Genesee-Saginaw County MI Archives Biographies.....Turner, Brunson 1826 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 1, 2007, 3:38 am

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

BRUNSON TURNER. Doubtless the most extensive capitalist in Flushing and one who
so employs his resources as to develop the enterprises that promise to be most
advantageous to the district as well as to bring him a handsome return, is he
whose name appears above. Mr. Turner is a native of Pine Plains, Dutchess
County, N. Y., where he was born May 15, 1826, and is the son of Cornelius W.
and Clarissa Turner, natives of he [sic] Empire State. Our subject's father was
a wool manufacturer. He came to Michigan in 1860 and purchasing a farm on
section 6, comprising forty acres, he settled here with the intention of making
it his home. He later added forty acres more and continued his residence upon
the place until his death, which occurred in 1874. Our subject's mother died
while in New York in 1833. Mr. Turner's paternal grandsire was William Turner, a
native of Columbia County, N. Y.

  The original of our sketch was one of eight children born to his parents,
three of whom are now living—Freeman, Brunson, and Tammy E., who is the wife of
Rev. J. D. Brothers, of Menomonee, Wis. Cornelius Turner was primarily a
Democrat, but later in life became a Republican. He was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was educated in the Great Barrington
Academy, in Berkshire County, Mass. He also spent one season in a select school
in Columbia County, N. Y. After finishing his student course he was engaged in
teaching for ten winters, spending five years in New York and five in Michigan.

  Our subject came to this State in 1855, spending the first three years in
Maple Grove Township, Saginaw County, where he was the first Supervisor after
its organization. To him also belongs the honor of naming the township. He
purchased one hundred and eighty acres and later added one hundred and twenty
acres on which he settled, living there for three years. He then came to Genesee
County and purchased land in Flushing Township. His tract comprises one hundred
and thirty-eight acres. This was his home for twenty-five years and he still
owns the farm. He manufactured brick upon his farm and built the first brick
store in Flushing for D. B. Lyons. He also owns a brick store himself in the
village and a fine brick residence on his farm.

  While living on the farm Mr. Turner commenced a mercantile business in
Flushing, which he conducted for ten years. He resided for some time in the
village, but now lives west of the Flint River and near the Cincinnati, Saginaw
& Mackinaw depot, where he owns four houses. He also owns valuable property in
Flushing on the main street. He has, moreover, real estate in Montrose Township
and much land in California at South Riverside. Mr. Turner's home is a fine
residence that is attractive both within and without. It is on a thirty-seven
acre lot that is laid out with great taste, lying near the village. He has held
the offices of Justice of the Peace and School Inspector, besides various other
school offices. He was instrumental in organizing the First National Bank at
Flushing. March 18, 1848, Branson Turner was married to Miss Caroline, a
daughter of William and Mary (Doane) Chamberlin, natives of New York. Our
subject and his wife have been the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are
now living— Mary, Lillian, Adella, Carrie E., Gertrude, Nellie E., Herbert and
Viola. Mary is Mrs. Dr. C. W. Smith and the mother of one child—Ralph W.;
Lillian is Mrs. J. L. Hicks and has two children— Arthur and Myrtle; Adella is
Mrs. George Penoyer and has one child—Ada M.; Gertrude is now Mrs. W. H. Davie;
Nellie is now Mrs. H. H. Chatters and has three children—Lola, Hazel and Muriel.
Our subject is a Prohibitionist in principle. In their church relations he and
his wife are Methodists, in which body he is a Steward and Trustee and has been
delegate to the Detroit Annual Conference. Socially he affiliates with the Odd
Fellows, and is also a member of the Grange.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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