Articles About the Turner Family
The materials that follow contain information about the Turner-Dodge House and the Turner and Dodge families. They are intended as a start on a comprehensive history of the Turner-Dodge House and the Turner and Dodge families, not as a final product at this time. The materials have been selected from various sources (identified in each item). They are presented essentially as originally written, with no attempt to verify facts or to correct errors. All are part of a computer file that can be searched and edited. The Friends Secretary is adding new materials to the file as they become available. Within the file, the materials currently are arranged without distinction as to subject matter or date.
NOTE: Historical sources often have different spellings of the same name, or use a person's nickname. Some examples of these variations are Marian/Marion, Monroe/Munroe/Munro, and Abigail/Abby/Abbie.
Table of Contents
FROM THE HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTY
Scott Turner, State Journal, Heir of City Pioneers Dies in East at 92, by Birt Darling
Dr. Frank N. Turner, Rites Today for County Historian, circa April 10, 1943
Mrs. Kate Turner, Was Oldest Living "Grad" Of Lansing High, Resident Dies at 94
Marion Turner Allen, Lansing State Journal, February 23, 1983.
Marion Turner Allen, Marion Turner Allen, kin of pioneers, dies
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FROM THE HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTY, D.W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia, 1880, p. 127:
On the first of October, 1843, Mr. Turner married Miss Marian Munroe (sic) daughter of Jesse Munroe, a native of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT, where he was born in 1791. Mr. Munroe is still living (June 1880), in good health, with his daughter, Mrs. Turner. The latter was born in Amherst, Erie co., N.Y., whither her father had removed from Vermont, December 8, 1818. The family is of Scotch extraction. Mr. Munroe removed to Michigan in 1836, settling in Clinton County, in the town of Eagle, where Mr. Turner was married.
About 1838, Mrs. Turner made a visit to friend residing in Mason, going on horseback, accompanied by a relative. She went via Okemos, fording the Cedar River at that point, which was so swollen that Mrs. Turner -then Miss Munroe- was obliged to hold her feet upon the horses's back to keep them out of the water. On their return to Clinton county they followed the Indian trail along grand River, and stopped for lunch on the ground, or very near, where the Turner mansion now stands. Miss Munroe was greatly pleased with the location and the fine view it afforded and remarked that she should not wonder if, when she was married, she might some day make her home there. The prophecy has long since been fulfilled, and certainly there is no more pleasant site for a home in Ingham county, overlooking as it does, a long sweep of the beautiful river and a broad scope of cultivated country in all directions. At the time of this first visit the whole region was a wilderness. The high bluff bank of the river at this point is clothed with a majestic growth of forest-trees, then open and unobstructed by undergrowth, with cold, pure springs gushing from the slopes and dashing to the river below. This is today the most romantic spot in the vicinity of Lansing and with a small outlay could be transformed into a picturesque park.
Mr. Turner had purchased lots in the lower town previous to his marriage and removal here. On these Mrs. turner planted a few locust trees in the spring of 1844, one of which is still looking thrifty and vigorous. Mr. turner built a small one and a half story frame dwelling (still standing) on these lots, which are situated south of the lane leading to the family residence. The present property was purchased at various times of F.M. Cowles, James Seymour, and Isaac Townsend, or his heirs. Mr. Turner was administrator of the Isaac Townsend estate. Mr. Turner's death took place on the 1st of October, 1869, in his fiftieth year and on the anniversary of his marriage.
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The following is the text of an undated newspaper article. Mrs. Turner was born December 8, 1818, and died July 11, 1912. Upon request, the Secretary can provide a copy of the article with its accompanying photo of Mrs. Marion M. Turner.
MRS. MARION M. TURNER PASSED AWAY AT HOME OF DAUGHTER, MRS. DODGE WAS 93 YEARS OF AGE
Beloved Pioneer Came to Michigan in 1836
Funeral Services Will Be Held Saturday Afternoon at 2 O'clock.
Mrs. Marion M. Turner, one of the oldest and most beloved residents of the city, died Wednesday night shortly after midnight in her ninety-fourth year, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank L. Dodge, North St. where she had lived for the past 22 years. Mrs. Turner was one of the earliest if not the very earliest pioneer of Lansing and Michigan living in this day.
Mrs. Turner was a wonderful woman and a member of an extraordinary family. Born in Amhurst, Erie county, N. Y., December 8, 1818, she came to Michigan with her father, Jesse Monroe, in 1836 and settled in Eagle, Clinton county. She was the eldest of 11 children and up to three weeks ago she was one of seven of these children still living and each past three score years and ten. Late in June her brother, Josiah Turner, aged 89 years, died in Eagle. She is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Betsey Webber, aged 91 years; Mrs. John W. Longyear, aged 87 years, and Mrs. Ezra Turner, aged 80 years, all of Lansing, and a brother, William Monroe, aged 75 years, of this city, and Horace Monroe, who is past 70 years of age, in California.
