to try making a guitar. I found a large log up Snake Creek, hauled it to my home and with an ax, chopped it down to size. I then took it to the shop in high school where I smoothed it and cut it to the pattern I had made. By the time school was out in the spring, I had finished a very good electric guitar. Later, I invented an instrument I called the Melody Harp. I have made many of these. Lately I have been making Spanish Guitars, and have been experimenting with different kinds of wood. I still have many ideas I want to work out."

Karl created this Trade Mark for his Melody Harp.

"Since retiring from school teaching, I have kept very busy with my hobbies––painting, guitar making, and fishing. I have painted many pictures, many of which I have given away, and some I have sold."

"At seventy-three years of age, I have very good health, enjoy life, and hope to live to be one-hundred years old."

Karl and his Guitars

Memories of Karl as told by GWP:

I was reading my father's history on the karlandcree web site, and noted that he played a trombone solo in the old Salt Lake Theater while in the band in training at the University of Utah. The name of the song was Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight (for her daddy over there), probably the biggest hit song of 1918. You can listen to it HERE.

Dad was such a good musician. As a child (and even today), I didn't think anyone could touch him musically. He could play the trombone and saxophone so beautifully. I remember asking him on occasion to get the sax out and play it for me, and he did so. I remember him using trombone sheet music to play the sax and vice versa. He directed the Midway Swiss band for many years. I played trombone in that band, and we used to serenade in early mornings for Swiss Days as we rode around the town on a big flatbed truck. We then took part in the parade and later gave a concert on the Town Square. Later, they made a gazebo on wheels specifically for Dad and his band to use for the parade and concerts. That gazebo is still used today and remains parked on the Town Square when not in use.

It's no wonder Dad was chosen as the camp band leader in San Antonio. He told me that, among his other music studies at BYU, he had taken an elective class in transposing music, resulting in his being able to play one instrument using the sheet music for another. I used to sing solos in high school and remember on a number of occasions that Dad would transpose the sheet music to a lower key for my voice. Dad studied at BYU under Prof. Robert Sauer, composer of Springtime in the Rockies. You can see some old photos of the Prof. Sauer and his BYU band HERE. Click on the images to enlarge them.

Dad also played the Hawaiian guitar beautifully. We spent many a night, especially in the winter, playing together--he on the Hawaiian and I on my Gretsch guitar. Whenever I got out my Gretsch and amplifier, Dad would sit and listen to me as long as I would play. He dearly loved the Spanish guitar and could play it as well. As you may remember, he learned to make his own guitars. I still have one he made from a tree trunk he got up Snake Creek. I think it was Quaking Aspen.

Here's a picture of Dad playing his Hawaiian guitar. His paintings are displayed also. Notice his handmade baritone ukuleles and the unfinished guitar next to him on the floor.

He loved to play, and one of his favorite's was The Old Refrain. You can listen to it HERE

also by Deanna Durbin HERE,

also by Nelson Eddy HERE.

Another favorite of his was Just a Song at Twilight. Listen to it HERE.

Another was I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen , by Josef Locke. Listen to it HERE.

And there were many others.


I might mention that I (GWP) also played in the BYU Marching Band (trombone) for two years--1955-56. Dick Ballou was the band director. He actually became the first full-time director in 1953. Under his direction the band became know as the "Incomparable Cougar Marching Band." We had about 110 members.

History of Karl Lorenzo Probst - Part III

History written by Karl L. Probst in 1968:

"On my arrival home, the first thing I did was to go over to the Midway School in my soldier's uniform. While I was talking with the principal, Mr. Sorensen, in the eighth grade room, a young lady by the name of Miss Wright came in the room, and he introduced her to me, and that was the first time I met the girl who later became my wife. During the remainder of the winter, we had sleigh riding parties and programs, and I started to date Miss Wright. In early spring of 1919, we became engaged."

Old Midway Grade School

"That fall, I went to Oakley and taught school and was principal. I organized a band of about twenty Oakley boys. They progressed very rapidly, and it wasn't very long until we were playing on programs. Occasionally, during the winter on weekends, I would go to Midway to court Miss Wright and see my folks. Sometimes, I would go down riding horseback and sometimes I would go down with a very fancy trotter outfit that was loaned to me by Mr. Jensen."

"One time I came to Midway, and didn't know it but the town was quarantined for the Flu. The roads leading to Midway from Charleson and Heber were blockaded, but I came by way of the River Road and stopped at my girl's place before going home, and she told me the town was quarantined for the Flu, so I made my visits short that time, and sneaked out Sunday afternoon unknown to anyone and returned to Oakley."

