Daniel Felix Turner (1878 - 1966)

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Biography

Born 1878

Died 27 MAR 1966.

Written by Daniel's brother:^[1]

Tucker, as he was called, was the fifth child of Tom and Susan Turner. Just why he was called by this name is not certain unless it was that his name had a mental association with the little old jingle "Old Dan Tucker." If so, someone called him that and it just stuck. He went by that name from boyhood.

He was lithe, slender, and vivacious. Few could outdo him in manual labor. He was almost a counter part of his brother Bill.

He was a leader among the youth. He had a most pleasing personality and everybody liked him. He was full of wit and fun and enjoyed great popularity. It was he that defended the young kids of the family when they were apprehended for some supposed naughtiness and disciplined by an older brother. The little kids of the family thought he was the greatest of brothers.

With all his good nature and pleasantry, he was not saintly when it came to church standards. It was quite possible that there was more law than love in his case as well as in many others. One day he went to church on a prancing young horse, and rode up amidst a group of young folk. His father saw him arrive, and something about his manner of riding, or treatment of the horse, occasioned a sharp reproof from his dad. This misguided handling of the case did not bring him closer to the dad, nor to the church. He never accepted the Adventist faith, nor any other church until well along in life when he joined the church of his wife's folks. Even then he did not appear overly religious.

In his youth he participated in all the fun, legitimate or otherwise, that all the youth of his age enjoyed at the time. He drank with the boys and went to dances, and the young ladies liked his company. Since he was quite close to the Carter family, the youngest daughter, Bertie, and he were interested in each other for a time, but he was also interested in other young ladies. His congenial attitude and manner made him very popular with the group, cousins and all.

His industry and skill are shown by the reputation which he made of cutting and shocking more corn than any one else of the entire neighborhood. And when it came to shucking (husking) corn, he seemed to be able to be in the lead.

While still a young man, he began to work for and with George Green, who was a blacksmith in Tull vania. While working here, he learned to shoe horses, weld iron, and do such work as comes in that line. Later in life this was quite an advantage to him in doing his own blacksmith work.

In the year 1903 (?) he went to work for Fred Lawson, who had just moved to Adair County north of Kirksville near a little town of Sublett. He worked for Lawson one or two seasons, and in the meantime, he made contacts with the youth of the community and became interested in Alta Adams. She was the daughter of James Adams of the community. They were married in 1904 and lived with his wife's parents for awhile. that time he found better conditions, which meant better gains. He located on a farm joining Laclede west of Brookfield. It was from here that after a few years he retired to the village of Laclede, and it was here that he spent the remainder of his days.

His church relations were a bit checkered also. In the early '2n's he became discouraged and dropped out of the church. He was never very happy over this experience, for the Good Spirit never left him. He was continually troubled•at heart, and during the latter days of life, he accepted the Master's call and was re-baptized in 1962. He and his brother John were baptized in his brother Frank's pond west of Goldsberry. He was a very happy man after this experience.

His attachment for his brothers was strong. He lived to see Bud, James, Bill, and Ralph pass to their rest. Emmett had also died in 1962. The death of his brother Tucker was a sad experience. He and Tucker were close in their family relations. They grew up together with all the fun and frolic of boyhood. He attended the funeral of Tucker along with other members of Tucker's immediate family.

Lafe's children loved their parents in a very strong way. And it can be said that his sons and daughters remained both loyal and affectionate to their parents. No tie could ever seemingly be stronger than the tie which binds them to one another, and this is possibly largely due to the love Lafe had for them

An enjoyable experience came to him a year before his death. On October 15, 1965, his brother from Lincoln came by and prevailed upon him to go along and spend the night and following Sabbath day with his folks in the Goldsberry vicinity. He spent the night with his brother Frank, he and Frank calling upon his brother Paul and guests. Sabbath morning he and Frank went to Sabbath school, a privilege he had not enjoyed for years. There were four brothers and his sister there to enjoy the worship together. And it was his birthday: He was 85 on that day. This was, indeed, a very special occasion. John, Frank, Jennie, and Paul were there, besides the writer.

For the noon-day dinner, the larger part of the church went to the home of a member of the church, Jennie Montgomery, and there they enjoyed a pleasant potluck dinner. During the latter part of the day, Lafe began to feel the wear and wanted to return to his home. His brothers took him to his home in Laclede. He was quite weary, but it had been such a wonderful day for him.

In the spring of 1966, he became hospitalized, and remained so until his death. During all this time of his sickness, his family remained close beside him at his bedside. Usually one of them was by his side at all times. His suffering was intense, and after a few weeks he passed away March 27, 1966.

Upon death he was laid to rest in the family cemetery beside his infant sons, who had preceded him more than fifty years before. The funeral was well attended by friends and relatives. Comforting words were spoken by the pastor of the church he loved so well. Those who were closely associated with him knew he did not go down in defeat. He had accepted the promise, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." During his illness he was given assurance of his acceptance with the Lord. He related to two of his children how the Lord had given him a view of the "Holy city John saw coming down." To him this was his token of acceptance. "Come, Lord Jesus," were his last thoughts.

Thus ended the life of a warm-hearted husband, parent, brother and friend.

Sources

1. ↑ Turner, Joshua C. That They Be Not Forgotten. 1974. pp. 25-26 [No copyright]