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Christopher Turner ( 1871 - 1963)

Christopher Turner was born on 19 February 1871 in Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire, England, the son of John Turner (1818 - Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire, England) and Isabella Potter (1827 - England). Isabella died in 1875.

Christopher Turner emigrated from England around 1889, when Washington was still a territory. In the early days, Chris worked at the Snyder-Stevens Sawmill at the head of the bay. Later he worked at the Tacoma Hotel and Grand Pacific Hotel, and during the depression of 1892 became a gardener for several families, among them Nelson Bennett who built the Stampede Tunnel.

Around 1897, Chris married Nettie Greenlaw, a native of Spanaway, Pierce, Washington. They moved to a farm in Spanaway and began raising cows, chickens, vegetables, grains and flowers. Chris enjoyed growing produce and displayed his products at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup, Pierce, Washington for many decades, starting in 1917.

Chris and Nettie had six children namely; Raymond Bennett (1898), Byron Christopher (1901), Ethel M. (1903), Benjamin Lustrous (1907), Mary Belle (1909), and Alice Isbell (1912).

Chris was a member of the Episcopal Church.

Nettie Greenlaw Turner died on 19 Dec 1945 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington; and she was buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Tacoma (Lakewood), Pierce, Washington.

Chris moved off the farm and he lived at 105 Military Road South, Spanaway, Pierce, Washington.

Chris died on 18 September 1963 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington and was buried next to Nettie in the Mountain View Cemetery, Tacoma (Lakewood), Pierce, Washington.

Obituary:

"Chris Turner, Spanaway Pioneer, Dies

Chris Turner, 92, Spanaway area pioneer who gave his name to Turner Road, died this morning in a local hospital before he could fulfill his wish to attend the Western Washington Fair, where he exhibited many years. Mr. Turner lived at 105 Military Road S.

Born in Walt-le-Dale, England, he came to this area in 1889 while Washington was still a territory, and engaged in farming. From 1917 until recent years he exhibited grains, grasses, flowers and vegetables at the Puyallup fair and had planned to attend the current show.

In the early days, Mr. Turner was employed in the Snyder-Stevens Sawmill at the head of the bay, when Tacoma’s population was about 20,000. Later he worked at the Tacoma Hotel and Grand Pacific Hotel, and during the depression of 1892 became a gardener for several families, among them Nelson Bennett who built the Stampede Tunnel.

The late Mrs. Turner, who died in 1945, was the former Nettie Greenlaw, member of a pioneer family.

He was a member of the Episcopal Church.

Surviving are three sons, Ben L. and Byron C., both of Tacoma, and Raymond B., of Spanaway; three daughters, Mrs. Ethel Tweeden and Mrs. Alice Prettymen, both of Tacoma, and Mrs. Mary Key of Portland; eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Services will be announced by Mountain View Funeral Home."

Published 18 Sept 1963 in the Tacoma News Tribune.

Federal Census:

1910 US Census Washington Pierce Tacoma Spanaway District 201 (Ancestry.com page 15 of 17)

1920 US Census Washington Pierce Elk Plain District 204 (Ancestry.com page 1 of 7)

1930 US Census Washington Pierce Spanaway District 84 (Ancestry.com page 6 of 26)

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