Sarah Elizabeth Turley
1835-1914

Born: 24 September 1835 in Churchville, Ontario, Canada1
Died: 28 March 1914 in Colton, San Bernardino, California2
Buried: 30 March 1914 at Hermosa Gardens Cemetery in Colton, San Bernardino, California3
FamilySearch ID: KWVM-XQ1
FindaGrave Memorial ID: 44894444

Sarah was the daughter of Theodore Turley and Frances Kimberley.

Sarah married Stephen Franklin February 1853 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, California.4 They had the following children:

  1. Charlotte Elizabeth Franklin (1856-1922) m. John Norman Miller
  2. Frances Catherine Franklin (1859-1888) m. John Curtis Welch
  3. Mary Ann Franklin (1861-1921) m. Angus McKinley Brown
  4. Stephen Harmon Franklin (1863-1937) m. Margaret Elsie Jackson
  5. Thomas Theodore Franklin (1866-1916) m. Viola Alice DeLong
  6. William E. Franklin (1868-1869)
  7. George Omner Franklin (1873-1929) m. Effie Mae Cadd
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Life Sketch

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A Powder Explosion.

An explosion occurred yesterday about half a mile south of Colton, at the blacksmith shop of Stephen Franklin, which demoralized the building entirely and bruised Mr. Franklin up considerably, though he fortunately and miraculously escaped severe injury. In a corner of the shop he had a box of giant powder and some caps, and while at work at the forge a spark flew into the powder. It commenced burning and he saw it. He picked up a bucket of water to throw on it, but a spark flew into the caps and the whole thing went off. The building was blown to splinters and the shock was distinctly heard at Colton. Mr. Franklin had his face badly cut and one of his limbs injured, but not so badly but that he can walk about, and will only feel the effects a few days.

“A Powder explosion,” The Daily Courier, san bernardino, Calif., Tuesday, 12 Mar. 1889, p. 3, col. 2, newspapers.com.

One of Colton’s pioneer residents, Stephen Franklin, died on the 13th. He was an honest man, with a kindly disposition that made him many friends. He was in his 69th year.

“City and county,” The Citrograph, Redlands, Calif., saturday, 23 Apr. 1898, p. 7, col. 1, newspapers.com.

In Memory of the Veteran Pioneer, Stephen Franklin, Who Died at Colton….

Stephen Franklin a well known pioneer of this county died at his home in Colton on Tuesday last April 12th, 1898, of apoplexy of the brain.

Mr. Franklin was born in Antworth, Jefferson county, New York, June 29th, 1830, and came to San Bernardino in the spring of 1852 and has been with slight interruption a citizen of this county ever since, well known as a quiet and honorable citizen, and following the occupation of a blacksmith.

In the year 1853 he married Miss Sarah E. Turley, with whom he lived a happy life. Five children survive him and were in attendance at the funeral, Mrs. John Miller, Mary A. Franklin, Stephen Harmon Franklin, Thomas T. Franklin and George O. Franklin, all resident of this county, except Stephen, whose home is in Riverside county.

The cause of his death occurred about nine years ago, when 60 pounds of giant powder were accidentally exploded in his blacksmith shop, which blew the building to pieces and injured him so that he gradually declined, ending with his death on Tuesday last. He was buried in the Colton cemetery, the Baptist minister of Colton officiating and a large number of friends and neighbors and many old pioneer friends attending to manifest their admiration of the many noble qualities possessed by him who had passed away, and, to express the deep sympathy entertained towards the widow and family in this their hour of affliction.

“[Wh]at the Pioneers Have Been Doing,” The Daily Sun, San Bernardino, Calif., Sunday, 17 Apr. 1898, p. 3, col. 3, Newspapers.com.

DEATH OF A VENERABLE WOMAN

Mrs. Sarah E. Franklin, mother of Mrs. A. M. Brown of South Seventh street, passed away last evening at 8:30, of acute indigestion. She has been seriously ill for a number of weeks and death was not unexpected by her relatives and immediate friends.

