Francis A. Turner (1856-1935)

TURNER

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/10/2008 at 14:49:43

FRANCIS A. TURNER 1856-1935
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
PROMINENT LAWYER, OLD SETTLER DIED
Settled in county in 1867 and Practiced Law in Avoca over 40 years.
Active business and Social Affairs

Francis A. Turner, died at his home in Avoca early Tuesday morning after a brief illness, aged 78 years, 4 months, and 23 days.

The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon, April 26 (1935), at 2 o’clock from his late home with burial in the family lot in the Avoca cemetery.

Francis A Turner was born on November 29, 1856 in Des Moines County near North Burlington. He came to Pottawattamie County with his parents in a covered wagon in 1857, the parents locating on a quarter section of land in Washington township that they had entered from the government. Alice V. Turner was the first white child born in Washington township, and John Turner was the first white boy born in that township.

Frank A. Turner was the eldest of eleven children. He attended the rural schools, such as they were in those pioneer days, and helped on the farm. From boyhood he was a lover of outdoor life, and he enjoyed riding over the prairies and hunted much game in those pioneer days. Many were the trips he made with his father to Council Bluffs, the closest trading point, by team, and the roads were long and winding. He attended school at Allerton, Iowa. On account of illness he returned home. Being a great student and lover of books, he spent his leisure hours preparing himself for schoolwork. He taught in the rural districts and later became principal of the Oakland public schools in 1883. He was principal of the public schools at Neola from September 1884 until the spring of 1885. In that year he was elected principal of the Harlan public school, and continued there until 1886.

After leaving the Oakland schools he took up the study of law during his school vacation and spare hours in the office of Smith and Cullison at Harlan, where he continued his studies until the spring of 1887 when he was admitted to the bar, one of the examiners being Judge Joseph R. Reed.

After being admitted to the practice of law, Mr. Turner located at Avoca and formed a partnership with Smith and Cullison; Mr. Turner having charge of the office in Avoca. This partnership existed until 1898 when Mr. Smith withdrew from the firm at Harlan and the firm of Cullison and Turner was formed.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Journal Herald