turnerj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN YOUNG TURNER is one of the
most prosperous and industrious farmers of Douglas county. His farm
lies about three miles northeast from Waterville and displays in every
part, genuine thrift and care of detail. Mr. Turner came here in
early day, selected a good place and has since given careful and continuous
attention to the improvement of the same, which has resulted in making
it one of the fine and valuable farms of central Washington.
John Y. Turner was born in Howard county,
Missouri, on October 7, 1855, the son of Ephraim and Angeline R. Turner,
natives of Missouri. When our subject was eleven years of age, he
accompanied his parents across the plains with ox teams to Linn county,
Oregon, where the father secured a donation claim. John Y. completed his
education and lived with his father until 1882. It that year, he
moved to Kittitas county, settling near Ellensburg. It was 1888,
that he came to Douglas county and took a pre-emption where he now lives.
Later he added a quarter section by purchase, and the farm now consists
of one half section and is all under cultivation. Among the improvements,
we may mention a fine orchard, a fine modern residence built of brick,
plenty of outbuildings, three wells of water and so forth.
Mr. Turner does diversified farming, raising
stock and also gives much attention to raising poultry, of which latter
he has six hundred thoroughbred white leghorns.
Mr. Turner has the following brothers and
sisters, Sterling P., James W., Doynes, Dorson, George C., Ira M. K., Charles
D., Mrs. Annie Allison, Mrs. Sarah J. Hulbart, and Mrs. Millie V. Kinsey.
On November 13, 1878, in Linn county, Oregon,
Mr. Turner married Miss Melissa, daughter of John W. and Mary A. (Hendricks)
Richardson, natives of Illinois and Kentucky, respectively, and now residing
in Oregon. Mrs. Turner was born in Linn county, Oregon, on May 22,
1860, and has two brothers and two sisters, named as follows, Willis, Trumon,
Mrs. Myra Curl, and Mrs. Melvina Brener. To Mr. and Mrs. Turner,
the following children have been born: Mary A., in Linn county, Oregon,
May 13, 1879; Norma M., in Polk county, Oregon, March 13, 1882; Ethel L.,
in Douglas county, Washington, January 6, 1898. They also have adopted
one child, Jay R. Powell, who was born in Waterville, February 12, 1891.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner are staunch members of
the Christian church at Waterville and are among the leading people of
this part of the county.
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