Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-05-26
FUNERAL OF J. c. TURNER.

The funeral OF j. c. Turner who
died last Tuesday. took place at 10
o'clock this morning at the Presby-
terian church. The Elks turned out
iN "A body. with number of the mem
h0rs Of the G A. r.. and went to meet
the hearse which brought the body OF
the deceased from his home in Ami
mas valley With solemn music. they
accompanied the funeral procession
people had assembled. The casket
covered with beautiful flowers. was
trnderly borne down the aisle the
pnll bearers being Judge Houx. Mes
srs / kruschkc w. A. Parry. w. C
Chapman. William Wickline and
Flank Rivers The family OF the de
rt ased occupied the front of the
Ic'ks aud the @ A. r filling the entire
oc1tcr The church and reading room
wore crowded with people. The ser
Vices began with prayer by the Rev
Mr. Ferguson, who dwelt very i'm
pr 'ssiycly on the merits of the de
0rssed man Then followed the
hvmn. Nearer My COD. to Thee
sung by a 1uartette of mixed voices
consisting of Or. McCanna. Mrs. Mae
Morgan Miss Copeland and Mr.
Clayton Perkins The organist was
Prof York After the first hymn
Nr Ferguson read several appropri
p'e Scripture selections, commencing
Ftl I m
The hymn. Abide with Me- was
then sung with tender pathos. after
which Mr. Ferguson gave brief his
tory Of Mr. Turner's life. and a eulo
yv or his merits Mr. Turner was
born in the state of Connecticut 60
wears ago. aud was educated at that
plnce When he was %, came to Col
Dndo, and settled in Denver, where
ho remained for three years, until
che commencement of the war. Hs
then enlisted as private, serving
hrst for three years. and then for
ripe months more. after which he
WAS mustered out In 1875 he came
to live In the place which Is now Du
range He married first Miss Sevens
and to them were born nine children
ieht sons and one daughter. all OF
whom with the exception OF the wife
aud one son survive him. His sec
ond marriage was to Miss Fannie
Cavanaugh OF this city. who. with
one son hy this marriage, lives to
mourn his decease.
Mr. Turner was a member Of the
order OF Elts. the @. A. r.. the Ma
-ons and the Society of Pioneers He
was beloved and honored by all who
know him being Just and firm In the
pursuit OF duty, but tender and kind
towards all men. He was one OF our
henefnctors. said Mr.. Ferguson, one
of those men who came to Colorado
when no fruit grew in these valleys.
when the trees that have built our
houses still remained ,Wcut. when the
coal that warns our homes had not
zen dug frofm It's native hills. and
tie gold which has brought wealth
tp 30 many OF our citizens. was still
hidden In its mines. He helped to
hiild mp our town and country ana
we should look upon him and his
companion pioneers as our pehelac-
tors. the men who made our pleasant
we OF today possible. Mr.. Ferguson
followed this brief history with few
moral lessons taken from the life OF
the beloved citizen who has passed
b ,fore us and exhorted all to live by
the example which he had set After
the closing hymn. the people hled
down to the front OF the church to
tnke last look at the kindly face,
now still In death. ere 1t was borne
TO the grave.
At Mr. Turner's request. he was
Inferred In the old cemetery In AMI
mas CITY The Elks' service at the
grave was very impressive, and the
large crowd that followed the body
to it's last resting place, Joined the
bereaved family in heartfelt grief over
the departure OF one so highly hon