Dates

• Existence: 1826 - 1888

Biographical History

Albert King Thurber (1826-1888) was a Forty-niner, convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a missionary in England, polygamist, bishop of Spanish Fork, president of Sevier Stake, and Native American negotiator.

Albert King Thurber was born to Daniel and Rebecca Hill Thurber of Foster, Rhode Island on April 7, 1926. As a young man, he learned the combmaking trade and opened his own shop, then sold his business to join the California gold rush at the age of 23. On the way to California, he stopped in Salt Lake City and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints six weeks later. After an unprofitable experience in California, he returned to Salt Lake and married Thirza Melvina Berry in February 1851, establishing a homestead in Spanish Fork the same year; they bore eleven children. Albert served in the local militia during the Walker Indian War of 1853. Ten years later, he was called as bishop of the Spanish Fork Ward, served as local mayor and Utah County representative in the Territorial Legislature, and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to England from 1865-1867. Following his return, he took Agnes Brockbank as a plural wife, and they had five children together (three survived).

In 1874, Bishop Thurber was released and requested by Brigham Young to move to Sevier County to serve as a liaison and advisor to Native Americans, where he also became first counselor to Joseph A. Young. He was director of the Richfield United Order, negotiated with Indians, explored southeastern Utah, and was called as Sevier Stake President in 1887. Thurber died in Ephraim, Utah, on March 21, 1888.

Citation:

Another kind of gold, 2011, ©2011: t.p. (Albert King Thurber) p. iv (Albert King Thurber; April 7, 1826-March 21, 1888) p. 1 (b. in Rhode Island in Foster Township) p. 477 (b. Foster, Providence, Rhode Island; d. 21 Mar 1888 in Ephriam, Sanpete, Utah) p. v (Spanish Fork beginnings; Military officer in Utah War; Black Hawk War, 1865-1868) p. vi (Territorial legislator; City mayor and Utah County selectman; constructing the Transcontinental Railroad; explorer of Sevier County; Richfield United Order)

Albert King Thurber family papers [MSS 8045], circa 1826-2011 (Sevier Citizen clipping: born April 7, 1960, Foster, Rhode Island, parents Danial and Rebecca Hill Thurber; trained as combmaker, opened own shop, sold to join gold rush; traveled to Salt Lake, converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[1849]; continued to California, not much money, returned to SLC; married Thirza Melvina Berry February 1851, homestead in Spanish Fork, 11 children; local militia, Walker Indian War, 1853; bishop, Spanish Fork, 1863; mayor, Utah county rep. in Territ. Legis.; mission to England, 1865-1867; asked to move to Sevier County by B. Young, called as first counselor to Joseph Young 1874; called as Stake President, 1887; died in Ephraim, Utah, March 21, 1888).

Albert King Thurber family papers [MSS 8045], circa 1826-2011(case file bio sketch: married Agnes Brockbank 1867, 5 children; called to Sevier County as Native American liaison and advisor; director, Richfield United Order; Indain negotiator, Utah explorer)

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