Published in The Columbus Journal, May 28, 1902
DIED
TURNER--Died at the family residence in this city Thursday evening, May 22, 1902, at 8:20, Moses K. Turner, editor of The Columbus Journal, in the 64th year of his age, his death caused by hernia and acute liver trouble.
Moses Kennedy Turner was born at Cadiz, Ohio, June 23d, 1838, and died at his residence in this city May 22d, 1902, after an illness of about ten days, well along in his sixty-fourth year. He received an education in the common schools, and at the age of 16 commenced teaching, attending the colleges of Antioch (under Horace Mann) and New Athens during vacations. Was superintendent of the Cadiz schools and also superintendent at West Liberty, Ohio, which position he resigned in 1864 to enlist in the United States army, and saw several months of service in the Civil war, mostly in the Shenandoah valley.
In 1865 in was married at Cadiz, Ohio, to Eliza J. Craig. In 1869 he studied law in the office of his father, Judge Allen C. Turner, and later passed the examination required by the state board and was admitted to practice. In 1870 he came to Nebraska locating here, and in May of that year formed a co-partnership with his father and established the Platte Journal, later changing the name to The Columbus Journal, the management of which he continued until the time of his death.
He was a member of the Sixteenth session of the state legislature, serving this district as senator, elected over the late Hon. Guy C. Barnum. In 1884 ran for congress in this district in a three-cornered race and was defeated by only a few votes.
How truly has somebody written: "Life is a narrow vale between the cold And barrent peaks of two eternities."
Quiet, unobtrusive, kind and gentle in manner and speech, a student by nature, applying practical and scientific rules of argument to his study and research,--such was the character of our sketch. Strongly endeared to home and family, he lived as he should, always striving for the betterment of mankind about him, and the lesson of his life could well be emulated by the best of us.
The highest tribute which the writer can pay after a personal acquaintance of eighteen years is that he was respected and honored by all who knew him without regard to class or party. While always firm in his convictions, firm in his ideas and sentiments, yet charity and mercy stood boldly out among his many good traits of character. Possessed of a strong mind and a powerful intellect, still in the most trying of times he never was known to lose his self control.
A devoted husband, a kind and indulgent parent, always honest and upright with his fellow men, the loss is not felt by family and kindred alone, but by all who knew him and they were legion. Let us hope that in the other world his reward is complete.

...

Funeral services were held from the family home Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. Munro offering an eloquent prayer and Rev. Luce reading the scripture lesson, taking the text for his discourse from Isaiah x1:24. Rev. Luce spoke of having looked through the bible belonging to Mr. Turner and from passages found marked throughout in the line of his righteous thought and which had guided his actions through life. "Hope;" "God so loved the world;" "By grace ye are saved;" "Whosoever will may come'" "Righteousness and salvation only from the Lord;" are a few of the passages that were dwelt on indicating the characteristic thoughts of the deceased. He said in closing: "His attention was largely given to the editing and publishing of The Journal, which has the distinction of being the oldest paper under the same editorial management in the state. His paper has always been marked for its reliability and uprightness toward all persons. Brother Turner was a man of high and noble character, ever seeking to say and do the right thing, and would not entertain the thought of being less than one of God's true noblemen. He has borne his share of pioneer life. His influence for good can never be fully realized by those who have known little or nothing of the struggles that the early settlers passed through, and especially of those who endeavored to aid in the advancement of state, society, church and journalism. This was the aim of The Columbus Journal, and I hear many praises of the work done by this paper. He early became a christian and was a very consistent follower of Christ. His bible gives evidence by its numerous markings that he studied it for information and real spiritual help. I found him ever cheerful and very clear as to his views of the duty of all men to God and humanity. One has said, 'There may be as good men in the world but there was none better.' The text of the hour is very clearly the faith of our brother. He was thoughtful and considerate toward all, seeking to make this world better by his having lived. 'In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.'" The services were attended by the G.A.R. in a body, who draped the casket with the stars and stripes which he helped to defend at a critical time in the country's history, and which was an emblem that never failed to move him to reverence. Banks of flowers were about and nearly covered the stairway back of the casket. Six G.A.R. men, all friends and old settlers, were pallbearers, and they were as follows: W.A. McAllister, M. Whitmoyer, J.H. Galley, J.R. Meagher, E.D. Fitzpatrick and R.L. Rossiter, who acted as an escort on each side of the hearse from the house to the cemetery, where the regular G.A.R. service was held, a detachment from Co. K, N.N.G., firing the three volleys. The funeral was attended by a very large concourse of people. In conducting his paper he never allowed personal feeling to enter into his writing; his policy was to search for the good in each person and help to encourage them to do better by praising the good qualities. There are few lines in professional life that admit of a chance for personal vengeance as does the newspaper, yet he never allowed this to interfere with what he considered his duty. Indeed, he held no resentment in his nature and was never known to slander the character of another. Many times when a disgraceful act was made public, and talked about, he would delay writing about it until almost time for printing, hoping to be spared in some way, a painful duty. In all his local news-gathering he never intentionally published matter that would seem to invade the privacy of home. The golden rule, which he held as a standard for life, was truly lived in thought and action.
His home he loved above all places, and found no greater pleasure than having his family about him. With his children he was always affectionate. We do not remember of his once commanding one of them. His discipline was to advise and counsel. He never struck one of his family in punishment, and although many cares and trouble attend the raising of a large family, he was always patient, never complaining.
The Journal has lost its pilot, the public has lost a friend who believed his duty was to "support the weak, be patient toward all men, see that none render evil for evil, but ever follow that which is good."
He is with his God for "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he shall be my son."

BIOGRAPHICAL

MOSES K. TURNER

MOSES K. TURNER, editor, and one of the proprietors of the Columbus Journal, published under the firm name of M. K. Turner & Co.; established May 11, 1870; they have lost but one issue during the whole time, caused by a death in the family; they have never printed a dun to any patron of the Journal, which may fairly be considered a remarkable fact with Western editors; the circulation is equal to 1,000; they employ five hands in the work room outside of the proprietors. Mr. T. was born in Cadiz, Ohio, June 23, 1838; he received his education in the common schools of his native city, and began teaching at the age of sixteen years; he entered the Franklin College at New Athens, Ohio, in 1856, and some time afterward took a course in the Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, in his native State, while it was under the management of Prof. Horace Mann, after which he was engaged in teaching and superintending schools; he spent two years at West Liberty, Ohio, in a like occupation, then returned to his native city and began the study of law in the office of his father--A. C. Turner--then a practicing lawyer in Cadiz; he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court, in Columbus, Ohio, in February, 1870; the following month he removed to Columbus, Neb., and began the editing of the Columbus Journal, May 11 of the same year; in those days there were but very few newspapers printed in the far West, and only one in Nebraska west of Columbus. Mr. T. owns a farm of 680 acres three miles north of the city, on which he now resides. He was a member of the State Senate in 1880-82--special session.


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