Places

This page is a list of locations important in the life of Theodore Turley. Eventually, each location on the list will have a link to its own page providing photos, historical overviews, timelines, and descriptions of places to visit. So far we have some pages set up, but we hope to get more published soon.

England

West Midlands

Birmingham – Theodore Turley was born and raised in the industrialized city of Birmingham. As a teenager, he was apprenticed as a “stamper, piercer, and toolmaker.” He married his first wife, Frances Kimberley, at Harborne parish. She was also a Birmingham native. Their first two children were born in Birmingham. Later, in 1840, Theodore returned briefly to England to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He spent part of his time in Birmingham. Go to Birmingham… (forthcoming)
- St. Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham – Both Theodore and his wife, Frances Kimberley, were baptized as infants at St. Martin’s church. Go to St Martin in the Bull Ring…
- St. Peter’s Church, Harborne – Theodore Turley and Frances Kimberley were married at St. Peter’s Church in 1821. Go to St. Peter’s Church…
- St. Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham – Theodore and Frances baptized their first child at St. Philip’s Cathedral in 1822. Go to St. Philip’s Cathedral… (forthcoming)
- St. Paul’s Church, Birmingham – Theodore Turley’s and Frances Kimberley’s parents were all buried at St. Paul’s Church in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Go to St. Paul’s Church…
The Black Country – Theodore Turley’s ancestry traces back to the Black Country, an area west of Birmingham, “named because of the concentration of coal mining and metalworking in the area.”¹ During his 1840 mission, Theodore spent time in the Black Country visiting relatives and proselyting. Locations where Theodore Turley preached in the Black Country included West Bromwich, Greets Green, Oldbury, Tipton, and Wednesbury. Go to the The Black Country… (forthcoming)
- Sedgley – Theodore Turley’s father, William Turley, was born in Sedgley. Theodore’s paternal grandfather, Joseph Turley, lived there during Theodore’s lifetime. Go to Sedgley… (forthcoming)

Staffordshire

The Potteries – Most of Theodore Turley’s time proselyting in 1840 was spent in The Potteries, an area in north Staffordshire noted for producing china and earthenware.² Places where Theodore Turley preached in the Potteries included Burslem, Hanley, Lane End, Stoke, and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Go to The Potteries… (forthcoming)
Stafford – Theodore Turley was imprisoned at the prison in Stafford for almost two months during his mission. Go to Stafford… (forthcoming)

Greater London

Southwark – For a short time, Theodore Turley resided on Snowsfields in Bermondsey, an area in Southwark. Go to Southwark… (forthcoming)
- St. George the Martyr Church, Southwark – Theodore and Frances baptized their second child at St. George the Martyr Church in 1826. Go to St. George the Martyr Church… (forthcoming)

Canada

Ontario

York, now Toronto – Theodore Turley immigrated to Canada with his wife and two children sometime between August 1826 and April 1827. Theodore operated a blacksmith shop on “Kingstreet near Yonge-street” in the central part of the town. Two daughters were born while the family lived there. They moved to rural Churchville sometime between 1829 and 1832. Go to York… (forthcoming)
Churchville – Theodore Turley moved with his wife and four children to Churchville sometime between 1829 and 1832. He and his wife purchased property there in 1834. Four children were born at Churchville, and two were likely buried there. It was in Churchville that Theodore and his wife joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The family left Churchville in the summer of 1838 to gather with other Latter-day Saints in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. Go to Churchville…

United States

Ohio

Kirtland – Theodore Turley visited Kirtland, Ohio, in 1837 during the months following his baptism. He wrote about visiting the family of Isaac Russell, his friend, as well as seeing the patriarch, Joseph Smith, Sr.³ In 1839, Theodore stopped in Kirtland for two-and-a-half weeks with other missionaries en route to England. There, he received his “washing & anointings under the hand of the Twelve.”⁴ Go to Kirtland… (forthcoming)

