Life Sketch of Elizabeth Turner Wood

Written by Julia A. Kimball Wood, her daughter-in-law in 1922.

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Elizabeth Turner Wood

Elizabeth Turner, the daughter of William and Ann Turner was born in Chilvers, Colton War, Wickshire, England on September 5, 1829.

When a young girl in her teens, she heard the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints preach and she soon joined the Church. She was baptized by Elder William Bramell February 22, 1846.

Her sister Sarah, two years younger, was also baptized, and they soon got the spirit of gathering to the body of the church. These two girls decided to leave home and the land of their birth to gather with the Saints.

In the year of 1849, when arrangements were made for them to leave their homeland, they bid their father, mother, brother, and younger sister, farewell, and all that was near and dear to them for the gospel. They sailed aboard a sailing vessel and were seven weeks on the ocean. They landed at New Orleans, and here they went aboard a boat and sailed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. Now the girls were in a strange land and among strangers without money, but the way was opened up so they got work and decided to stay there and earn some money to bring them to the valley.

The following year, 1850, they came to the valley, arriving in Salt lake City that same year. They soon got good positions in good Latter Day Saint families.

Elizabeth, some time after arriving in Salt Lake City, met her future husband, Edward Wood, and they were married April 17, 1852. Through this happy union, four children were born to them; Edward William, who died at birth, Joseph Turner, who yet survives her, John Turner, who died at the age of four years. These three sons were born while living in Salt Lake City. Later they moved to South Cottonwood, on a farm. While living on this farm, a baby girl was born to them, her name was Elizabeth Ann turner Wood. She moved to Mendon, Cache Valley, with her husband and family in April 1860. Here at age 19, her beautiful young daughter died of Typhoid fever. This was a sad blow to Elizabeth.

She was an earnest worker in the ward. She was a teacher in the theological class for many years with the first Sunday school that was organized in Mendon Ward. She was an earnest worker in the Relief Society the rest of her life. She was in the first dramatic company of Mendon, and always encouraged home amusements.

She was a true and faithful Latter Day Saint. Her Husband died in April 18666. About two years later, she was married to Traugott Stumpf. She lived with him until she died October 13, 1895.

Julia Kimball Wood