My Genealogy Hound

William T. Turner was born in Scotland County, Mo., July 27, 1857, and is the eldest son of John M. Turner, a native of Pendleton County, Ky. The mother, whose maiden name was McMana, was also a native of Pendleton County, Ky., born June 2, 1823. John M. Turner was nine years old at the time of his father’s death, and he made his home in Kentucky with a cousin, Joseph Wallace, by whom he was partly raised. At the age of twenty-one he became desirous of immigrating to the West, and this he finally did, locating in Lewis County, Mo., where he followed agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty-two he moved to Scotland County, where he resided for over twenty years, engaged as before in tilling the soil. When he first came to the latter county he married Miss Ellen McMana, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Joseph McMana. The fruits of this union were five children: Mary F. (Mrs. John St. Clair, William T., George H. and Henry W. (twins), and Robert F. (died in 1867). In 1877 the father sold out in Scotland County, and farmed on rented land one year, in Knox County, while prospecting. By the following year he had located a place in Clark County, which he purchased, and lived upon until September 3, 1886, when death claimed him as a victim. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church. His widow resides in Clark County, and her son, George H., lives with her and manages the farm. She is also a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject is the eldest of five children. He secured a good education in the common schools of Scotland County, and at the age of eighteen he married Miss Isabella Russell, a daughter of Thomas Russell, of Schuyler County, Mo. For the first year after marriage our subject and wife resided in Knox County, but the following year they moved to Clark County, where they rented land until 1882, when they purchased a farm—the same which Mr. Turner has since nicely improved. It consists of 160 acres, all well stocked and well improved. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church.