Few of Muskogee’s early pioneers were more influential in building up the town than Clarence W. Turner. Turner had been born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1857, but his family moved to Fort Smith, Ark., in 1867, just after the Civil War.

Believing new opportunities lay in Indian Territory, Clarence’s father, J.E. Turner, received tribal permission to establish a mercantile in Okmulgee, the capital of the Creek Nation. Mrs. Turner remained in Fort Smith with the children where they could attend school.

By age 13, Clarence Turner decided he had enough education, so he quit school and began work in a store in Fort Smith, Ark. When his father came home for a visit in the fall of 1870, he decided Clarence was old enough to return with him and work at the Turner Mercantile in Okmulgee.

Clarence later recounted his first journey through Indian Territory to Grant Foreman. In 1870, the railroad had yet to enter the Territory, so travel was by boat, wagon or horseback. The Turners boarded a steam ferry at Fort Smith and spent their first night at a stage stop near Sallisaw, then continued by ferry to Webbers Falls the next day. They had dinner at Stand Waite’s home there, enjoying the Southern staple of sweet potato pie.

From Webbers Falls, they proceeded by horseback to the Creek Agency located near Fern Mountain. Muskogee did not exist at this time. From Creek Agency, they followed Pecan Creek westward, passed Cloud Creek and Bald Hill, and arrived in Okmulgee after three days of travel. Clarence started to work in the store the next day.

In those early days, trade was conducted mostly on the barter system. Area Creeks would bring in furs, wild turkey, venison and corn to exchange for merchandise. The Turners would then sell the furs to traders such as the Sondheimers out of St. Louis. Local Indians would also pledge cattle and hogs on credit.

One of Clarence’s responsibilities was to go out and collect these animals in the spring. With the arrival of the KATY Railroad to Indian Territory in 1872, the Turners would herd their animals to the primary depot in Muskogee and ship them to Kansas City or St. Louis. Soon, Clarence was in the ranching business, keeping some of these animals to start his own herd.

At age 18, Clarence bought out his father’s interest in the mercantile, and his father moved to Muskogee in 1877 to begin a store there. Clarence would continue building his business in Okmulgee, where he formed a friendship and partnership with Creek leader Pleasant Porter. In 1882, Turner also moved to Muskogee. He purchased the Atkinson Hardware and quickly grew the business to the largest in Indian Territory.

Turner also became Muskogee’s biggest booster. He invested in many businesses besides his own and helped establish many civic institutions. He supported schools and churches in the area. Turner also served on Muskogee’s first city council.

Despite losing his hardware store twice to devastating fires, Clarence Turner never gave up. He always built back bigger and better than before. And that was what he sought for Muskogee as well — bigger and better — and he ceaselessly worked toward that goal.