Alexander Neibaur
Encyclopedia
Alexander Neibaur 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
.
Neibaur was educated to be a rabbi
but decided to become a surgeon and dentist instead. He received a degree from the University of Berlin. About 1828, Neibaur converted to Christianity
. He moved to Preston, England
, in 1830. On 15 September 1834 Neibaur married Ellen Breakel. In 1837 he was converted to the Mormon
faith after reading the Book of Mormon
in three days, but was persuaded to delay his baptism until the following spring that he might be more prepared for the ordinance. He was baptized into the LDS Church on 9 April 1838.
Neibaur arrived in Nauvoo
, Illinois
on 18 April 1841. There he established his dental practice and developed a close friendship with Joseph Smith, Jr. whom he helped study German
and possibly Hebrew
.
In 1846, after Smith's death
, Neibaur and his wife remained in Nauvoo later than most of the Mormon
s because Ellen was pregnant. Neibaur was among the defenders of the city during the Battle of Nauvoo.
Neibaur then went to Winter Quarters, Nebraska
and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley
in 1848. In Utah Territory
he worked as a dentist. He was also the primary person who introduced Mormonism
to Morris D. Rosenbaum
, a Jew who later became his son-in-law. Neibaur's daughter Rebecca married LDS Church leader Charles W. Nibley
. Thus, Neibaur is a great-grandfather of Hugh Nibley
and Richard Nibley
.
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
in his time, among the first dentists to practice in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
Neibaur was born in 1808 to Nathan and Rebecca Peretz Neibaur in Ehrenbriestein, Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
(near Coblentyz, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, now Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), which was at that time a part of France. Neibaur's father served as a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
of the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
.
Neibaur was educated to be a rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
but decided to become a surgeon and dentist instead. He received a degree from the University of Berlin. About 1828, Neibaur converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. He moved to Preston, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 1830. On 15 September 1834 Neibaur married Ellen Breakel. In 1837 he was converted to the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
faith after reading the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
in three days, but was persuaded to delay his baptism until the following spring that he might be more prepared for the ordinance. He was baptized into the LDS Church on 9 April 1838.
Neibaur arrived in Nauvoo
Nauvoo
Nauvoo can mean:* Nauvoo, Alabama* Nauvoo, Illinois* Nauvoo, PennsylvaniaSee also:* Nauvoo Legion...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
on 18 April 1841. There he established his dental practice and developed a close friendship with Joseph Smith, Jr. whom he helped study German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and possibly Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
.
In 1846, after Smith's death
Death of Joseph Smith, Jr.
The death of Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844 marked a turning point for the Latter Day Saint movement, of which Smith was the founder and leader. When he was attacked and killed by a mob, Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and running for President of the United States...
, Neibaur and his wife remained in Nauvoo later than most of the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s because Ellen was pregnant. Neibaur was among the defenders of the city during the Battle of Nauvoo.
Neibaur then went to Winter Quarters, Nebraska
Winter Quarters, Nebraska
Winter Quarters was an encampment formed by approximately 2,500 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they waited during the winter of 1846–47 for better conditions for their trek westward. It followed a preliminary tent settlement some 3½ miles west at Cutler's Park. The...
and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in 1848. In Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
he worked as a dentist. He was also the primary person who introduced Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
to Morris D. Rosenbaum
Morris D. Rosenbaum
Morris David Rosenbaum was a prominent businessman in early Utah and one of the few Jewish people to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the 19th century....
, a Jew who later became his son-in-law. Neibaur's daughter Rebecca married LDS Church leader Charles W. Nibley
Charles W. Nibley
Charles Wilson Nibley was the fifth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1907 and 1925 and a member of the church's First Presidency from 1925 until his death....
. Thus, Neibaur is a great-grandfather of Hugh Nibley
Hugh Nibley
Hugh Winder Nibley was an American author, Mormon apologist, and professor at Brigham Young University...
and Richard Nibley
Richard Nibley
Fred Richard Nibley was an American violinist, composer, and educator. He is often cited as an expert on the influence of music on behavior.Richard spent many years as a professor at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah...
.