Lennox B. Turnbull, Jr.

History of Kentucky, five volumes, edited by Judge Charles Kerr, American Historical Society, New York & Chicago, 1922, Vol. IV, p. 591 Perry Co.

Lennox B. Turnbull, Jr. The experience of Lennox B. Turnbull, Jr., in the hardware business has been unique and interesting and has covered every phase of the business, including the unloading of cars and traveling by horse-back as a salesman prior to the advent of railroads in several parts of the country. Devoted to this industry from the time he left college halls, his advancement has been steady and continuous, and through individual merit he has won his way to the presidency of the Sterling Wholesale Hardware Company, located at Hazard, where he also occupies the position of president of the Hazard Board of Trade.

Lennox B. Turnbull, Jr. attended the graded schools in North Carolina, where his father was occupying a pulpit at Durham, after which he pursued a course at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia. His first business experience was secured with a hardware establishment at Bristol, Virginia, where he began at the bottom of the ladder and was employed in such work as unloading cars, etc. His industry and natural ability, together with his aptitude in gaining a knowledge of the details of the business, soon won him promotion and before the end of his employment at Bristol he was engaged as a traveling salesman, his territory being portions of southwest Virginia to which railroads had not yet been built. He likewise included Harlan and Letcher counties, Kentucky, where there were likewise no transportation lines, and this necessitated his traveling on horseback, with his samples and change of clothing packed away in his saddle-bags. After severing his connection with the Bristol concern, Mr. Turnbull joined the traveling force of the Norton Hardware Company, of Norton, Virginia, and it was as a representative of this firm that he first came to Hazard, via horseback. The journey, in its making, required some thirty days, the greater part being spent in the saddle, over bad roads and in all kinds of weather. The training, however, was an excellent one, and Mr. Turnbull was brought into touch with the people who were to become his later customers in a way that he would not have otherwise.

He came to Hazard in 1914 and organized the Sterling Hardware Company. Under his direction, the company has made rapid advancement and now controls a large and constantly growing trade all over this part of the state. The present establishment, a commodious brick structure, was erected in September, 1920. Mr. Turnbull is what is termed a live wire. He knows his country as well as he does his business, and through this knowledge has been able to assist it in the way of civic and other improvements. As president of the Board of Trade he has been active in the promulgating of movements under the stimulating influence of which Hazard has bettered its condition as to business status, and his civic effort have always been on the side of constructiveness and progress. Mr. Turnbull has several social connections and is deservedly popular among his associates. He is unmarried.

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