The Turner Family Of Mattsville "The Turner Family Of Mattsville, Clear Fork District, Raleigh County, West Virginia" by Nyla Creed DePauk -- This article was originally posted on the Raleigh Co. WV GenWeb site as "Featured Family" article #2, April, 1999. -- JOHN BURNETT TURNER The first of my Turner ancestors to settle in Raleigh County was John Burnett Turner, Sr., born 27 February 1816 in Henry County, Virginia. John Burnett Turner was the seventh son of the Reverend John Turner and his wife Nancy (Burnett) Turner. The Reverend John Turner was the third son of William Turner of Franklin County, Virginia. Reverend Turner, born 21 September 1779, died 20 May 1874. An ordination bond was issued on 14 November 1825 to John Turner, a Baptist minister, according to Patrick County, Virginia, records. His wife, Nancy, born 15 August 1787 in Hanover County, Virginia, died 19 November 1871 at age 84 in Patrick County. John and Nancy were married in Patrick County on 15 October 1804. Nancy Burnett was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Burnett. John Burnett Turner was described by his son William as being six feet tall, weight 165 to 170 pounds, well developed, very strong, straight, erect, and good looking. John Burnett Turner married Naoma Angeline (Exony) Via on 19 September 1838 in Patrick County. She was born 6 September 1821. Naoma was a daughter of William and Sarah Elizabeth (Ingram) Via. Sarah Elizabeth was the daughter of James and Martha ____ Ingram. William Via and Eliza Ingram were married 6 June 1800 in Patrick County. John Burnett Turner moved his family from Patrick County to the backwoods of Raleigh County in western Virginia ca 1857. According to John Burnett Turner's death record, he died 20 February 1897 at the age of 79. However, age 81 would seem to be more accurate. John's son William was interested in preserving the Turner family history. In his Turner family compilation entitled In Memorium of My Grand Parents, William Turner relates how his father had engaged in a tobacco manufacturing enterprise about 1847 by buying a large amount of leaf tobacco on time. He also obtained a wagon and team outfit on time. His father then hired a trader to take the manufactured tobacco south to sell. Eventually the trader returned, but John Turner received nothing in compensation for the team and tobacco. Under the law at that time, it was merely a breach of trust; but John Burnett Turner paid off all his creditors. According to William Turner, his father lost all of his possessions, home, and servants. "He became a renter, and in a sense a dependent". John Burnett Turner realized that in order to rise socially and financially he would need to take the advise of Horace Greeley and "go west." So in November 1857, he moved his family to the Sand Lick area of Raleigh County. At that time, thousands of acres could be purchased for 50 cents per acre. At the time Captain Turner wrote his family history in 1914, the land was selling from $50 to $100 per acre. According to Sims Index John B. Turner was granted the following land in Raleigh County, Virginia: 1866 - 78 1/2 Acres on Sand Lick (Book 1, page 172) 1866 - 121 1/2 Acres on Sand Lick (Book 1, page 172) 1867 - 242 Acres on Laurel Branch (Book 1, page 406) William Turner was granted the following track of land: 1866 - 128 1/2 Acres on Sand Lick (Book 1, page 171) John B. Turner, Sr., was past the age for military service when the Civil War broke out; however, his sons William and John entered in the Union Army in December 1861. According to tradition, a Confederate scouting party of seven soldiers burned the home of John B. Turner, Sr. Naoma was sitting at her spinning wheel when the scouting party came through looking for the men of the family. When the Confederates learned that the men were not home, they set the house on fire. The only thing she was able to retrieve from the burning house was her spinning wheel, which the scouts had thrown into the fire. After several attempts to burn the spinning wheel and Naoma's retrieving it each time, they finally let her keep it. John took the incident cheerfully, simply saying, "I am one among many innocent suffers." In 1870, John Burnett Turner was elected Assessor of Raleigh County, serving a two-year term. He was praised for his uniformity in appraising property. On 20 February 1897, at the age of 79, John Burnett Turner, Sr., died. His wife Naoma died 11 December 1898, at the age of 76. