| Johann Theodore Brandley | |
|---|---|
Johann Theodore Brandley |
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| Born | December 7, 1851 Horgen, Zürich canton, Switzerland |
| Died | May 6, 1928 (aged 76) |
| Occupation | Missionary, colonizer, LDS Church leader, and mayor of both Richfield, Utah, United States, and Stirling, Alberta, Canada |
Johann Theodore Brandley[1] (December 7, 1851 – May 6, 1928) was a Mormon missionary and colonizer of Stirling, Alberta, Canada.
Brandley was born 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 Eliza 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 siding 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 (40,000 m2); 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 (10,000 m2), 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 polygamy and had four wives, as was common for members of the LDS Church at the time. He died in Stirling and was buried in Richfield, Utah.