The name of Turner has been familiar to residents of the valley from an early date. The first of the name who located in Wyoming was John Turner, who came about 1780 to Plymouth from near Hackettstown, N.J., and died of an epidemic in 1803. Four sons survived him, Emanuel, Daniel, John and Jonah. Emanuel settled in Huntington, Daniel in Kingston, Jonah at Hope, N.J., and John remained upon the homestead in Plymouth, where he was born in 1789. He was public spirited and progressive and a friend of education, at times paying more than liberally toward the support of schools in Plymouth, and succeeded after considerable trouble and against much opposition in introducing the study of the dead languages into the school course.
He died July 3d, 1871, greatly regretted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
To those acquainted with the characteristics and aims of John Turner it is no matter for wonder that his second son, Hon. Samuel G. Turner, deceased, should have been a man of progressive ideas, of energy and integrity, and eminently fitted to stand as a representative man of the valley. Born in Plymouth in March, 1819, he grew to manhood there, laying surely the foundations of a successful career by the acquirement of an education and habits of industry and application which brought to him their own legitimate reward. He had no wealthy kinsmen to prosper him with power and patronage in the early struggles of life. Hard work, good habits, business talents, strict integrity and rigid economy brought him an ample fortune; and while among the wealthest he was at the same time one of the self-made men in the valley. At a suitable age he embarked in business life as a merchant and coal dealer in Plymouth, subsequently removing to Shickshinny to assume the duties of president of the Shickshinny Coal and Iron Company; thence to
Wilkes-Barre a few years prior to his death. He attained considerable political prominence and was honored on several occasions by election as representative of his district in the Pennsylvania legislature. He was a candidate for the lower house in 1854, but was defeated. He ran again in 1857 and was elected. During that session of the Legislature he was chairman of the committe of canal commissioners and reported favoring the abolishment of the office of such commissioners. The next year he was a candidate again but was defeated. In 1868 he received the nomination of the Democratic convention for State senator and was elected by the people, serving his term with credit to himself and his constituents. It was chiefly through his instrumentality that the mine ventilation bill was passed, of which he is said to have been the author. Concerning Mr. Turner’s political career, Hon. Hendrick B. Wright has written: "In his capacity of legislator there attaches not the least suspician of a want of fidelity." This testimony in the times in which we are writing is eminently deserving of notice.
Mr. Turner was married June 6th, 1865, to Miss E.G. Dietrick, born in Salem, Columbia county, Pa., April 24th, 1841, and who survives him with their children, three in number. As a neighbor he was eulogized most highly, and it is said he was a devoted husband and the tenderest of parents. Just prior to his death he was not actively engaged in business, but he was interested in and aided with his means and influence several important enterprises, and he was a director of the Plymouth Savings Bank, an institution founded chiefly by his earnest endeavors, He was a member and communicant of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, toward the support of which, as well as to all religious, charitable and educational objects, he was a liberal contributor. His death occurred December 20th, 1872, after an illness of only a few days. His funeral was solemnized from his residence, on Washington street, Revs. Snowden and Williamson officiating, and Messrs. E.L. Dana, E.C. Wadhams, F.J. Leavenworth, John J. Shonk, F. Reynolds and Ira Davenport acting as pall bearers, and Peter Pursel directing the order of ceremonies. It was largely attended, and a long procession of carriages and sleighs accompanied the remains to Hollenbeck cemetery.
At the time of his death Mr. Turner was physically so strong and robust as to appear to have scarcely reached the prime of life. Possessed of an extraordinary degree of intelligence, honor, energy and good judgment, he was one of the most successful business men in the city, and his prospects of a future successful commercial and political career were very brilliant.
