Photos from the papers of Charles Herman Turley (1899-1979), contributed by Kandee McKellar. (Kandee-Verdell-Charles Herman-Alma Rubin-Isaac-Theodore)
Kandee found these twelve wonderful photographs in her grandfather’s possessions. Some of these we can identify, but there are many we can’t. If you can help us with any additional information, please contact us!
1. Theodore Wilford Turley (1863-1930) on his mission to the Southern States
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Theodore Wilford Turley was one of Theodore Turley’s many grandchildren, a son of Isaac Turley and Sarah Greenwood. He was Charles Herman Turley’s paternal uncle.
The writing on the back of the photograph indicates that this was taken while Theodore Wilford Turley was serving on the Southern States Mission. The Church’s missionary database states that Theodore was set apart on November 9, 1896. Unfortunately, he had to come home early from his mission due to health concerns. From the red book, “THEODORE was called on a mission to the Southern States. He hadn’t been well for sometime before he left. Perhaps on this account his health was not very good, and after staying ten months in the mission field he came down with chills and fever and had to lie in bed 41 days, so he had to return home.” (p. 102)
2. Luela White Storrs (1892-1978) and Etelka White Robinson (1890-1974)
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Although the back of this image says “Sarah Greenwood” and “Etelka Greenwood,” it is mislabeled. The front of the image has the first names of the two pictured sisters. On the left is “Louela” and the right is “Etelka.” These two ladies did have Greenwood ancestry, though, and that’s how they were related to Charles Herman Turley. Their mother was Mary Ann Greenwood, the first wife of Charles Dennis White. Mary Ann was the younger sister of Sarah Greenwood, first wife of Isaac Turley (and grandmother of Charles Herman Turley). So Luela and Etelka were first cousins to Charles’ father.
3. Myrtle Smith Blocker (1901-1977) and Josephine Smith Hackett (1900-1935)
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This photo is labeled “Myrtle & Josephine Smith, classmates.” It took some digging, but eventually we figured out that the woman on the left is Myrtle Smith, daughter of Jesse N. Smith & Emma Larson. The woman on the right is Josephine Smith, daughter of Silas D. Smith and Ellen Larson. These were both classmates of Charles Herman Turley in Snowflake, Arizona. Interestingly, Myrtle and Josephine are first cousins (their mothers were sisters). However, Myrtle was also technically Josephine’s aunt (Myrtle’s father was Josephine’s grandfather).
4. Postcard from “Warren” to “Charley Turley” showing Holbrook, Arizona, students in 1912
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Addressed to “Charley Turley” in Woodruff, Arizona, with a 1912 Holbrook postmark, this postcard says “I would sure like to of been their for the dance Lee and I were about to go but pa was gon and I had to juice the cows and deliver the milk. This picture is the picture of our school when about half are absent. Warren.” Someone later labeled this as “Warren Smithson,” but this postcard was likely written by Warren Brinkerhoff (1898-1991), son of David Brinkerhoff and Lydia Nelson. The signature on Warren Brinkerhoff’s WWI draft registration card from six years later is very similar.
If this postcard is really from Warren Brinkerhoff, then the “Lee” mentioned on the postcard is likely his older brother, Levi.
5. Four oldest children of Josephine Turley Hatch (1898-1985) and Adelbert Hatch (1892-1970)
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The back of this image is labeled “Josephine T. Hatch,” referring to Charles Herman Turley’s sister, and these children appear to be her oldest four. Standing in the back is Reva Hatch Bennett (1915-1962). Sitting on the right is Glenna Hatch Itri (1917-1993), and Esther Hatch Levitre (1919-2013) is sitting on the left. The baby in the middle is Quinn Adelbert Hatch (1920-2003). Charles Herman Turley was their uncle.
