My Genealogy Hound

Clark B. Turner, a veteran newspaper man of Pontiac, Michigan, who was identified with the Pontiac Gazette from 1863 to February 13, 1899, is one of the best known citizens of this place. Mr. Turner was born at Mount Ross, Dutchess County, New York, May 12, 1838, and is a son of Cornelius W. and Anna Elizabeth (Young) Turner, both of whom were born in Dutchess County, New York.

The father of our subject was a prominent citizen of Mount Ross, where for many years he was a woolen manufacturer. His death took place at Flushing, Michigan, when he was 82 years of age. His wife was a daughter of David Young, the “village blacksmith” at Pine Plains, New York. She passed away a few years since, aged 82, having reared four children.

Our subject passed his early school days in New York and Massachusetts, and at the age of 13 entered that equally valuable school, a printing office, being apprenticed to the proprietors of the Berkshire County Courier, where he remained two years. One of the proprietors, Clark W. Bryan, went then to take charge of the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican and was accompanied by young Turner, but the latter subsequently joined his father at Waterbury, Connecticut. He entered the office of the American of that city, with which he remained until 1857, when he entered the book publishing establishment of George F. Trow, in New York City, where he continued until the following fall. Removing then to Flint, Michigan, he soon became foreman in the Wolverine office and filled the position for six years and then came to Pontiac, and here he began his long connection with the Pontiac Gazette. In partnership with W. I. Beardsley, he bought the plant, this being in 1863. The new partners found but an apology of an office, the establishment having been previously in the hands of non-professional printers and badly managed. They at once renovated the office and began the task of building up the business, removing into new quarters, improving the plant and adding newer and more modern material, — and continued together four years. In 1874 the firm of Kimball & Turner was formed. The former was particularly efficient in the political department of the paper and his services to the Republican party were later recognized by his appointment as postmaster of Pontiac, and still later as appraiser for the port of Detroit. Other changes succeeded, he having sold a half interest to S. J. Tomlinson, the present owner, a former associate, and in 1899, after disposing of all his interests in the Gazette, embarked in a new enterprise. In association with his two sons, he started the Oakland County Journal, which later became merged with the Pure Food Era of Detroit. After some two years the partnership was dissolved. Since then our subject has been engaged in the fire insurance business, representing the American, of Newark, New Jersey, and the Union Fire, of Philadelphia.

Mr. Turner was married on August 18, 1868, to Charity I. Northrup, who was born at Watertown, Connecticut, and was left an orphan at the age of six years and was reared in the home of her sister, Mrs. James McWhinnie. A family of five children were born to this union, as follows: Arthur C., a newspaper man; Mabel and Birdie, both graduates of the Pontiac High School; Harry N., occupying a responsible position with the Acme White Lead Works of Detroit, who resides in New York, and in 1901 married Lena Pepper, daughter of a prominent Oakland County farmer; and Roy N., who is engaged with Burnham & Stoepel, wholesale dry goods dealers of Detroit.

Both our subject and wife are active in the Methodist Church and for 16 years he served as Sunday-school superintendent. On January 1, 1893, he was appointed by Governor Rich one of the board of trustees of the Michigan School for the Deaf and served six years as the chairman of the board. Although not directly connected with journalistic work at present, Mr. Turner still feels the old charm which never entirely passes away from those who have been members of the craft.