David Turner

1853 - 1929  (75 years)   Has 2 ancestors and 48 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	David Turner
  Birth	14 Nov 1853	Milltown, Somerset, New Jersey, United States
  Gender	Male
  Initiatory (LDS)	23 Oct 1907	MANTI
  Death	30 Mar 1929	Holden, Millard, Utah, United States
  Burial	4 Apr 1929	Holden, Millard, Utah, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I191	mytree
  Last Modified	25 Feb 2024

  
  

  Father	David Turner,   b. 3 Jun 1819, Pudsey, Yorkshire, England d. 25 Dec 1887, St. George, Washington, Utah, United States (Age 68 years)
  Mother	Rose Collier,   b. 16 Jan 1821, Leeds, Yorkshire, England d. 18 Dec 1882, Washington, Washington, Utah, United States (Age 61 years)
  Marriage	30 Apr 1839	Minster and Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds, Yorkshire, England
  Family ID	F209	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Maranda Giles,   b. 16 Jan 1862, Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States d. 8 Jun 1947, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States (Age 85 years)
  Marriage	2 Feb 1880	Holden, Millard, Utah, United States
  Children	1. Rosa Marilla Turner,   b. 5 Sep 1880, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 19 Jul 1882 (Age 1 year) > 2. Sarah Pearl Turner,   b. 22 Dec 1881, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 4 Jun 1978, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 96 years) + 3. David Sinkler Turner,   b. 27 Nov 1883, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 15 May 1931, Salmon, Lemhi, Idaho, United States (Age 47 years) + 4. Collier Giles Turner,   b. 25 Aug 1885, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 9 Jan 1959, Reno, Washoe, Nevada, United States (Age 73 years) + 5. Zella June Turner,   b. 21 Oct 1889, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 12 Feb 1961, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States (Age 71 years) + 6. Ormus Franklin Turner,   b. 28 Oct 1891, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 3 Jul 1980, Yerington, Lyon, Nevada, United States (Age 88 years) + 7. Emily Melissa Turner,   b. 24 Jun 1895, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 21 Jul 1986, Sandy, Salt Lake, Utah, United States (Age 91 years) + 8. Sylvia Manilla Turner,   b. 24 Aug 1898, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 22 Dec 1988, Fillmore, Millard, Utah, United States (Age 90 years) > 9. Jesse Reese Turner,   b. 30 Jan 1904, Holden, Millard, Utah, United States d. 26 Nov 1948, Carson City, Ormsby, Nevada, United States (Age 44 years)
  Family ID	F208	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Dec 2025

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 14 Nov 1853 - Milltown, Somerset, New Jersey, United States Marriage - 2 Feb 1880 - Holden, Millard, Utah, United States Initiatory (LDS) - 23 Oct 1907 - MANTI Death - 30 Mar 1929 - Holden, Millard, Utah, United States Burial - 4 Apr 1929 - Holden, Millard, Utah, United States  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  DAVID TURNER JR. BY SYLVIA JENSEN, DAUGHTER David Turner, son of David and Rose Collins Turner, was born Novemb e r 14, 1853 in Millstown, Summer Set, New Jersey. Nine other brothers a n d sisters were born in New Jersey. The Turner Family was converted to t h e Mormon Church by Wilford Woodruff and John Taylor. They arrived in Utah, Sept. 12, 1861, and were assigned to com e t o Fillmore, Millard County. Later they were sent to Deseret. Here Jam es E dward, David's youngest brother was born. As a lad of ten, David hel ped b uild the old fort at Deseret. When the dam went out and the crops kept failing, the David Turn e r Sr. Family moved to Holden, Utah but were there only a short time wh e n the Church Authorities called David Sr. to Washington County to run t h e Cotton Mills. David Jr. worked right along with his father and mothe r i n the Mills, David Sr. and his wife had worked in his brother Isaac' s Cot ton mill in New Jersey, and was expert in his knowledge of how to o perat e the mill. He wove the material used in the upholstery of the St . Georg e Temple, and the cloth for making the suits for the men who work ed in th e Temple. David Jr. got much valuable information and training w hile work ing with his father and he too became a weaver after he was mar ried. David Turner Jr. and Samuel Bennet Jr. were later called to work with te a ms and wagons on the St. George Temple after they had moved back to Hol de n, 1873-74. They helped cut and haul some of the stones and lumber fo r th e Temple. On Feb 2, 1879, David Jr. married Mary Maranda Giles, daughter o f J oseph and Sarah Huntsman Giles. They lived in a log room in Holden, u sin g boxes for tables, cupboards and table. David made a tree legged be d an d with the help of his wife, wove bedsprings of horsehair. They late r mov ed into a two-room house with a fireplace . David was a farmer and stock raiser. He had four teams of horses , s ix saddle ponies, cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens. He sheared his s hee p while his wife helped him card the wool, spin