"While in Oakley, I boarded with the Peter Frost family, and they made me very welcome, and I enjoyed that first winter very much in Oakley."

On June 23, 1920, Miss Wright and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple. That summer we lived with my folks in Midway, and then in the fall, we returned to Oakley where I taught school the second year there. We lived in an old log cabin down on the Weber River where our first child, Bernard, was born the following spring, April 1, 1921. The old log cabin is torn down now, and a nice residence occupies the spot."

Karl and Cree Probst

"We enjoyed the winter very much, and in the spring there was an opening to teach school in Midway, my home town, so we decided to return. The people in Oakley offered more money for me to stay, but we didn't accept the offer."

"I taught school for twenty-two years in Midway, eight of which I served as principal, teaching several of my own children, and then was transferred to Wasatch High School in Heber City to teach English and Math in Junior High and some senior high subjects. I taught school for a total of forty years altogether. Lulu Clegg was superintendent during some of the time that I was teaching in the Wasatch High School. One day, she called me into her office and said she would like to have some art taught in the high school, there not being any at that time. "

"She said she thought I was the person who could do it, and she would give me all the help I needed to get started. She assigned me a small room, and the first year I had eleven students from different grades. The next year they had two periods of it, and I had thirty some odd students in each class. The third year, the room became too small, an they moved us down into the old Ag Room where we had five periods of art a day and about 100 students. Th Art Department kept growing until we had seven periods a day, including Junior High and Senior High. We did water colors, oils, handicraft and leather work. The Art Department is still functioning."

Karl and his Artwork/Paintings

"I retired from teaching school for three years, after having spent thirty-five years in the schoolroom. Finally when they couldn't get an art teacher, they urged me to return, which I did for five years longer, making a total of forty years in the schoolroom. In the meantime, I went to the Brigham Young University and got my bachelor's degree in both art and music, graduating from there in August, 1956."

"During my years of teaching, I attended summer schools and took correspondence courses to keep qualified for teaching. The first year I taught for $45.00 per month, and the year I retired I was making $5,600.00 a year."

"The year I started teaching school, my brother Vern and I purchased the farm, upon our father's advice, of G.F. Buehler, for the sum of $5,800.00, fifty-eight acres at $100.00 per acre. For sever years, we had a difficult time to meet the payments and live. Times were difficult, and only by my teaching school and keeping up the payments were we able to holdon to the place and meet our obligations."

Karl and Cree Probst at the Snake Creek Orchard

"We were also involved in the cattle business and had about 100 head of cattle. There was no money to be made in the cattle business, however. One year, we sent a carload of cattle to California to be sold. After paying the freight and yardage, they only made us $13.67 a piece for big three-year old steers. We got a Federal Land Bank Loan on our place that gave us smaller payments to make at a lower rate of interest that was streteched out for a period of thirty-two years, but we finally paid it off on the twenty-ninth year, and as of then, the property was in the clear."

"My brother Vern went on a mission to Germany, and I took care of the business along with tmy father, and we supported him on his mission. We got a few sheep along with the cattle, and they were making us much more money than the cattle did, which enabled us to keep going and help Vern on his mission."

"When my brother Vern got married, we decided to divide the property. Vern took one-third of the propberty and assumed one-third of the obligations. I took two-thirds and assumed two-thirds of the obligation. He took the Snake Creek farm that is cultivated ground and the Bunnel pasture and wire grass pasture. I took the Buehler farm and the Bunnel ground across the road from it, and the range ground, including the fats and Bonner Hollow ground, and two-thirds of the range permit which when was about seventy-five head of cattle."

"By this time, I was living in my present home that was built by my brother, father and myself from the pot rock that was quarried near it."

Probst Home in Midway, Utah, with Pot-Rock Construction circa 1950

"When World War II broke out, Bernard was married and was called to the Army, and I had the responsibility of looking after his cattle and farm, which was leased to him from my brother Vern; and Eugen was called into the Navy. Some years later, I sold the farm to Bernard and Eugene. Bernard too the Snake Creek land, and Eugen took the Buehler property."

History of Karl Lorenzo Probst - Part II

History written by Karl L. Probst in 1968:

"In May of 1918, at the close of the school year, I was the first school teacher drafted to leave for the Service June 1. So, the school board gave me the last two weeks off from teaching that I might get ready to go to war. The night before I was to leave, my friends gave a party for me, and they gave me a wonderful camera as a gift. I got to bed about 12:00 midnight, and was supposed to be at the Heber Depot before 7:00 a.m. the next morning, as the train left that early."

