• • • Charles Turner (A summary from the journals of Charles Turner) Charles Turner was born on September 10, 1827 in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. He lived until October 23, 1910 where he died in Morgan, UT. Charles Moved from there to Ryton in the fall of 1832 with his father and mother. Charles mother died December 5, 1839 in Ryton. Warwickshrie. He left home in the spring of 1841 on the account that he disliked his step-mother. Charles worked in the logging business until 1851. On April 22, 1851 Charles was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by David Walker, and confirmed by T. Jeffery on April 27, 1851. From that time forth he looked for guidance from the Lord to go direct his life and where he should go. I could go on day by day of Charles's life from thoughts and feeling that he wrote each day in his journals, but what I would like to do is give you just a glimpse of the great man Charles Turner was. He was a man of deep love and devotions, courage, endurance, and integrity. Deep Love and Devotions: Charles Turner was baptized April 22 1851 by David Walker and was confirmed by T . Jeffery on April 27 1851 in the Coventry branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. While in England we fulfilled many church calling and were a missionary work. He went to many Conferences and talks about meeting with some of the apostles. Charles talks about some of the people that he baptized and his brother George; it was an exciting time for Charles. While Charles was in England he meet a young lady named Elizabeth Wilkins and they grew in love and had talked about marriage. Charles talks about in his journal that they were counseled not to get married while scattered back amongst the world. They both felt that it was the right thing to do. Charles states "We understood these Elders to be men of God, so we did as requested and gave ourselves into the hands of God and asked Him to bring us together again in His own due time." Their commitment never failed to each other. Charles and Elizabeth sailed across the oceans and came across the plains but were never married. Charles said that "We have kept company for eight years." They arrived in the Salt Lake valley in September 15 1861, and on December 8, 1861 Elizabeth and Charles were married. Four years later ~n 1865. Elizabeth delivered a little girl, February 26th and Elizabeth became very sick. Charles was very concerned and he called Brother Fry to come and administer to her. Charles stayed by her side and on February 27th she passed away. Charles said "Oh! This was as trying hour and it had been a trial to part with one I loved so dearly, for in all our acquaintance we had never passed an angry word. We had C 315"- B • • • always sought each others comfort, peace and happiness. She was buried March 2nd in our lot and but afterward moved to our present graveyard." Elizabeth was the first person buried in the South Morgan Cemetery. The baby, Elizabeth Mary Turner, died on August 31 , 1865 just six months after her mother. This was another trying time for Charles. He struggled with this but his commitment to the Lord never let him down. Courage: In January of 1861 Charles was released from the Presidency of the Dundee conference to go to Zion. On April 18, he left the saints of his conference and started with a number of saints. They left by train for Glasgow and took the steam boat form there to Liverpool they arrived on the 19th. On Sunday morning, the 21st we were towed out of the dock into the river where we lay all day. Monday day 22nd "we still lay in the river. President Milo Andrews can to me and talked quite unpleasantly, but I went on and did my duty and that which I was asked to do, living at peace with everyone." On April 23rd the weather cleared and some of the brethren cam on board. Charles spoke with Brother D.M. Stuart. "I had quite a talk with him and told him about Milo's talk to me. Brother Stuart used his influence in my favor and got me a better birth, as the one I had was very uncomfortable." About 5:00 P.M on May 23rd, they washed out to sea. Charles got very sea-sick after being out about three days and was in bed part of two days. Milo was very sick for several days and came pretty near going off Throughout the journey I prayed to the Lord for strength and I got over the sea-sickness. I never had an unpleasant word with anyone, sought to be useful and do good to all. The Lord blessed me in all my labors. On May 22nd they landed at Castle Garden. June 2, they landed at Florence. Charles writes"! have stood guard a good part of the past three night and did not get off the boar until 12:00 AM., as myself and several others had to watch the luggage, and ~ ~er it was taken ashore safe and alright. Charles and his party rented a room in Florence for four week. On June 29, they moved into their camping grounds. The First night out in our wagons they had a very heavy rain storm, "our bedding a good part of what we had got wet, but we soon learned to adapt ourselves to traveling life. The wagon we traveled with had thirteen souls, including myself, my intend wife, Elizabeth Walkins, her mother, and others. We enjoyed ourselves fine all through the journey, considering such a trek. Our company lost 16 head of cattle and the same number of souls. We had about 61 wagons. We landed on Emigration Square in