Theodore Brandley

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'Johann Theodore Brandley'

Johann Theodore Brandley
Born December 7, 1851
Horgen, Zürich canton, Switzerland
Occupation Missionary, colonizer, LDS Church leader, and mayor of both Richfield, Utah, and Stirling, Alberta

Johann Theodore Brandley[1] (December 7, 1851 – May 6, 1928) was a Mormon missionary and colonizer of Stirling, Alberta, Canada.

Brandley was born in in Horgen, Zürich canton, Switzerland. A convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Brandley was one of the first LDS Church missionaries called to Canada from his former home in Richfield, Utah Territory. Brandley was asked by the LDS Church to help colonize Stirling, Alberta.[1] He also served three missions for the LDS Church to the Swiss and German Missions of the church and one to the northern United States and Manitoba.[1]

In order to move to Canada, Brandley resigned from his positions as the mayor of Richfield and as the LDS Church bishop and patriarch of Richfield; he also sold his furniture store.[1] With him on his trip to Canada were his wife Elizia Zaugg, his children Henry, Joseph, Albert, Theodore Jr., and his only daughter Anna, as well some other pioneers from Utah. They arrived at Stirling railway station on May 5, 1899. When they arrived they were met by Charles Ora Card from Cardston. The next day, Card had helped them inspect the new town site of Stirling.

The town was made up of one square mile, or 640 acres (2.6 km²). It was then divided into lots of 10 acres; each had a surveyed road around the entire area with a lane running north and south dividing it into two parcels. The parcels were then again divided, east and west, making four lots, each 2.5 acres, giving the residents room for them to build their homes, barns and shelters for animals, as well room for a large garden. The town site was patterned after the Plat of Zion, which Stirling still follows as of today and today is recognized as the most well-preserved Canadian example of the Plat of Zion. For this reason, Stirling is a National Historic Site of Canada.[2]

Brandley practiced plural marriage and had four wives. He died in Stirling and was buried in Richfield, Utah.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Biography of Theodore Brandley, waltonfeed.com, accessed 2008-02-26.
  2. ^ Parks Canada Village of Stirling National Historic Site of Canada, Parks Canada, accessed 2008-02-26.
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