He died July 3d, 1871, greatly regretted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
To those acquainted with the characteristics and aims of John Turner it is no matter for wonder that his second son, Hon. Samuel G. Turner, deceased, should have been a man of progressive ideas, of energy and integrity, and eminently fitted to stand as a representative man of the valley. Born in Plymouth in March, 1819, he grew to manhood there, laying surely the foundations of a successful career by the acquirement of an education and habits of industry and application which brought to him their own legitimate reward. He had no wealthy kinsmen to prosper him with power and patronage in the early struggles of life. Hard work, good habits, business talents, strict integrity and rigid economy brought him an ample fortune; and while among the wealthest he was at the same time one of the self-made men in the valley. At a suitable age he embarked in business life as a merchant and coal dealer in Plymouth, subsequently removing to Shickshinny to assume the duties of president of the Shickshinny Coal and Iron Company; thence to
Wilkes-Barre a few years prior to his death. He attained considerable political prominence and was honored on several occasions by election as representative of his district in the Pennsylvania legislature. He was a candidate for the lower house in 1854, but was defeated. He ran again in 1857 and was elected. During that session of the Legislature he was chairman of the committe of canal commissioners and reported favoring the abolishment of the office of such commissioners. The next year he was a candidate again but was defeated. In 1868 he received the nomination of the Democratic convention for State senator and was elected by the people, serving his term with credit to himself and his constituents. It was chiefly through his instrumentality that the mine ventilation bill was passed, of which he is said to have been the author. Concerning Mr. Turner’s political career, Hon. Hendrick B. Wright has written: "In his capacity of legislator there attaches not the least suspician of a want of fidelity." This testimony in the times in which we are writing is eminently deserving of notice.
Mr. Turner was married June 6th, 1865, to Miss E.G. Dietrick, born in Salem, Columbia county, Pa., April 24th, 1841, and who survives him with their children, three in number. As a neighbor he was eulogized most highly, and it is said he was a devoted husband and the tenderest of parents. Just prior to his death he was not actively engaged in business, but he was interested in and aided with his means and influence several important enterprises, and he was a director of the Plymouth Savings Bank, an institution founded chiefly by his earnest endeavors, He was a member and communicant of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, toward the support of which, as well as to all religious, charitable and educational objects, he was a liberal contributor. His death occurred December 20th, 1872, after an illness of only a few days. His funeral was solemnized from his residence, on Washington street, Revs. Snowden and Williamson officiating, and Messrs. E.L. Dana, E.C. Wadhams, F.J. Leavenworth, John J. Shonk, F. Reynolds and Ira Davenport acting as pall bearers, and Peter Pursel directing the order of ceremonies. It was largely attended, and a long procession of carriages and sleighs accompanied the remains to Hollenbeck cemetery.
At the time of his death Mr. Turner was physically so strong and robust as to appear to have scarcely reached the prime of life. Possessed of an extraordinary degree of intelligence, honor, energy and good judgment, he was one of the most successful business men in the city, and his prospects of a future successful commercial and political career were very brilliant.
The name of Turner has been familiar to residents of the valley from an early date. The first of the name who located in Wyoming was John Turner, who came about 1780 to Plymouth from near Hackettstown, N.J., and died of an epidemic in 1803. Four sons survived him, Emanuel, Daniel, John and Jonah. Emanuel settled in Huntington, Daniel in Kingston, Jonah at Hope, N.J., and John remained upon the homestead in Plymouth, where he was born in 1789. He was public spirited and progressive and a friend of education, at times paying more than liberally toward the support of schools in Plymouth, and succeeded after considerable trouble and against much opposition in introducing the study of the dead languages into the school course.
He died July 3d, 1871, greatly regretted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
To those acquainted with the characteristics and aims of John Turner it is no matter for wonder that his second son, Hon. Samuel G. Turner, deceased, should have been a man of progressive ideas, of energy and integrity, and eminently fitted to stand as a representative man of the valley. Born in Plymouth in March, 1819, he grew to manhood there, laying surely the foundations of a successful career by the acquirement of an education and habits of industry and application which brought to him their own legitimate reward. He had no wealthy kinsmen to prosper him with power and patronage in the early struggles of life. Hard work, good habits, business talents, strict integrity and rigid economy brought him an ample fortune; and while among the wealthest he was at the same time one of the self-made men in the valley. At a suitable age he embarked in business life as a merchant and coal dealer in Plymouth, subsequently removing to Shickshinny to assume the duties of president of the Shickshinny Coal and Iron Company; thence to
Wilkes-Barre a few years prior to his death. He attained considerable political prominence and was honored on several occasions by election as representative of his district in the Pennsylvania legislature. He was a candidate for the lower house in 1854, but was defeated. He ran again in 1857 and was elected. During that session of the Legislature he was chairman of the committe of canal commissioners and reported favoring the abolishment of the office of such commissioners. The next year he was a candidate again but was defeated. In 1868 he received the nomination of the Democratic convention for State senator and was elected by the people, serving his term with credit to himself and his constituents. It was chiefly through his instrumentality that the mine ventilation bill was passed, of which he is said to have been the author. Concerning Mr. Turner’s political career, Hon. Hendrick B. Wright has written: "In his capacity of legislator there attaches not the least suspician of a want of fidelity." This testimony in the times in which we are writing is eminently deserving of notice.