Mrs. Franklin leaves five children to mourn her loss: Mrs. A. M. Brown of Colton, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller of San Bernardino, F. H. Franklin of San Bernardino, S. T. Franklin of Escondido and Geo. O. Franklin of Huntington Beach. These were all constant attendants at the bedside of a loving mother.

Mrs. Franklin was 74 years of age her last birthday. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made, but will be announced later.

“Death of a venerable woman,” Colton daily courier, sunday, 29 Mar. 1914, p. 2, col. 2-3, newspapers.com.

FUNERAL OF MRS. FRANKLIN

Beautiful blossoms in great quantities were the silent tributes of love and respect paid to the memory of Mrs. Sarah Franklin, one of the city’s beloved pioneer women, for whom funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Knopsnyder chapel. Mrs. Franklin passed away Saturday night at the home of her daughter at the age of 78 years.

There was a large gathering of relatives and friends in attendance at the obsequies and many followed the hearse to the cemetery where at the graveside the Pioneer Society of San Bernardino, of which the deceased was a member, conducted the simple and impressive rites accorded to their departed sisters and brothers.

At the chapel the Rev. Ralph Marshall Davis, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, was in charge and a Presbyterian choir composed of Mrs. J. C. Goodfellow, Mrs. E. T. McNeill, Dr. L. W. Wells and Rev. Davis, sang the s[a]cred hymns, “Some Day We’ll Understand,” and “Face to Face.” Miss Robie French presided at the piano.

Interment was in Hermosa cemetery, those acting as pall bearers being Henry Wright, M. French, C. W. Buster, S. B. Fox, J. H. Maxwell and Silas Cox.

A number of friends and relatives from out-of-town were in attendance at the funeral among the former being Mrs. Minnie Hall and Henry Cook of Santa Paula, and Riley Welch of El Centro, niece, nephew and grandson respectively of Mrs. Franklin. The five surviving children were also all present, these numbering Mrs. A. M. Brown of Colton, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller and F. H. Franklin of San Bernardino, S. T. Franklin of Escondido, and G. O. Franklin of Huntington Beach.

“Funeral of Mrs. Franklin,” Colton Daily Courier, Tuesday, 31 Mar. 1914, p. 3, col. 3, Newspapers.com

Biographical sketch from The Theodore Turley Family book (p. 83)

SARAH ELIZABETH TURLEY was born September 24 , 1835 in Churchville, Toronto, Canada. She married STEPHEN FRANKLIN in 1855. He was born June 29, 1829 to Nathaniel and Catherine Franklin. SARAH died on March 24, 1914 in Colton, California.

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Important Places

Churchville, Ontario
Far West, Missouri
Nauvoo, Illinois
Winter Quarters, Nebraska/Kanesville, Iowa
Salt Lake City, Utah
San Bernardino, California
Cedar City, Utah
Washington, Utah
Minersville, Utah
Beaver, Utah
Colton, California

  1. Family Memorial.
  2. California, U.S., Death Index, 1905-1939, death of Sarah E. Franklin, 28 Mar. 1914, image at Ancestry.com; “Funeral of Mrs. Franklin,” Colton Daily Courier, Tuesday, 31 Mar. 1914, p. 3, col. 3, Newspapers.com.
  3. “Funeral of Mrs. Franklin,” Colton Daily Courier, Tuesday, 31 Mar. 1914, p. 3, col. 3, Newspapers.com; FindaGrave.com, memorial page for Sarah Elizabeth Turley Franklin (24 Sep 1835–28 Mar 1914), memorial ID 44894444, citing Hermosa Gardens Cemetery, Colton, San Bernardino County, California, United States.
  4. Although The Theodore Turley Family book stated that the couple were married in 1855, this is incorrect. A life sketch written shortly after the death of Stephen Franklin indicated they were married in 1853. Mention of “Sarah Turly’s” marriage is in a letter dated 6 February from San Bernardino published in the 19 March 1853 edition of the Deseret News. “[Wh]at the Pioneers Have Been Doing,” The Daily Sun, San Bernardino, Calif., Sunday, 17 Apr. 1898, p. 3, col. 3, Newspapers.com; “Foreign Correspondence,” Deseret News, Saturday, 19 Mar. 1853, p. 2, cols. 2-3, Newspapers.com.