Turner, John W; 1905 Bio, Routt County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/turnerjw.txt --------------------------------------- Donated April 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- John W. Turner Born and reared in North Carolina, and approaching the dawn of his manhood in the time of the Civil war, when the whole section of his nativity was prostrate and wasted by the awful contest, John W. Turner entered upon the stage of personal responsibility and activity under very unfavorable auspices, and found the shadow of that destiny over him for many years afterward. But although thus handicapped at the beginning of his career, his native force has enabled him to triumph over all difficulties and has carried him forward in a steady current of progress, even though he has suffered reverses at times and has found his way impeded by difficulties of weight and moment. His life began along the picturesque Yadkin river in Yadkin county, of the Old North state, on August 13, 1843, and owing to the circumstances of the family and the state of the country around him his educational advantages were few and meager. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty, losing his mother by death in 1853, when he was ten years old, and his father in 1864, when he was just twenty-one. A few months prior to that sad event he left the sunny South for the western frontier, and in that land of promise and opportunity he has since had his home. By the Platte route he freighted in and out of Denver, this state, for one year, then turned his attention to farming and the grocery trade in Arkansas, in which he was engaged in that state until 1878. In that year he went to Texas and became a factor in the great cattle industry of that section, remaining until 1882, when he returned to Arkansas and in the northwestern part of the state occupied himself in raising apples with poor success for ten years. In 1892 he moved to Jasper county, Missouri, and for six years thereafter was busily and profitably engaged in the grocery business. In 1898 he sold this and changed his residence to New Mexico, but not being pleased with the outlook there, soon afterward came again to Colorado and locating at Colorado Springs, passed a year and a half in freighting between that city and Cripple Creek, and in helping to build the Short Line Railroad. In the fall of 1899 he moved to Steamboat Springs, Routt county, and opened a livery barn which he is still conducting, having by studious effect and commendable enterprise equipped his stables with every requirement for quick and satisfactory service to his patrons. In 1902 he located a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres sixteen miles northwest of Steamboat Springs, and to the improvement of this property he has since given a due share of his time and energy. He now has one hundred acres of the tract, which he took up as a homestead, under good cultivation and yielding large annual crops of hay, grain and hardy vegetables. The ranch is on Deep creek and is well watered. He has made all the improvements on it and is steadily converting it into a comfortable home for his declining years, should he choose to pass them there. In political affairs he supports the Republican party, and fraternally he has been connected for many years with the Masonic order and the Odd Fellows. He was married on November 2, 1869, to Miss Letitia Fort, a native of Arkansas, and they have had eight children, six of whom are living, Elias W., Mrs. Ettie Obenchain, Mrs. James Zering, William S., James A. and Ella G. Mr. Turner is the son of John and Susan (Miller) Turner, natives of North Carolina who made Arkansas their final earthly home. The father was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in politics and an Odd Fellow in fraternal life. Both parents were Methodists. They had six children, four of whom are living. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.