No source noted, penciled date of February 11, 1934, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. DEATH SEEKS ANOTHER AGED CITY LEADER Henry P. Tourner Very Critically Ill at Sisters' Home Death, which has taken many of the prominent older businessmen of the city in late months, today is near claiming another. Henry P. Tourner who has, for more than 50 years, has been a leading jeweler and musician of this community. Mr. Tourner is critically ill at the home of his sisters, Mrs. Seth E. Meek and Miss Anna Tourner, 408 East 4th Street, suffering from hardening of the arteries and complications peculiar to old age. He is not expected to live long with death probably any hour. The long career of useful service and business integrity of this man began 84 years ago in the small town of Hopkinsville, Ky., where he was born, the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. Henry P. Tourner. When he was but a few years old, his parents, hearing that Indiana University was located at Bloomington, moved their home here and established themselves as substantial citizens in the then-scattered town from which the present city has grown. Young Tourner soon made friends here, and showing an early aptitude and talent for music, his reputation spread, especially among the younger generation. He learned to play the fife, a popular instrument of the day, and became very adept at it. When the Civil War broke out in'61, and the passions of the community flared at the call to arms, he was taken around the country by the noted General Morton P. Hunter of this city who was enlisting men for service, and helped to secure volunteers. Probably many a Hoosier youth of Monroe County, hearing the boy fife out the martial strains of "Marchin' Through Georgia," or "John Brown's Body," took his haversack and gun and marched away to battle. The war passed and several years afterward Henry, now a young man in his early twenties, went to Louisville where he learned the profession of watchmaker and jeweler. He remained in Louisville for six years then spent some time at Cincinnati and Toledo, O. He was in Ohio when he received news of his father's death in 1881, and three years later he returned here to be with his mother and other members of the family. Following his craft, he entered in business here in 1884 taking a room located just east of the old First National Bank which then was constructed of brick. At this time there were only two other watchmakers in town-Tobe Smith and Josh Howe, both of whom will be remembered by the older folk. Henry was joined in the business by his younger brother, Howard, who also became proficient as a jeweler and musician. After five of six years in this location, the firm was moved to one of the two first-floor rooms in the Bradfute building where The Daily Telephone is now published. At this time Walter Bradfute, Sr., the father of the present publisher, Blaine Bradfute, was struggling to make his infant newspaper prosper. The paper was published in the rooms overhead the jewelry store which soon became the largest in town. Howard left the firm about this time and went to Indianapolis where he worked at the jeweler's trade and also became very active in music. At one time he occupied the first flutist chair in the old Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. After almost six years of success in the Bradfute location, Henry moved his store to its present site at 121 South Walnut Street and here he was rejoined later by Howard. Together they operated the business for the past 20 years, placing the firm on a sound basis and gaining a wide reputation in this and surrounding counties for business dependability and service. Henry was not only one of the early business leaders of the city, but also took an active part in musical life of the community and gained considerable recognition as an accomplished musician. He was one of the first members and organizers of the old Mendelssohn society, widely known in those days for its presentation of concerts and operas. The early growth of fraternal organizations here found him one of the most willing workers, and he became a charter member of the Knights of Pythias and Elks lodges and a member of the Red Men. His education training included several years study at Indiana University then located in the old site at the end of South College Avenue and a complete course a McCormick's Optical College in Chicago. Dr. Frank Tourner of this city is a brother.