it into thread, and D avi d wove it into beautiful cloth for making the family's clothing, sinc e h e was an expert weaver. He tanned his own cowhides and with the help of some Indians, ma d e the leather into shoes, boots and harnesses. He repaired shoes and ha rn esses for others as well as for his family. He cured all of the meat for the family, never wasting any, as t h e scraps from the pig heads were made into the most delicious headchees e . He made plenty of jerky for taking on freighting trips, or when he ro d e the range. The Turners raised a big garden for storing for winter as well a s d rying corn and squash. They also had a large orchard from which the y drie d much fruit for winter, and for sale, when David went on freighti ng trip s. They also raised their own wheat for flour, germade, cracked w heat. Th ey also had corn meal from their large corn patches. He also rai sed his o wn sugar cane for making molasses. They had very little cash bu t always p lenty to eat and wear. Since David's wife, Miranda, was a midwife and nurse, she was go n e from home much of the time, however each child was taught to do every th ing that needed doing, and David always did the churning at night, a s h e knew just how to care for the butter. David and Peter Stephenson drove cattle form Holden to Laramie, Wy o ming, and sometimes took them to Kansas City to sell. These two men we r e very good friends, when either on raised something which the other d i d not raise, the choicest of this fruit or vegetable was taken to the o th er family. David worked in the Moapa Valley for some time, and alway s sen t boxes of lovely vegetables to his family in Holden long before th ey ha d them in their own garden. He was a very orderly man and cleaned h is too ls after each using. His haystacks and barnyards were always nea t and cle an. He always had time to help children with their problems whether th e y were his children or the neighbors. He loved all of them and was kin d a nd considerate of them. He and Miranda were the parents of nine child ren: Rose Marilla, born Sept. 5, 1880, died as an infant; Sarah Pearl, born D e c. 22, 1881; David Sinkler, born Nov. 27, 1883; Colier Giles, born Aug . 2 5, 1884. Zella Jane, born Oct. 22, 1889; Ormas Franklin, born Oct. 28 , 18 91; Emily Melissa, born June 24, 1895; Sylvia Manilla born Aug. 24 , 1898 ; Jesse Reese, born Jan. 30, 1904. David was a good friend t o the In dians, could speak their language and always fed them when the y were hung ry. They in turn brought him pine nuts, gloves and even a buc kskin jacket . David died March 20, 1929 after a coughing attack, which cause d a r uptured blood vessel. He is buried beside his wife in the Holden Ce metery . HISTORY OF DAVID TURNER JR. By his daughter, Sylvia T. Jensen David Turner was born 14 November 1853 in Millstown, Summer Set, N e w Jersey 20 minutes past 10 Monday night to Rose Collier and David Turn er . His parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in t h e year 1849. They became interested in the Church from the teachings of two Mor m on missionaries, Wilford Woodruff and John Taylor. They were living i n Ne w Jersey. His Father and Mother both worked in Father's Uncle Isaac' s Cot ton Mill. Nine of Father's brothers and sisters were born in New Je rsey. In June of 1861 the family started as pioneers to the valley of t h e Great Salt Lake. They arrived in Utah 12th September 1861 with the Jo h n R. Murdock Company. After a few weeks in Salt Lake City, the family m ov ed to Fillmore, Utah, Millard County. In 1863 Grandfather Turner was called to help settle the town of D e seret, Millard County. There Father's youngest brother, James Edward w a s born. The family lived in Deseret 5 years. When at Deseret, my Fathe r j ust a young lad in his small way, helped carry water and mix mud to b uil d the Old Fort at Deseret, which part of the walls still stand. After five years the family moved to Holden, Utah in late 1868. Th e y lived here for a while then Grandfather was called to Washington, Was hi ngton County, Utah, by the President of the Church to run the Cotton M ill s there. Grandfather took his family with him, my Father though young work e d along with this Father and Mother in the mills. He gained much experi en ce from this work, which helped him with making clothes for his famil y af ter he was married. My Grandfather wove the material used in the upholstery of the S t . George Temple, and cloth for the suits for the men who just worked i n t he Temple. My Father was called to work on the St. George Temple wi th h is team and wagon, with Samuel Bennet Sr. during the years 1873-1874 . H e helped cut and haul the stones and some of the lumber to the Templ e gro unds. On the 2nd of February 1879 he married Mary Maranda Giles, daught e r of Joseph Sinkler Giles and Sarah Huntsman Giles. They met while mother was cooking at the Stage Stop and Father w a s taking care of the horses there. Father and Mother lived in a log room 1 block West of the Highwa y w here Rawldo Turner's home now stand. Wooden boxes were used for their chairs, cupboards and