Harrison County, West Virginia Biography of Thomas Martin TURNER ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Pat Johns, March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923. The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York. Volume II Pg. 475 THOMAS MARTIN TURNER had been an energetic factor in the business life of Martinsburg for a long period of years, and represents one of the oldest families in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. He was born on a farm seven miles southwest of Charles Town, in Jefferson County, and is a direct descendant of Thomas Turner, a native of Wales, a stanch Royalist who about the time of Charles I fled from England to the American colonies and eventually settled in the western wilds of Virginia, in what is now Jefferson County, West Virginia. He had three sons, and some of his land was inherited by his son Anthony Thomas, who was born in Virginia. The next generation was represented by Thomas Turner, grandfather of Thomas Martin Turner. This Thomas Turner was born in the same locality as his father, inherited some of the old homestead, operated with slave labor and spent all his life on the farm. He married Nancy Rush, a native of England or of English parentage. They reared five sons and two daughters, named Anthony, Ehud, Robert, John, Thomas, Jane and Ann. Of these Anthony Turner was born at the old homestead three and a half miles west of Shepherdstown, and was nineteen years of age when his father died, at which time he left school to superintend the farm. When the estate was sold he bought a place southwest of Charles Town, where his son Thomas M. was born. This farm was sold in 1868, and he then removed to Martinsburg, where he continued in business a number of years and died April 27, 1897, aged eighty years twenty-seven days. His wife was Harriet Pitzer, who was born southwest of Martinsburg, in Berkeley County, daughter of Martin and Rachel (Bowers) Pitzer, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Berkeley County. Harriet Turner died in 1882, the mother of eight children: Rachel Ann, who married James S. Smith; Mrs. Ella Rose Brillhart; Downie V., who became the wife of John H. Carothers; Thomas Martin; James; A. D.; William L. H.; and George W. The father of these children was always deeply interested in educational affairs, served as a school commissioner, was a stanch whig and Union man and later a republican, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Thomas Martin Turned acquired a good public school education during his youth, and at the age of seventeen he began his apprenticeship at the marble cutter's trade. After his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman five years, and then for two years was a partner in marble works in Martinsburg. Having sold out to his partner he removed to Cincinnati, but after eight months of employment there returned and bought his present business and still continues the marble works as his chief interest. At the age of twenty- seven Mr. Turner married Miss Ella McElroy, who was born at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, daughter of William and Emily McElroy. Mrs. Turner died in 1911. Mr. Turner is affiliated with Equality Lodge No. 44, A. F. and A. M., Lebanon Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., Palestine Commandery No. 2, K. T., and was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine October 16, 1912, in Osiris Temple at Wheeling. He is a past grand high priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of West Virginia, a past eminent commander of Palestine Commanders, and has served as high priest of the Most Excellent Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in West Virginia. Mr. Turner has been a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1876, and has filled the offices of steward and trustee and has been a member of the choir since 1874.