Private, Karl L. Probst, 1918

"About 3:00 a.m. in the morning, I woke up with a severe pain under my jaw. I called my mother, and she said, "It looks like it might be the mumps." She immediately called Dr. Wherritt, and he came over and diagnosed it as the mumps and said that I would have to be quarantined for one month. In that case, my cousin, Elmer Huber, was the alternate and was ready to go in my place and leave on the train at 7:00 a.m. He was in the 145th Field Artillery, a unit from Utah. He went overseas and fought all the way up through the Aragon Forest in combat against the Germans and was very fortunate in returning home safely."

"On the other hand, I was quarantined for one month and left July 1. By this time, Clarence, my cousin was also drafted. We left together for the University of Utah where we studied for eight weeks as carpenters and builders of bridges. While at the U. of U. we both got into the Military Band which was led by Claud Cornwall. I was selected as assistant band leader and had the experience of playing a trombone solo in the old Salt Lake Theater, (the solo was "Just a Baby's Payer At Twilight," with band accompaniment), the night before we left for Camp John Wise in Texas. I will never forget how frightened I was to look out over that vast audience in the gallery and main floor."

"The next morning, we left for Texas, traveling on the train east as far as Topeka, Kansas and then south through Oklahoma for Texas to our destination in San Antonio. We were met there by three large army trucks, and the men in charge ordered us to get in. We had a suitcase and barracks bag that would hold all of the belongings a man could think of to get along."

"We traveled about three miles to get to Camp John Wise which was a balloon camp. Until now, we thought we were carpenters and going to build airplanes. As they were just having mess or supper as we came in through the front gate, all of us standing in those three trucks (there were about thirty Utah boys) as we passed along, the men made all kinds of snide remarks about us such as, "Where are you from?" "Where are your horns?" "Look at the ears on that one." We just kept on going down the main road in the camp and passed all the other soldiers and landed at the far end of the camp about one mile from the mess halls. They ordered us out of the truck then. We set down our suitcases, and they marched us up away to a straw stack and gave us a straw tick and said, "Boys, fill them up," which we did. Then, we went back down to where our other belongings were and spread out for the night. They said, "But be careful and shake your socks in the morning and empty your shoes to be sure there aren't any rattlesnakes or tarantulas in the area." Then, they marched us up to get our supper and back again where we reported in for the night with the open sky above. In the morning, one of the boys found a tarantula in his sock."

"We stayed in this location for about two weeks. Then they moved us up nearer the main barracks and gave us a cot to sleep on. We stayed here two or three weeks and then they moved us into a tent with cots. Still later, they moved us up into a barracks where we had a wooden floor, and it was a much better place. It was all a process of evaluation. We had some wonderful experiences in this camp. We had to serve on balloon duty. It took fifty-eight men to handle a balloon, and they were organized into two groups to take care of each balloon. Every man had a place and knew exactly what to do. Some jobs were much easier than others. We took these balloons out in the morning by holding onto large ropes seventy feet long, and there were about six of these on each side with three men to the rope. Some carried the basket; others carried the rip cord. Others carried the metallic V cord. These were easy jobs, and you were lucky if you got one. We came in at night with blisters on our hands in taking this balloon clear across country and back again. At noon time while we ate our lunch, the balloon was fastened to a winch in a big army truck. The basket was fastened on; two cadets or officers would get in it, and the balloon would be allowed to ascend up about 5,000 feet. While up there, these officers drew maps and watched for positions and activities of the enemy. The average life of a balloon in a front line was only an hour. I was privileged to go up in a balloon with a commanding officer just before being discharged from the army."

"When we arrived at Camp John Wise, there were several posters up wanting musicians to sign up for band. There were several of us Utah boys who signed up when we first got there, but months dragged on and we were never asked to play in any band. One morning as we were ready to go for balloon drill, the Sargent said, "Private Karl L. Probst, you are wanted up at headquarters." I couldn't imagine what I had done or what it was all about, but he said, "Shave, and dress up your very best, and go up to the Adjutant's office." I went up and saluted him and told him why I was there, and he said, "Major Lambert wants to see you just across the aisle." I went in and saluted and said, "Private Karl L. Probst reporting, Sir." He said, "oh, yes, sit down there." He was a rather old man about seventy-five years, wore large thick glasses with a very kind and pleasant look on his face. I learned later that he was a millionaire and was volunteering his services to the Unites States Government because he was a chemist and an expert authority on ballooning. I also learned that he was the inventor or discoverer of Listerine that had made him so much money. He was a very kind, sympathetic man, with a great deal of understanding. He said, "I have a record here that shows that you were assistant band leader at the U. of U." Then, he asked me a lot of questions about my musical experience and playing in bands and orchestras, which I gave him gladly."