table. Father made a three-legged bedstead, and wove horsehair into a ro p e and with Mother's help wove it on the bedstead for springs. They lived here a few months, then in early fall moved to a larg e r home with two large rooms with a fireplace in one of the rooms. Thi s wa s a block South, and 1/2 block East. Father was a farmer and stock raiser, had four good teams of horse s , 6 saddle horses, a lot of cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens. He sheared his sheep, corded the wool and spun it into material f o r cloth for his family. Father was a good and particular weaver. Everyt hi ng he did was done well. With his cowhides, he would tan them and with help from his Indi a n friends would make leather for shoes, boots and harnesses. He repair e d shoes and harnesses for many families as well as his own. Father always took care of his own meat, butchered it and cured i t . Nothing was wasted from the pigs. After the hams and shoulders were c u t and trimmed, he would put them out cure and smoke them and the side m ea t for bacon. After they were smoked, we would wrap them in clean whit e cl othes, then wrap several thicknesses of paper around them and stor e the m in the grain bins. With the scrapes left, he would add to the hea d of t he pigs and make headcheese and scrapple, which was very deliciou s to eat , cold or warm. He always used corncobs or oak wood to smoke hi s meat . He always made plenty of jerky from the bee f he kill ed-to use when he was on the range or on freighting trips. Father always raised a large garden, plenty of potatoes for the wi n ter, which he would pit. Cabbage he would bury in a trench with the roo t s above the dirt. Corn and squash to dry. He would slice the squash i n in ch circles and peel them, them hang them on a line and dry in the sh ade o r in the extra room. This was enjoyed in the winter cooked as a veg etabl e or for pies and puddings. He would boil wheat and boil it for hou rs fo r our Sunday breakfast or special night meal. Our lean-to roof in the fall was always full of apples, plums, a n d peaches, drying for the winter. The surplus was sacked and taken to D el ta and Deseret and sold to the families there. We had thirteen Rhode Island apple trees on our one lot. So that m a de a lot of apples to dry and later years to bottle also. Father alway s p icked the apples, plums corn. Mother and us girls cut and put on th e roo f to dry. He raised sugar cane, made his own molasses for years. Then sold h i s vat. Each fall he would have 2000 pounds of flour in his flour bin, lar g e cans of Germade, corn meal, and cracked wheat for the winter's foo d . I still have one of his flour bins. Father was a hard worker, a good provider, but did not have much c a sh, but had several pieces of alfalfa fields and 80 acres of dry land . Th ey were very happy and content. He always did the churning at night for Mother after he was throu g h with his days work, once a week. Never was any buttermilk in the butt e r when he was through with it. Mother said to him one night, "David , I th ink you must talk to the cream in secret before you start churning ." Father was a cattle drover for a few years, drove cattle to Kans a s City, Laramie, Wyoming with his friend Peter Stephenson. They were re a l friends. When either one of them raise something the other had not, t h e choicest was taken to the other family. When Father was working in Moapa Valley, he would send boxes of ni c e vegetables before there were any at home. He would always say, "Sen d Sy lvia with some for Peter's family." Father freighted from Holden to Pioche, Ely, Nevada, and Salt La k e City. Cheese was his main load. That made him away from home a lot i n h is early-married life. He helped take care of the stock during the time of the United Ord e r. Also helped take care of the horses when the stagecoach was in pract ic e. Father's horses were of the best stock. He enjoyed pulling the m i n matches on special occasions, also racing his horses. His farm tools had to be cleaned and put away into their place aft e r each use. His haystacks, grain and straw stacks had to be put up a ce rt ain way so they would stand straight. The corrals had to be kept clea n fo r his cows. He always washed the bags of his milk cows, said he didn 't wa nt the milk he took to the house for his family use to taste like t he cor ral. Ben Kinney a neighbor told Father once, "David, why don't yo u use th e broom on your corral." With all the work he had to take care of, yet he never was too bu s y to take Mother if she was called out to the sick. Father was always the happiest when he had children around wheth e r they were his or the neighbors. Never too busy but what he would sho w t hem or help them do something useful and worthwhile. I never did se e hi m angry or cross to anyone. He was always humorous and willing to he lp ot hers in need. Grandfather Giles said he believed David loved everyone around hi m . Even if Father raised a large garden with about everything in it, on c e a week we had one day of eating like the Pioneers did. We would hav e co rn meal mush for