Santa Clara County
Biographies
CHRISTIANA VAN NORMAN TURNER
CHRISTIANA VAN NORMAN TURNER.
Renewed assurance of the ability and taste of women along agricultural lines is
found in the successful management of Mrs. Christiana Van Norman Turner, who,
with her son, William T. Turner, is comfortably and happily installed
on a ranch of twenty acres five miles south of Edenvale,
on East Pearl avenue. This ranch has taken on value
and importance since coming into the possession of the present owner and her
husband in 1887, and the family is known as a progressive and thrifty one,
having many friends among the substantial and leading members of the community.
Preference is given to a high grade of prunes, and the place is equipped with a
dryer and pumping machine, and all the modern conveniences which make
California country life rich in interest and satisfactory in remuneration.
Mrs. Turner was formerly a Miss Woodward, and spent the
first years of her life in Middlesex county, near
London, Ontario. Her father, Thomas Woodward, was born in Warwickshire,
England, and as a small boy removed with his parents to America, making the
voyage in a sailing vessel, and locating on a farm in Middlesex county. He became a farmer of consequence and wealth in his
adopted country, married Eliza Van Norman, who was born in Canada, her
family having settled there as United English Loyalists after the Revolutionary
war. Mr. Woodward was somewhat of a wanderer in his search for a permanent
home, and in 1864 accomplished the long journey from Canada to California,
coming by way of the Platte with wagons and horse teams, and settling in Solano
county, where he engaged in farming for seven years.
The title to his ranch proving inadequate, he removed to British Columbia, and
on a large tract of land in the Nicola valley turned his attention to
stock-raising on an extensive scale for the balance of his life. His wife, who
died in British Columbia in August, 1903, was the mother of three sons and one
daughter, the latter Mrs. Turner.
Mrs. Turner had the advantages of the public schools of
Canada, but she has learned more from the great teacher, experience, to whose
counsel she has ever been a willing listener. In 1870 occurred her marriage to
Richard Watson Turner, who was born in Missouri, and who crossed the plains
with his parents. His father came originally from Virginia and his mother from
North Carolina. Mr. Turner was reared on a farm, and after his marriage
went to British Columbia, returning to California in 1881. In 1882 he engaged
at the carpenter’s trade and building in San Jose, and in 1887 he purchased the
home now occupied by his widow. He was quite successful with his ranch, devoted
entirely to the raising of prunes, made many fine improvements on it, and had
abundant cause to be grateful that his lines were cast in pleasant places. He
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and
almost up to the time of his death, in August, 1897, at the age of fifty-four
years, was actively and widely interested in the development of his prosperous
locality.
Mrs. Turner is the mother of five sons and one daughter,
the eldest of whom, Frank, was born of a former marriage. The other children
are Charles C., William T., Richard V., Edith A., and
Walter Clifford. Of these three children reside at home, William T.,
Edith A., and Walter C. Since her husband’s death Mrs. Turner
has maintained his thorough and practical management, and has continually
studied to improve her charming home environment. She is a consistent member of
the Christian Science Church, and in her character and optimistic view of life,
reflects the teachings of that helpful denomination.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 09 May 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
599-600. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.