Journal of Albert King Thurber

File — Box: 16, Volume: 1

Identifier: VI

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Albert King Thurber was born 7 April 1826, in Foster, Rhode Island. The early portion of his journal tells of his life as a farm boy and then as a combmaker. Two of the main events recorded in his journal are his trip West en route to the California goldfields in 1849 and his conversion to Mormonism in Salt Lake City in that same year. His conversion postponed his California trek until November when he and a number of others accompanied Amasa Lyman to investigate the goldfields. He married Thirza Berry soon after his return from California and together they began a life of pioneering in Utah County. Thurber participated in the brief Indian War of 1853. In 1862 their first daughter was born in Spanish Fork, where he remained as bishop until 1873 when he was called to help settle Sevier County because of his abilities in communication and negotiation with the Indians. He settled in Richfield in 1874. In 1888 he died in Ephraim, Sanpete County. Thurber's journal is followed by a "Geneological Record of Albert King Thurber, furnished by R. T. Thurber," "A Brief Biographical Sketch of Albert King Thurber," and "Notes by Charles Kelly" which praises Thurber as an explorer of the territory between Sevier Valley and the Colorado River--explorations that took place after the account in the journal.

Dates

1889-1971

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.