breakfast with molasses and milk, dinner would be p igwee ds or dandelion greens with salt pork. He would say "Mary Maranda m ake pl enty of milk gravy for the children and boiled dough with plums o r pie pl ant," as it was called in those days (which is rhubarb now) wit h molasse s for dessert, and for supper a large bowl of lumpy Dick with m ilk and ch eese. When we were young this tasted pretty good for a change. Father said he could remember when he and his family came to Uta h . They ate a lot of Sego roots with gravy and were glad to get them. H e c ould remember his mother making a dish called Tea Broth, made with br ea d put in a bowl, added butter, salt, pepper and then poured boiling wa te r over it. Said it tasted all right if a person was hungry. His mothe r sa id the English people made it a lot. Father was always a good friend of the Indians, would let them ha v e hay and grain and flour for their horses and family. He could talk th ei r language and always gave them something to eat if they were hungry . Th e Indians would bring him pine nuts, gloves and once a year a nice b ucksk in jacket. "Humchup", the Indian said, "One good turn deserves anot her. " He was always pleased when Father was home to visit with them, bec aus e Father could speak their language. Father passed away at his home in Holden, Utah, 30 March 1929, aft e r an attack of asthma coughing rupturing a blood vessel and bled to dea t h before Dr. Evans could get to him. He was the Father of nine sons and daughters, leaving his wife a n d eight children, 33 grandchildren, 20 great grand children . HISTORY OF DAVID TURNER JR. David Turner Jr. was born November 14, 1853 in Milltown, Somerse t C o., New Jersey. A son of David Turner Sr. and Rose Collier. The family lived in New Jersey for several years after coming fr o m England. Both his Father and Mother worked in the cotton mills for several year s i n New Jersey. The mills were owned by an Uncle Isaac Moosehouse. David's Father and Mother joined the church in the year 1849. Wilf o rd Woodruff and John Taylor were the missionaries that were responsibl e f or them joining. They were staunch members and faithful to the princi pal s of the gospel. In June 1861, they started as Pioneers to the valley's of Great Sa l t Lake. They arrived in Utah, September 12, 1861, with John R. Murdock ' s Company. After a few days they were called to got to Fillmore, Utah . Th ey stayed in Fillmore until 1863, and then David Turner Sr. was call ed t o help settle Deseret, Millard Co. They lived in Deseret for 5 year s the n they moved to Holden, Utah. While at Deseret, David at the age of 11-12 helped carry water and str a w for the masons that built the Old Fort. He worked right along with h i s Father. After living in Holden for some years, David's Father was calle d t o Washington, Utah to run the Cotton Mills there by the President o f th e Church. So the family moved there in the year 1875. David Jr. work ed ri ght along with his Father he helped his Father weave the material f or th e upholstery for the St. George Temple. Also helped make the clot h that w as used for the first Saints that was used in the St. George Tem ple. David Jr. came back to Holden and Deseret after his Father passed awa y i n Washington, Utah the year of 1887. David Jr. married Mary Maranda Giles of Fillmore in the year 187 9 . They settled in Holden and helped build that town. David Jr. was call e d to St. George, Utah to work on the Temple during 1874-1875. His wor k wa s hauling the stones that were used and cutting them. He also freighted from Holden to Pioche, Nevada to Ely, Nevada, a n d to Salt Lake City, Utah in his early married life. David did a lot o f c ording and weaving to get cloth to make clothes for his family and ma ny o ther families who needed help. He was always willing to help anyon e in ne ed. David died March 30, 1929 at Holden, Utah . MARY MARANDA GILES TURNER BY SYLVIA JENSEN, DAUGHTER Mary Maranda Giles Turner was born January 16, 1862 in Fillmore, Uta h t o Sarah Huntsman and Joseph Sinkler Giles. She married David Turner , Febr uary 2, 1879 at Holden, Utah but later their marriage was solemniz ed in t he Manti Temple. The Turner's lived on West Center St. in Holden, in a one-room log cabi n , with wooden boxed for chairs, table and cupboard. Miranda put shelve s i n the boxes she used for cupboards. The bed was a three-legged one ma de b y David and twisted horsehair made into rope held the bedding. (Th e two o f them sort of wove it into a base for the bedding.) The fireplace served both for heat and for cooking. Brass kettles and ir o ns and Dutch ovens were their only cooking utinsels. If the weather per mi tted, they cooked out of doors on a bank of coals. They had very few d ish es, but were happy with what they had. David made special Lamb Stew when they cooked outside and this was a ve r y favorite meal for the children. Maranda was a midwife and nurse who w a s called constantly to care for the sick, and was gone from the hom e a gr eat deal, which left David at home to be both cook and father to t he larg e family. For lights, they