6. Lowell Barr Turley (1892-1975), Frederick Andrew Turley (1895-1981), and Roberta Turley Tanner (1898-1972)
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These are children of Theodore Wilford Turley and Mary Agnes Flake. As noted in the first photo in this collection, Theodore Wilford Turley was the brother of Alma Rubin Turley, Charles’ father. These three children were Charles’ first cousins. Standing in the back is Lowell Barr Turley (1892-1975). Seated on the left is Frederick Andrew Turley (1895-1981), and seated on the right is Roberta Turley Tanner (1898-1972).
7. John Albert Webb (1896-1976) and Goldie Turley Webb (1899-1986) with their baby.
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Goldie Turley, pictured here with her husband, was another first cousin to Charles. Her father, Joseph Hartley Turley, was a brother to Alma Rubin Turley. It’s hard to say for sure, but the baby could be their oldest child, Florence Webb (1919-1963).
8. Lucy Turley Bates (1888-1983) and Jane “Jennie” Kartchner Morris (1888-1977)
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As noted on the back of the image, seated on the left is Lucy Turley Bates, daughter of Theodore Wilford Turley and Mary Agnes Flake. Her “cousin” Jennie on the right is most likely Jane “Jennie” Kartchner. They were cousins in a roundabout way. The second wife of Lucy’s grandfather, William Jordan Flake, was Jennie’s aunt, Prudence Jane Kartchner. Lucy and Jennie were only a few months apart in age.
9. Unknown Boy
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The handwritten note on the back of this image states “Freds oldest boy?” It’s unclear who this might be referring to.
The name of the photography studio “Stringham and Howarth” with offices in Manti and Salt Lake give us few clues. Walter Stringham opened up one of the first photo studios in Manti, Utah, in the late 1880s. He initially partnered with another photographer, Charles Ellis, though that relationship ended sometime in 1891. It’s unclear when Stringham joined up with veteran traveling photographer Nephi Howarth of Salt Lake City, but that partnership was also likely short-lived.
10. Electrical Shop Students at Abbott Vocational School in Washington, D.C.
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The handwritten label on the back of this picture states “Electrical Shop, Abbot Vocational School.” Based on the stamped greyhound symbol, this photo was developed at Fleet Photo Service, a photo developing company based in Washington, D.C.
It’s unclear what connection Charles Herman Turley had to the Abbott Vocational School in Washington, D.C. This picture appears to have been taken between 1931 and 1944. The building depicted housed the old Central High and Columbia Junior High Schools on O Street and Seventh. The Abbott school moved into that building in 1931, and in 1944 the name of the school was changed to the Alexander Graham Bell Vocational School.
11. Unknown Boy with Rifle
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The name “Leora” is written on the back in the upper left corner. On the front of the photo, the studio imprint in the lower right corner states “Williams & Nettles” and “Schofield Barracks.”
The handwritten note on the back suggests this photograph is somehow connected to Charles’ little sister, Leora Turley Kartchner (1904-1987). What’s strange is that the photo studio indicated on the mat is at a military base in Hawaii. Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii, was established in 1908. The only mention of “Williams & Nettles” I can find online is in 1910 & 1911 Hawaii newspapers and a 1911 photograph of a Cavalry Sergeant. It’s possible this mat was reused for a family picture, and the imprint has nothing to do with the subject of the photo.
12. Unknown Boy and Baby
The studio imprint on the bottom right corner states “Wilsons Studio.”
The “Wilsons Studio” imprint on the mat likely refers to Wilson’s Studio owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Wilson. They originally operated in Salt Lake City in the 1890s and then moved down to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1900. He died shortly after the move, but she continued to operate the studio under the same name for at least another decade.
One theory is that the children in this photograph might be Marion William Turley (1888-1972) and Della Turley Shook (1892-1966), children of William Henry Turley and Mary Skousen. If so, this would’ve been taken in Salt Lake City around 1893. Although the family lived down in Colonia Juarez at the time, there were lots of reasons why they could’ve been visiting Salt Lake City (dedication of temple, accompanying family members getting married at the Salt Lake Temple, etc.). If the photo really is Marion and Della, then they were first cousins to Charles Herman Turley (William Henry Turley was a brother of Alma Rubin Turley).