THOMAS HENRY TURNER.
A representative of one of the very oldest families of Audubon county and himself a resident of this county for many years, no citizen enjoys to a higher degree the genuine esteem and confidence of the people at large than Thomas Henry Turner, who, until February 1, 1915, was a well-known farmer of Cameron township. On that date, Mr. Turner had a large sale and moved to Audubon. A public-school teacher with a notable record and for many years an incumbent of public office, the duties of which he discharged with eminent ability, with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people who elected him, he has in his personal life met with eminent success, standing very high as a business man and farmer.
Thomas Henry Turner was born on July 14, 1856, in Cedar Ford, Jefferson county, Iowa, the son of Thomas N. and M. Margaret (McKinney) Turner, natives of Kentucky, of Scottish descent, the former of whom was born in 1826 and died in October, 1910, and the latter of whom was born in 1832 and died in 1872. The paternal grandfather of Thomas H. Turner came from Scotland and settled in Virginia. Mr. Turner's parents moved to Henry county, Iowa, in the spring of 1857 and there spent the rest of their lives. Thomas N. Turner was twice married. By his first marriage ten sons were born, William L., John F., S. Mitchell, Thomas Henry, Perry M., Z. Charles (deceased), David F. (deceased), J. Oscar (deceased), B. Howard and M. Luther. Following the death of the mother of these children in 1872, Thomas N. Turner married, secondly, Mary Hawk.
Thomas H. Turner was reared in Henry county, Iowa, and attended Howe's Academy. After completing his education, he entered upon his remarkable career as a school teacher, farming during the summers and teaching during the winters. He came to Audubon county in the winter of 1880, continuing his calling as teacher here, and has probably had more experience in the school room than any other teacher in the county, he having fifty-four terms of school to his credit, a most notable record. His children were taught by him in the public schools which he conducted and hundreds of the youth of this community have been influenced for good by his competent instructions.
In 1900 Thomas H. Turner purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Melville township at forty dollars an acre. He sold it in 1909 for one hundred and twentw dollars an acre and bought two hundred and eighty acres in sections 25 and 26, Cameron township, at one hundred and twenty dollars an acre. He keeps thoroughbred stock, makes a specialty of Durham and Shorthorn cattle as well as Duroc-Jersey hogs and is very well circumstanced as to world's goods, being regarded as one of the county's most substantial citiens.
On November 26, 1889, Thomas H. Turner was married to Eva R. Fancher, who was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, July 12, 1862, the daughter of William N. and Rebecca Fancher, natives of New York and Indiana, respectively, who came to Audubon county in 1880 and spent the rest of their lives here. To this happy union the following children have been born: Clarence C., who owns a bakery in Audubon; Earl A., who is a grain and live-stock merchant at Ross, Iowa; Nellie B., who is in partnership with Clarence C.; Lloyd M., who is a farmer and lives at home; T. Glen, who is a student in the law department of the state university at Iowa City, and Bessie C., who is attending the high school at Audubon.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are earnest supporters of all good works hereabout. Mr. Turner is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Republican and has served as justice of the peace and in practically all of the township offices of Cameron township, and no man in this county is held in higher regard or enjoys more fully the confidence of the public, he and his family being held in the highest esteem by all.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 553-555.
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