Robert Joseph Turner (1872 - 1940)

Born 19 Feb 1872 in Macon, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Bertha (Dennison) Turner — married 1893 in Missouri

Descendants

Died 22 Jun 1940 at age 68 in Columbia, Boone, Missouri, United States

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Biography

Born 1872

Died 22 JUN 1940. Columbia, MO. Cause: Cirrhosis.

Buried Helton Cemetery, Goldsberry, Macon County, Missouri.

Written by Robert's brother:^[1]

Robert Joseph was the first child of Thomas and Susan Turner. He was seldom called by his right name. He was spoken of as Bud. Why? We do not know except to believe his father spoke to him as "Buddie" or "Bud." However, Bertha usually called him Bob.

He quit school at an early age; consequently, this neglect of education was a lifetime handicap. This meant the loss of many of the cultures of life. At times he was somewhat blunt in his speech and manner of address. His language was not always of the soft, velvety, parlor-like parlance, but he had a heart of gold.

He was married when quite young. He lacked a few days of being 21 when he applied for his marriage license. Since he lacked four days in being of age, he had to take his father's consent in written form when he applied for his license. Just why he could not wait the four days and have married on his birth day is one of the questions that only youth can answer.

He was a farmer and stock-grower. He bought the Cornelius place just north of his father's farm. In his dealings, he was always a very cautious man, and this trend toward extreme caution often kept him from making worthwhile investments, which in turn would have brought him good returns. His counsel to his sons usually took this trend likewise.

He had lively children, and while they brought cheer and happiness, they also brought responsibilities with accompanying expense. No one could rear eight children without heavy costs even in those days.

He enjoyed his neighbors. The Carters and Davises lived to the north and west of him with his Uncle Harrison Lile to the south.

With this close association came lots of fun and humor. George Carter, one of the Carter boys, told of a very amusing experience with the attempt to shivaree Bob Adams, and "attempt" only it turned out to be. The night of the planned shivaree Adams and his newly-wed were staying with his parents. The shivaree did not turn out well this time, for Adams' mother came out on them with a revolver and began to shoot at the crowd. In the wild rush to get away, George ran for his horse and mounted while Bud started up the road afoot. With George racing his steed ahead of Bud, the latter called out and told George if his horse couldn't run, to get it out of the way so somebody could run that could, referring, of course, to Bud's scared flight.

One spring he ran for the office of road overseer. The campaign was run on a political basis. Bud was a Republican, while his opponent, Ira Lile, was a Democrat. The Democrats won. Why such a small, unimportant office as that had to be a matter of politics is hard to understand.

Since he lived close to his parents and often felt the need of tools, he frequently went and "borrowed" his father's tools. At times he was quite negligent in bringing them back. When his dad had need for the tool, it was not to be found. Upon inquiry and learning that Bud had borrowed it, he would say, "That Buddie of mine carries all my tools away and never brings them back! I do wish he would get tools of his own!"

Bud was a hard worker. He arose early and was often in the field before his neighbors began to stir. While he put in long hours, he was not extreme in his gait. He was good to work for and with. The small brothers often worked with him, and he was very reasonable in his requirements. Joshua and he often used the crosscut saw together in the timber. The two were well gaited and worked fine together.

When Bud was first married, he and Bertha lived in a small two-room house. This was their home until ten years had passed, and then he purchased the dwelling located on his dad's west 80-acre tract, often thought of as the Tom Davis place. The purchase price was $100, and he with some able, experienced help, moved it up the ridge on the Terry Carter place, and attached it to his small dwelling after turning it a quarter way around. This made a very nice home after he got it all well established and decorated. Here he lived until all his eight children were grown and gone.

Some of the children were given piano lessons, and Vivian and Estelle were able songsters. One of the songs they sang was "Whispering Hope." They sang it well. Bud was much pleased with their performances. He might well have been.

His son Leonard was called into military service during World War I. He and Bill Cass, together with the writer, were called 15 August 1918. The call was to enter the Auto-mechanic corps located in North Kansas City. The evening before the departure, Bud and Bertha honored the young men with an ice cream party, or gathering. It as a dual emotion affair. All were happy to be invited to such a pleasant gathering, but there was a feeling of sadness pervading the occasion because of the separation, together with the uncertainty of the outcome.

The clouds gathered threatening that evening, and it was thought best to depart immediately for Macon, the point designated for reporting, because the roads were dirt roads in those days, and there was a strong possibility of a failure to reach Macon should the inductees wait until the raid came. Guy Burt was kind and gracious and took the three in his car that night and waited until the train arrived that carried them away into military service. This was a very sad and trying time for Bud and Bertha.

Family-wise Bud made a record. He was the father of three daughters that had the same birthday, all three having been born on the same day of the month, April 9. This may appear to be a Ripley story, but the fact remains that Estelle was born 9 April 1903; and Susie, 9 April 1907; and two years later Mildred was born on this same identical day of the month, 9 April 1909. Believe-it-or-not tale is this.

