Tales Tombstones Tell 2025 - John B. Turner
36th Annual Tales Tombstones Tell Self - Guided Tour
Step back in time with us for the 36th annual Tales Tombstones Tell — a beloved community tradition that brings local history to life, one gravestone at a time.
Each video in this series features a stop from our Oakwood Cemetery walk, sharing the stories of the people, families, and events that helped shape our town’s past. Whether you’re exploring for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, these tales reveal the humanity, humor, and heart found among the stones.
John B. Turner (1799–1871) was a railroad visionary, entrepreneur, and namesake of West Chicago’s earliest settlement, Turner Junction. His leadership in the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad helped shape Illinois’ first major rail junction and the foundation of our city.
Interpreted by: Bob and Beth
Ready for interesting information, right? I hope you came to the right place!
Let me pass a couple of pictures around while we’re talking here. We’re talking about John B. Turner, and I have a picture of him here — along with a picture of the first train engine they actually purchased (used at the used train store!) and a picture of Mary McConnell, who you’ll hear more about tonight.
We don’t have a grave for me here, but my name is John Bice Turner.
I was born in Colchester, New York in 1799, but I made my life here in Illinois — like many others, particularly after 1825 when the Erie Canal opened.
I came west to Chicago in the 1830s, starting out in the livery business. Over time, my path led me to the railroads, and I became president of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad — the very first railroad to run out of Chicago instead of into it.
The railroad was everything in those days. It opened the door to growth, settlement, and industry. I took a very active role — in fact, I was known to climb the lookout tower at the Kinzie Street Depot in Chicago just to watch for trains and announce their arrival.
I used a marine-style telescope and could see six miles out to Austin. When the trains started heading west out of Chicago, I made sure I was right in the middle of the action — at the literal center of two train lines.
The first junction of railroads happened to be right on a plot of land I may or may not have ensured would welcome such rail lines through it — the Galena and Chicago Union and the St. Charles Branch Railroad.
I owned the land at that crossing, and in 1855, I laid out a town plan called Junction.
A few years later, Dr. Joseph and Mary McConnell platted their land to the north and named it Turner, in my honor. You’ll hear more about them a little later tonight.
Together, our two plats came to be known informally as Turner Junction.
In 1873, the village was formally incorporated under the name Turner. Over time, the community grew, and in 1896, the name was changed to West Chicago — to better reflect this place on the map and, more importantly, to attract business. It seemed more cosmopolitan than “out in the country,” as it was then.
Still, I remain proud of the fact that the people of this town once chose to call it Turner, honoring my role in its beginnings. Although the name of the city changed, I am remembered still.
Even though I never actually lived here, I feel that without me, this community would not exist — or at least would look very different.
A local elementary school still bears my name — Turner School — a reminder to each new generation of the role my first railroad junction played in building this community.
I was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago in 1871, at 72 years of age.
I was married twice: my first wife, Martha, died in 1853 at age 54. My second wife, Adelaide, died in 1890 at 91 or 92 — she lived a long time. We had five children: the last with Adelaide, and the first four with Martha.
And that’s what we know about John Bice Turner.
We’ll close with a little railroad song — so join us, and let her fly!
🎵 Freight train, freight train, going so fast.
Freight train, freight train, going so fast.
Please don’t tell what train I’m on,
So they won’t know where I’ve gone. 🎵
Thank you.
