dturner.html

History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

DAVID TURNER AND FAMILY 1861
D.M.C. Historian

David Turner was born in Randolph Co. Mo., September 21, 1836. His father, David Turner, was a native of Virginia, his mother Jany (Cloyd) Turner came from Kentucky. Mr. Turner's grandmother lived to be ninety nine years and seven months old.
In 1857 Mr. Turner came, by way of the Isthmus, to California, where he clerked in a store in Eldorado County.
In 1861, in company with William Odell, he came to Hood River and located on the East Side. There were but two families there at that time, one being the family of Peter Neal and the other that of Jerome Winchell his son-in-law.
Mr. Turner took a squatter's claim, then went to the gold fields at Auburn in Eastern Oregon, returning in a short time he bought out a squatter's right in the Pine Grove district. He remained there and built his home. The place is now owned by Dr. Thrane. (Bill Perry).
To illustrate the hardships of those early pioneers, I quote front a recent interview with Mr. Turner, published in the Glacier: "The winter of 186l and 1862 was the most severe in the records of Oregon's history. The country was paralyzed from Portland to Walla Walla. New Year's Day the ice that formed in the Columbia put an end to boat traffic. One of the boats was forced to tie up at Stanley's landing. The caretakers who swept the decks of the craft each day, measured each day's snowfall. His records showed at the end of the season a total of thirteen and one half feet. The river remained frozen until March 19th. It would be impossible to tell you what we went through that winter.
"My partner, who had taken up an adjoining claim, and I had in a lot of barley and poor venison. The Neals, who were our nearest neighbors, were without flour for a period of five weeks
"We finally grew so desperate that Jerome Winchell and I set off for The Dalles for provisions. The entire trip consumed four days. We came down to the Columbia and walked upon the ice.
"At Rowena, George Snipes had settled, and I became terribly thirsty when we were opposite this place, and fearing to drink from the air holes in the ice, we went ashore and called at his place. There were five dead cows on the front porch, and between the Snipes place and The Dalles we counted hundreds of dead horses and cattle. I shall never forget the horror of that winter. It caused the death of nearly all the cattle in the Hood River Valley.
Of course; the Neal and Winchell families slaughtered some of their animals for food, but the beef was so poor that it had but little nourishment."
March 19, 1866, Mr. Turner was married to Miss Amanda Neal, daughter of Peter Neal, his nearest neighbor.
Miss Neal was born in the Willamette Valley and grew up in pioneer surroundings. They were married at Mr. Turner's home, the Neal family assembling there for the occasion.
There was a good dinner and Mr. Turner cooked it. Mr. Ramsdell, the Hood River minister, came from his home on Phelps Creek to perform the ceremony and traveled part of the way on snowshoes, such was the spring of 1866. The day following the wedding Mr. Turner began grubbing some land near the house and Mrs. Turner joined him stacking and burning the brush. Thus they began their honeymoon by improving their home. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Turner.
Luella, the daughter, married Ed Rand, the son of Jack Rand of Hood River. The sons, William H. Roswell C. and Arthur M. Turner grew to manhood on the farm.
Mrs. Turner died on November 25th, 1887, from tuberculosis. William and Roswell died the same week in 1898 at the ages of twenty eight and twenty four years respectively. Arthur died two years later of the same disease. His age was twenty two years. Sad and lonely days followed for Mr. Turner and he finally sold his farm and moved into town.
In June 1897 he married Miss Laura E. Frost, a native of Illinois, but a resident of Hood River. They fitted up a cozy home and here Mr. Turner passed his last years. There was no finer garden in the valley than his. He loved the wild birds and took every means possible to protect them and instill that love in the hearts of the children of the neighborhood. In the early years of the Pioneer Society, he was their president, and as long as he lived he was the most prominent member of the organization. His memory was good, his mind was clear, he knew everything that happened in the early days, and was a good talker so that all could, came to see and hear him, and when he brought his violin and gave some of the old time melodies, the happiness of the pioneers was complete.
He became converted when a young man and was, for more than sixty years, a faithful and consistent member of the M.E. Church.
At the pioneers meeting in 1915, on the motion of Hon. E.L. Smith they voted to hold their next meeting on September 21, 1916 in honor of David Turners whose birthday it was. At the meeting in 1916 a large crowd was present to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of Mr. Turner's birthday, and never was a crowd better entertained.
Mr. Turner sang a song, most beautiful and appropriate, which was composed and arranged by two other pioneers. Accompanied on the piano by his granddaughter Miss Rand, he gave the old time melodies on the violin, as well as many new ones.
A beautiful copy of "Lancaster's Book" was presented to him in an appropriate speech by E.L. Smith, and children came bringing bouquets of lovely flowers, friends crowded around, grasping his hand and wishing him "Many Happy Returns" until the tears filled his eyes as he realized their appreciation and love.
This was his last birthday, with only a few hours illness he passed away on December 28, 1916, leaving many saddened hearts who missed his cheery words and sunny smiles.