Some winters were long and cold, and Bud was wintered-in for months. It was then that he enjoyed the visits of his brothers. On one occasion the writer called on him and Bud enjoyed this visit very much. It was a happy visit for both.

When sickness came to the families of his brothers, Bud was very solicitous and was on hand to do what he could. On one occasion when Margery, Joshua's daughter, broke her arm, Bud was very helpful in taking her to the doctor. He used his team of horses hitched to a sled to transport her and parents to Goldsberry to see Doctor Abbott. He stayed by until the doctor had done his work in setting the arm.

In the early fall of 1931, the writer was stricken with appendicitis, and upon learning of his brother's sickness, Bud was the first to call to learn of his brother's condition. And after his brother's return from the hospital, he was on hand immediately to visit his brother.

Hard times came to him during the depression of 1920, and more so with the deep depression of the thirties. Reverses came, which made farming unprofitable. Consequently, he was unable to meet his obligations. In fact, he was forced to give up his home and farm. His creditor had pressed him hard. This was sad when they had to leave their home for a small rented farm east of them, known as the Standley place. It was while living here that the writer last visited Bud and Bertha. Bud seemed quite reconciled to his financial condition. He could not prevent his reverses. He enjoyed his small encampment with his cows and lessened chores.

His brother Paul had many reverses likewise, and at the settlement of the father's estate, Paul was heavily in debt to the estate with no money to pay off the notes. As a consequence he gave the respective heirs notes, all to be paid at some future time. When Bud received his note from Paul, he without comment tore the note in pieces and threw it away, signifying he had no thought of holding anything over Paul's head. This was an act of love for a brother, an act repeated by most of his other brothers.

It might be well to state his great love and devotion for his companion. He spoke of her as Mammie. He was thoughtful and considerate of her. If he had a chance to spend the day sight-seeing, he wanted her to go along also. Bertha was the adopted daughter of Will and Martha Jane Dennison. She was quite attractive when young and carried this attractiveness to the last. Bud's Uncle Jose Turner was not happy with her marriage to Bud. He wanted her for himself. What an age span!

During the summer of 1940, Bud was stricken with cirrhosis and was taken to the hospital at Columbia, Missouri, for treatment. He lingered between life and death, with members of his family hovering over him. Three of his brothers, Ralph, Frank, and Joshua visited him there two days before he passed away. His passing was with much grief and sorrow to his loved ones. Our oldest brother had died. He was the second of the families of brothers and sister to die. He was not old. He died at the age of 68, passing away 22 June 1940. How much he is missed!

He left his beloved companion and his nice family of four sons and four daughters. While he was not able to leave them quantities of wealth, yet he left them a world of love. How dear were his children and wife to him!

He was laid to rest in the Helton cemetery not far from the burial site of his parents. The funeral was well attended. Elder John Turner, President of the Missouri Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, spoke words of comfort.

The family was careful to place a nice granite memorial at the grave.

Children:

1. Leonard Leslie, b. 1894, m. 16 Dec 1919, Norma Kathryn Green
2. William Numan, b. 1898, m. 13 Jan 1923, Iva Blanch Lile
3. Vivian Catherine, b. 1901, m. 5 Jun 1935, Isaac Garret Hutchison, d. 1988
4. Estelle Mae Julie, b. 1903, m. 10 Feb 1923, Donald Ear Begole, d. 1985
5. Donald Owen, b. 1905, m. 21 May 1930, Alice Anders, d. 1970
6. Susie Arlene, b. 1907, m. 3 May 1930, Dean Wayne Begole, d. 2003
7. Bertha "Mildred", b. 1909, m. 7 Apr 1945, Richard Scott Willard, d. 1997
8. Clinton Robert, b. 1911, d. 1993

Sources

1. ↑ Turner, Joshua C. That They Be Not Forgotten. 1974. No copyright

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6XG-HL1 : 14 August 2017), Robert J Turner in household of Thomas N Turner, Drake, Macon, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 141, sheet 592D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0701; FHL microfilm 1,254,701.
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3Z2-XVX : accessed 9 February 2018), Robert J Turner, Drake Township, Macon, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 67, sheet 2A, family 20, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,873.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2B3-G8D : accessed 9 February 2018), Robert J Turner, Drake, Macon, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 73, sheet 1A, family 3, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 796; FHL microfilm 1,374,809.
• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8C3-NXQ : accessed 10 February 2018), Robert J Turner, Drake, Macon, Missouri, United States; citing ED 72, sheet 6A, line 32, family 125, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 934; FHL microfilm 1,820,934.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHNM-NF4 : accessed 10 February 2018), Robert J Turner, Drake, Macon, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 7, sheet 4B, line 78, family 87, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1211; FHL microfilm 2,340,946.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #5660207