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mattsville. They are buried at the Turner-Dickens Family Cemetery at Mattsville. John and Naoma had six children born to them: Henry Clay Turner, born in 1839, died of "bold hives" three weeks after birth. William Turner. Nancy Elizabeth Turner. John Burnett Turner, Jr. Mary Jane Turner. George Washington Turner. WILLIAM TURNER William "Bill" Turner was born in Patrick County, Virginia, on 17 January 1841. He settled in Raleigh County in November 1857. Although his formal education was only nine months, he considered himself a scholar and an expert judge of men and their motives. He was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal religion. Less than four years after the Turners settled in Raleigh county, the Civil War broke out between the North and the South. William Turner, not even 20 years enlisted in the Union Army for three years on 31 December 1861 as a private and discharged 15 March 1863 (one year, two months, 14 days). He was commissioned as a captain on 11 February 1864 in Company H, Regiment West Virginia, Calvary, being honorably discharged 1 August 1865. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Cross Keys on 8 June 1862. He received a gun wound in his right shoulder joint, resulting in ankylosus(?) and partial paralysis according to the 1890 Special Veterans Census. (The 1890 census taker for the Clear Fork District was William Turner.) He was discharged by the surgeon at Gallipolis, Ohio. According to his military records, he was 20 years old, 5 feet, 10 1/4 inches tall, dark complexioned with hazel eyes and light hair when he enlisted in the service. In addition to his Union service, Captain Turner was in charge of the home guards. His outfit was known as the Turner Home Guards and consisted of men from the counties of Raleigh, Wyoming, and McDowell. He was a member of the commission appointed to survey the boundary line between Virginia and West Virginia. It was during this time that he met a fellow commissioner Captain James H. Hinchman's daughter Martha born 11 April 1848. On 11 April 1866, he married Martha Doliver Hinchman of Logan County. They settled at Mattsville. The Mattsville Post Office, which served Sand Lick, was named after Martha whose nickname was "Mattie". He and his wife alternately held the position of postmaster for 34 years. In 1867 he was elected Surveyor of Lands and served two terms. He was a school commissioner and trustee for 15 years. He served four years as a United States Internal Revenue Assessor and Distillery Surveyor. On 10 February 1871, he was licensed a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Raleigh County marriage records show he performed marriages for many local couples. He performed the marriage of his sister Mary to John Dickens and of his brother George to Sarah Stover. He was active in politics as an organizer, committeeman, writer, speaker, and delegate to conventions. In 1902, he sold personal property and part of his real estate for $20,000 and moved to Barboursville, Cabell County, to be near Morris Harvey College. When his children were through school, Captain and Mrs. Turner retired and fulfilled his life-long ambition to live in Washington, D.C. In 1902 he and his wife visited Washington, D.C. They liked the city so much that they purchased a $5,000 home at 453 Irvine Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. They lived there during the winter and spring, and spent the summer and autumn in West Virginia. About 1986, my cousin Judy (Turner) Griffy and her daughter Beverly were visiting my family in Vienna, Virginia. Since we knew the address where Will Turner had lived in Washington, D.C., we decided to drive to the address and see for ourselves where he lived. The house was still standing, and it was a unique experience to see the house where he had lived. William Turner was interested in preserving the Turner family history. In September 1914, William wrote In Memorium of My Grand Parents, which outlines the children and grandchildren of the Reverend John Turner. William and Martha's nine children were born at Mattsville, Raleigh County. Their children: 1 Martha Ann Turner, born 23 June 1863, was married on 2 February 1886 to Lee Chambers born in January 1861, died 20 June 1901. Lee was the son of Leroy B. Chambers from Wyoming County. He came to Raleigh County in 1880 and settled on Sand Lick. Martha died 18 July 1939. (Her obituary gives her age as 72; however, 76 seems to be the correct age.) 2 Sarah Alice "Allie" Turner, born 27 March 1869, was married on February 1884 to John H. Meador. John was born in December 1861 in Summers County. Meador is sometimes spelled Meadows. 