Austin Beecher Turner Sr, for more than 60 years the leading business man of Corning, died at his home in this city Saturday evening, December 29, 1928, at the age of 85 years, 3 months, and 24 days.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon, January 1 in the Federated Church of which Mr. Turner was a leading member. The sermon was by the pastor, Rev. L. C. Schroeder. Burial was made in the Walnut Grove Cemetery.
For sever months, Mr. Turner had been gradually failing in health and at last the time came when the strong will could no longer overcome the weakness of the flesh. When Mr. Turner came to this community in its earliest days, more than 60 years ago, he was fighting a battle for health and during all of the intervening years, he kept up the strife. Threatened by tuberculosis, he so arranged his daily life that he should have the necessary exercise not only to ward off the disease, but also to build up a strong constitution, which he did. He rejected his home on the outskirts of the city in order that the long walk to business might be a benefit to him physically. Like Roosevelt, Mr.. Turner building his physical being into strong manhood, but he never relaxed in the fight.
The same will power that made him physically marked his business carer and made him a leader in the community.
Mr. Turner's full name was Austin Beecher Turner. He was the son of Austin and Laura Bates Turner, and was born at Chester Roads, Ohio, September 5, 1843. The other members of his father's family were one brother and two sisters. His father and brother died on the same day in May about four months prior to the birth of Mr. Turner. His mother and the remaining children carried on the work of the farm and the country store until the death of the mother in 1863.
When President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 men for 100 days, young Austin was an 18 year old student in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. he obtained his mother's consent to enlist and serves as a private in Company f. of the nineteenth Ohio infantry volunteers.
On November 26, 1867, Mr. Turner was married to Miss Almira Baker, in Cleveland, Ohio. To this union were born six children. The eldest, Frances was born in Chicago in 1868 and died in Corning, in 1870, the family having come to this city the latter part of 1868. The other children of this marriage are Theodore B, Austin B, both of Corning, Harry, who was killed by a holdup man in Pueblo, Colorado in 1903, Edward B. of Fairfield, and Daniel W. of this city.
The first Mrs. Turner passed away in February 1878, leaving the husband to care for five small children ranging from one year to seven in ages.
On May 31, 1882, Mr. Turner was married to Mary E. Crippen of Corning. To them four children were born, all of whom survive, Mrs. Ruth Beymer of Rupert, Idaho, Mrs. Laura Okey of Corning, Donald G. of Menasha, Wisconsin, and Ransom of Rupart, Idaho. All the living children were present at the funeral. In addition to the above mentioned family members of the family, Mr. Turner leaves 21 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
Since the death of Mrs. Turner in 1912, Mr. Turner's home has been presided over by his daughter, Mrs. Laura Okey, whose devotion and care lightened his declining years in a marvelous manner.
Mr. Turner's business career has been a remarkable one. We are told that on other merchant in Iowa enjoyed the distinction of as many years continuously in one place. By wise judgment he built a business that made him the wealthiest recall merchant in the state, while his loan business even exceeded the mercantile trade. In these activities his reputation was state wide. In local affairs he was always a leader. His influence was always exerted in behalf of the good things of life, the things that endure and make for the best citizenship. He was one of the founders of the Corning Academy, which probably did more for education than any other force ever exerted in the community, outside of the city schools. For many years he has been a member of the city library board and always interest in its activities. The most prominent member in the local Presbyterian Church, Mr. Turner was in a position to do much for the spiritual and moral uplift of the city. He encouraged clean sportsmanship and always delighted in racing, track meets, baseball, and football. In his prime, no man in Corning could put him on his back.
Adams County Union-Republican, January 2, 1929, page 1