Mrs. Turner had been in perfect health until recently, taking active part in family, social, philanthropic and church work, and even during the past few months when she was failing in strength she has attended frequent social functions and has been active in her home life. Her facilities were all keen and perfect to the last. In June last she attended the graduation exercises of the high school shere her grandson, Willis Dodge, was a member of the class and June 5 she attend the wedding of her grandson James T. Reasoner and Miss Bessie Davis. [James T. Reasoner and Bessie Davis were married June 6, 1912.] She possessed a character of wonderful sweetness and goodness, kindness and generosity, which endeared her to all who knew her. During the past few months when her health has been failing she has been patient and uncomplaining.
In 1843 Mrs. Turner, who was Miss Marion Monroe before her marriage, was married to James Turner who was then a merchant of Mason, and in 1847 they came to Lansing. Mrs. Turner taught school in Ingham and Clinton counties before her marriage, in the early forties. Many were the interesting and thrilling stories which she told to her children and grandchildren - stories about old Chief Okemos who camped by the river bank nearby, stories of blazing the way through rugged woods, making paths which later became the streets of the city, fording the rivers, and other incidents of pioneer life. Mrs. and Mrs. Turner were both active in church and philanthropic work and were among the founders of First M. E. church at North Lansing. Mrs. Turner was a member of both the state and county pioneer societies and until the last year attended all the meetings of these societies.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Turner, of which only three survive Mrs. Turner. They are Mrs. Marion T. Reasoner, Mrs. C. P. Black and Mrs. F. L. Dodge. The 11 grandchildren surviving her are Sophia, Franklin, Willis O., Josephine and Marion Dodge, children of Mrs. and Mrs. F. L. Dodge; Allen Black, son of Judge and Mrs. C. P. Black; James and Scott Turner of Detroit, sons of the late James M. Turner; James T. Reasoner of this city, Rev. Arthur T. Reasoner of Detroit, and Fiske Reasoner of Chicago, sons of Mrs. Marion T. Reasoner. Also two great-grandchildren survive her, children of James Turner of Detroit.
Hon. James Turner, husband of Mrs. Marion Turner, was a prominent man in pioneer days of Michigan and Lansing. He filled several state offices and was at the time of his death one of the officers and owners of the road which is now known as the Jackson-Lansing branch of the Michigan Central Railroad, which was then in the process of construction. He also built the railroad now known as the Pere Marquette, extending from Ionia to its present eastern terminus, and was a member of the company which built the plank road early in the fifties. He was prominent in church and Masonic work, and in the government of Lansing in its early days. Turner St. at North Lansing was named for Mr. Turner and the frame house which Mr. and Mrs. Turner occupied when they first came to Lansing was the first frame house built on the site of the city of Lansing, and it still stands on Turner St.
The funeral of Mrs. Turner will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence, 106 North St., and Rev. I. T. Weldon of First M. E. church will officiate.
Pall bearers will be six nephews of Mrs. Turner: Dr. Frank N. Turner, Charles M. Turner, J. Arthur Turner, Howard and Jesse Monroe of this city and Lewellyn Monroe of Eagle.
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The following is from a clipping, the last part of which is missing. According to JQS, Eva Turner Black died about 25 Mar 1925 (this was a Wednesday).
WIDOW OF JUDGE SUCCUMBS HERE
Mrs. Eva Turner Black Victim of Short Illness; Was Pioneer Resident
Mrs. Eva Turner Black, prominent resident of Lansing for many years and widow of the late Judge Cyrenius P. Black, died Monday morning at the home of her son, Allan Black, 317 St. Joseph street, after a short illness. She had not been in good health for some time and for a while was at the Battle Creek sanitarium.
Mrs. Black's death removes a pioneer resident, who was a descendant of families which took an important part in the foundation and upbuilding of this city. She was active in musical, social, and charitable circles, and was well known as a singer.
She was born in Lansing, May 18, 1857, the daughter of James Turner, early railroad builder and former state treasurer of Michigan, and Marion Monroe. She attended school here and later >>>
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Scott Turner Heir of City Pioneers Dies in East at 92
by Birt Darling, State Journal Historian
Services will be held Wednesday in Greenwich, Conn., for Scott Turner, 92, son of Lansing pioneer businessmen and director of the U. S. Bureau of Mines under President Herbert Hoover.
Mr. Turner died in Greenwich Sunday, and rites will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in his home at 44 Patterson there.
He operated his own engineering firm in New York City until recently, and had conducted surveys all over the world during his long and varied career.
En route to one of these surveys he was aboard the Cunard liner Lusitania when it was torpedoed off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, as it neared England in 1915. Mr. Turner was injured but managed to swim to some wreckage. At the time he was en route eventually to the Island of Spitzbergen to assess the potential of coal which had been discovered there.
