Bazzel TURNER was born in 1823 in Toledo, Ohio. His first venture west was in 1849 when he and his brother [Josiah] joined a wagon train headed for California. Besides their team of oxen, Bazzel took his Indian pony. As owner of the only horse in the train, Bazzel served as scout.

The TURNERS stayed two years, were unsuccessful and returned to the Midwest via Cape Horn in a sailing vessel. The journey required six months.

In 1854 he married Mary DALE, daughter of Jesse DALE, in Illinois. The same year he and Mary came to Wayne County, Iowa, and the following year entered land in Benton Township, Ringgold County.

The settled just north of the present day Maloy on what was later known as the M. N. HART place. Mrs. HART was the daughter of Luke SHAY to whom Bazzel had sold the farm.

The TURNERS moved to Bedford in the 1880's. At the time of his death in 1890, he owned besides his 1500 acres of land, a half-interest in the Bedford Hardware (a furniture, implement and funeral store.

His father-in-law, Jesse DALE, also died at the TURNER home in 1890. Mary TURNER was the only surviving one of the DALE's eleven children. A son, John DALE, also a Benton Township land owner, had preceded Jesse in death.

Bazzel and Mary had several children, one one daughter, Emma, married John V. SHAY.

SOURCE: Maloy Centennial Book, page 6

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010

Early Benton Township Settlers