The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-10-10
WHOLE NO. $50

/
in demand just at present. AS young
Turner grew older, he was intrusted with
the care of wisely-selected assortment Cf
farm stock, thus acquiring the taste for
stock breeding which he has turned to such
excellent advantage during more recent
years. When but 10 years of age he bought
| few sheep with money earned by his own
small hands, selling the wool therefrom at
the encouraging wartime price of one dollar
per pound.
1--WE were all most wretchedly poor IN
those days." Mr.. Turner said recently. his
line eyes growing moist AS memory went
back to bOyhood. II was one of ten chill
dren, and our clothing was confined strictly
to the limits of what our financial circum-
stances would warrant. Such thing as
shoes or stockings in summer were unknown
to either my sisters or myself; and we could
not afford to wear iannels of any kind i'm
winter. l never owned an Overcoat until |
had grown up and earned with my own
hands the money with which to purchase it.
Alb, yes! those were most exceedingly
practical farming days for all of us''
When 10 years of age young James was
sent for one year to the Oneida Conference
Seminary at CazenOvia, n. Y. which was
the extent of the collegiate advantages he
was eyer destined to enjoy. Upon his
return he entered the employ of Daniel l..
Case-still resident of Lansing--as clerk
in general store. AS is customary i'm such
establishments, the stock comprised every
thing from silks and satins to salt pork and
washtubs. This service, Mr.. Turner
declares was the best business schooling
that he ever received. 1t taught him a
great deal about the relative values of a
wide variety of articles. After two years of
this life he entered the land Office of the
jackson, Lansing 81 Saginaw Railway Com
pany, his father at that time being land
commissioner for the road. Young Turner
was placed in charge of the field notes and
surveys. The elder Turner was building
both the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw and
the Ionia IL Lansing railroads. and the son
was given charge Of the construction of
the latter.
But there came dark day for the Turner
family-as dark days come to most in the
world. When James was 10 years old the
father fell i'll and died, leaving an estate the
total value of which was less than $500.
The widowed mother was left with large
family on her hands and her eldest son her
only support. His only brother met with
tragic death, being killed when 13 years of
age by runaway team. About this time,
James was appointed cashier and paymaster
of the lonia & Lansing railroad which
responsible position he retained until the
construction was completed and the line
| consolidated into what is now known as the
Detroit, Lansing d Northern railway. Mr.
Turner then retired from railrOading and
engaged In general land business, in part
nership with Dwight S. Smith, now prom
inent citizen of Jackson. The firm was
known as Turner, Smith & Co. Mr.. Smith
had charge Of the Office, while Mr.. Turner
shouldered pack and tramped through the
northern wilderness as landlOoker and
surveyor. His home was in the great
forests. summer and winter, and here he
doubtless acquired the breadth of character
and purpose which have ever since been
among his most striking characteristics.
lie became familiar with every section of
that vast portion Of the Lower Peninsula of
| Michigan which lies north of the Sagnaws,
between lakes Huron and Michigan. and the
| Upper Peninsula from st. Ignace and Sault
| Ste Marie to the Wisconsin line.
In 1876, Mr. Turner was married to Miss
Sophia Porter Scott. daughter of one of the
most prominent and influential lawyers of
| Chicago.
| This" Mr.. Turner is wont to say, twas
the most important event of life. L have
been happy man ever since that eventful
day. 10 my wife's influence and encOur-
agement l owe large measure of what
success may have achieved."'
The well-mated couple are lovers still. .and
one does not need to be long in their society
to discover that they will SO remain to the
end. Mrs. Turner is the constant cOnpan-
ion of. her husband during the arduous
labors connected with the present campaign,
cheering and sustaining him with her COM
| forting presence and influence. Two fine
lads, ten and twelve years of age, have
resulted from this union of hearts and
hands, and the Turner home in Lansing Is
an ideal paradise OF domestic happiness and
love.
In 1874, Mr.. Turner organized the Chi
/ cagO Il Northeastern Railroad Company and
built the line from Lansing to Flint. This
Is now q portion Of the main line of the Chi
cago K Grand Trunk railroad. lie served
as president and general superintendent OF
the line till September, 1879.
The recent farming operations Of Mr..
Turner on a large scale were inaugurated
by the purchase of a part of what Is now
widely known as Springdale farm, in 1874.
The acreage was gradually increased until
1t embraced nearly 1000 acres. When this
large tract OF land was bought 1t was solid
woodland. 1t Is now entirely cleared and
under high cultivation, being all improved.
| LII Is Wlucly knOWH as one Oh Tile IllOSJ eN-
tensive stock farms I'm Michigan. 1t embOd-
les dairy of over 800 mich cows as well as
several hundred head of registered Short
Horns and Herefords. Clydesdale horses,
standard bred trotting horses. Shetland
ponies and Shropshire sheep are other stock
attractions Of Springdale farm. The horses
are over 200 and the sheep 500 or 600 in
number. From its earliest inception Mr..
Turner has given this great stock farm his
daily care and attention. The farm build
ings are much the most extensive and COM
plete to be found In Michigan. They are
plain, and comparatively inexpensive. but
are models OF convenience. An interesting
feature OF Mr.. Turner's economic stock farm
ing Is his corn ensilage, of which, over 3, 00O
tons are annually fed to horses, cattle and
sheep. He knows every animal on the farm,
as well as how IL is bred. As q rule, only
men with families are employed, and each is
provided with comfortable honse, garden
and COW. Every employee of the farm has
for the past fifteen years been paid his wages
In full every Saturday night. Can any mar
be more of friend 10 his employees than J,
shown by this record? tr
| Mr. Turner IL aIeO preeislent of the Mich