"He said, "I think you are the man we have been looking for for a long time. How would you like to organize a camp band?" I told him I would like that very much, so he gave me a list of about 300 names of men who had signed up as band members. Some had gone overseas; some were still there. By giving them an audition, I picked out about thirty-eight men, eight of whom were Utah boys. Then he said, "there is a good set of band instruments down in San Antonio Music Company. We will buy them if they meet with your approval." Then he ordered his sports model convertible car out in front, and together we went to the San Antonio Music Company to look over these instruments and to get some music. The instruments were okay, and he ordered them brought out to the camp that afternoon, and gave us a large place to meet and practice in. With about a week's practice, we gave a little concert in one of the barracks, and the Commanding Officer, Col. Bowers, and Major Lambert, sponsor of the band, and most all of the officers of the camp, numbering about 150, came to hear us play and were very enthusiastic and pleased with the results after just one week's practice. From then on, the band served a very important part in our camp. We played guard mount every afternoon, gave about three concerts a week and went with the football team on Sunday. I had a saxophone quartet organized within the band and we played for many entertainments."

"The war ended November 11, 1918. I was discharged at Ft. Logan, Colorado, the latter part of February, 1919. They gave me $50.00 and a pair of shoes."

The Piano

Cree Probst in her flowers in Midway, Utah.
She authored and published many poems and short stories.

The Piano

by Cree Probst ©1985

The poem refers to Beatrice and Madelyn and Marilyn (the twins).

Today they took the piano

It was out of tune and old.

The ivory keys were brown with age

'Twas worthless I'd been told.

So many years I had varnished

And polished and dusted its wood.

Now it was old and useless

I needed the space where it stood.

Today they came and took it

And as I watched it go

Fond memories came racing back

Of the lovely long ago.

A cunning little six-year-old

Had begged us every day

To "please buy a piano,"

So she could learn to play.

And long before her daddy

Could find the cash to spare,

She thumped out tunes of make-believe

on a table or a chair.

I saw the stars shine in her eyes

The day her dream came true.

I saw a talent come to life--

Her love for music grew.

I saw her grow from year to year

And, oh, how she could play!

How time goes by--my little girl

Grew up and went away.

I dusted the old piano,

And even it seemed sad

Until two little brown-eyed twins

Began to make it glad.

They played and played--the music seemed

to brighten every day;

But as before these little girls

Grew up and went away.

For years it stood forlorn and still

Grown old and out of date.

On top were pictures of the girls

Who'd brought it to this state.

Today they came and took it

And as it went I knew

The piano didn't go alone

For a piece of my heart went, too.

History of Karl Lorenzo Probst - Part I

History written by Karl L. Probst in 1968:

"I was born on June 7, 1895, in an old log cabin that Ulrich Probst built, when he came to this country, in Huber's Grove up Snake Creek, constructed of red pine logs. It had one door and one window and was lined inside with white factory cloth. There was a lean-to on the east where most of the cooking was done in the summer. On the west end was another lean-to that housed the old surrey (buggy used in that day) and where leaves and kindling wood were piled for winter use."

Ulrich Probst Cabin where Karl was Born.

"My mother was Mary Magdalena Huber Probst and my father was Jacob Probst."

Jacob Probst, Karl's father.

"In August of 1895, there was a terrible cloudburst in the heart of Snake Creek, (this is the story that was handed down about the flood), and as a result, a great flood of water, sticks, timber, and big boulders came down the canyon. Captain Springer, a neighbor who lived above, came down on a buckskin horse as hard as he could come, warning the people to get out of the canyon. At this time, a mason by the name of Fred Sonderegger, was laying the foundation for a house just east of the old log cabin to take the old cabin's place. my father had purchased the old farm and the old cabin prior to my birth. Sonderegger failed to heed the warning of Captain Springer and kept on working. Captain Springer went down to Grandma Huber's to give the warning there. My mother had me in her arms then as about a three months' old baby, and Aunt Maggie Huber had Frank in her arms, (he was born on June 1, and I on the 7th). They took us babies and ran out of the Huber house over on to the side hill. Grandma was slow in getting away and was caught between the flood waters, part coming down the road and part going down the main creek. She got on top of the old cellar and stayed there until the flood subsided. Mud and water were in the house to a depth of about four feet. You can see the old water mark on the house of Grandpa and Grandma Huber to this present day. It is now about ninety years old and hasn't had a coat of paint."