burned rags dipped in tallow or if they had them they u s ed candles, which didn't fill the air with so much smoke as did the bur ni ng rags. They moved into a two room house and while David was away o n a f reighting trip. Maranda built a lean-to for a kitchen, with the hel p of M r. Cherington a special friend of David's. She had dried a large a mount o f fruit and sold it. With the money she purchases a four-holed st ove wit h an oven. David had brought her a roll of cotton material from w hich sh e was to make her some dresses but she took the material and line d the le an-to. She was so pleased with her new addition that she could s carcely w ait for her husband to get home from a freighting trip to sho w him her be autiful kitchen. Miranda gathered wool from the fences and sage brush where the sheep fe d , and had it wall washed and ready for David to weave into cloth from w hi ch she could make the children's clothes. David had learned the weaver ' s trade from his father, as David Turner Sr. was one of the outstandin g w eavers' in St. George and other places. Maranda's father Joseph Sinkler Giles was a surgeon in Johnston's Army , a nd for many years, gave his services to the pioneers in East Millar d Coun ty. Miranda went with her father and was taught by him how to car e for th e sick. She dried wild sage, catnip, horehound, peppermint and m any othe r herbs for use in teas and poultices for the sick. In April 188 0 David a nd Maranda began building two more rooms on their home. They ju st finishe d them when in September when Maranda gave birth to a daughter , Rose Mari lla. In April of 1881, Maranda's mother, Sarah Huntsman Giles, passed away wh i le giving birth to her thirteenth child. The child was buried with th e mo ther. Maranada, being the oldest girl took the four youngest brother s an d sisters to care for until they were old enough to be left with th e olde r brothers and sisters. In August of 1884 when Maranda had her fou rth chi ld, she became an invalid. The next April the ward had a fast mee ting fo r all of the sick. Maranda asked to be rebaptized. This was done , by Elde r John Kinney who gave her a blessing. Her sister, Alemeda wa s living wit h the Turners. She wrapped her in warm blankets kept warm wi th hot bricks , and fed her hot liquids. Maranda soon recovered her healt h and was abl e to wait on the sick again. She was health officer for Hol den for 25 yea rs. In 1943 she visited her daughter Zella in California , where she ha d a bus accident, which injured her leg. The leg bothere d her some but sh e did not complain. In April 1947 she was taken to the St. Marks Hospital where they discove r ed that gangrene had set in and gone through most of her body. They le f t her in the hospital until June 3. She asked to be taken home to die . Th ey left her in the Hospital until June 3, 1947, then moved her by Am bulan ce to her home in Holden. She passed away June 8, 1947 and is burie d besi de her husband in the Holden Cemetery. children of David and Maranda Turner: Rose Marilla born September 5, 188 0 ; Sarah Pearl, born Dec. 22, 1881; David Sinkler, born Nov. 27, 1883; C ol ier Giles, born Aug. 25, 1884; Zella Jane, born Oct. 22, 1889; Ormus F ran klin, born Oct. 28, 1891; Emily Melissa, born June 24, 1895; Sylvia M anil la, born August 24, 1898; Jesse Reese, born January 30, 1904. SKETCH OF MARY MARANDA GILES TURNER by her daughter, Sylvia T. Jensen Mary Maranda Giles was born 16 January 1862 in Fillmore, Utah, to Sara h H untsman and Joseph Sinkler Giles. She married David Turner 2 Februar y 187 4 at Holden, Utah, later solemnized the Manti Temple. They lived in a log room on West Center Street where Raveldo Turner's ho m e now stands. They had no furniture. They used wooden boxed for chair s an d tables. They nailed four together to make a table. Mother put som e shel ves in a few of the boxes to use for her cupboards. Their bed was a three legged one that Father had made. He twisted a sma l l rope from horsehair. With Mother's help, they wove it across this bed st ead for the springs. They made a straw tick and feather tick as they w er e called it those days. These made a comfortable bed with the quilts m oth er had made. A fireplace was in the south end of the large room, which they used fo r h eat and for their cooking. Brass kettles were used to cook in, also t o co ok hominy and to make soap in. They later got two Dutch ovens and us ed fo r baking bread. These became very special utensils. Father would ma ke a s pecial bed of coals outside to cook meat and special things to eat , if th e weather would permit. If not, he banked the coals in the firepl ace. W e children would have Father make a lamb stew once in a while in t hese Du tch ovens. We thought they were special. They didn't have many dishes at that time, but they were very happy wi t h what they did have, and it was their own. For them, lights at first were braided rags and wound them in a little c i rcle on a plate and put mutton tallow on them. Later they made their o w n candles, which didn't put out as much smoke as when burning the rags. They lived