3 Nancy Louise Turner, born 26 August 1872, died 8 November 1927, was married on 10 February 1895 to Peter Benjamin Davis born about 1868. Peter was a son of William and Lucinda (Williams) Davis. Peter was a grandson of John and Mary Davis and John and Susan (Stover) Williams. Louise is buried along side her parents in the Turner plot at the Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. This is a lovely perpetual care cemetery, located near the Nation's capitol. I have found no information on children of Nancy and Peter Davis. 4 James Dix Turner, born 2 August 1874, was married to Vivian Barrett on 5 February 1900. Vivian, born in April 1880, was the daughter of Robert and Arminta Barrett. James was a medical doctor who was killed in a car wreck in 1923. James and Vivian were living in the Marsh Fork District of Raleigh County when the 1900 census was taken. That was the year they had married. They were also living in Raleigh County when the 1910 census was taken. Vivian's obituary dated 18 October 1961 does not give the date of death. It says she was 88 years of age; however, 81 seems to be closer to the April 1880 date on the 1900 census. 5 Virginia Turner, born 24 April 1876, was married to Dr. Ward Mankin, born 24 April 1876, died 7 March 1893. They were married on 7 March 1893. He was the son of James and Marinda Mankin. 6 John Roscoe Turner, born 13 February 1881, married Effie Eleanor Vertner of Ada, Ohio, on 23 August 1905. He was former President of West Virginia University, Dean of the College of New York, and Dean of New York City University. 7 Princess Turner, born 4 August 1884, married J. E. King. For any Turner descendant wishing to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), you may be interested in knowing that Princess (Turner) King was a member of the D.A.R. joining through her great-great-grandfather William Turner who was born 19 January 1753, died 11 December 1846. (The D.A.R. membership number is 281774.) William Turner was a member of Captain John Cunningham's Company. He, along with other troops, was ordered on 11 March 1781 to march to Hillsboro, North Carolina, under Major George Walker and participated in the Battle of Guilford Court House. 8 May Turner, born 22 May 1886, was a medical doctor. Her first name may have been Wilma. Her married name was Reich or Riach. She was once the U. S. doctor in charge of the Red Cross Hospital in Belgrade. She was an internationally famous eye specialist who performed a successful operation on the King of Siam. 9 William Wirt Turner, born 27 November 1889, taught at the College of Engineering, University of Notre Dame. I have been unable to learn the name of his wife. According to Beckley USA, she was a leader and teacher of music and active in church organizations. William Turner died 15 January 1926. His funeral was conducted on his eighty-fifth birthday, 17 January 1926, by the Rev. Dr. James Shera Montgomery, Chaplain of the U. S. Senate. Martha Turner died 20 October 1937. They are buried at the Cedar Hill Cemetery, at Suitland, Maryland, which is four miles southeast of the Nation's capitol. When I learned where Captain Turner was buried, I called the Cedar Hill Cemetery to confirm the fact and to get directions to the grave site. The employee answering the phone was quite helpful and checked their files for me. Upon my arrival at the cemetery, she provided me with all the information in the cemetery's file on the Turner plot. Among the papers was a plat sheet showing that the Turner family plot was in section number 1, lot number 72 and that it consisted of 12 sites. Only three of the gravesites have been used for Captain Turner, his wife, and