Eliza Ann Zenger (née Wright)
When Eliza Ann Wright Zenger was born on May 3, 1865, in Salt Lake City, Utah, her father, John Prodger Wright, was 27 and her mother, Isabelle Wright (née Wardell), was 16. She married Christian Zenger on September 7, 1883, in Murray, Utah. They had five children in 12 years. She died on February 5, 1944, in Long Beach, California, at the age of 78. (Ancestry.com)
Her father, John, was born in Wrexham, Denbighshire, a town in northern Wales. At age 18, he joined the Mormon church, was disowned by his mother, and traveled to America, arriving at age 19 on March 17, 1857. (Ancestry.com) In 1860, John traveled across the plains with the
Warren Walling Pioneer Company. He was a tailor in Murray, Utah.
Her mother, Isabelle, was born in Sunderland, Durham, England. She came to America at the age of eight in 1856. When she was 13 years old, she was part of the
William H. Dame Pioneer Company. She married John a few months after his first wife's death and had 14 children together. Isabelle, with eight of her daughters, including Eliza, were photographed and featured in the August 1924 Relief Society magazine.
Census records have Eliza in Salt Lake in 1870 (age 5) and in 1880 (age 15). She is in Graham, Arizona in the 1900 census (age 35), then back in Utah after her husband's passing for 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses. A city directory has her in Long Beach, California in 1935, where she died in 1944. (Ancestry.com)
Christian Zenger
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Interesting to note the backward "N"
on Christian's headstone. |
When Christian Zenger was born on May 26, 1852, in Oberstocken, Bern, Switzerland, his father, Christian, was 37 and his mother, Susanna, was 21. He married Eliza Ann Wright Zenger on September 7, 1883, in Murray, Utah. They had five children in 12 years. He died on October 23, 1900, in Thatcher, Arizona, at the age of 48, and was buried there.
Christian's mother, Susanna Bruni was born in Bern, Switzerland. She married, Christian H Zenger, also of Bern, in 1852. They had two children during their marriage. Christian H died in 1874. I've not yet found information about when Christian himself arrived in America, but it had to have been prior to 1883 when he married Eliza. Susanna made her way to America by 1894. She died in Salt Lake City in 1902.
Eliza and Christian Zenger's time in Meridian, Idaho, was short but significant. Idaho Statesman mentions include Christian's intent to claim desert land here in October 1890. Eliza also claimed land in August 1891. They received their land grants in 1891 and 1892 respectively, signed by President Benjamin Harrison. So, they must have been working on the land here for a few years prior to filing their claims on the land.
Two children were born to Eliza and Christian during their time establishing Meridian, a daughter, Edna May Zenger (1890), and a son, Ismael Wright Zenger (1897). Three children were born prior to the Zenger's arrival in Idaho, the last of which was born in 1887. It must have been a short time after Harry was born that they moved to Idaho.
On Christmas Eve day 1896, the Statesman recorded a land sale from the Zengers to the Methodist Episcopal church for $16. The newspaper also records a series of land sales from the Zengers to several other individuals between 1900 and 1906.
The Zenger's impact in the history of Meridian stems from this article in the August 19th, 1893 Idaho Statesman:
"
D.L. Bradly, the well know farmer-blacksmith, informs THE STATESMAN that the town of Hunter has changed its name and will now be known as Meridian, it being located precisely on the Boise meridian. Mr. C.G. Zenger, the proprietor of the new town, came in yesterday and filed the plat with the county recorder. A store is already in operation there, and another is being built. A lodge of Odd Fellows has been organized at that place, and they will erect a commodious hall this fall. Mr. Badley says the wheat crop on Five Mile creek is very good. Grasshoppers consumed the greater part of the second clover crop, but the third crop of alfalfa promises well."
The map below shows the Zenger's land holdings overlayed by today's primary streets. The yellow and blue star is the location of Meridian's city hall.
Eliza's Land Patent:
