Turner

The town of Turner was established when Othiol Johnson Turner left the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky and came to Iowa. His future bride, Betsy Ann Rice was also from Kentucky and after their marriage in 1870, they settled in the area, purchasing a good many acres from Bob Parmley. The farm was so large it was called a ranch. From this, the town of Turner sprang up. With this ranch becoming headquarters, other businesses began to branch out. The mail line of the Rock Island Railroad came right through the center of the area and proved to be invaluable for shipping livestock from the big stockyards. A large general store housed groceries, dry goods and any hardware that farmers of the land could use.

A large cheese factory followed with this product being shipped out on the rail cars. A lumber yard, large grain elevator, post office, ice house, blacksmith shop and pool hall were all added by Mr. Turner with able assistance from family members. Many acres of farmland around the area were purchased by the Turners.

During the peak years, Turner, Iowa, was considered a great shipping center, not only for cattle, but horses and other products as well. The railroad saw the potential in Turner and built a depot. For many years there were four passenger trains going each direction that stopped in Turner every 24 hours.

With so many businesses popping up in Turner, many hired hands were needed to assist the family. The Turners' home seemed to turn into a hotel, housing the hired hands, depot agent and even the schoolteacher. The task of feeding this big flock fell to the ladies of the household and must have seemed like a banquet at each meal.

Indians of the Tama Reservation would camp near Turner by the Skunk River in the winter and trap, fish, and tap the sugar maples for sap.

Between 50 to 60 cows were milked daily, supplying the cheese factory, as well as buying additional milk from neighboring farms.

The Church was located about two miles north of the center of the town and near it was Rock Creek Cemetery where the founder of Turner and his wife are laid to rest, along with many other relatives.

Although much hard work went into keeping this town operating, Othiol and Betsy provided much entertainment for the many boys around town. Horse races, ball games in pastures, boxing and wrestling matches, sod fights, cob fights, swimming, fishing and hunting, were all common entertainment, as well as playing with the Indian children during the winter.

A big fire destroyed most of the businesses in Turner. It began in the cheese factory and spread to nearby buildings. Othiol and Betsy passed away and their offspring had married and began their own lives. Today there is only a cement foundation for a switch on the Railroad to show where this once-thriving town existed. Other buildings have been torn down through the years.

Gleaned from the History Book on Turner,and reprinted in the Kellogg Historical Society - Vol.III - 1983. Permission to reprint granted by Judy Parson on October 25, 2002.