"Sonderegger had the foundation up about three feet, and was standing on the foundation when the flood came - water up to his waist - boulders and debris going by on all sides."

"My father abandoned this location and built across the canyon up on the hill on his farmland, about one-fourth block across the bench ditch. This was a frame building built by John Bushi of Provo, Utah. We lived in this new house for several years until my father was put in as bishop of the Midway Second Ward. We lived then over in the old Ephriam Molhmen home, the first home east of Uncle Al's and Aunt Maggie's home. Then later, we moved over into the house that was owned by Edward Probst adjacent to the little store that Uncle Goulieb had and now at present is the home of Alma Huber."

Midway 2nd Ward 1895-1955 where Jacob Probst was Bishop for 33 years.

"I went to grade school in Midway, Utah, from the first to the seventh grade. We had sheep at that time, and they were run on the West Desert during the winter. In the spring - latter part of April - when it was time to bring the sheep home, my father took me out of school in the sixth grade to go out and help drive the sheep in. This happened also in the seventh grade and by staying out those two springs, missing school, I didn't get promoted from the seventh to the eighth grade, and as my brother, Vernon, was eighteen months younger than I and was in the grade just behind me, he caught up with me in the seventh grade. I told my parents that I wouldn't go back to school, that I would rather herd sheep, and I presented a problem for them. The embarrassment was too great to be in the same grade with my brother."

At this time, there was a man by the name of Arnold Burgener who was teaching music in the high school down in Salina, Utah. He was a very good friend of my father's, and when he came up in the summer time to visit his folks here, my father told him of the problem that he had with me in not wanting to go back to school. My father had befriended him before by telling him that he would either have to go on a mission or go to school, and he decided to go to the B.Y. (Brigham Young Academy) and finish in music. He was a very wonderful trumpet player. He said to my father, "why won't you let Karl come and go down to Salina and live with us and go to school there, and I probably can get him into first year of high school." My father was pleased with the idea and mentioned it to me. I was also happy about it. I had already been playing a trombone - old brass beaten up) that I had purchased for $10.00. This I carried along while herding sheep, and at night I would blow this old trombone and would be answered up on the hill by the coyotes. Mr. Burgener said, "why can't we start him in music?" But he said, "before he moved down to Salina, I will have to talk to the principal and see if he can miss the eighth grade and go from the seventh into the first year of high school." On contacting the principal, Mr. Burgener told us later that he would give me a chance and a trial period for one month. If I could keep up with the work, I could stay, and if not, I would have to go back home. So, I packed my trunk and took my belongings. My dad and I boarded the train in Heber and arrived in Salina some time later. Mr. Burgerner and my father and I met with Mr Henry Rose, the principal, and he decided to give me a chance in school there."

"After the first month, I got my report card, and I had all A's except one B+, which was very gratifying to him, Mr. Burgener, and my parents. He called me in and said, "you have made good and so you can finish the year." I studied music and finally made Mr. Burgener's dance orchestra, and we played for dances in such towns as Redmond, Aurora, Richfield, Elsinore, Gunnison, and Manti. At that time, we made $1.50 a night. By this experience, I became rather proficient on the trombone and finished my school successfully. I went home on the train in the spring."

"It so happened that the next year, there was an opening for a music teacher in Wasatch High School in Heber, and Mr Burgener made application to teach music at Wasatch High School and was given the job. That year, he brought with him a trumpet player who had played in the dance orchestra by the name of Clarence Brown and a drum player by the name of Seymour Prowse who were very good friends of his and mine. They came to Heber, Utah, and lived and went to school, and I and my brother rode from Midway to Heber in a dump cart to go to school. We had a good band orchestra in the high school and the dance orchestra, including us and made up of several other local boys: Clarence Probst, my cousin, being one––a clarinet player. That was a very successful year at Wasatch High School musically. The next year, Mr. Burgener decided to go back to the B.Y.U. and finish up his musical education, and the two boys from Salina, myself, and Clarence Probst decided to go to B.Y.U. and take up music. We also stayed together and had an orchestra and played for dances in all the towns in Utah County. The next year, Arnold Burgener decided to teach music in Price High School and wanted us to go with him, but we were training and had the idea of going out in education to become school teachers, and we stayed at the B.Y.U. one more year to finish up."