Mr. Turner was the son of James M. Turner, who owned the 1,200-acre Springdale Farm along E. Mr. Hope. Arboretum Park subsequently was developed from a part of this tract in the 1950s following a decision by Scott Turner to sell it to the City of Lansing.
Springdale Farm was famous in his father's day for its development of prize beef.
His mother owned the Mr. Vernon-type mansion on N. Washington which became the State Historical Museum following her death, and his grandfather, James Turner, built the original nucleus of what later became the Dodge Mansion on E. North in 1851.
His grandfather, who was one of Lansing's first settlers after the location of the state capital here in 1847, developed the Detroit, Howell and Lansing Plank Road for stage coach travel, and later became involved in railroad development all over lower Michigan. His father carried on the railroad tradition.
Mr. Turner was the husband of the late Amy Prudden Turner, who also was of pioneer stock.
Mr. Turner will be buried in the family plot in Mr. Hope Cemetery - a plot which he often gazed at from his Springdale Farm across Aurelius Road.
The family asked that contributions be made to the Greenwich hospital.
Note: In a March 23, 2000 interview with Patricia Dodge McLean, she said Scott Turner lost a leg in the Lusitania sinking. She also said her grandmother was not close to Scott's wife Sophie, but that her brother, Frank "Kiki" McLean, often visited and talked with Mrs. Turner at her (Mount Vernon style) home (now in the center of the Lansing Community College campus.)
OBY-3
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AGED HISTORIAN TAKEN BY DEATH
Dr. Frank N. Turner, Author Of Works Describing Early Ingham Life, Was 76
WAS BORN IN LANSING
Physician Who Made Hobby Of History Had Long Been Ill; Funeral Monday
Dr. Frank N. Turner, 76, pioneer resident of Lansing and considered an authority on the history of Ingham county, died Friday night at the home, 323 West Saginaw street, following a long illness.
Born in Lansing, Dr. Turner spent his boyhood here. He graduated from Michigan State Normal college at Ypsilanti, from the Detroit School of Medicine, and later took a post-graduate course at the University of Michigan. He practiced medicine for 21 years at Webberville, coming to Lansing in 1910. He maintained his office here since that time and up until December, 1927, when failing health caused him to give up his practice.
Dr. Turner was well known for having written the Ingham county volume of the Michigan historical series published by the Michigan Pioneer society in 1924. He was a member of the Williamston chapter of the Masonic order.
Besides the widow, Kate W. Turner, he is survived by two sons, Richard H. Turner, St. Louis, Mo., and Ralph P. Turner, Lansing; one daughter, Mrs. Ira C. Taggart, Lansing, and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held from the Jarvis-Estes Funeral home at 1:30 o'clock Monday afternoon, the Rev. Ray Caldwell officiating.
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Rites Today for County Historian
[picture]
Dr. Frank N. Turner
Funeral services for Dr. Turner, pioneer Lansing resident and authority on Ingham county history, who died Friday night at the home, 323 West Saginaw street, were to be held from the Jarvis-Ester Funeral home at 1:30 o'clock Monday afternoon. He is survived by the widow, Kate W. Turner, two sons, Richard H. Turner, St. Louis, Mo., and Ralph P. Turner, Lansing; one daughter, Mrs. Ira C. Taggert [sic], Lansing; three grandchildren; a brother, John M. Turner, Lansing, and a sister, Mrs. Kate Millard, Milwaukee, Wis. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery here.
[he died April 10, 1931]
OBY-4
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Resident Dies at 94
Mrs. Kate Turner Was Oldest Living "Grad" Of Lansing High
[picture]
Mrs. Turner
Mrs. Kate W. Turner, 94, member of a pioneer Lansing family and oldest living graduate of old Lansing high school, died Wednesday morning at the home of a son, Ralph P. Turner of 527 N. Chestnut St., where she made her home.
She was the widow of Dr. Frank N. Turner, whose father, Richard, helped build the original wooden state capitol in 1847. Dr. Turner practiced medicine in Webberville and later in Lansing many years. He was a noted local historian, having compiled the Ingham county volume of the "Historic Michigan" series in 1924.
Mrs. Turner was a native of Lansing. Her parents were J. H. and Mary (Yeiter) Burdick. She was graduated from Lansing high school in 1885 and taught at Kalamazoo street school and Pattengill junior high school early in the century.
She resided here most of her life, except for about 20 years when her husband was practicing medicine in Webberville. She returned with him to Lansing in 1910.
She organized and was an honorary member of the Woman's Advance club of Webberville and was a member of Central Methodist church in Lansing.
Surviving are two sons, Ralph P. of Lansing and Richard H. of Kirkwood, Mo.; three grandsons, two granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Estes-Leadley Colonial chapel, Rev. Robert Blaisdell of Central Methodist church officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.
