Johann Theodore Brandley-missionary, family
man, business man, colonizer, civic leader and
church leader.

Theodore was born of humble but highly re-
spected parents in the small, beautiful city Stofa,
Zurich, Switzerland on December 7, 1851. He was
the son of Hans Heinrich Brandley and Anna Meier.

Theodore was baptized a member of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Carl G.
Maeser on August 1, 1868.

He attended public school and apprenticed in the
baker trade and worked in this profession until com-
ing to America.

During his life he served on five missions:
1. Swiss and German mission in 1869.
2. Swiss and Gerrnan mission in 1876.
3. Northern States and Manitoba, Canada mission 1884.
4. Swiss and German mission 1888.
5. A colonization mission to Stirling, Alberta, N.W.T." 1899.

Theodore married Marie Elizabeth Nagely July
10, 1872, soon after the arrival of both families to
America. They moved to Richfield, Utah. Here he
received his second mission call. To his missionary
calls his answer was always, "I'll go."

In 1882, he married Margaret Keeler. They made
their home in Richfield where Theodore was active in
civic and Church affairs. He had been a delegate to
the Utah State Constitutional Convention where he
helped write the constitution of Utah.

At the time he was called to colonize to Canada,
he was manager of the Richfield Co-op. He had just
opened a furniture store, was Mayor, Bishop and
Patriarch.

His wife, Marie, had died in 1892, and Margaret,
who was not at all well, felt she could not take the
hardships of pioneer life. Thus, it was decided she
and her family would remain, at least for a while, in
Richfield. Arrangements were made for their care.

After selling his business, Theodore left
Richfield on April 29, 1899, for Stirling, accom-
panied by his sons Theodore, Henry, Joseph and
Albert, and his daughter, Anna. Eliza Zaugg, who
had been caring for the family for the past four years,
also accompanied them. Her brother, Paul, and 21
others made up the emigration party. 'l'hey travelled
by rail, and on May 5, 1899, they arrived at the
Stirling siding. The next day, they went to the town-
site and started the task of laying out a new town.

A few days after their arrival, Theodore opened a
small store in one corner of their tent and soon after, a
post office. The Church then built them a small, two-
roomed house for $165.

The Church had single men as well as families
from Utah and Idaho to assist in the work on the
canal. They began to arrive by train and overland. It
was Theodore's responsibility to meet the train every
night, extend a welcome to all, then provide a place
to sleep and breakfast for all new emigrants. At
times, there were as many as 25 men who arrived at
the same time.

Their new home was often filled with incoming
families, railway officials and Church officials. It
was his new wife, Eliza, who attended to the needs of
all.

From the Norma Wooley biography we read how
well this was carried out.

"We arrived in Stirling in the middle of June
1899, with the rain pouring in torrents about us, but
Brother Brandley was there with a covered democrat
wagon to meet us when we arrived at the station. He
invited the whole bunch to come and stay at his home
until the menfolk were able to get the tents erected.
Imagine having nine people come to your home
sleep and eat for several days. They treated us royally
and naturally a strong bond of friendship and affec-
tion arose between mother and Sister Brandley."

Along with these many responsibilities, Theo-
dore was bishop of the Ward, sub-contractor for a
section of the canal and when the canal was com-
pleted, he contracted to build a 12 mile section of the
railroad running west.

In 1902, he was made a counselor to Heber S.
Allen, President of the Alberta Stake. In August of
1903, the stake was divided into the Alberta Stake
and the Taylor Stake. Heber S. Allan was made the
president of the Taylor Stake with Theodore
Brandley and J. Williams Knight as counselors, a
position Theodore held until 1920, when he was
released because of ill health.

In the fall of 1903, Theodore built a new five
bedroom home located on his farm just east of town.
He and Eliza were blessed with five children. Their
first daughter, Eliza, died at birth. Other children
were Alma, Theodora. Noel and Delight.

Theodore Brandley writes in his journal: My
wife, Eliza Zaugg Brandley, had a very trying time in
taking care of our family and so many strangers, but
managed matters in a very satisfactory way, showing
great faith, courage and endurance.

Johann Theodore Brandley has gone, but evi-
dence of his labour and planning are still with us. The
Church he loved continues to grow and a new chapel
will be erected this year. The home he built still
stands, a fine memento to great workmanship. The
fields he farmed are still being farmed and produce
abundantly. We who live here and enjoy the good
things of life thank him and others for the sacrifices
they made.

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