"The second year at the B.Y.U. three of us rented a very small room, (we called it the 2 x4). The last year, myself, along with Taylor Bend from Heber and Otto Anderson from Daniels rented a very small room which cost us $6.00 a month rent, $2.00 each. These two boys wanted to learn to play the trombone, so I gave them lessons at the cost of $.25 (cents) a lesson per week. That made $1.00 from each, and that paid my $2.00 share of the rent on the room each month, so by giving trombone lessons and playing for dances, and what I received from home, I made my way through the B.Y.U. Finishing up a normal course, we were now ready to teach school. So, when school started in September, Clarence was teaching the fourth grade, and I was teaching the fifth grade in Midway."

The Old Barn, Team, and Hayrack

Memories of the Old Barn and Hayrack as told by GWP:

Dad (Karl) built the barn. He started it around 1944. I helped with some of it. I was about eight years old when he started building it. It didn't get finished for a number of years––sometime around the early fifties. Gene and Bernard, as well as Karl Farr (hired) and others helped build it. The part on the left is the dairy barn or milk barn where we milked the cows––anywhere from a dozen to twenty.

The barn was torn down maybe 30-40 years ago. Gene built a new one in its place. It always had some hay in it. We loaded it with hay every fall to feed the livestock during the winter. Generally, by spring the hay was mostly used up.

I remember riding one of the work plugs (horses) on this front side to pull the hay fork full of hay up from the wagon load on the far side (north). This was boring work, but one had to stay alert while on the horse, listening for the shout to pull. Mom or the Twins would always come out and give us a drink of homemade root beer or lemonade. Once unloaded, we'd hitch the team back up to the wagon and head to the field for another load. I really didn't like hauling hay. Since I was the youngest, I had to tromp the hay on the wagon so we could load the wagon completely, making room for more hay. Joyce also helped in tromping the hay. The Twins also did this work before Joyce and I came along.

"Milk Barn and Hay Barn"
"Our Barn on the Dairy Farm"

(Click on picture to make it larger.)

"Our Team of Horses and Hayrack"

Madelyn, Blanche McAfee was Bernard's mother-in-law (Doris), Dad (Karl), Marilyn, Glen, Joyce, Mom (Cree) holding Lynn, my oldest nephew (Bernard and Doris' oldest).
Lynn was born about 1943, so this picture was probably taken in 1945 or so.

This is before the barn was built. We simply had a haystack with hay poles––a tripod of long poles to use for the hayfork. We used one of the work plugs to pull the hay from the wagon to the stack. The heavy rope we used for this ran through a pulley attached at the apex where the three poles come together and then anchored at the bottom of one of the hay poles--pretty crude, but workable. Notice the ladder leaning against the haystack. This was used for whoever had the job of stacking the hay by spreading it evenly each time it was dumped from the hay fork. Here we have just unloaded a load of hay, and everyone piled in for the picture.

The horses' names were Nig and Bally. Very docile and dependable, they were used for hauling hay, plowing ground, hay cutting, hauling pea silage, planting crops and spraying them. We used a team up until about 1946 when Dad bought his first Ferguson Tractor. Eventually, the team became obsolete and no longer used. We didn't bail hay until the early 1950's, if my memory serves me correctly. The hay seen here was cut, raked into windrows with a hay rake, put into shocks of hay, and then hauled by hand using pitch forks to throw it on the wagon. Typically, it took three to effectively haul hay--one to pitch it on either side of the wagon (Gene & Bernard or Dad) and one (me or Joyce) to tromp the stuff down to make room for more hay. Tromping was hard, sweaty, and dusty. The loose hay leaves always got down my neck, chest, back, and stuck to the sweat. Also, there was always the random snake that was inadvertently (most of the time) thrown up with a shock of hay, and this made life more interesting! Grasshoppers were also in great abundance in the hay. The team of horses pulled the wagon along between two rows of shocked hay in the field. They knew when to move ahead and stop on command––Giddy-up and Whoa.

Karl & Cree's Courtship

Karl & Cree Probst
Picture most likely taken during their courtship in Midway, Utah somewhere between 1919-1920.

They were married in the Salt lake Temple on
June 23, 1920

From Cree's history: (They met at the old Midway School House.) "At that time, a high school graduate could teach school following twelve weeks of summer school. I had a money problem, so my father went with me to the bank where we borrowed fifty dollars, which seemed like a huge sum to me then, and I left for summer school with my best girl friend, Lois Blake. While I was at the Brigham Young University, D. A. Broadbent, Superintendent of schools, came to the school hunting teachers. I signed with him to teach in Wasatch County for $50.00 per month. Having never been on a salary before, this seemed like a lot of money to me. Teachers' wages were very low at that time, most of them being under $100.00 for experienced teachers. When I signed up, Superintendent Broadbent said, 'You know, the best part of it is that we always keep our teachers. They marry and stay here.' I didn't say anything, but thought to myself, 'Well, here's one you won't keep.' I had a steady fellow at the time."

