Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-21
MIR. w. A. TURNER DEAD.
A Sketch of the Life of the Oldest Wheel
ing .Jeweler.

At twenty minutes of eight o'clock yes
terday morning Mr.. w. 4. Turner, long
associated with the retail iewelry business
of Wheeling, and citizen universally re
spected and esteemed, died, at the resi-
dence of William Stamm, on the National
road, four miles east of the city.
Mr.. Turner was born on Christmas day,
1916, in Canada and would have completed
his seventy-ffth year had he lived until
Thursday next The family is an old Eng
lish one, they having emigrated 10 Amer
lea in 1880, landing at Plymouth, Mass,
whence descendants Of the emigrants re-
moved to Canada, and where the subject
of this sketch was born. Deceased came 10
The United States with his parents, at
an early age, the family residing in New
York for time. Mr.. Turner received
good academic education, and at the age OF
sixteen was apprenticed 10 the watch
making trade which, in connection with
the general jewelry business, he continued
To fellow during his active business career.
In August, 1Si7, deceased came 10 Wheel
ing. and in November, lS49, he embarked
in business in his chosen trade, working
first at the bench in the established iewelry
stores. and later conducting business on
his own account, first on Main street near
the corner of what is known as Market
allev. in partnership with O. A. Fairchild,
later under the Mcclure House. and
later still in the cOmmodious building,
erected under MS supervision, on
Market street, just north OF the REGISTER
office. In 1919 a partnership was formed
with Mr.. |. G.. Dillon, the firm name
being Turner & Dillon, and the firm at
once took high place in the local trade
Later Mr.. Turner retired from active bus
mess, selling out TO Mr.. Dillon, who still
conducts the business. Mr.. Turner ceased
his connectiOnwith the business about 1850,
after an active business career extending
over nearly half century, and since that
time has lived in retirement, greatly es-
teerned by all who knew him.
Mr. Turner was married December 2i,
1850. to Miss Amelia Is Shalmerdine, of
this city, who died about twelve or thlr-
teen years ago. The disease OF which
| Mr.. Turner died was species oil
malaria, which was contracted while de-
ceased was on visit TO the residence oil "a
relative named Cook, at Toronto, Canada,
about two months ago. Mr. Turner thought
| little of the malady for time, but 1t was
more serious than was suspected, and de-
spite medical attention, proved fatal.
Mr.. Turner left no children, but there IS
an adopted son, Arthur Turner, now a
resident of Cheyenne, concerning whom
there is a somewhat romantic story. Dur
ing the cholera epidemic Of ls52, family
passing up the river on a asteamercontracted
| the disease, and both father and mother
died. leaving two little children, boy and
girl. Mr.. Turner adopted the boy, and
he grew up TO mans estate under his care.
/ Going west some ten years or more ago,
the young man settled in Kansas City. and
there married the daughter Of W. a. Turn
er. wealthy citizen who was no relative
of Mr.. w. A. Turner, of this city, notwtth-
standing the similarity in name. From
Kansas City the son went further west,
and is now in Cheyenne or in that vicinity.
A brother of the deceased resides in Tide
out, Pa, and he arrived last evening. MIR.
Turner was Il member Of Ohio Lodge No.
!, A. f. and A. NJ, and the funeral will be
under the auspices of the Masonic order.