his daughter Louise. The lots were purchased on 27 August 1921 by William Turner of 453 Irvine Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. He paid $360 for the plot. According to the records furnished me, William Wirt Turner wrote the cemetery on 21 March 1964 and again in April 1964, stating he was the sole survivor of Captain Turner's immediate family. He mentions one nephew, Philip Turner King who was living in Arlington, Virginia, at the time. He mentions his mother Martha D. Turner who died 20 October 1937. He names his brothers and sisters and states they are now dead. Their names were Martha Ann Chambers, Sarah Alice Meador, Nancy Louis(e) Davis, James Dix Turner, Virginia Mankin, John Roscoe Turner, Princess King, and May Riach. On 27 January 1982, the Cedar Hill Cemetery wrote William W. Turner telling him that there were eight sites remaining in section 1, lot 72 and asking him if he or a local family member would be using the sites. (I believe the number of remaining sites would still be nine.) There was no reply to this letter. To my knowledge, all of William and Martha's descendants left the Raleigh County area. NANCY ELIZABETH (TURNER) DICKENS Nancy Elizabeth Turner, born 17 January 1843, died 3 August 1916. Nancy was married on 25 January 1866 in Raleigh County to William Dickens, born 4 January 1843, died 30 October 1918. William Dickens served in the Union Army. Nancy is buried near her parents at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery at Mattsville, while William is buried at a Dickens family cemetery at Pine Knob. William and Nancy raised their family at Pine Knob, Clear Fork District. Their children: 1 Naomi Angeline Dickens, born 23 February 1867, was married to William E. Pettry on 24 October 1887. William was a son of William and Arena (Pettry) Pettry. Naomi died before 1918 as she was deceased at the time of her father's death. 2 George Sanford Dickens, born 3 June 1869, died 7 July 1937, never married. 3 John Thomas Dickens, born 22 October 1870, died 12 January 1958, married Arena Evelyn Pettry on 12 April 1894. Arena was born 6 April 1871. 4 Mary Ellen Dickens, born 10 March 1872, died 2 November 1956, married Thomas Marvin Wills on 23 April 1908. 5 Loranza Rand Dickens born 14 October 1873, died 29 June 1925, married Clara Workman on 21 March 1899. Clara died 29 September 1931. 6 William A. "Bill" Dickens, born 1 August 1875, died 18 March 1948. Bill married Melissa Canterbury on 17 January 1901. Melissa born 26 December 1881, died 3 April 1956. They are buried at the Dickens Cemetery on Peach Tree. 7 Ulysses Sidney "U. S." ("Sid") Dickens, born June 1877, married first Myrtle Jarrell. He was married second on 15 September 1943 to Virgie C. Oxley who was born 27 December 1887, died 1 September 1988. Virgie, born in Athens, was a daughter of Daniel and Melissa (Bolin) Oxley. She is buried in the Athens Cemetery. Sidney was a school teacher and Raleigh County Superintendent of Schools for one term (1911-1915). Sidney died 6 July 1972 at Athens. He had no children. 8 Elmer E. Dickens, born 20 February 1879, died 26 August 1925, was married on 20 July 1905 to Almeda Workman, died 20 September 1979. Elmer is buried at the Dickens Cemetery on Peach Tree. Almeda married second William Doddridge Stover born 20 February 1890, died 25 April 1966. He was a son of Manderville Vernon and Victoria (Price) Stover. 9 Francis Marion Dickens was born 15 May 1881, died 30 December 1954. He never married. 10 Leander Spurlock Dickens, born 5 September 1885, died 4 June 1951 or 1957 married first Cora Bailey, born 5 December 1875, died 8 November 1939. Leander married second Gracie Peninthia Nicholas. Leander is buried at the Dickens Cemetery at Peach Tree. JOHN BURNETT TURNER, JR. John Burnett Turner, Jr., born 26 November 1847, enlisted in the Union Army in 1864 for one year. From his wages, he bought 130 acres of land on Drews Creek for 50 cents per acre. John was married three times. John married first Jemima Jane Canterbury on 28 May 1868. Jemima Jane, born about 1847, died in 1888. Jemima was the daughter of Rufus and Susan (Dickens) Canterbury. John married second Nancy Jackson on 1 April 1889. Nancy, born 1 April 1889, was the daughter of Mabane and Sarah (Dew) Jackson. Mabane Jackson was born about 1815 in North Carolina, and Sarah was born about 1820 in North Carolina. John married third Mary Jane (Lewis) Milam. Children of John and Jemima Jane (Canterbury) Turner: 1 Louise Elizabeth "Lizzie" Turner, born 30 November 1869, married first on 22 March 1866 William Jewell born 1860 in Prince William County, Virginia. William's parents were John G. and Mary M. Jewell. Louise married second Andrew Wilson Webb on 25 September 1889. 