at this place for one year, then moved to a place one block s o uth and 1/2 block east from where they were living. This was two larg e ro oms with a fireplace in the west side of the front room. The next year while my Father was away on a freighting trip, my Mother b u ilt her a lean to kitchen on the North side of the two rooms with the h el p of Father's best friend, Mr. Cherington. After it was complete, Moth e r lined it with heavy paper and figured calico material, which Father h a d bought her on one of his freighting trips. Instead of using it for dr es ses or curtains he thought it would do to line this large room. She wa s s o pleased with this room when completed. Mother had dried a lot of fruit and corn for a Mr. Connors at Connors Pa s s on the way to Ely, Nevada. With the money she received form this, wh e n her Father, Joseph Sinkler Giles went into Salt Lake, Mother went wi t h him and bought her a cook stove from Dinwoodys' Furniture Store. Th e st ove had an oven, 4 lids on top and a nice back with one shelf on th e top . She was so pleased with her new kitchen and new stove she was anx ious f or my Father to come home and to show them to him. When Father came home he was surprised and very pleased. He told Mothe r i t didn't look like she had been idle while he was away from home thos e fe w months. Mother had gleaned a lot of wool from the fences and bushes where the sh e ep had been. She had it all washed and ready for Father to cord and wea v e into material to make clothing for their family. Father was a very go o d weaver, had had a lot of experience helping his Father do weaving i n Ho lden, Deseret, and St. George, Utah. The next year my Father and Mother built two rooms on this house, just g o t them finished when Mother gave birth to her daughter, Rose Marilla i n S eptember. In April of 1881, my Grandmother Giles passed away in childbirth with h e r 13th child. It was buried with her. Mother, being the oldest girl i n th e family, took four of her small brothers and sisters to care for th em un til they were old enough to do for themselves along with her own fa mily. Before my Mother was married she went with her Father, Joseph Sinkler Gi l es, who was a surgeon in Johnston's Army. He was the only doctor fo r a lo ng time in Holden and Fillmore. Mother had a lot of experience wit h him t aking care of the sick. When Mother was 13 years of age, she wen t with he r father to set a broken leg for a Mr. Gull. She was holding th e lamps fo r him, but she kept leaning it until he said, "Mary Maranda ho ld that lam p straight and steady and quit closing your eyes. That's no w ay to becom e a nurse." Mother was a nurse and midwife for many years. She was called to Oak Cit y , Hinkley, Deseret and Fillmore to take care of the sick. She brought m an y babies into the world, treated blood poisoning cases, pneumonia an d bro ken limbs. She saved Phil Poluson's life by bathing him in wild sag e te a and giving him different herbs internally for dropsy. Mother would gather catnip leaves, horehound, wild sage, tame sage, an d m any other kinds of herbs; dry them put each in separate sacks and han g th em in the granary until she needed them to take where people were si ck. S he always took a bag of these to leave at the home, whatever sickne ss the y had. My Father would take her out to the homes in the white top buggy or on t h e old white mare, if the snow was bad. She said old Whitey always got h e r to the homes she was called to no matter what kind of weather. She al wa ys took some hot gruel or soup, molasses cookies, pudding, or a jell y lay ered cake, hot salt rising bread, made tame sage tea or Mormon te a to giv e them whatever sickness was in the family. She didn't get pai d very muc h money for all these trips, mostly in materials and flour o r whatever th ey had. Some just said thank you. The first baby mother delivered was Benjamin Wood of Holden. The secon d o ne was her half sister Laura Giles Brough. Fannie Johnson, a midwife , wa s too late to help deliver Laura. Mother had done nursing form the t ime s he was 12 years old. She helped her Father with the sick until sh e was ma rried. Then she did nursing from then until one year before he r death. I n August of 1884, when Mother's fourth child was born, she go t real sick , was an invalid for four months. The next April when the Ward held a special fast meeting for the sic k i n the Ward, on the first Thursday of the month. Father wrapped Mothe r i n blanket and took her to the meetinghouse in the wagon so she coul d li e down. She asked the Bishop if it was possible for them to baptize her. After t h e meeting they took her up to Sidney Teeple's pond East of Holden by t h e foothills. Elder John Kinney baptized her and gave her a wonderful bl es sing. Father and her sister Almeda who was living at our home took Mother ho m e and kept warm blankets and bricks on her for a couple of days, and ga v e her hot liquids. She soon recovered from this illness, and was very g ra teful to have her health back once more. She thanked the Lord for th e won derful blessings that had come