"I loved teaching and had a very good group of students. They were constantly telling me about the teacher they had had the year before. His name was Karl L. Probst. From what they told me, I decided he was a queer (Note: In those days this word meant "weird.") He was in the Army in Texas."

"The Armistice had been signed in November, and after Christmas, the boys began coming home."

"About this time, Karl Probst came home also. Naturally, one of the first places he visited was the school where he had taught before I did. Mr. Sorenson, the principal, introduced us. We began going together, and just before school was out in the Spring, we became engaged. He gave me my diamond up snake Creek under one of the apple trees. It was a beautiful night with blossoms everywhere. We decided to wait until a year from that June to get married. I had signed up to teach in Midway again, and Karl had signed up to teach in Oakley, Summit County, Utah.

"I came back in the fall to teach again. This year, I got $60.00. Karl came down from Oakley to see me as often as he could. In the winter, he often had to come on horseback. Flu broke out again that winter, but not as bad as before. For awhile the place was quarantined, and no one could go out or come in except in an emergency. I worked on my trousseau, and the school year passed. I went home and made my own wedding dress and some quilts. I washed the wool and carded it into batts. Mother and Mabel (sister) helped me with the quilting. We were married in the Salt lake Temple on June 23, 1920. My father and mother came up from Hinckley, also Lois Blake, my best friend, came for the reception, which was held at Karl's home. His father was Bishop of the ward. Karl had signed up to be principal of the school in Oakley again, so we lived there (Midway) with his folks for the rest of the summer. In September, we left for Oakley where we had a home by ourselves. The people there were very good to me, and I appreciated it. I had two wonderful neighbors. The house we lived in was so cold that I called it 'Valley Forge.'"

From Karl's history: "The war (WWI) ended November 11, 1918. I was discharged at Ft. Logan, Colorado, the latter part of February, 1919. They gave me $50.00 and a pair of shoes. On my arrival home, the first thing I did was to go over to the Midway School in my soldier's uniform. While I was talking with the principal, Mr. Sorensen, in the eighth grade room, a young lady by the name of Miss Wright came in the room, and he introduced her to me, and that was the first time I met the girl who later became my wife. During the remainder of the winter, we had sleigh riding parties and programs, and I started to date Miss Wright. In early spring of 1919, we became engaged."

"That fall, I went to Oakley and taught school and was principal. I organized a band of about twenty Oakley boys. They progressed very rapidly, and it wasn't very long until we were playing on programs. Occasionally, during the winter on weekends, I would go to Midway to court Miss Wright and see my folks. Sometimes, I would go down riding horseback and sometimes I would go down with a very fancy trotter outfit that was loaned to me by Mr. Jensen."

"One time I came to Midway, and didn't know it but the town was quarantined for the Flu. The roads leading to Midway from Charleston and Heber were blockaded, but I came by way of the River Road and stopped at my girl's place before going home, and she told me the town was quarantined for the Flu, so I made my visits short that time, and sneaked out Sunday afternoon unknown to anyone and returned to Oakley."

More Info provided by Glen W. Probst:

Karl was about 25 years old when he married. He had just returned home from the Army in 1919 (WWI ended in 1918).

Cree was bout 22, she was three years younger than Karl.

They courted (dated) for over a year and were Married in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Midway, Utah.

Cree's family was from Hinckley, Utah, having moved there from Duncan's Retreat down by St. George.

Karl would ride his horse from Oakley, near Kamas, to Midway in order to date Mom. That's a distance of about 20-25 miles. During the quarantine times Karl entered quietly from the old river road to see Cree.

Probst/Huber Pictures

Four Generations

Karl Probst, his mother Mary Magdalena Huber Probst, his oldest son Bernard Probst, and his grandmother Mary Magdalena Munz Huber.

Children of Jacob and Mary Probst
Left to Right: Leah, Karl, Vern, Stella.

Both Leah and Stella died in childhood. The two pictures to the left are Leah and Stella. The names Vern and Karl refer to the picture at the right. Another child, Stanley, died in infancy.

(Click the picture to make it larger.)

