Biographical Sketch of John Turner, Greene County, Missouri, Boone Township >From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. ********************************************************************** John Turner, Esq. The subject of this sketch is the son of John and Mary (Williams) Turner, and was born in Maury County, Tennessee, April 2, 1809. His parents were natives of North Carolina, but emigrated to Tennessee in 1806, where they lived for about six years, and then re- moved to Kentucky in 1812, and settled in Logan County, where John Turner, Sr., died. His widow survived her husband thirteen years, and died in 1825. They were buried in the Turner family burying ground in Logan County, near the Tennessee line. They had twelve children, all of whom lived to be grown, save one little girl, who died in infancy. Their names were, Elizabeth, Archibald, Charles, Thomas, Sarah, John, William, James, Henry, Joseph, and Elijah. John, this subject, grew to manhood in Kentucky upon the old homestead, working upon the farm until he was sixteen years of age, when, upon his mother's death, he went to Tennessee and lived with his relatives until his marriage. He was mar- ried November 6, 1828, to Miss Nancy Price, of Robinson County, Tenn. By this union they had three children, viz.: Mary Jane, Nancy Fisher, and James William. His first wife died November 13, 1855, and is bur- ied in the county of her birth. His eldest daughter married Samuel A. Doss, and the younger married J. C. Howard, of their native State. Mr. Turner, with his sons-in-law and his daughters, moved to Missouri in March, 1856, and settled in Greene County. He bought a farm three miles east of Ash Grove, from Silas Grantham in 1857, which he still owns. He was married the second time to Mrs. Nancy B. Seward, of Law- rence County, Missouri, on the 7th of December, 1856. This union was without issue. His last wife died November 2, 1881. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1857, and served four years. At the breaking out of the war, Squire Turner being above the regulation age for sold- iers, took his wife, together with his and his sons'-in-law negroes to Texas, so as to be practically out of the war. He lived in Collin Co., Texas, for four years, and returned home in October, 1865. He lived upon his farm until 1877, when he rented it out, and moved into Ash Grove, where he still lives. He is now in his seventy-fourth year, hale and hearty, and has promise of years yet. He reared an orphan girl, Mary E. Casteel, who still lives with him. He began life poor, but, by perseverance and economy he has amassed a handsome competence. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is respected by all as an upright Christian gentleman. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================