• ANNA BOSCH TURNER Anna Bosch Turner was born in Gorkim, Holland, July 8, 184 7. She was the daughter of Abraham Bosch and Anna Hak Bosch, natives of Holland. While her father was a very young child the French and Spanish invaded Holland. Parents and children were massacred, young women taken abducted and young men taken prisoners to be used as the revolutionists saw fit. During this invasion grandfather was found hidden in the bushes. He was found by a man named Housman, who supposed that his parents had been massacred. He placed the babe in an orphanage and always exercised great interest in him and remained a true friend to him and his posterity as long as he lived. Grandfather was so young when he was found by his benefactor he knew only the name of Abraham, and so was given the name Bosch. (Dutch for bush). At an early age the orphan found employment on the wharves as a stevedore. That heavy work proved beyond his endurance and caused a breakdown. He was placed in a hospital where he was given excellent treatment. During this time he was informed it would be impossible for him to survive the ago of twenty-one. During this confinement he became a diligent Bible student. He and a friend discussed religion very deeply and came to the conclusion that the true gospel was not on the earth there being no apostles or prophets; as a result they founded a church, the "New Sighters". Their organization had a membership of sixty souls. They taught their followers to study the Bible, to be prayful. • They had a feeling the new gospel would be restored and were preparing for it • Some of these men were called on to take up arms in defense of their country. They refused, feeling it was a sin to shed blood. As a result they were incarcerated and at this time they preached to other prisoners. Their excellent conduct earned their freedom. They delegated themselves to hospital work, to care for the sick and wounded. Mr. Bosch married Ann Hak in Daslcun, Holland in 1844. Her family was very opposed to the union and they disowned their daughter. Through the marriage she became a convert of "The New Sighters" They moved to Tooterdam where Mr. Housman had a large bakery, here the young husband was given employment as a bookkeeper. His health did not improve and in time it became necessary to keep the accounts at home. His family consisted of five girls and three boys and it became necessary for the children to find some means of employment. Anna, my mother assisted the Housman family for a period of three years. While so employed she made a lasting friendship with these friendly people. At an early age mother was employed by a Mr. Cool, a ship owner. She cared for the children in every way. She was entrusted with large sums of money and acted in the capacity of housekeeper, and financial secretary for Mr. Cool. In 1864 three elders came to Amsterdam with a Mr. Hystack and through him they became acquainted with mother and her family. As a result of this meeting the entire JI ;L. • • • group of"New Sighters" were baptized in the Church of Latter-day Saints. They were the first Mormon emigrants to leave Holland for America. Grandmother had been a widow for three years and during that time she buried three sons. She was bowed with sorrow and had a burning desire to come with the rest of the converts to Zion. This was made possible through the kindness of her friend, Mr. Houseman. They embarked May 10, 1864, and landed in New York, Jun 22, 1864. This seven week voyage was made in the sailing vessel "Hudson". This company of Hollanders traveled in groups of fifty with a Mr. Hyde, who was sent from Utah with a company of men, to lead the saints into Deseret. Their trials had just commenced. May of the men had never driven oxen and for some days had many grievances, but the men soon became adept with the ship and as expert as the guides. They had no trouble with Indians or beasts of prey, but the soldiers made in unsafe to leave the young women alone and they were advised not to join in the conversation with these strangers. These rules were broken however on account of them not understanding the language. One girl was almost kidnapped and it was necessary to keep her in hiding during the greater part of the journey. A babe was born on the trip to a young mother of five children and who had been used to every comfort while in Holland. The suffering proved too great for the mother and she was laid away, the husband following her to the Great Beyond within a short time. The saints cared for the children and on arriving in Salt Lake found homes where they were cared for during the winter. The following spring a colony of these saints moved to Weber Valley to work a large farm owned by Jessie Little. They lived in willow huts until more suitable material could be obtained to construct homes for the winter. Anna Bosch was sent along to help care for the many aged people in his colony. On the 24th of July the old settlers had provided a celebration , a large bower was built and tables erected. A dinner was served consisting of new potatoes, green peas, roast lamb, strawberries and delicacies which they had raised. The Dutch Saints were invited and provided for. Father, Charles Turner, became very interested in Anna Bosch and at once sought her company. The couple was soon married and they went to live in a home of logs with a bed of willows, but the thrifty wife soon made the little home one of comfort. Father, with the consent of Mother married the widow of his brother which made an added expense because of her five small children. They were welcomed into the family and treated just as the rest. Mother's family consisted of four small children. Shortly after this union the family was stricken with Smallpox and Mother buried one child as did Aunty. Mother had thirteen children, seven girls and six boys. She tried at all times to install high ideals into their minds. She was a devoted wife and mother and was willing to share the hardships of the less fortunate. After arriving in Utah Charles Turner's first job 313 • • • was helping to build the U. P. Railroad . He earned money from this work which helped him to build a lime kill and brickyard near Morgan, it being an ambition of his to create labor. In this way he could look after his farm and employ all of the surplus men. The men had a great deal of love and respect for him. Things looked very dark but, as was their habit, they still toiled on hoping for better things. Instead things grew worse, and they had an early winter with much snow and severe cold with little or no comforts when an epidemic of Smallpox broke out in the family and two of the children died from the same. Charles was compelled to walk two or more miles to the grave yard, dig the graves and bury the children himself The food situation was at this time very serious and he was forced to walk through the snow to a little town three miles away where he procured a little frozen wheat to make bread and many times they were compelled to see their children go to bed hungry or the children would have a frozen crust to appease their hunger. Mother was always very devoted to her children and husband and to the Gospel she had embraced. She went through many hardships, knew poverty, yet she also knew comfort. She entertained most of the Church Presidents also the Apostles and other Church officials. The dinners of Mother Turner were enjoyed by scores of people who pronounced them of superior quality. She passed away Jan. 25, 1924, a faithful Latter-day Saint. By ... .... ............................................................. Eliza Green ...... ......... ....... ..