Theodore Brandley
Encyclopedia
Johann Theodore Brandley (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
. 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
.
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. 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 (40,468.6 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 (10,117.2 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.
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.
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
and colonizer of Stirling
Stirling, Alberta
Stirling is a village in the County of Warner No. 5, Alberta, Canada. The village is located on Highway 4, approximately southeast of Lethbridge and northwest of the United States-Canada border....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Brandley was born in Horgen
Horgen
Horgen is a village in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.It is one of the larger towns along the south bank of the Lake of Zurich.- History :Horgen is also the type-site of Switzerland's middle Neolithic archaeological culture...
, Zürich canton, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. A convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Brandley was one of the first LDS Church missionaries
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
called to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from his former home in Richfield
Richfield, Utah
Richfield is a city in and the county seat of Sevier County, Utah, in the United States, and is the largest city in southern-central Utah. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,551. It lies in the Mormon Corridor, just off of Interstate 70 about 40 miles east of its junction with...
, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. Brandley was asked by the LDS Church to help colonize Stirling, Alberta
Stirling, Alberta
Stirling is a village in the County of Warner No. 5, Alberta, Canada. The village is located on Highway 4, approximately southeast of Lethbridge and northwest of the United States-Canada border....
. He also served three missions for the LDS Church to the Swiss and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Missions
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church and one to the northern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
In order to move to Canada, Brandley resigned from his positions as the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Richfield and as the LDS Church bishop and patriarch of Richfield; he also sold his furniture store. 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.
Charles Ora Card
Charles Ora Card was the founder of the town of Cardston, Alberta, the first Mormon settlement in Canada. He has been referred to as "Canada's Brigham Young"....
from Cardston
Cardston, Alberta
-Demographics:The population of the Town of Cardston according to its 2007 municipal census is 3,578.In 2006, it had a population of 3,452 living in 1,234 dwellings, a 0.7% decrease from 2001...
. 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 (40,468.6 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 (10,117.2 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.
Brandley practiced polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
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.