A Tribute to John W. Turner 1882-1961

[Roma Jean Turner]

     Moline's historian is dead.  John Turner was the man on Main Street, who the city depended on for the past history.  If anyone wanted to know, who had a shop, office or store in Moline in early days, John could tell you.  He had a fine memory for facts in politics, events and the general happening of the day.  He represented an era of individualism and independence of belief and action, which is rapidly slipping from our American life.  His judgment was based on sound thinking regardless how others thought.  In his column he strongly criticized religious, education and governmental groups which did not make him very popular with certain groups.
     We, as the editors of the 'The Moline Advance' want to express our appreciation in order that his son George, and friends may know what he contributed to our paper.  Without any renumeration, he wrote the column every week.  There was only a few exceptions that his article or ad did not appear in the paper.  Truly his column could have been syndicated.
     He was a man of system.  For many years on Tuesday morning his script of "Annie Knight" and ad for the lumber business would be in the printing office.  In his business he did everything on time.  If an article was purchased at the lumber yard, he did not say a word to you until he had it on the books.  He was a man of economy as well as system.  As manager of Turner Lumber Co, he was hold the positions of two men, bookkeeper and yard man.
     John was a good Bible student.  His discussion showed study and thought on history and facts of the bible.
     He read.  He studied.  He thought........................Fred and Hazel Axtell