TURNER, Benjamin F.
Benjamin F. TURNER. Like many other
residents within the bounds of Marshall county who started out
in life with naught but an abundance of determination and
indefatigable industry, and a strong and healthy constitution,
and who gave succeeded through their own diligence, energy and
economy, we classify the gentleman whose name stands at the head
of this sketch, who, on arriving in Illinois, had but
seventy-five cents with which to begin life. He was actively
engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, but is now
living retired in Wenona.
Mr. TURNER was born on the 24th of July,
1826, near Zanesville, Muskingum
county, Ohio, and is the son of Clem and Dorcas (SNYDER) TURNER,
the former a native of Delaware
and the latter of West
Virginia. They were among the early
settlers of Muskingum county, where the father engaged in
farming, and there both died. In their family were eight
children – William, deceased; Mrs. Nancy HAMMITT; Mrs. Rebecca
KELLEY, and John, both deceased; Jeremiah, who lives in
Columbus,
Ohio; Benjamin F., of this review;
Mrs. Margaret CANNON of Fulton county, Illinois, and Elizabeth
D., of the same county.
When quite small our subject lost his
mother and was taken into the family of Judge Thomas IJMS, a
prominent man of his time and judge of the county court of
Muskingum county. In the district schools of Ohio Mr. TURNER
secured his education and was reared to farm work. It was in
1845 that he came to
Illinois, arriving in Magnolia township,
on the 4th of March, accompanying the late George DENT, and was
there employed upon a farm until 1850.
In that year Mr. TURNER led to the marriage
altar Miss Hannah L. MILLER, who was born at Steubenville, Ohio,
January 16, 1830, and was the daughter of Abram and Jane
(PORTER) MILLER, who located on a farm two miles east of
Magnolia in 1846. There they made their home for ten years, when
they removed to Wenona, where they were numbered among the first
settlers, and there spent their remaining days. Her father, who
was a carpenter by trade, helped to erect many of the buildings
in the village.
Six children came to bless the union of our
subject and his worthy wife, namely: William Emery, who died
December 15, 1881, had married Nellie MOON and they had two
children, Guye Franklin, who graduated at the
Abilene, Kansas, high school in 1895, and Harry.
Abraham Martin married Ida SNIDER, by whom he has two children –
Nellie and Cecil. Arthur Lee, who lives in Evans township, Marshall county, wedded Mary WORK, of Wenona,
by whom he has three children – Benjamin F., Morine and Lee A.
L. TURNER, and he is now serving as supervisor of Evans township
and chairman of the board. Charles Marion, also of Evans
township, married Lou CARRITHERS, and they have four children.
Jennie is the wife of Clarence AXLINE of Evans township, by whom
she has five children. Stella May, who completes the family,
died April 14, 1883.
After his marriage Mr. TURNER rented land
in Putnam county for six years, but in 1857 removed to a farm
which he purchased on section 21, Evans township, three miles
west of Wenona, and as it was all raw prairie land he at once
began its improvement and development. He there continued to
make his home until 1884, when he laid aside active business
cares and removed to Wenona, where his wife died on the 13th of
November, 1892, and her remains were interred in the Wenona
cemetery. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and took an active part in church work. On the 18th of
March, 1896, Mr. TURNER married Mrs. Hannah E. SEEBREE, nee
HENDRICKS, of
Bloomington. Mr. TURNER is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church and has served as trustee and
steward of the same. For many years he was an active member of
the Good Templars society, and took a prominent part in
promoting the temperance cause. He is an influential member of
the republican party, has frequently served as delegate to its
conventions, and has been called upon by his fellow-citizens to
serve in several official positions of honor and trust, being
road commissioner in Evans township, a member of the city
council of Wenona from the third ward, and is now serving his
eleventh consecutive year as justice of the peace to the general
satisfaction of all concerned.
Extracted March 2011 by Norma Hass from
The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois,
1896.
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