Missouri

Far West – The Turley family arrived at Far West, Missouri, in July 1838, only a few months before Governor Boggs’ infamous extermination order. Theodore was selected to be a member of the committee on removal. He had the opportunity to be at the temple site early in the morning on 26 April 1839 when several Latter-day Saint apostles fulfilled a revelation Joseph Smith had given the year before. Go to Far West… (forthcoming)

Illinois

Nauvoo – Theodore Turley arrived in Nauvoo, then called Commerce, in early 1839. He was the first Latter-day Saint to build a home in that location. His family remained in Nauvoo while he served a mission to England in 1839-1840. Theodore operated a blacksmith shop and a brewery on his property at the corner of Hyde and Water Streets in Nauvoo. After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Theodore and many of his family members received ordinances in the original Nauvoo Temple. The Turley family evacuated Nauvoo in February 1846. Go to Nauvoo… (forthcoming)
- Nauvoo Temple – Theodore Turley and his family members received ordinances in the Nauvoo Temple. They also performed proxy baptisms there for deceased loved ones. Go to Nauvoo Temple…
- Related: Family burials in the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds.

Nebraska & Iowa

Winter Quarters (now in Omaha, Nebraska) and Kanesville (now Council Bluffs, Iowa) – After evacuating Nauvoo, the Turley family made their way across Iowa to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. They likely resided there for a couple years. Many of Theodore’s family members died there. In April 1848, Winter Quarters was abandoned and the inhabitants gathered with other Latter-day Saints at Kanesville (now Council Bluffs) on the east side of the river. Theodore had another son pass away while they resided in that location. The family left to cross the plains with the Silas Richards Company in 1849. Go to Winter Quarters & Kanesville… (forthcoming)
- Related: Family burials in the Winter Quarters Pioneer Cemetery.

California

San Bernardino – Theodore Turley was part of the original group of Latter-day Saints, led by apostles Charles C. Rich and Amasa M. Lyman, who settled the colony of San Bernardino in 1851. Theodore’s two youngest children were born in San Bernardino. In 1857, Theodore and most of the members of his family left California and gathered with the other Saints back in Southern Utah. Many of Theodore’s descendants later returned to Southern California. Go to San Bernardino… (forthcoming)

Utah

Salt Lake City – The Turley family resided in Salt Lake City, Utah, for about a year before moving on to California. They arrived in the valley in October 1849. Theodore’s wife, Mary Clift, died there and was buried at the Salt Lake City cemetery. Theodore married Ruth Jane Giles there in 1850. The family left Utah in 1851.⁵ Go to Salt Lake City… (forthcoming)
- Related: Family burials in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Cedar City – The Turley family members who left California in late 1857 initially settled in Cedar City, Utah. There, Theodore worked at times for the Deseret Iron Company. The family left Cedar City sometime before the end of 1858. Go to Cedar City…
Washington – Theodore operated a crude gristmill in addition to his blacksmith shop in Washington. The family lived there from the end of 1858 until February 1860, when they moved north to Minersville. Go to Washington… (forthcoming)
Minersville – The Turley family moved to Minersville in 1860. Theodore resided there for several years. Theodore eventually moved to the slightly larger nearby town of Beaver. Go to Minersville… (forthcoming)
Beaver – Theodore, Ruth, and their two younger sons moved to Beaver sometime before November 1865. Theodore operated a blacksmith shop there with his son, Isaac, on Main Street, between Center Street and 100 North. Theodore died in Beaver in August 1871 and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery. Go to Beaver… (forthcoming)
- Related: Family burials in Mountain View Cemetery–Beaver.

“Places,” Black Country History, https://www.blackcountryhistory.org/places/.
“The Potteries,” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/the-Potteries.
See Theodore’s 1837 letter to Isaac Russell.
Quote from Rick Turley’s biographical installment 14: The Journey to Kirtland, 1839. See also Theodore Turley’s autobiography.
See blog post “In the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.”