Placer
County
Biographies
JOSEPH TURNER
The
visible result of the efforts of Joseph Turner, a well-remembered pioneer of
Placer County, is the farm located one-half mile from Loomis on which he
settled in 1858. He was born in England,
in 1813, and when three years of age was brought to the United States by his
parents who settled in Needham, Mass., where he received his education in the
public schools. Joseph Turner spent
thirty-seven years of his life farming in Massachusetts, then hearing the news
of the gold strike in California, he set out via Panama in April, 1850, and in
due time arrived in San Francisco, where he outfitted for the mines. He went to the North Fork of the Yuba River;
later mined on Feather River, but with only fair success; then he came to the
North Fork of the American River and subsequently located at Secret Ravine.
In
Massachusetts he had married Miss Ann Dexter, who remained there until 1853,
when she joined Mr. Turner in California, and they took up their residence on
the 200-acre farm at Pine Grove. Five
children were born to them: Frederick
William, J. C., F. A., and Elizabeth, all deceased; and George W. is the only
surviving child, and he is the owner of a portion of the old Turner home place
near Loomis and is a successful orchardist.
Joseph Turner imported his peach trees from Massachusetts in 1853, which
were the earliest fruit trees planted in this section of California; he
continued his horticultural operations until 1894, when he retired from active
business cares and turned over the management of his ranch to his sons. Mrs. Turner passed away at the family home in
1895, survived by her husband who passed away on December 8, 1899, a pioneer of
courageous spirit and marked energy, upright in all his dealings and well and
favorably known by all the pioneer settlers of this county. He was a staunch Republican in politics.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“History of Placer & Nevada Counties,
California”, by W. B. Lardner & M. J. Brock. Page 461.
Historic Record Co., Los Angeles 1924.
© 2013
V. Gerald Iaquinta.