[she died July 5, 1961]
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DEATH OF MRS. RICHARD TURNER
Pioneer of Lansing Passes Away at Home of Son in Williamston
Mrs. Richard Turner died at the home of her son, J. M. Turner, in Williamston Friday. Mrs. Turner was a resident of that township for 41 years, going from Lansing to a farm near Red Bridge in the spring of 1866. Her husband died in 1888. She was a pioneer of this city, coming here after her marriage in 1849.
Besides the son at whose home she died, Mrs. Turner is survived by another son, Dr. F. N. Turner of Webberville, and two daughters, Mrs. Hattie Huxtable of Delta, and Mrs. Kate Millard of Rhinelander, Wis. She has been in poor health for about four months and death was due to a gradual decline.
Funeral services will be held at the home of her son at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon. Rev. Weldenhoff of Vernon will officiate.
[she died May 13, 1907]
[OBY-18]
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The following is the text of an obituary in the Lansing State Journal of Wednesday, February 23, 1983. Upon request, the Secretary can provide a copy of the newspaper clipping.
ALLEN, MARION TURNER
13036 Sycamore Dr.
DeWitt
Mrs. Allen, age 61, passed away on Feb. 21, 1983. She was born in Lansing on May 18, 1921 to Howard Elmer Turner and Cora Marie Lee. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the City Club of Lansing and the Wawash Kemo Golf Club of Mackinac Island. Mrs. Allen graduated from Lansing Central High School in 1939 and attended Michigan State University, Lansing Community College and Lansing Business University. She had been associated with the Michigan Dept. of Public Health since 1948, serving as Secretary to the Chief of the Bureau of Laboratories, Office Manager, Administrative Analyst and Program/Personnel Coordinator for the Bureau of Disease Control and Laboratory Services.
. . .
Surviving are husband, Judge Glenn S. Allen, Jr. of the Michigan Court of Appeals and former Mayor of Kalamazoo; 2 step-daughters, Mrs. Gale (Holly Allen) Mull of Atlanta, GA, Susan Allen Karpen of Eaton Rapids; 3 grandchildren, Carter Mull, Ginger Verdier Watson and Glenn Allen Watson. Religious services will be conducted by Rev. William S. Hill at 11:30 a.m. Thurs. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Judge James Brickley, Judge John Fitzgerald, Judge Robert Denhof, Dr. Kenneth Wilcox, Dr. George Anderson, Dr. William Ferguson. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Lansing or to the Trinity Episcopal Church of Mackinac Island. Visitations will begin at the Ester Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel at 12 noon Wed. and the family will receive friends from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Wed.
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The following is from a newspaper article.
Marion Turner Allen, kin of pioneers, dies
Marion Turner Allen, of DeWitt, granddaughter of a North Lansing pioneer, died Monday. She was 61. Allen was the wife of Judge Glenn Allen of the State Court of Appeals. A Lansing native, Allen graduated from Lansing Central High School and Michigan State University. She also attended Lansing Community College and Lansing Business University.
In 1948, she joined the secretarial staff of the Michigan Department of Public Health and became secretary to the director of laboratories. In that capacity, she also served as supervisor of the laboratory administration office. Allen was one of three Lansing secretaries selected to join the ranks of the certified professional secretaries of the nation in 1956. A popular figure among her colleagues in the Lansing Chapter of the National Secretaries Association, Allen was voted "Secretary of the Year" in 1957 and 1962. Allen retired from a 31-year career with the state health department in 1979. At a retirement party in her honor, Allen surprised her colleagues with a book she had written on the history of the department, covering the years 1907 to 1975.
Allen was born in Lansing, the daughter of the H. E. Turners, North Lansing pioneers. She was married to Raymond Bosworth Smith, who died in a World War II plane crash. In January 1979, she was married to Court of Appeals Judge Glenn Allen. Arrangements will be announced by the Ester-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.
[OBY-21]
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Adda [Addie] Turner was the daughter of James Turner and Marian Monroe Turner. She was born about 1852 and died in 1884. From The Evening Telegraph of January 30.
Died.
At ten o'clock this forenoon at the family residence, North Lansing, Addie Turner, aged 31 years.
Those few words record the passing away of one of the most beautiful spirits, who, for a time, abide the ills of earth. To all who know Addie Turner, eulogy of her character is needless. With mind naturally active and buoyant, it fell to her lot to undergo for nearly half her life the chastisement of pain. More as a benediction than a chastisement, though, it came, for through the weary years the beautiful character has shown itself only more and more beautiful, as the supreme moment approached, until the day we are permitted to think of her amid the great throng who have been made "perfect through suffering."
From The Evening Telegraph of February 1.
Laid to Rest.
The large circle of relative and intimate friends who hold the memory of Miss Addie Turner dear, gathered at the family residence this afternoon to mingle the sympathetic tear and bid adieu to the last of earth of one whom to know was to love. Addie is the seventh member of this family who, one by one, have taken up their abode in the silent halls of death, and left the others to mourn their loss.
