Lillie Turner
1874-May 20, 1888
Niles Democrat (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, May 26, 1888, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
Mr. John H. Turner, residing at the old Bort place in West Niles, on Saturday afternoon last took his little granddaughter Lillie Turner and Lizzie Swartz, for a boat ride on the river above the dam. The boat ran upon a submerged stump near the head of the island, turning the boat bottom side up and throwing the occupants into the water. Mr. Turner and Lizzie Swartz were saved by clinging to the boat and a stump, but little Lillie Turner was evidently caught by a snag and held beneath the water. Morris Shepherd and John King who had been notified of the accident took the paper mill boat and went to the rescue, saving the two above named, but were unable to locate the drowned girl or find trace of her. Search was continued all day Sunday and until ten o'clock Monday morning when the body was found by Charles Wood and Rob't Brown, about a rod from where it went down. The accident gains additional sadness from the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Turner have recently been called upon to mourn the decease of another daughter. Mr. Turner, who is an inventor and traveling man was absent from home at the time, but was summoned by telegraph.