Theodore Turley (1800-1871)
By Bernice Quackenbush, DUP files

From An Enduring Legacy, Volume Three, p.392-394

 

Theodore Turley was born in Brinton, Birmingham, England, April 10, 1800 [1801], a son of William Turley (born 1770), and Elizabeth Yates (born 1775). November 27, 1821, he married Francis Amelia Kimberly.

In the vicinity of Birmingham in the year 1818, Theodore commenced preaching Methodism. His profession was master [p.393] mechanic and he and a partner were employed by the Crown to make dies for impressing British coins. When the job was finished, his partner took their earnings and skipped, leaving Theodore with a number of angry creditors who wanted him thrown into prison. The King interceded and offered him a tract of land in Canada where he could make a new start. He accepted this offer and in 1825, emigrated there. The family settled near Lake Ontario where he continued to preach his Methodist doctrine. Then came two Mormon missionaries, John Taylor and Isaac Russel, asking permission to preach in his church. He not only granted this request, but invited his congregation to come and hear them preach. He and his wife were converted and were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, March 1, 1837. After his baptism he began recruiting new members and was able to convert seventeen persons in three weeks' time.

Soon afterwards he sold his farm for much less than it was worth and, in company with Elder John Snider and the Joel Terry family, set out for Far West, Missouri, arriving there July 28, 1838. Thereafter he and his family would suffer the hardships and persecutions that followed the Saints.

In 1838, Theodore was appointed a member of a committee to draft a memorandum to the Missouri Legislature concerning the plight of the Saints. He was also made a member of the high council and in July 1838 witnessed the laying of the cornerstone of the House of the Lord the Saints intended to build. When they were banished from Missouri, and Commerce, Hancock County, Illinois, was selected as the new gathering place, Theodore was appointed to see that the poor were helped in moving. Commerce was later called Nauvoo and there Theodore built a home for his family and worked diligently at the trade of gunmaking. Later he received a call to a European mission and September 8, 1840, he led a group of two hundred converts to America, sailing on the ship North America.2 Upon his return to Nauvoo, he again commenced the manufacture of fire arms.

While living in Nauvoo, the family consisted of five sons and five daughters. Two children were born in England, six in Canada and two in Nauvoo. While here, responding to the prophet's teaching concerning plural marriage, he took four more fine women as wives.

In 1846, the Saints commenced to leave Nauvoo and after their arrival at Winter Quarters, Theodore was appointed a member of the high council. It was in this place that he faced the loss by death of six members of his family, including his beloved first wife, Francis Amelia. [p.394]

It is believed he crossed the Plains in the Silas Richards Company. After his arrival in the valley, he built a gristmill. He had a natural ability for doctoring and did much to help the sick without charge.