Salt Lake City on September 15, 1861; it was a Sunday afternoon around 3:00 or 4:00 P.M. Elizabeth and I went to our old friend Brother Thomas Maycock' home. Over the next little while Charles worked wherever he could. On November 2, 1861 Elizabeth and I left for the Weber Valley in company with Brother Joseph Dean and Griffeth . • • • Charles writes in his journal "there is one thing I wish to mention about crossing he plains, which is a little over a thousand miles, when we first started out our Captain told us that all of the men-folk he wished to walk, and the young to walk all they could, as our wagons was pretty well loaded and it would be about all the teams could do to take us through if we do our best. So I made up my mind while he was talking to walk right through, but before getting through I fell lame and our team brought me about two miles from camp on evening. They stopped and told me to get up after we got into camp and the Captain got world that a brethren had fallen lame, so he came along and brought me something to rub my knee with, and also a drink to take, and gave me very strict orders to ride all the next day, do no camp duties and but take a good rest so that I might not be laid up. I got administered to and did as I was told. I got much better and on the following morning again tried waking. From there walked right on into Salt Lake City. I once was sick a half day besides, and had all I could do to walk into camp, but got administered to and was well again in the morning." Charles prayed to the Lord and gave him praise, honor, and glory for the help and strength he gave him has he traveled. And this gave him the courage he needed to make it to the Weber Valley (Morgan). Endurance: On November 7, 1863 Charles did something that most men today have never done. On the evening of November 6, G.Tucker came to him and asked ifhe could go the Salt Lake City to get some needed medicine for his wife. On the morning of November 7, Charles set out, on foot, to walk to Salt Lake City. In that days Journal Charles did not murmur over this task; "Traveled over the summit to the City, arrived at dust, got some medicine for Sister Tucker, did a little. Stayed overnight at W.A. Garrett's". The next day he stated "I was very stiff, got breakfast called on the brethren, and then I set out for home". He wrote how it was a good day, but the summit had snow on each side, this made the trip more difficult. He arrived home around 11 :00 P.M. that evening. Most people would have gone home first, but not Charles. He when straight away to the Tucker home to deliver the medicine. After walking over 60 miles in two days Charles was left to deal with the physical effects of the journey. In his journals he describes next week. He went from have sore feet on the 9th and doing little around the home. To on the 11th. "Keep my bed most the day." By the 14th he stated "this week is past I done but little work, my health is got perty good again; for which I thank God." Integrity On December 30, 1872, the Turners, Brother R Hogg and two Brother Simmons families are required by the City Council to stay at home, because of small pox. These are the names of the families, which he talks about in his journals . ~ . . • • • "The small pox still growing worse upon our little folks. 0 what a dark cloud to labor under the ordinance, all we can do seems to accomplish little in behalf of those afflicted with small pox." On January 4th, Bro G Simmons little girl dies of the small pox. We are doing all we can to save our little girl. Charles little daughter Ann Elizabeth dies on January 6th and on the 7th young Robert Hogg dies. His wife Hannah now has the small pox. He says "that this is a dark trying time for us." He tells how hard it is for the fathers to go to the graveyard to bury their children. They go with each other to the graveyard. " I must say these are scenes of trial to us. As no one else deems it wisdom, to come near us who have this dreadful disease to contend with. Which makes it more dark and lonely. The sight of these dear little ones who have died is a horrifying scene to look upon which all goes to make the trial heavier." On January 14th his entire family has the small pox, which is nine of them. Both his wives Hannah and Anne have the small pox with two suckling babies. The City Council appoints Bro Simmons and Bro J Browen to come to his home and assist him both day and night. On January 20th Charles son Abraham dies, when they went up to the graveyard, no body was to be seen in the City . On January 23rd "this morning George is much worse and appears as though he was about to go also, but me and Bro Hogg administered to him after which he commenced to take the breast again and continued to suck, the rest are all doing very well." "Our Bishop has been very indifferent towards us families afflicted with small pox. All he has ever done for us has been to plan to keep everybody away from us and us from everybody and no word of comfort has he ever sent us in any way whatever." On February 15th he talks about getting liberated from the quarantine next week. Their houses had to be fumigated with disinfectant, and for him to get his liberty he had to leave home for one week. He went to Bro Mets old house and stripped rubbed all over with whiskey and put on fresh clothing. During this week he went to work in his lime kilns .