Biography of Wiley Turner, Clay Co, AR

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From: 
The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of N. E. Ark.
Biographical Information.

Dr. Wiley V. Turner, a retired physician and farmer of Greenway, Ark., was born
in Humphreys County, Tenn., May 19, 1836, his father. Wiley Turner, being a
native of South Carolina. He was reared in Wilson County, Tenn., and was married
in Davidson County to Miss Maria Thompson, who was born near Nashville. He
served in the War of 1812 under Jackson, and was at the battle of New Orleans,
dying in Humphreys County. Dr. Turner grew to manhood in that county and until
he attained his majority made his home with his father. He received a good
practical education in Waverly Academy, and when twenty years of age commenced
the study of medicine under Dr. Ellis, taking his first course of lectures in
the winters of 1858-59 and 1859-60, in the University of Nashville, graduating
from that institution in the spring of the latter year. He then practiced his
profession in Houston County until the opening of the war, and in the fall of
1862 enlisted as a private in the Fiftieth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate
[p.251] States Army. He was soon after detailed as assistant surgeon, and served
in this capacity until 1864, when he left the army and returned home and resumed
practice. Here he remained until 1871, when he removed to Clay County, Ark., and
continued the practice of his profession for nine years. About 1875 he was
appointed postmaster of Clayville, and in 1878 became the first postmaster of
Greenway. He kept a stock of general merchandise at his residence, and continued
for one year after the location of the town of Greenway, when he moved his store
to about one-half mile from his residence. He has also been engaged in farming
for a number of years. August 4, 1864, he was married, in Tennessee, to Miss
Louisa Skelton, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of A. B. Skelton. The
Doctor and his wife have four children: James, Joseph, Charles and Robert.
Minnie was the wife of B. B. Biffle, and died in December, 1884. The Doctor and
his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he is a
ruling elder, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.