The casket lay in the north parlor and on it reposed a beautiful wreath and a large pillow of white primroses, on a bed of green with the word "Rest" in carnations. The sad exercises began with singing "Cast thy burden on the Lord" followed by the reading of the psalm "The Lord is my Shepherd" and prayer by Rev. Mr. Hamilton. A duet, "Whispering Hope" was followed by readings of scripture passages appropriate to the occasion by Rev. Mr. Valentine, with remarks of eulogy on the pure life, Christian graces and benediction of the memory of the departed.
A quartet - "He giveth His beloved sleep" - closed the exercises at the house, and sadly and slow the remains were borne to their last home in Mount Hope cemetery, there to await the morning of the resurrection.
[OBY-29]
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The following is from an undated Lansing newspaper clipping in the Dodge family scrapbook at the Turner-Dodge House. In 1855 Daniel Case engaged in the real estate and mercantile business with the father of the late James M. Turner, the style of the firm being J. Turner & Case, which partnership was continued until the former's death in 1869.
WAS INGHAM COUNTY'S VERY OLDEST RESIDENT
He Passed Away Thursday Morning
Daniel L. Case Came Here in 1843
Sketch of His Interesting Career
Hon. Daniel L. Case passed away Thanksgiving morning at his residence at 4:15 o'clock. Death was not unexpected. The disease from which he suffered, catarrhal cystitis, together with his advanced years, made rapid headway the last few days and eventually claimed the venerable pioneer as its own. The funeral will be held Sunday at ? p.m. from the family residence, 612 High St., Rev. Fred George Cadwell of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will be at Mr. Hope.
Hon. Daniel L. Case has been the oldest resident of this county for a number of years and was conspicuous as one of the capital city builders who came to Lansing in the early spring of 1847 and participated in the very initial efforts to establish a town here. For bright intelligence, keen observation, quick decision, fluent, incisive and forcible utterance, Mr. Case probably had no superior in the band of able men who founded Lansing. For 50 years he has been one of the most prominent men of our city. Wise in council, prompt and strong in execution, eloquent in persuasion and biting in sarcasm, he has always labored with untiring zeal and wise liberality to build up and promote the fortunes of the city of his residence.
Mr. Case was born near Three Rivers, Canada, of New England parentage, Dec. 21, 1811. His parents were originally from Connecticut, but his father, whose name was Elijah Case, went to Canada just before the war of 1812. On the breaking out of the war, he was obliged to take the oath of allegiance to the British crown, which he refused to do. He was therefore imprisoned until the close of the war, and his property confiscated to the British government. His family returned to Pennfield, N. Y., during his imprisonment, and when free, the father joined them, but died two years later from a disease contracted during this incarceration.
From that time until 1829, Mr. Case worked on a farm summers and attended country school winters. In October, 1829, when nearly 18 years old, he came to the territory of Michigan, then called Indian territory, locating at Pontiac. The following year, in April, he went to Jackson and assisted in the survey of the village of Jacksonburgh, now the prison city. At that time there was but one cabin on the present site of the city and not another inhabitant within 20 miles. He has corrected the statement that the family of Blackmans was the first in Jackson and has stated many times that when he went there, a man named Gillette was the only resident and Mr. Case drove the team that moved the Blackmans into the prison city. The fall of 1832 he returned to his former New York home and began the study of law with Hon. William J. Moody, and the next year returned to Jackson, Judge Moody having removed to that place, and there he continued his legal studies.
In the fall of 1834 Mr. Case married Miss Miranda Brown, sister of Mrs. Moody, who died February, 1847. Three children were born of this union: the late Julien M. Case, who died in London, June, 1880; Daniel Case, who was a student at West Point when the Civil War broke out, enlisted in the 78th New York infantry, was confined to rebel prisons for ten months, and died soon after the war from exposure suffered during his prison life; and a daughter, Mrs. Helen Case Adams, who survives him and has been his devoted companion and nurse in his old age. He is survived by five grandchildren, Daniel L. Case, Jr., Bellevue; Mrs. John Peters, Rex and Julien Case, Detroit; and Mrs. Mary Collins of Chicago, Ill.
In 1836 Mr. Case moved to the territory of Iowa, from there to New Orleans, and after a few months' stay at the last place went into Texas, then a province of Mexico, which was at that time the arena of the political and governmental strife of the period. He was in Texas during Houston's war with Santa Anna and practiced law, giving his attention to the criminal code, his great strength being in his manner of pleading cases. His license allowed him to practice in all states and he became widely known as a lawyer of unfailing success in any case he undertook. He remained in the Lone Star state until 1842 and then returned to Michigan.
In 1843 he returned to Michigan and in July settled in Mason. January, 1844, he was appointed prosecuting attorney of Ingham county by Gov. John S. Barry and was reappointed in 1846. That year he engaged in the mercantile business at Mason with the late Hon. H. H. Smith, but continued in office until 1848.
