Nathan Neibaur's Strength of Character

Joseph Nathan Neibaur

~1780-after 1859

We don't know much about Alexander Neibaur's father, but what we do know shows a strong character and unweilding will.  His greatest hour is when he stood up to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Nathan Neibaur was a prosperous Jew.  He spoke several languages and was trained as a physician and surgeon.  Nathan Neibaur and his wife Rebecca were living within the walls of the fortress Ehrenbreitstein when their son Alexander was born in 1808.  This fort was built on the Rhine river, and at various times throughout early history, was claimed as part of France and Prussia.  Today it's part of the city of Koblentz, Germany. 

Nathan served in the French army as physician and surgeon (some say for a time as Napoleon's personal physician), but his greatest service was to Napoleon Bonaparte as a linguist and interpreter.  Years later, when Napoleon's tattered regime began to falter, the great Emperor came back to the fortress at Ehrenbreitstein and approached his old friend, Nathan Neibaur.  He offered him large sums of money and other perks to come out of retirement and work for him again.  This time as a spy. 

Nathan would not entertain the offer.  He had become opposed to Napoleon's principles and plans.  He wouldn't serve a leader with whom he didn't agree.  Napoleon could conquer most of Europe, but not the determined mind of Nathan Neibaur.

Nathan Neibaur, our Jewish Grandfather, passed on this determination and integrity to his son Alexander.  After careful study, Alexander embraced Christianity, then Mormonism as he determined they were right, without regard to pressure from others.  Hopefully we can also claim these strong character traits as Nathan Neibaurs' posterity.

Disclaimer:  This was written in good faith using the resources available at the time of writing.  Author is solely responsible for content.

Works Cited

Bassett, Theda. Grandpa Neibaur was a Pioneer. Salt Lake City: Artistic Printing, 1988.

Carter, Kate. "The Jews in Early Utah, Alexander Neibaur, The Mormon." Carter, Kate. Treasures of Pioneer History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1952. 333-340.

Hayward, C. Lynn. Notes from the Life of Alexander Neibaur. 30 Jan 2009 <http://www.neibaur.org/journals/alexnotes.htm>.