OKEY, Ida Jane (Corning, IA)

 

IDA JANE OKEY
(click for larger image)

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO:  Ida Okey, Corning Iowa

PHOTO TAKEN: C.D.Tinsley photographer, circa 1901

ACQUIRED: Among a group of photographs given to me by Carol Kleppinger - these are friends, schoolmates and acquaintances of her grandmother Florence Ream.

Photographer C.D. Tinsley was operating in Corning Iowa from 1901 to 1902. Also, Miss Florence Ream was a student of 14 years of age, known to have resided near Corning from the years 1899-1901, leaving Corning in September of 1901. Florence is presumed to have been a student of Ida Okey, who was a teacher during that time. Therefore the photo of Ida Okey can be safely dated to the year 1901.

I love how the photographer did not cut off the hem of her dress in this image, carefully trimming around it and allowing it to flow out of the oval confine of the mat.

IDA OKEY was born 02-Nov-1871 in Corning Iowa and lived most of her life there. Her parents were Arthur Franklin Okey (a wealthy banker of the town, and son of Jeremiah Okey & Hannah Jane Smith) and Catherine Vernon (a daughter of Jacob Vernon and Catherine Smith).

1900 CENSUS > Iowa > Adams > Corning

• OKEY, Arthur F., head, 58, born in OH of OH & PA parents, banker
• OKEY, Catherine, wife, 58, born in OH of OH parents
• OKEY, Ida J., daug 28, born in Iowa, school teacher
• OKEY, Frank C, son 25, born in Iowa, lawyer
• OKEY, Leonora, daug 20, born in Iowa

She also has an older brother, Charles Edward OKEY (1869-1955) and older sister, Flora (1867-1935) who were already out on their own by the time of the 1900 Census.

On 25-June-1903, Ida married Reverend Theodore Baker Turner (1870-1964), a son of Austin Beecher Turner and Almira Amanda Baker. Theodore's brother Daniel Turner was Governor of Iowa from 1931-1933.

Their seven children are:

1. Theodore (b.1904), died in infancy
2. Almira Turner (1906-1992)
3. Lt. John Harold Turner (1907-1940) died in service, m. Mary Budd
4. Catherine Vernon Turner (1909-2011) m. Richard Phillips
5. Theodore B. Turner (twin) (1910-2009) m. Mary Sanders
6. Austin Clifford Turner (twin) (1910-1959) m. Anne Hegeman
7. Franklin W. Turner (1916-1999) m. Elizabeth Rupert

Upon her father's death in 1909, Ida inherited 480 acres of land about a mile southwest of Prescott Iowa. He had been ill and lingering near death for many weeks, the toll of which was heavy upon Ida's mother Catherine. A few months later, Ida's mother committed suicide in the attic of her daughter Flora's home in Corning, supposedly due to the mental anguish of her husband's recent death.

Ida Okey-Turner died 20-July-1932 and her obit was carried in the Adams County Free Press (Corning Iowa) edition of 21 July 1932. (click image for larger version).