When, in 1847, the capital was removed from Detroit to its present site, then a dense forest, the firm of Case & Smith located in the northern part of the city, then being surveyed and platted. They erected a store at the corner of Franklin and Center streets, directly east of the Franklin house, where they put in a stock of dry goods in July. In the fall of 1847 the firm purchased a flour mill, since burned, on the site of the present Hart mill. It was started in 1848 and the following year sold to the late Judge A. N. Hart. The firm of Case & Smith was then dissolved, the former purchasing the goods and taking them to Portland, where he continued the business for three years.
In March 1849 he married Miss Adella Monroe, sister of Mrs. Marian Turner and Mrs. Harriet Longyear, whose death occurred July 4, 1887.
In 1850, Mr. Case was honored by an election to the legislature from Ionia county. January, 1853, he returned to this city, where he still retained considerable interest. He again formed a partnership with the late H. H. Smith and in 1855 engaged in the real estate and mercantile business with the father of the late James M. Turner, the style of the firm being J. Turner & Case, which partnership was continued until the former's death in 1869.
Mr. Case had always been an active Democrat until the bitter and bloody contest in Kansas between pro slavery and free state parties. The conduct of President Pierce toward the slave power forced Mr. Case to sever his relations with his party, and in 1856 he fully identified himself with the Republican party and canvassed the state for Fremont and Dayton. During that exciting campaign, Mr. Case delivered an address to the democracy of Ingham county, giving the reason for his political change, which was considered one of its most powerful and convincing political arguments of the time. It was signed by Mr. Case and 23 of his fellow Democrats, among whom were the late H. H. Smith, B. E. Hart, John R. Price, C. A. Jenison and John Tooker. The powerful appeal of these gentlemen to their late political associates attracted attention throughout the state and was an important factor in the campaign of that year.
In 1858 Mr. Case was elected Auditor General by the Republican party, which office he held for two years, discharging the duties of the office with marked ability. He was one of the earliest and most helpful supporters of the late Hon. Zachariah Chandler and the latter always freely acknowledged his great obligation to Mr. Case, who aided him materially to attain his position of unquestioned political leadership in the state. In 1862, Mr. Case missed the nomination to congress through the petty pique of one delegate, and but for this he would no doubt have attained great influence in public life, for no man in the state was better equipped for brilliant work in public life than our honored citizen. In 1864 President Lincoln appointed him paymaster in the army and he entered upon the duties of the position with zeal and energy, but his health failed and he resigned the office soon after the capture of Atlanta by Gen. Sherman.
Upon the death of J. C. Bailey in 1866, Mr. Case succeeded him in the banking business in the building now occupied by the City National Bank, but subsequently sold the business to Merssers Hewitt & Co. In 1869 he built for his residence the large brown stone house on Washington Ave. north, now known as the old hospital building.
The deceased has served as a member of the Common Council and Board of Education. In 1887 he was appointed by Gov. Luce a member of the Board of Control for the Michigan School for the Blind and served as treasurer of the board for several years.
Although Mr. Case had been brought up in the Presbyterian church and his inclinations were in that direction, giving generously for its support, he was [not] a member but a liberal spirited conscientious man, a friend to humanity. He was a member of Lansing Lodge ??? F. & A. M. and of the G. A. R.
Mr. Case has been one of the most energetic among the public spirited citizens who laid the foundation for our beautiful city, and although his struggles gave him a keen appreciation of the value of money, still he was always ready to give liberally his time and money to promote prosperity in our city. He donated $1,000 to assist in the establishing of the Michigan Female College by the Misses Rogers, which stood on the site of the School for the Blind and was a very prominent educational institution. He also gave $1,000 to aid in securing the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw railroad, besides giving the depot grounds of that company at North Lansing. He gave five acres of valuable land to the D. L. & N. railroad company and contributed liberally in numerous other projects to promote public interests. He enjoyed honorable distinction among his fellows for his early, able and efficient labors in the founding and building of Lansing.
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The following is from an unidentified newspaper clipping in the Dodge family scrapbook at the Turner-Dodge House. Upon request, the Secretary can provide a copy of the clipping.
DEATH OF DANIEL L. CASE
Former Auditor-General of this State Expires in Lansing
Sketch of His Career
Lansing, Nov. 26. - Daniel L. Case, a former auditor-general of Michigan and a pioneer resident of the state, died at his home in this city Thursday at the age of 87 years.
Mr. Case was born near Three Rivers in Canada, December 11, 1811. He came to Michigan in 1834, but did not make his permanent residence here till 1842, when he settled at Mason and for three years held the office of prosecuting attorney. He was for some time engaged in the mercantile business at Mason, but in 1847 he removed to Lansing. In 1851 he was a member of the legislature from Ionia county and in 1858 he was elected auditor-general on the republican ticket, holding the office for two years. Previously he had been a democrat, but in 1856 he wrote a powerful address giving his adhesion to the republican party. He became an effective campaign speaker for the republican party in the stirring days immediately preceding the war, and in 1864 he was made paymaster in the army with the rank of major. Since the war he has been a merchant and a farmer. For several years he was a trustee for the Michigan school for the blind, and at one time resident manager of the institution.