2 Letha (Alethia) F. Turner, born 26 February 1873, died 1967, married on 26 October 1897 Allen Francis Dickens. Allen was born 12 May 1863, died 22 July 1947. Allen was the son of Rachel (Dickens) Bonds. 3 Mary Etta "Ettie" Turner, born 22 October 1873, died 7June 1954, was married on 19 May 1893 to her cousin Henry Jehew (Jehu) Dickens who was a son of John H. and Mary Jane (Turner) Dickens. 4 James William Turner, born 3 August 1875, died 25 March 1893, was married on 11 February 1893 to Cora Dickens born 23 November 1874. James and Cora had no children. James accidentally shot himself about a month after they were married. 5 Lewis Sanford "Tank" Turner, born 29 March 1878, died 6 April 1958, was married in about 1902 to Ada Morris, born 1885. 6 Naoma (Naomi) Susan "Ome" Turner, born 17 April 1878, died 27 March 1951, was married in March 1898 to Jasper Fulton Gunnoe, born about 1880. 7 Nancy Angeline "Bake" Turner, born 20 October 1881, married James H. Brown on 19 January 1899. James first married Louis Farley on 25 November 1889. 8 Ennis Roscoe Turner, born 5 April 1885 at Drews Creek, was married about 1905 to Rebecca Ann Buzzard who was born 16 July 1887, died 30 January 1982. Ennis died 10 August 1962. Rebecca born 16 July 1887, died 30 January 1982. Rebecca was the daughter of Leonard and Serena (Manning) Buzzard. John B. Turner, Jr., was married second on 1 April 1889 to Nancy Jackson, born 26 February 1855. She who was the daughter of Maben (Mabane) Jackson and Sarah (Dew) Jackson. Maben's parents were J. Jackson and S. B. Jackson. According to the 1910 census, Nancy had four children, two were living. John and Nancy's children: 9 A son died young, before 1900. 10 Andrew Turner born April 1892, died young, before 1910. 11 Josie V. Turner, born in February 1894, died young, after 1910. 12 Bessie Turner, born 10 October 1896, died 26 December 1978, was married on 1 April 1889 to Jacob Cook. Jacob who was born 4 November 1892 died in 1940. He was the son of Ulyses C. Cook and Mary Susan (Dickens) Cook. John married third Mary Jane (Lewis) Milam who was born in 1886, died November 1932. MARY JANE (TURNER) DICKENS Mary Jane Turner was born 22 December 1850 in Patrick County, Virginia. Her husband was John Henry Dickens, Jr., born at Pine Knob about 1846. They were united in marriage on 30 April 1874 in Raleigh County. Mary Jane's brother William performed the marriage ceremony. John and Mary raised their family at Mattsville, in the Marsh Fork District of the county. Mary Jane died 29 December 1926, and John died the next day on 30 December 1926. According to tradition, Mary was tending to John who had been ill and was expected to die shortly. John's grave was being dug, but Mary passed away first. I've been told that since it was a cold winter day, the grave intended for John was enlarged wide enough to accommodate both caskets until Spring when their graves were separated. They are buried in unmarked graves at the Dickens-Turner family cemetery at Mattsville. Their family: 1 Henry Jehue (Jehew, Jahue) "H. J." Dickens, born 10 March 1875, died 17 June 1941, and is buried at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery according to his death record. He married Mary Etta "Ettie" Turner, a daughter of John B. Turner, Jr., and Gemima (Canterbury) Turner, on 19 May 1893. They were married by Samuel F. Wills. 2 Sarah Elizabeth "Liz" Dickens, born 27 August 1876, died 5 July 1943, married George Henderson on 25 August 1904. George, born 1875 in Floyd County, Virginia, died 26 August 1943. George and Liz had no children. Liz and George are buried at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery at Mattsville. 3 Almeda "Meade" Dickens, born 10 March 1878, died 30 November 1929, was married on 10 May 1911 to Thomas Jasper "Tom" Bailey born 1866. Tom was the son of Green W. and Mary J.