Descendant of Kings

Carrie "Cree" Sophia WRIGHT Probst is a direct descendant of the following:

(Click the "i" next to each name to see the lineage chart)

Travellers on the Mayflower

Brewster, William 9th Great Grandparent

European Royalty

	Countess Of HOLLAND, Bertha 27th Great Grandparent
	EMPEROR Of CONSTANTINOPLE, Pierre II De COURTENAY 26th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The BYZANTINE , Ioannis II 28th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The BYZANTINE , Isaac II 27th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The BYZANTINE , Konstantinos IX 32nd Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The BYZANTINE , Manolis I 27th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The BYZANTINE , Romanos II 34th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The BYZANTINE , Theodoros I 26th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The HOLY ROMAN, Charlemagne 39th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The HOLY ROMAN, Charles II The Bald 36th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The HOLY ROMAN, Friedrich I 27th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The HOLY ROMAN, Heinrich III 29th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The HOLY ROMAN, Heinrich IV 28th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The HOLY ROMAN, Konrad II 30th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The HOLY ROMAN, Lothaire I 36th Great Grandparent
	Emperor Of The HOLY ROMAN, Louis I The Pious 36th Great Grandparent
	Grand Duke Of KIEV, Mstislav I 29th Great Grandparent
	King Of BOHEMIA, Vratislav II 32nd Great Grandparent
	King Of DENMARK NORWAY AN, Svend I 32nd Great Grandparent
	KING Of DENMARK, Harald GORMSSON 34th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Alfred The Great 37th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Edgar The Peacable 34th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Edmund I 35th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Edmund II Ironside 30th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Edward I Longshanks 23rd Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Edward I The Elder 36th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Edward II 21st Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Edward III 20th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Ethelred II The Unready 31st Great Grandparent
	KING Of ENGLAND, Harold II 31st Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Henry I 29th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Henry II 26th Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, Henry III 23rd Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, John Lackland 23rd Great Grandparent
	King Of ENGLAND, William the Conquerer 30th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Charles III The Simple 34th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Henri I 28th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Louis II The Stammerer 35th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Louis IV 33rd Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Louis IX 24th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Louis VI The Fat 27th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Louis VII 26th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Louis VIII the Lion 25th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Philippe Auguste II 26th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Philippe I 27th Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Philippe III 23rd Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Philippe IV 22nd Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Robert I 33rd Great Grandparent
	King Of FRANCE, Robert II The Pious 31st Great Grandparent
	King Of GERMANY, Phillipp II 26th Great Grandparent
	King Of HUNGARY, Andras II 25th Great Grandparent
	King Of HUNGARY, Bela II The Blind 29th Great Grandparent
	King Of HUNGARY, Bela III 27th Great Grandparent
	King Of HUNGARY, Bela IV 25th Great Grandparent
	King Of HUNGARY, Geza II 28th Great Grandparent
	King Of HUNGARY, Istvan V 24th Great Grandparent
	King Of HUNGARY, Laszlo I 29th Great Grandparent
	King Of IRELAND, Brian Boroimhe 32nd Great Grandparent
	King Of ITALY, Berenger II 32nd Great Grandparent
	King Of Jerusalem, Charles 24th Great Grandparent
	King Of NAPLES, Charles II 23rd Great Grandparent
	KING Of NORWAY, Harald I Fairhair HALFDANSSON 38th Great Grandparent
	KING Of NORWAY, Magnus I The Good 33rd Great Grandparent
	KING Of NORWAY, Olaf II The Saint HARALDSSON 34th Great Grandparent
	King Of SCOTLAND, Constantine I 35th Great Grandparent
	King Of SCOTLAND, David I The Saint 27th Great Grandparent
	King Of SCOTLAND, Duncan I 27th Great Grandparent
	King Of SCOTLAND, Kenneth II 32nd Great Grandparent
	King Of SCOTLAND, Malcolm I 33rd Great Grandparent
	King Of SCOTLAND, Malcolm III 29th Great Grandparent
	King Of SCOTLAND, William I The Lion 28th Great Grandparent
	King Of SERBIA, Bejela I Uros 30th Great Grandparent
	KING Of SWEDEN, Bjorn the Old ERIKSSON 36th Great Grandparent
	KING Of SWEDEN, Erik EDMUNDSSON 34th Great Grandparent
	KING Of SWEDEN, Erik VIII 32nd Great Grandparent
	KING Of SWEDEN, Olaf III 33rd Great Grandparent
	KING Of SWEDEN, Olof BJORNSSON 34th Great Grandparent
	King Of The GERMANS, Heinrich I 35th Great Grandparent
	King Of the Germans, Otto I The Great 35th Great Grandparent
	King Of The GERMANS, Rudolf 30th Great Grandparent
	Princess Of HUNGARY, Piroska 28th Great Grandparent
	Princess Of KIEV, Evfrosiniya 28th Great Grandparent