The following is the text of an article in The State Journal of Tuesday, July 7, 1896. Upon request, the Secretary can provide a copy of the article with its accompanying drawn portrait of James M. Turner.
The City Mourns
Ex-Mayor Turner Passed Away This Morning
Was at Alma Sanitarium Where He was Receiving Treatment When the Death Summons Came
The News a Great Shock to His Fellow Citizens
At an early hour this morning a dispatch was received by relatives in this city of the death at Alma sanitarium, shortly after 4 o'clock, of ex-Mayor James M. Turner. The news was such a surprise and such a shock, so few of his friends knowing of his serious condition, that it was at first discredited, but the sad news was soon confirmed by later dispatches announcing that the remains would arrive here on the Grand Trunk train at 10:40 o'clock.
Mrs. Turner, his two sons, Scott and James, and his cousin and physician, Dr. Longyear of Detroit, were at his bedside when death came.
The remains arrived at 10:40 and were met at the depot by Gov. Rich, Mayor Ostrander, and other state and city officials and citizens, and escorted to the family residence on Franklin street west. The exact time of the funeral has not been decided upon but it will probably be held Friday and will be from the late residence.
When a few weeks before the expiration of his term as mayor, Mr. Turner was taken ill, the trouble was thought to be nothing more serious than a cold or perhaps the grip. At each returning meeting of the common council his friends expected to see him once more in the mayor's chair, but the disease which finally carried him off slowly tightened its grip and with the exception of one brief interval, when he seemed to rally a little, his health slowly broke down. His rugged constitution, fostered by a life of activity and out-door exercise, was slow to give way to the ravages of disease, but at last the awful truth dawned upon his friends and family that the end was surely coming. The immediate cause of his death was heart failure, the result of Bright's disease.
It was May 2, after his illness had lasted about three weeks, that he decided to go to the Alma sanitarium. He returned somewhat improved in health on May 30 and spent a part of his time in his office, transacting business. On June 26 the disease had made such inroads that he returned to Alma but without benefit. He sank rapidly and was unable to retain any food upon his stomach for some time before the end came.
James M. Turner was born within the present limits of the city of Lansing on April 23, 1850. His father was a citizen of Mason and in 1847, the year the capitol was located here, he removed from there to the place ever since known as the Turner homestead on the north bank of the river and in the northern edge of the city. In those days the most of the present site of this city was a wilderness, and James M. Turner was born in the midst of it. Fortunately for him, he inherited the rugged courage and iron will which makes the pioneer. Speaking of his early life and the difficulties with which he contended, he once said "We were wretchedly poor in those days. I was one of ten children. Our clothing was strictly confined to the limits of what our financial circumstances would warrant. Such things as shoes and stockings in summer were unknown. I never had a suit of flannels in the winter at that time and I never owned an overcoat until I was old enough to work and earn one."
When he was 15 years of age he got the only schooling he ever had, outside of the district school. That was at a seminary at Cazenovia, N. Y., and lasted about a year, but he improved every moment. Upon returning to Lansing he entered the employ of Daniel L. Case as a clerk in a general store, where he acquired the rudiments of his business education. After two years of life as a clerk he went to work in the land office of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw railway company, his father being the land commissioner of the road. Mr. Turner, the elder, was then engaged in building both the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw and the Ionia & Lansing railroads and the son was given charge of the construction of the latter road.
It was not long after these enterprises were started that Mr. Turner's father died and left him, a boy 19 years old, in charge of the family. He assumed the duty of caring for his widowed mother and his sisters and brother manfully, and as paymaster and cashier of the Ionia & Lansing railroad he earned a revenue which cared for them all. Next he went into a general land business with Dwight S. Smith, now of Jackson. Mr. Smith had charge of the office, while Mr. Turner acted as land-looker and surveyor. It was in this capacity that he accumulated a vast fund of information regarding northern Michigan and its great wealth, which he afterwards assisted largely in developing.
In 1876 he was married to Miss Sophie Porter Scott, a daughter of Ira Scott, then of Chicago, and now of this city. The tender and affectionate side of Mr. Turner's character was always manifest in his relations with his family. To the two sons he was a companion as well as father. The sight of Mr. Turner and his sons driving away to the farm with dog and gun for a day's hunting was familiar to many of the citizens, and it was at this fireside, surrounded by his family and friends, that the great large-hearted man was at his best.
Besides the first two railroads which Mr. Turner assisted in building, he built the line from Lansing to Flint, now a part of the Grand Trunk road, and the Iron Range & Huron Bay road in the upper peninsula. His numerous other business enterprises are familiar to people in Lansing. He was at one time president of the condensed milk company, and was for many years a manufacturer of brick. His Springdale farm is perhaps the best known farm in this section of the state and one of the widest known stock farms in Michigan.
