Esther Turley
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Esther was the second child of Clara Ann Tolton and Isaac Turley. Her parents were living the law of polygamy. Esther's Mother, Clara Ann, was the second wife. Esther does not remember much about living in Beaver, except in the winter hearing the wind whistle around the corners of her Grandfather Tolton's 2-story red brick house.
When Esther was 6 years old, her father was called on a colonization mission to St. Joseph, Arizona (Allen's Camp near Sunset). November 1887, the group left for Arizona. Clara Ann was driving th tem pulling the buggy wagon with the children. Esther was to sit by her Mother and take care of baby sister, Ada Mae 5 1/2 mo., who was ill. While the wagons were going down a very steep hill of the Buckskin Mountains, baby Ada Mae died in Esther's arms. The wagons could not stop until they reached the bottom of the mountain. (Esther tells of the sadness of the experience in Clara Ann Tolton's story. Esther remembers the "hair raising" experience on the ferry crossing the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry, arrived at Sunset Camp, January 1, 1878, and eating New Years dinner around the big United Order table. Esther said, "I can remember taking my little bucket to the commissary to get our milk. We had lots of innocent fun - gathering short boards, to make play houses, etc. Mine leaned against the house." Esther was ten years old when the family left the United Order and moved to Snowflake. Here Esther attended school, went to Mutual, joined the ward choir at the age of 12, and worked and played. In order for her father to continue living the law of Polygamy the family had to move to Old Mexico where a colony was gathering. They left May 3, 1886, crossing the swollen Black River, having scares from Chief Geronimo and his apache Indians. They traveled through Pima and Central Arizona and arrived at String Town (now Quatemoc, Mexico) May 27th. Thirty families were camped there during the summer while land was surveyed to establish Col. Juarez. Esther was 15 years old when she met David McClellan at a big "Young Folks Party" held in a tent home at String town. It was love at first sight for David. They were married two years later on March 13, 1888. Had the wedding dance the next night and then left for the Manti Temple, by team and wagon. They were sealed July 5th. Returned to Col. Juarez December 5th in a wagon that had no springs on the seat or in the wagon, so the riding was plenty rough. Their first child was born six weeks later. Dave had bought a lot and planted trees and grapes, before marriage, however they had little else to start married life. An adobe dwelling was started but the wagon box served as their bedroom ad their stove and table were under a shed. The adobe house served as their home a number of years. Things came hard for them but blessings were showered also. April 1904, David was called on a mission to the States. Esther and her seven children at home, worked hard. They made grape juice, and cheese which they sold to the Mexican soldiers to support their Missionary and support themselves. In 1910, the family decided to move to the state of Sonora where he could work. At Pearson, Esther and the smaller children moved to Col. Morelos to be nearer to a doctor and the children could go to school. Life was terribly hard for Esther in Morelos, with David working away. Probably due to overwork and stress, Esther was troubled with indigestion and the Dr. had her eat unleavened crackers. By a special process Esther made her own, which was a real accomplishment. Another baby girl (no. 12) was delivered May 1912. August was the Exodus from Mexico. The family lived in Tent City at Douglas, Arizona for two months. The family moved to Tucson where David found work-clearing land for shares. Hazel (the eleventh child) was very ill and the Bishop advised that Esther take her to the Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. The following months were almost more than Esther could bear. The Lord came to her rescue in many ways - friends, money and everything. Esther was able to return in time for a merry Christmas. They did not have much more than a decorated mesquite tree with cotton used for snow and the love and warmth of the family. They moved from Tucson back to Douglas and then the Chandler. They were living in a big tent, which is difficult with the heat and desert dust storms. They learned of a 12' x 18' frame building for sale, but they had no money and David was too ill to work. Esther and the children chopped mesquite tress and cut them into firewood to sell. The building served them very well. Esther was an extremely frugal women, and did all she could to help her husband provide for the big family. While in Mexico, she made and sold bread, cheese, boys suits, men's work clothing (jumpers and overalls). She did dressmaking, nursing, and dried and canned fruit to sale. In Chandler, during the 1920's, she made and sold butter, raised and sold blackberries shipped hundreds of turkeys to the markets in Los Angeles. While living in Chandler, Esther was a Genealogical Visiting Teacher for yours. Was 2nd counselor in the Relief Society while still serving as a Primary counselor. She did free nursing in homes as part of her Relief Society assignments. She was called to be the third Relief Society President for Chandler Ward, serving three years. The frame chapel set fire and burned to the ground. The Relief Society sisters topped maise, and picked cotton by hand, made and sold quilts, and other work to raise funds for the new chapel. After 10 years on the farm, they moved to Mesa where they built a small home and lived for the rest of their lives. They both spent a great deal of time in Genealogical and Temple Work. Esther was very faithful performing over a thousand ordinances for women and she sponsored the Men's work for the Couples. Esther, even though having exceptionally large hands for women, made exquisite items in crocheting, knitting, tatting, needlepoint, embroidering, quilts, and all kinds of handy work. She had taken painting lesson in Mexico and ceramics in Utah. She was well known as a good cook, especilaly taken painting lesson in Mexico and ceramics in Utah. She was well known as a good cook, especially in making bread, cakes, pies, butter, canning fruit, meat, pickles, and growing lots of garden produce. Esther was a widow for 10 years. She lived to be 92 1/2 years of age, but had poor health the last 20 years. She passed away on July 10, 1963 in Mesa, Arizona, leaving 266 descendants. Esther is buried in Mesa. taken from "A Life Sketch of Esther Turley McClellan"
by Hazel McClellan B. Mortensen compiled by Alice Jo Cluff Ellsworth: 1999 |