My Genealogy Hound

Samuel Turner was born in Perry County, Tenn., March 19, 1842, and is a son of the Hon. Elias T. and Sarah (Durning) Turner, natives of Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. In 1847 Mr. Turner removed with his family to Franklin County, Ark., where he reared his children and farmed until his death, March 10, 1884. He was one of the prominent men of the county, and for many years served as justice of the peace. During the war he raised a company of men, of which he was elected captain. He fought in the battle at Oak Hill, and toward the close of the war joined the army in Texas. Of his family of five sons and three daughters all grew to maturity, and all save one married. William J. was killed while in the Southern service, and only two sons and two daughters live at this writing, all of whom reside in this county. They are: our subject, Henry G., Mrs. M. T. Russell and Mrs. M. J. Seals. Samuel Turner lived with his father until his marriage in Scott County, April 18, 1862, to Phebe Jane Marsh, of Tennessee. During the war Mr. Turner was in the State service until the battle of Oak Hill, when he joined the Confederate army. From April, 1862, until the close of the war he was in the Twenty-third Texas Cavalry, under Col. N. C. Gould, and held the office of sergeant. He participated in the engagements at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, La., and was disbanded in May, 1865. In September of that year Mr. Turner came back to Franklin County, and in 1872 located upon his present farm, which he has since improved and cleared. He now owns 350 acres in two tracts, and has about 125 acres cleared and improved. Mr. Turner is an influential man in his township, and for six consecutive years served as justice of the peace. To himself and wife the following children have been born: Martha T., wife of William Rogers; Rosa L., wife of W. G. Anderson; Emily A., wife of J. H. Childers; Elias S., William E., Leonard M., Samuel G. and Phebe I. Three of their children died in infancy. Religiously, they are Hardshell Baptists.