His political career embraced one term in the Michigan legislature, the term of 1876; two terms as mayor, one in 1889 and again in 1895, and a term as a member of the board of education. He was a candidate for the office of governor in 1890 and the history of that memorable campaign is too well known to need comment. His great popularity with his own townspeople was best demonstrated by the very large majority accorded him when he was last elected mayor.
James M. Turner as a business man was enterprising, sagacious and energetic. He possessed both breadth of view and mastery of detail which enabled him to conceive great enterprises and carry them to successful issue. In politics he was aggressive and his personal qualities were such that he possessed a host of friends always ready to work and sacrifice for him. Among the people of this city he was the most approachable of men. He was never too busy to see the humblest workman on his brick yards if the man had any sort of a reason for seeing him. He was open in his conversation and never hesitated to state to anyone during his two terms as mayor what his views were upon any municipal affair. In private life and among his friends he was companionable and generous. It is related of him, and by good authority, that he once started a man in this city in business, lending him money enough to buy a stock of goods without security, simply because he thought the man to be worthy, capable and honest. His judgment proved correct and the money was repaid. This is but one of many similar instances.
No one save his family will ever understand his home life except that all know it to have been what the home life of an ideal husband and father should have been.
Mr. Turner leaves, beside his immediate family already mentioned, three sisters, Mrs. Marion Reasoner, Mrs. C. P. Black and Mrs. F. L. Dodge, all of this city. His mother, Mrs. Marion Turner, who resides with her daughter, Mrs. Dodge, also survives him.
Besides his large property interests he carried $120,000 life insurance, divided between the Equitable of New York, New York Life, Mutual Benefit of New Jersey, Michigan Mutual and the Union Central.
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The following text is from page 361 of "Portrait and Biographical Album of Ingham & Livingston Counties, Michigan", published by Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1891. [Notes by Ronald R. Turner; December, 2000; the text has not otherwise been checked for accuracy.]
J. A. TURNER [1]. Lansing is now so old a city as to count among her genuine business men boys who were born and brought up within her confines, and she is proud to claim that there are none more truly enterprising and more thoroughly equipped for the battle of life, than those which she has thus nurtured from the time of their nativity. Perhaps there is no one to whom she may point with more just pride than the man of whom we are now writing, who is universally conceded to be an enterprising and public-spirited young man, and the most extensive grocer on Michigan Avenue.
Our subject was born in Lansing, October 22, 1830, his father being Amos Turner [2], a native of Washtenaw County, Mich., and his grandfather, J. A. Sr. [3], having been a farmer and an early settler in Washtenaw County. His father was reared upon the farm and came to Lansing when still a young man with his uncle, James Turner [4], who made North Lansing his home about the year 1847. The young man engaged as a clerk in his uncle's employ in a general store, and later went into a merchandise and produce business in North Lansing, building two brick blocks there. In 1879 he sold out this business and removed to Perry, Shiawassee County.
After three years in Perry, Amos Turner returned to Lansing and engaged in business here, putting in a stock of dry-goods and groceries at Nos. 117 and 119 Michigan Avenue. In 1888 he sold out the grocery department of his business to his son, J. A., and continued himself in the dry-goods business, transferring it to Seattle, Wash., where he remained until he took the position of traveling salesman for the Michigan Condensed Milk Company, which he is still serving. He was Alderman and Supervisor of the First Ward for one term and was prominent in the Masonic order.
The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Philena Barker, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., and was a daughter of an Englishman, James Barker, who located in that county. She is a devout and earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, and the faithful and judicious mother of four children, of whom our subject is the eldest.
Having received the full advantages of the public schools of Lansing, and also having taken a course in the High School, J. A. Turner entered his fathers store at the age of seventeen, as a clerk. He had been in the store more or less from a boy up, and was thoroughly well prepared to take his place and to prove of value in the establishment. His first independent endeavor was made at Perry, before buying out his father's line of groceries here, which, as we have said, he did in 1888. He has continued to handle groceries exclusively and is building up a fine trade, so that he is now using two delivery wagons.
The charming young lady who became the happy wife of this gentleman, in 1883, was called May Campbell in her maidenhood, and she belongs to a Battle Creek family. To their home have come two little daughters - Hattie and Helen, whose care and culture is the joy of their parents. This young man is a popular member of the order of Odd Fellows and also the Knights of Pythias, and his political views lead him to affiliate with the Democratic party.
[1] John Arthur Turner (1860-1937), whose grocery store appears in the accompanying photograph.
[2] Amos Turner (1835-1896) had a home on North St. in the block just east of the Turner-Dodge House.
[3] John A. Turner (1806-1848), an older brother of James Turner.
[4] James Turner (1820-1869), who built the house now called the Turner-Dodge House.