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There was another Turner family which also came from the United Kingdom, but this group came from Yorkshire, England, not Scotland, like George Turner from last week. Eight siblings, descendants of William Turner and Mary Leighton, all were born in Yorkshire and emigrated to the U.S. along with their parents, who lived and died (both in 1836), in Detroit, Michigan. Three siblings settled here, three settled in Chicago and two stayed in Detroit.
An early settler, William Leighton homesteaded on Winn Road in Section 13 of Richmond Township. Known as “Uncle William” far and wide, he was a jolly, generous-hearted man. He and his wife, Mary Milburn, had two children and adopted his niece, Isadora Turner.
William had many friends who always received a “hearty greeting and happy time” when visiting. In April 1871, he and his wife celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with 40 – 50 guests who spend a whole day and evening celebrating with tables “overflowing with a rich and bounteous supply of good things.” There was also music, gifts, and an evening of “rare enjoyment”, which one guest said was seldom experienced more than a few times in a lifetime.
In the spring of 1874 the couple visited England for the first time in 40 years. They spent the summer among their friends and relatives and came back in early January 1875. They had a pleasant time (although the voyage back was a little rough) and William purchased a new $400 carriage in Chicago before coming home (about $16,000 today).
Just a few months later in May, on another trip home from Chicago with a new load of furniture and in the company of his brothers, Robert and John, William was laughing and joking and seemed as well as ever when all at once he made a noise similar to snoring. When Robert looked around he saw Williams' eyes were set and he was gone in a moment... They were about 15 miles from home and not near any house, so they laid him on a sofa they had just bought, and brought him back to Solon Mills, where he had retired.
William was passionately fond of music, both vocal and instrumental. His favorite song, which he “delighted to join in singing” was sung at his funeral, and entitled “home over there.” He was 72 years old. His widow died of diphtheria five years later in 1880.
Story by Laura Frumet
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