Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-05-10
Hon j. ". Turner.

biography Oh tHe lalc L dtIlcT Turner,
rs he was called by his many friends
and admirers:
Mr.. j. W. Turner was born in western
Oneida county, n. Y. on the 23d day of
February, 1900. His fathers family, in
1912, moved to German Flats, Henniker
county, N. Y, remaining there until he
was eighteen years old. From the age
OF twelve to seventeen he wss sn the
employ of Aaron Hackley, at that time
prominent merchant of IIcrkimer.
For two years after he was in the EN-
pioy of an elder brother, Joseph Turner,
who succeeded Mr. Hackley. In 1918,
he moved with his fathers family to
Serbia, Oswego county, N. Y, and en-
gagged with his father and brother Jo-
seph in the erection of mills. From
this time to 1916, he continued in Oswc-
go county, much of the time in public
business, a portion of the time was
deputy collector of the port of Oswego
under the late Hon. George II. McWhor-
ter, who was collector during the adj
ministrations of jackson, Van Buren,
Tyler and Polk. During this time he
became acquainted with many of the
les,ding men of that period; but few of
whom are now left, and whose memo
rics hc has ever cherished with undated
interest and regard In 1916 he moved
with his family to De Witte, Clinton
county, Michigan, and engaged in the
milling and mercantile business. In
1851 he was elected representative from
Saginaw county in the general aSscm-
lily of Michig;m> He afterwad was
sheriff of Saginaw county, with resi-
dence at Saginaw City.
In the year 1853 he became resident
of Fermillion, Clay county and citi-
zen of Dakota and at once tooka promi-
neat part in all matters relating to the
development of the country and the
welfare of the people. Though a life
long democrat of the old school he was
chosen Il member of the territorial
council from Clay in 1865 and during
the session of the legislature proved to
be one of its ablcst members, perform
ing the principal labors of the Judiciary
committee and taking an active inter
est in educational legislation. AS de
batter he was the peer of any member
of the legislature chosen to that or anv
subsequent assembly, possessing Il fund
of valuable information on Il wide
range of subjects. He was returnel by
his constituents to succeeding legisla-
lures, for eleven Years, and during his
long legislative career was the recog-
nized leader of his party and always
carried Il potent influence with the op-
position. Advancing years, while they
gradually diminished the vigor of his
body, seemed TO Increase the clearness
and power of his mind. After IL vaca-
ton of one session he WAS chosen a
member of the legislative house from
Turner county in 1876 An effort to
make him speaker of that body by
unanimous consent came near being
successful and was only defeated
through difficulties growing out Of a
number of contests among republican
members which rendered it necessary
to effect Il party organization. In con-
ncction with legislative duties, Mr.
Turner served the people from 1859 to
1873 as superintendent of public in.
struction discharging the functions OF
that office with decided ability and lay.
ing the fouddation for our present cx.
ccllent common school system.
Mr.. Turner was always a busy man
He was constantly engaged in active
labor and the promotion of importan,
enterprises. AS early as 1868. In com
pany with james McHenry, he ascend
the Verlnillion valley some thirty miles
where he erecthd the first flour mill il
Dakota at point since known as
Bloomingdale. Two years later he SUI
perntcnded the erecting of the pioneer
Touring mills at Lodi, built by Fisher
& Rudd and in the spring of 1871 h,
made another and final advance twent,
miles further north where he founded
the village of Turner in the count,
which had been named in his honor
and here he performed his closing la
bors as Il pioneer mill builder, ant
passed the remainder of his eventfu
and active life.
Mr.. Turner was man of positive ant
uncompromising political convictions
He grew up with many of the promi
nent men of the first half of the presen
century, shared their companionshil
and participated with them in many ar
exciting campaign. He was Il gentle
man of the "old school," given to sin
cere hospitality, always affable ant
courteous, and generous to fault
Few men in Dakota have performed 81
large share of the work of develop
lnent or rendered more valuable aid il
proving its agricultural worth. In al
stations, whether as a servant of tn
people, or following his chosen pur
suits, he never failed to perform wei
his part, and in the .fnllness of year
was gathered to his fathers, leaving tn
world better for his having lived, ant
bequeathing to his kindred and friend
the legacy of an honorable and usefu
career.
Peter Nessen came to America iiv
years ago from Denmark, and was las
heard from in Richburg, Wisconsin
from which point he wrote his parent:
Any one knowing his whereabouts, O
if he is living or not, will confer a f;
vor by addressing his father, Chas. Nes
sen, Crookston, MINI. Minnesota, Dt
kota and Wisconsin papers will do
charitable act which will be thankful
received, by copying this notice.