Biography - James T. Turner
JAMES T. TURNER. We are pleased to record among other prominent and
prosperous farmers of Shelby County, a brief sketch of the gentleman whose
name appears at the head of this paragraph, whose pleasant home and
attractive farm are an ornament to section 7, Oconee Township. He was born
in Robinson County, Tenn., August 28, 1840. His parents, Charles and Susan
(Price) Turner, natives of Virginia, early became residents of North
Carolina, and finally settled in Tennessee, where they were married and long
made their home. All of their family of nine children were born in Tennessee
or across the line in Kentucky. The family of Charles Turner and Susan, his
wife, are as follows: John H., who married and engaged in farming in Fayette
County, Ill.; Nancy E., who married Thomas Thomas Hill and died in 1854 in
Montgomery County, Ill.; Susan C., who became Mrs. R. B. Evans, and died in
1869; Avy J. was twice married. Her first husband being George W. Ishmael,
who enlisted in the Seventy-third Illinois Infantry and died of small-pox at
Memphis. Her second husband, James Slater, is a merchant in Oconee. The
sketch of his life will be found elsewhere in this volume. Warren enlisted
in Company G, Fifth Illinois Cavalry in 1863. He married Anna Poland.
William K. and James T. were also members of the same company; they having
enlisted in the year of 1861, the former married Emma Lamar. They were
quartered at Camp Butler, Springfield, from September, 1861, until February,
1862. This regiment was known as an independent cavalry organization and was
not assigned to any department but took part in almost every campaign. The
regiment did patrol duty along the Mississippi River, guarding trains,
chasing and fighting guerrillas and bushwhackers and also doing garrison
duty. It participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg and accompanied
the victorious army in pursuit of the rebel Gen. Johnston.
Soon after this our subject was discharged on account of disabilities as he
contracted the measles and not having proper care and being exposed to the
inclemency of the weather, the disease settled in his eyes, so that he
finally lost one and the other is much injured. The other two brothers
passed through the war without serious detriment. The Fifth Cavalry went to
Memphis and finally to Texas under command of Gen. Custer. Charles S. Turner
enlisted in the spring of 1864 in the One Hundred and Forty-third Illinois
Infantry, and served one hundred days. After returning home he learned the
carpenter's trade and remained at home with his parents until their death,
the father passed away February 4, 1885, at the age of eighty-one years and
the mother dying January 12, 1888, being seventy-eight years old. Charles
then felt relieved from further responsibility and starting in life for
himself, went to St. Louis, where he carries on the carpenter trade. Amanda
W. married F. P. Vest. Her home is in St. Louis and she has one daughter.
After James T. Turner returned from the war he engaged in farming. His
marriage with Miss Kate McLaury took place September 9, 1866. This lady was
one of a family of four sons and three daughters, children of John F. and
Margaret M. (Humphrey) McLaury, and was born in Mercer County, Pa., August
24, 1845. Mr. McLaury was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife of the
Empire State. Mrs. Turner's brothers and sisters are Thomas F. Jr., Calvin
B., James A., William A., Margaret and Alice, all of whom are living except
James A., and all the survivors are married. Thomas F., William A., and
Alice (Mrs. Wylie), are residents of the Lone Star State, while Calvin B.
resides in Missouri and Margaret (Mrs. Wilie), in Tennessee. Mrs. Turner's
family removed to Illinois in the fall of 1845, and located in Montgomery
County. They removed to Texas before the death of the mother and when last
heard from the father was in Arkansas.
The Turner family removed from Tennessee to Fayette County, Ill., in 1848,
and soon after removed to Montgomery County and finally made their home in
Oconee Township, Shelby County, where the parents died as has been
previously stated. Our subject was educated in the public schools of
Illinois and has been a farmer all his life time. For six or seven years he
was engaged in the hay business, buying, bailing and shipping hay, to
Eastern and Southern cities.
To Mr. and Mrs. Turner have been born five children, all of whom are living,
namely: Lena E., born June 8, 1867, married George W. Hinton a merchant at
Assumption, Ill. Charles Franklin, who was born May 11, 1869, now resides
with his wife, Flora March, on his father's farm in Oconee Township. Gladys
was born June 19, 1875, and is still attending school and qualifying herself
for the profession of a teacher. James F., born April 30, 1878, and Maggie
B., December 17, 1881, are attending school and studying music as well as
well as making themselves generally useful in the home and upon the farm.
Mr. Turner has always been a stanch Republican and ever takes an interest in
political and public affairs. Mrs. Turner, her son Frank and daughter Gladys
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Frank, Gladys and James
are members of the Independent Order of Good Templars. Mr. Turner is a
worthy member of Coplin Post, No. 268, G. A. R. of Oconee and is the present
Junior Vice Commander. Besides giving attention to general farming he raises
a good grade of stock.
Extracted 26 May 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 547-549.
