Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

WILLIAM TURNBULL

William Turnbull is one of Douglas' most interesting and oldest citizens today; though he is past the four-score year mark he has one of the most beautiful gardens of which he and Mrs. Turnbull are justly proud.

Captain Turnbull was born on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, about thirty miles from Ireland, England and Scotland. He was baptized in the Church of England, Aug. 10, 1845; he was bereft of his mother when only six weeks old and his father was killed in an explosion of a wrecked vessel on the Island in 1852, and at the age of 14 William was apprenticed to a Sailmaker and in 1865 shipped as sail-maker on a British ship to the East Indies on the Burma coast. The ship traded in that country two years to Ceylon, Isle of Mauritus, and other coast ports, the voyage covering seven years; seamen on British ships sign articles for three years on foreign going ships, so they hold their crew at least that long.

The great Chicago fire of 1871 and other things drew his attention to the making a trip to America and he arrived in Chicago, shipped on the steamer, Ira Chaffee, as a wheelsman, for Saugatuck, where he has since made his home. He sailed on the Chaffee three years when she was sold to Lake Superior parties; shipped on the steamer G. P. Heath, going from deckhand to Captain and was Captain of many boats including the R. C. Brittain, R M. Moore, J. C. Suit. Bon Ami, Charles McVea and others.

In the winter of '80 and '81 Capt. Turnbull and Robt. M. Moore built a steamboat in Allegan, the Moore, he sailed it four years when they sold to Hart Brothers of Green Bay, and the next spring bought a steamer, the John Otis, the other owners being Otis Johnson and John Gilchrist.

Mr. Turnbull in the early eighties bought a farm and fine home just out of Douglas, and was married to Miss Ellen Heath and to them was born one daughter, Maude.

After selling the farm a few years ago the Turnbulls came to Douglas village where they now reside.