Biographical Sketch of Henry William Turner, Lafayette County, Missouri

>From "History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled
from the most authentic official and private sources" St. Louis, Mo.
Historical Company, 1881.
**********************************************************************

Henry William Turner, postmaster, Lexington, was born at Wilton, England,
August 2, 1841.  His parents were Henry and Mary Whitlock Turner.  Young
Henry came with his parents to America in 1849.  They came direct from
England to Lexington, Missouri, and first settled in Ray county, where
the lad received his education in the public schools of Richmond, the
county seat.  In 1854 the family removed to Lexington, and have resided
here ever since.  In 1862 Mr. Turner enlisted in the Lafayette county
enrolled militia and in 1863 he went into company I, 11th Kansas mounted
infantry volunteers, Col. Thomas Ewing's regiment.  This command was sent
out in pursuit of hostile Indians and had some pretty hot work.  July 26,
1865, company I, numbering about 90 men, started out from the stockade at
Platte river, in Montana, in pursuit of a band of Sioux Indians and fell
into an ambuscade; then in a fight of 30 minutes, the company lost 25 
killed and 11 wounded, before they could get back into the enclosure.
They were in several other fights with the Indians, but this was the
worst one.  They were mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, September 25,
1865, at the close of the southern rebellion, and Mr. Turner returned to
Lexington.  In 1867-68 he served as deputy city marshal, and was elected
marshal in June, 1869.  April 30, 1874 he was appointed agent for 
Lafayette county, to represent its interest in the Lexington & St.
Louis railroad company, a position at that time of grave responsibility
and difficulty, as any one may see by reading the "Railroad History," of
the county, in another part of this volume.  In May, 1874 he bought a
half interest in the Lexington Register newspaper, which he owns yet.
July 3, 1866, he was commissioned 2nd lieutenant, company C, 58th regi-
ment Missouri militia, and was afterward commissioned 1st lieutenant,
and adjutant of the regiment by Governor Fletcher.  In March, 1877 he
was appointed postmaster of the city of Lexington, by President Hayes,
and was re-appointed by President Garfield, in June, 1881.  He has always
been a republican, and is also a member of the I.O.O.F.  Mr. Turner was
married June 16, 1868 to Miss Fleta Carroll, daughter of C. C. Carroll,
Esq.  She was born in Lexington, January 17, 1843.  The following child-
ren have been born to them: Paul Harry, born June 21, 1869, died same
day; Mark Carroll, born October 6, 1872; Robert Isaac, born February 25,
1875; Mary Willie, born July 28, 1878; Margaret Fleta, born September 3,
1879.

====================================================================
     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 <mio@netins.net>
		      Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================