Item Detail
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Turner, Susan Morris Buckwalter
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1844-1935
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MSS SC 1735
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Biography
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Susan Morris Buckwalter Turner was born in Newbury, England on May 19, 1844 to Richard Morris and Elisabeth Alexander. Susan was the eighth child of nine, and because her family was poor, she had to work as a young child. The family was converted after they met President John Taylor and Elder Williams, and in 1856, she, her parents, and three siblings sailed to New York. Not long after, Susan and part of her family traveled west. After arriving in Salt Lake City, Susan worked in the fields and gleaned wheat. Susan left her family when about nineteen years old to work for one of Brigham Young's wives, for whom she made candles. She married Edwin Buckwalter on July 23, 1863, and they had three children. Their first home was built in American Fork, and they were one of the first in the city to acquire a stove. After taking sick, Edwin died in 1870, leaving Susan with three young children. She lived with her family for a short time before buying a lot in town and moving a log cabin there. In 1875, she married Alfred Turner, and they had two children. She died December 15, 1935.
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This is an eight-page biography written by Helen Taylor Allison, Susan's great grandchild. It briefly describes the life of Susan Turner and also records various events and stories, such as when Indians attacked them while crossing the plains and when her brother Richard was healed after a blessing. Following the biographical section are three pages entitled 'Incidents in the Life of Susan Turner.' There, Susan's daughter Ellen Susan Buckwalter Taylor relates various experiences she had with her mother at home. Susan frequently went buggy riding, visited friends, and quilted. Ellen also describes her mother as being a good cook who made delicious meals and cakes. As many of the other women did at the time, she made soap and sewed by hand. She was 'not afraid of anything,' and Ellen thereafter relates various experiences in which her mother showed incredible bravery.
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1820-1915