The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-05-05
Progeny Of st. Louis Man Range
in Ages From 40 Down to
Seven Years.
TELLS HOW HE MANAGED IT
Hard Work and Industry the Secret
Never a Brighter, Merrier, Roster,
Healthier Lot Of Children
Graeed a Board.

st. Louis.-Parents, you who find The
rearing of even an average family
a problem these days, behold Frederick
Walkenhorst, who Is the father of
twenty-five children, and tells how he
has managed to bring them up ON a
laborer's daily wage
The house IN which he lives is one
index to his methods. II is a cottage
OF perhaps five rooms. Back of the
house is a barn and In the barnyard
COW and flock OF chickens.
There Is best room furnished
neatly but scantily, the superhuitles
consisting mostly of homemade hnndi-
craft shelf covers and their tides of
white linen crochet. The visitor is
permitted TO tarry here for moment,
but almost Immediately Is invited into
the kitchen beyond, where three
daughters busily scrubbing floors or
preparing the midday meal cannot
spare time to sit idle as they talk.
Indeed, one Is told that father will be
In presently for his dinner, but he
won't have time to talk, either, for
several Jobs OF blowing are waiting
for him In the afternoon.
Daughter Runs House.
EIllda, the oldest daughter at home.
apparently has been in authority since
the death Of the second Mrs. Walken-
horst, five years ago. The first wife,
the mother of II children, died when
her last child was FIVE days old. The
second wife, a widow with one child.
whom the stepfather also reared, be-
came the mother of IL Walkenhorsts.
There are now II children at home,
besides n small son of Hilda's.
There are not enough chairs any
where visible to seat all the family
ut table at once. But chairs are to
be classified as luxuries that may be
dispensed with. one observes later
when six bright, rosy checked, blonde
youngsters come trooping In from
school and take places, standing, all
attention, with spoons poised, ready 20
begin on the soup almost before Hill
da has measured II into their plates.
The ages OF the Walkenhorst
progeny range from forty down to
seven years. Besides the IL children
now at home. five have died at varI-
Gus ages and the others, being older,
have married and gone TO homes Of
their own. There are eight grandchll-
dren. Three Of those who reside UNI
der the parental roof are working In
factories In the town.
4 80. N.I.
OF % children?" Frederick Walken.
horst echoed after my question, after
he had fed his horses out In the
barn and stood rolling up his sleeves
at the kitchen sink. by working
hard every day" The hands he
spread to view were testimony more
eloquent even than the vigorous, clear
ring of his voice, and his knitted coat,
wet with persplration, was further
evidence Of his hearty industry.
No Signs CT Worry.
lie Is a tall, spare man, remarkably
erect for his sixty years, fair and rud-
dy, and the lines on his face are not
those OF worry but Of good humOr. II
his children take after him, dentist
bills need not be one of the family
problems. His teeth are strong and
white. His eyes. he says, are fall
ing. One doctor assures him nothing
can be done for them, so he thinks
any further expenditure on them is
useless.
Never brighter, merrler. roster,
healthier looking lot OF children
ever gathered about mllllonaIre's
board than those II. Their heavy
shoes made lot Of noise on the bare