to her through his help and throug h the Pr iesthood. After that sickness she didn't know what a sick day wa s only wh en having her babies, until she was in a bus accident in 1943 w hile visit ing her daughter Zella in California. Mother continued with her nursing and helping with the sick wherever s h e was needed. She was Health officer in Holden for 25 years, sick committee, Relief So c iety Visiting Teacher 65 years, Sunday school teacher 25 years. In March of 1902, Mother and Father went to work on Johnson's ranch ou t b y Ely, Nevada for the summer months. Mother was given the authority t o ho ld Sunday school on the ranch for the few families there by Willia m Ashb y of Holden, who was superintendent of the Holden Sunday School a t that t ime. Some Indians and Cowboys attended also. After Mother and Fa ther lef t to go home their son, Sinkler, was appointed to continue unti l he lef t in the spring. Mother was Work Director in Relief Society for many years. She made ma n y quilts for herself and family. She made a lot and sold them even fo r pe ople in Ohio and Michigan. She was a great crocheter, making rugs, k nitti ng socks and sweaters for her family. She said once she would lik e to hav e a dollar for every quilt or pair of socks she had made durin g her lifet ime. I remember as a child the ice cream Mother and Father taught us to mak e w ith snow and milk, a little sugar and some flavoring. It had to be ea te n immediately. Also a drink was made using a little vinegar and suga r i n water to make a tart flavor, then adding a little soda or cream o f tart ar to make it fizz. Before they could always buy vinegar, Father m ade som e from the pea pods, which was boiled and the juice sour. It wa s a fair s ubstitute mother said. Also the new salt raising bread made every other day. For a change Moth e r would spread fresh pork grease on it, a little salt and a dash of vin eg ar. It tasted nice for a change. We all enjoyed the fresh clabber milk, with the cream on top with a litt l e sugar and spices sprinkled on top of it. The milk was put in crocks j ar s or large heavy pans in the cellar cupboard. It was soon clabber. Thi s w as served in large mush bowls for our supper with dried fruit stewed. Father always had plenty of milk and cream for the family. He had choi c e milk cows for this purpose. We also enjoyed the Lumpy Dick Mother made for our supper for somethin g d ifferent along with some dried fruit and homemade cheese, which the y mad e with the extra milk. Lumpy Dick was made by taking milk or wate r what w as needed bring to a boil and slowly added white flour until i t was thic k and lumpy as you desired, a piece of salt pork added to it . Served wit h honey or sugar. This had to be lumpy or it wasn't Lumpy Di ck. In the first of April 1947, we took her into St. Marks Hospital. Gangre n e had gone all over her body. After she had been in the Hospital two mo nt hs five days before, she passed away. Joe, my husband, came to the Hos pit al to see how she was; the Dr. said she was just hanging on, for wha t h e did not know. Joe told him he had promised my mother to see that she got home if she e v er got so sick she would pass away. So we had Roy Olpin come and bring her home. She rallied a few hours aft e r she got in her own bedroom. She asked for Joe, he went to her side a n d she thanked him for keeping his promise to her in her weak voice. Th a t was on the 3rd of June. She passed away on the 8th of June at 10:00 a m , 1947. She was 85 years old. Her husband, David, and two children ha d pr eceded her in death. She had been a widow for eighteen years. Seven children, 36 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren survived her. children ALL children BORN IN HOLDEN, UTAH Rose Marilla 5 Sept. 1880 Sarah Pearl Dec. 22, 1881 David Sinkler Nov. 27, 1883 Collier Giles Aug. 25, 1884 Zella Jane Oct. 22, 1889 Ormus Franklin Oct. 28, 1891 Emily Melissa June 24, 1895 Silvia Manilla Aug. 24, 1898 Jesse Reese Jan. 30, 1904 A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MARY MARANDA GILES TURNER June 24, 1942 I was born of goodly parents in the year of 1862, in Fillmore City, Ut a h Territory. Fillmore being the Capitol of Utah. We lived in Fillmor e a f ew years. My parents were Joseph Sinkler Giles and Sarah Huntsman G iles . We moved to Deseret in the year 1865 and stayed there until the da m wen t out and everything failed. We endure many hardships. We then cam e to Ce dar Springs, which later was called Holden. We moved into the Fort and stayed there for one fall and winter. The fol l owing spring we moved out into Pioneer Creek. At one time we lived whe r e John Hunter's land is on the Southwest corner, in a dugout. It wa s a ho le in the ground with a dirt roof, dirt floor and steps dug out o f dirt . Our Father had goats, which he milked. We children would go out in the sagebrush and dig Segos, bring them to M o ther, and she would cook them and make milk gravy over them. They wer e de licious. While we were living in a dugout, Father and Mother took a little bo y t o raise, whose mother had died with measles. The boy's