Bazzel TURNER was born [February 18] 1823 in Toledo, Ohio. His first venture west was in 1849 when he and his brother joined a wagon train headed for California. Bazzel tood his Indian pony. As owner of the only horse in the train, Bazzel served as a 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.

They 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 [aged 67 years, 1 month, 2 days on March 20] 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 (sic).

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, and one daughter, Emma, married John V. SHAY.

~ This story was submitted by Iowa Faye WOODRING, of Westminster, Colorado. She is the granddaughter of Emma and John V. SHAY.

NOTE: Mary A. (DALE) TURNER was born in 1836, and died at the age of 75 years, 9 months, and 18 days on August 3, 1912. Jesse D. DALE was born April 14, 1803, and died August 20, 1888, aged 85 years, 4 months and 6 days. Elizabeth DALE, Jesse's wife, was born May 1, 1805, and died at the age of 87 years, 6 months and 29 days on November 30, 1892. John DALE was born March 20, 1836, and died May 2, 1870. Silas DALE was born in 1854 and died in 1860 at the age of 6 years, 2 months and 3 days. They were all interred at Platte River Cemetery near Maloy.

SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 p. 6. 1987.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011