California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 THOMAS GEORGE TURNER.� One of the thriftily kept ranches in the Lower Lake precinct of Lake county is the property of Thomas George Turner, in Burns valley, who carries on general farming, fruit growing and stock raising on a tract of one hundred and ten acres which he has improved greatly during his residence there of almost thirty years. It lies along the shore of Clear lake, and with many natural advantages and systematic culti- vation has become a beautiful place. Mr. Turner was brought up at Bir- mingham, England, where he was born April 21, 1847. His father, Joseph Turner, was a gun manufacturer in that country, the eldest son in the firm of Joseph Turner & Sons, whose business had been established by Joseph Turner, the head of the firm. They turned out shotguns and rifles, and man- ufactured many pieces for the English army. Joseph Turner married Miss Martha Parks, who was born near Birming- ham, and lived and died in England, as did also her husband. He passed away when his son Thomas was but three years old, leaving three children : Joseph, who came to America and died in Missouri ; Thomas George ; and Kinbury, now living near Birmingham, widow of Thomas Gilman, a whole- sale grocer and druggist of that place. The mother remarried, her second husband being Benjamin Davis, by whom she had two children: John P., who is a farmer in Burns valley. Lake county ; and Hannah, married and living in England. Thomas George Turner barely remembers his father, who died when he was only about three years old. As he was not strong in his boyhood he was sent into the country to live, and grew up familiar with rural life, learn- ing to till the soil in his native land. He attended private school near Bir- mingham. He came to America in 1874, and settling at Bedford, in Taylor county, Iowa, bought a farm there and worked it for five years. The climate, however, proved too rigorous, and he sold out and came to Lake county, Cal., arriving at Lower Lake April 9, 1880. His first investment in land here was among the hills, near Kelseyville, but he sold that place after five years' ownership and then bought his present property, which he has since occupied. He has labored industriously and methodically in the work of improving it, has remodeled the house and barn, put up fences, and attended to many other details which add to its appearance and value. There is an abundance of white building sand and gravel for road purposes on his land, and he sells both in considerable quantities, the quality being so exceptional that there is considerable demand for both. Mr. Turner takes no special credit for what he has achieved in his agricultural work, but as every improved farm adds to the assets of the neighborhood he has done his share in its advance- ment. He has given all his attention to his work, and has declined to hold any political office, though solicited to do so by his fellow citizens. Though conservative he is thoroughly progressive, and ready to do whatever lies in his power to further the interests of Lake county. He is a Republican in political sentiment. While living in Iowa, on January 1, 1877, Mr. Turner married Miss Neoma Hoover, a native of that state, where her father, Benjamin B. Hoover, a Kentuckian, settled while the Black Hawk Indians were still there, his death occurring in February, 1906. Mrs. Hoover, formerly Mary Ann Hinkle, a native of Illinois, still resides in Iowa, in which state she was married. Mrs. Turner was the second in the family of eleven children. She received her education in Taylor county and taught school before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Turner have no children. Mr. Turner was reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church, Mrs. Turner in the Methodist Episcopal Church.