Mr. Turner was married June 6th, 1865, to Miss E.G. Dietrick, born in Salem, Columbia county, Pa., April 24th, 1841, and who survives him with their children, three in number. As a neighbor he was eulogized most highly, and it is said he was a devoted husband and the tenderest of parents. Just prior to his death he was not actively engaged in business, but he was interested in and aided with his means and influence several important enterprises, and he was a director of the Plymouth Savings Bank, an institution founded chiefly by his earnest endeavors, He was a member and communicant of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, toward the support of which, as well as to all religious, charitable and educational objects, he was a liberal contributor. His death occurred December 20th, 1872, after an illness of only a few days. His funeral was solemnized from his residence, on Washington street, Revs. Snowden and Williamson officiating, and Messrs. E.L. Dana, E.C. Wadhams, F.J. Leavenworth, John J. Shonk, F. Reynolds and Ira Davenport acting as pall bearers, and Peter Pursel directing the order of ceremonies. It was largely attended, and a long procession of carriages and sleighs accompanied the remains to Hollenbeck cemetery.
At the time of his death Mr. Turner was physically so strong and robust as to appear to have scarcely reached the prime of life. Possessed of an extraordinary degree of intelligence, honor, energy and good judgment, he was one of the most successful business men in the city, and his prospects of a future successful commercial and political career were very brilliant.
He died July 3d, 1871, greatly regretted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
To those acquainted with the characteristics and aims of John Turner it is no matter for wonder that his second son, Hon. Samuel G. Turner, deceased, should have been a man of progressive ideas, of energy and integrity, and eminently fitted to stand as a representative man of the valley. Born in Plymouth in March, 1819, he grew to manhood there, laying surely the foundations of a successful career by the acquirement of an education and habits of industry and application which brought to him their own legitimate reward. He had no wealthy kinsmen to prosper him with power and patronage in the early struggles of life. Hard work, good habits, business talents, strict integrity and rigid economy brought him an ample fortune; and while among the wealthest he was at the same time one of the self-made men in the valley. At a suitable age he embarked in business life as a merchant and coal dealer in Plymouth, subsequently removing to Shickshinny to assume the duties of president of the Shickshinny Coal and Iron Company; thence to
Wilkes-Barre a few years prior to his death. He attained considerable political prominence and was honored on several occasions by election as representative of his district in the Pennsylvania legislature. He was a candidate for the lower house in 1854, but was defeated. He ran again in 1857 and was elected. During that session of the Legislature he was chairman of the committe of canal commissioners and reported favoring the abolishment of the office of such commissioners. The next year he was a candidate again but was defeated. In 1868 he received the nomination of the Democratic convention for State senator and was elected by the people, serving his term with credit to himself and his constituents. It was chiefly through his instrumentality that the mine ventilation bill was passed, of which he is said to have been the author. Concerning Mr. Turner’s political career, Hon. Hendrick B. Wright has written: "In his capacity of legislator there attaches not the least suspician of a want of fidelity." This testimony in the times in which we are writing is eminently deserving of notice.
Mr. Turner was married June 6th, 1865, to Miss E.G. Dietrick, born in Salem, Columbia county, Pa., April 24th, 1841, and who survives him with their children, three in number. As a neighbor he was eulogized most highly, and it is said he was a devoted husband and the tenderest of parents. Just prior to his death he was not actively engaged in business, but he was interested in and aided with his means and influence several important enterprises, and he was a director of the Plymouth Savings Bank, an institution founded chiefly by his earnest endeavors, He was a member and communicant of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, toward the support of which, as well as to all religious, charitable and educational objects, he was a liberal contributor. His death occurred December 20th, 1872, after an illness of only a few days. His funeral was solemnized from his residence, on Washington street, Revs. Snowden and Williamson officiating, and Messrs. E.L. Dana, E.C. Wadhams, F.J. Leavenworth, John J. Shonk, F. Reynolds and Ira Davenport acting as pall bearers, and Peter Pursel directing the order of ceremonies. It was largely attended, and a long procession of carriages and sleighs accompanied the remains to Hollenbeck cemetery.
At the time of his death Mr. Turner was physically so strong and robust as to appear to have scarcely reached the prime of life. Possessed of an extraordinary degree of intelligence, honor, energy and good judgment, he was one of the most successful business men in the city, and his prospects of a future successful commercial and political career were very brilliant.
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