father's nam e wa s Thomas Stephenson and the boy's name was Anthony Stephenson. Thi s boy t ook care of us children and later became our Bishop. We moved back to Fillmore, up by the flourmill, in a small log house. Th i s house was facing the South with one small window in the North, and t h e fireplace in the West. Mother baked in a Dutch oven. The fireplace h a d a hook in the back to boil water for food. The house had a dirt roo f an d floor, a pile of straw to sleep on, very little bedding and no cha irs . We stayed here a short time then moved back to Cedar Springs, wher e w e built a two-room adobe house where Orvin Stevens now lives. The mai n ro ad went by our house. We lived there many years. Father took up lan d on t he South where Samuel Bennett and Kate Memmott now live. Father ra ised gr ain and vegetables. Mother would take us in the field to glean--p ick up s traw, take it home, put it on canvas, and with a large club thre sh the gr ain out. We used the grain for bread or boiled it to eat with c ream. We h ad no sugar. The straw was used for braiding hats. Father rais ed sugar ca ne and made lovely molasses, also preserves from peaches an d tomatoes. Th ey were stored in twenty and forty gallon barrels. When sh eep went throug h, mother made a bag to tie around our waist. We would fo llow the sheep t hrough brush and pick the wool, which clung to the brush . Mother would ca rd and spin the wool into yarn, take the yarn to my Gra ndmother and the y would weave it into cloth for our dresses. She also ta ught us to knit o ur stockings. Father was a wonderful man; he could do most any kind of work. He was t h e only doctor we had in Millard County for many years. He worked in th e C ourt House for many years until his death. He was admitted to the Ba r o f this State and was an honored member of that association to the dat e o f his death. He was also a wonderful shoemaker. He taught me how to s ol e my shoes, and how to make wooden pegs. We would take a piece of har d wo od, cut it in a triangular shape, then use small pegs. We had no tac ks . I had to make my shoes or go to the dance barefoot. I was called to join the Relief Society when I was eleven years old. W e g irls, in those days, could card rolls and make wool bats, and sew car pe t rags to make carpets. When I was fourteen, the President of the Reli e f Society called me to go nurse a sick baby who had measles. His name w a s Alma Poulson. His father died with them. He lives and has a lovely fa mi ly. I have been waiting on the sick most of my time since then. My mot he r owned the first sewing machine, also the first organ in Holden. I pl aye d for dances with Walter Stringham, who played the violin. I played f or m y own wedding dance. I was a great horseback rider and broke many wi ld ho rses. I was a great dancer and sang in the choir for many years. My first school was in Holden. We never had a lead pencil or notebook . W e did all our writing on slates, and for light used a tallow candl e o r a braided rag put in a plate of grease. When sixteen years old, I taught the Primary class for William Brown . I n the year 1879, I was seventeen, and was married to David Turner. H e ha d walked across the plains. I am eighty years old and I still love to dance, walk and work . May the stars and stripes wave forever in this beautiful land of the fr e e and the home of the brave. MARY MIRANDA TURNER JUNE 1947 NEWSPAPER OBITUARY Mrs. Mary Miranda Turner, 85, died at her home in Holden late Sund a y, following a five-year illness from injuries suffered in a Californi a t raffic accident. Mrs. Turner, it was reported, caught her foot on a bus while in Ca l ifornia five years ago and was dragged for some distance before the bu s c ould be stopped. She had never recovered from the effects of the mish ap. Mrs. Turner was the widow of the late David Turner. She was bor n i n Fillmore Jan. 16, 1862, a daughter of Joseph S. and Sarah Huntsma n Gile s. She had resided in Holden throughout her life, was a practica l nurse , and for many years was local health officer. She was an activ e member o f the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Reli ef Society. Surviving are the following sons and daughters: Mrs. Pearl Wilso n , Blackfoot, Idaho; C.G. Turner, Reno, Nevada; Mrs. Zella Kime, Inglewo od , Cal: Ormus Turner, Wells, Nevada; Mrs. Emily Johnson, Holden; Mrs. S ylv ia Jensen, Fillmore; Reese Turner, Carson City, Nev.; brothers and si ster s: Freeman Giles, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Jennie Sprague, Monroe, Sevie r Cou nty; Mrs. Meda Nelson, Logan; Jessie Giles, Ogden; Mrs. Emily McKee , Hold en; Mrs. Lena Southern, Grover A. Giles, Utah State Attorney Gener al bot h of Salt Lake City; Mrs. Lou Frampton, Fillmore; Mrs. Florence Br ough, S an Diego, Cal.; 36 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Holden LD S w ard chapel by Bishop James W. Stephenson. Burial was in the Holden cemetery under direction of the Olpin Mortuary. Biography obtained from the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Fillmore, Ut a h, Territorial Statehouse Museum.