(Kidd) Bailey. Meade and Tom are buried at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery at Mattsville. Almeda's son: 4 Robert Via "Bob" Dickens, born 22 May 1880, died 14 February 1958. He married first Rebecca Jane Davis on 7 April 1903 and married second Cora K. Miller on 2 October 1907. He is buried at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery at Mattsville. I have no record that Bob had children. 5 Clearisy Dickens, born 10 May 1882, married first Andrew Lewis Phipps on 5 November 1903. Andrew was a son of Andrew Lewis and Emily Francis (Daniel) Phipps. She was married second on 12 March 1912 to Martin B. Bailey who was born in 1867 in Wyoming County. The marriage was performed by T. J. Williams. 6 A son, born 22 August 1884, was either born dead or died shortly after birth. 7 Leota Matilda Frances Dickens, born 30 May 1886, died 27 September 1971 was married to Elbert Williams on 14 December 1904. Elbert who was born 5 November 1884, died 3 April 1921. 8 Nancy Jane Dickens, born 18 March or April 1890, died 24 September 1931. Nancy was married on 23 August 1910 to Posey Green Sumner, born April 1881, died 1953. Posey, son of Giles and Dollie A. E. Sumner, was born in Floyd County, Virginia. Posey had first married Mrs. Ruth A. (Molds) Wiseman on 16 December 1901. Posey was buried at the Workman's Creek Cemetery, on Clear Fork, Raleigh County. GEORGE WASHINGTON TURNER George Washington Turner, born 6 June 1853, died 5 May 1907 at the age of 54. George Turner married Sarah Elizabeth Stover who was born 13 February 1854 and died 1 May 1928. George and Sarah are buried near his parents at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery at Mattsville. According to the 1910 census, Sarah had given birth to ten children and eight children were still living. Sarah married second William L. Farley on 4 August 1910. George and Sarah's children: 1 Adelpha "Deb" Turner, born 1877, was married first on 24 December 1891 to James W. Atha, born 6 April 1872. James was the son of Lorenzo D. and Mary Jane (Wiseman) Atha. Adelpha married second George Stewart on 29 December 1894. 2 Susan Elizabeth "Suse" Turner, born 19 December 1878, died 22 October 1960 (or 1968?), was married first on April 1901 to William "Will" Newman who was born in 1866 in Bedford County, Virginia. Suse married second John Newman. Will Newman was married before he married Suse. He had a daughter Mary who lived in Baltimore that is buried at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery at Mattsville. Will and Susan are buried at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery. 3 Garfield "Gar" Turner, born March 1881, was married first to Almeda "Allie" Wiseman on 13 October 1901. 4 Joseph H. Turner, born January 1885, was killed in an Eccles coal mine accident. He is buried at the Dickens-Turner Cemetery. 5 John Lee Turner, born 19 March 1887, died 20 July 1945. He is buried at the Mount Tabor Cemetery. He married Lilly Lester, a daughter of John and Louisa (Miller) Lester. Lilly was born 22 April 1892 at Paint Creek. She died 30 May 1966. 6 Mary A. Turner, born August 1889, first married William A. "Andy" Hendricks on 5 September 1903. She married second ______ Jarvis. Mary and Jarvis were killed in separate car accidents at Anstead, West Virginia. Both accidents, I have been told, occurred very near each other. 7 George Harrison Turner was born in November 1890. He is buried at the Pax Community Cemetery. 8 James Herbert Turner, born March 1893, is buried at the Mount Tabor Cemetery. This may be the same person. Herbert Turner married Dana M. Athey born 13 July 1899, died 11 April 1926. Dana was a daughter of Charles and Eliza (Lester) Athey. Dana is buried at the Athey/Atha Family Cemetery at Sand Lick. Herbert was married second to Thelma Lester, born 8 June 1915, died 2 June 1987. Thelma married second ____ Willard. 9 Nettie Turner. I have been told that Nettie fell out of an apple tree and broke her neck. 10 Maud Turner, born 1 February 1896, died 29 June 1898, at age two years and eight months. I would love to hear from anyone researching any of the families connected to this Turner Family. Submitted by Nyla Creed DePauk **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************