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Below is a family biography included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Andrew J. Turner, ex-judge of the county and a prominent farmer of Auglaize Township, was born in Caswell County, N. C., in 1835, and is a son of Thomas and Celia (Wear) Turner. The father was born in Halifax County, Va., November 15, 1790, and was the youngest child of Martin and Elizabeth Turner. Martin was born in England and came to the United States when a child, his parents both dying on the ocean while en route to America. He attained his majority in Virginia, and after becoming grown was married to a Miss Lipscomb, who was born in King Williams County, Va., about 1810. After their marriage they went to North Carolina by wagon, and reared their family of ten children in Caswell County. Thomas Turner was in his twentieth year when his parents moved to North Carolina, and while a resident of that State he enlisted in the War of 1812, serving until the close. He was one of the leading men of his county, and in 1842 came with his family, overland, to Missouri, making Springfield their home for two years. He then located in what is now Laclede County, where he improved a large farm and resided until the breaking out of the late war, when he went South and resided in Texas four years, then returning to the farm in Missouri, where he died in 1875. His wife was born in Caswell County, N. C., in 1800, and died February 1, 1862, while a resident of Texas. Four of their eight children are now living: Hillory M., William and Meriwether; (deceased), John C. (deceased), Robert D., Mildred S. (deceased), Andrew J. and Thomas B. The father was first married to Elizabeth Fisher, by whom he had one son, Rufus A., who is residing in Texas. Mr. Turner was a member of the A. F. & A. M. Andrew J. Turner grew to manhood in Laclede County, and attended the common-schools and the high-school of Lebanon. He has resided on his present farm since 1858, with the exception of six years during the late war, when he moved his family to Texas, and there enlisted, in February, 1862, in Company G, Winston’s Battalion, being afterward transferred to the Missouri Department, in which he served during the remainder of the war. He was at the battles of Lexington, the first siege of Corinth, Prairie Grove and Little Rock. After the cessation of hostilities he returned with his family to Missouri (1867), and in 1874 was elected judge of the county court for a term of two years. November 18, 1858, he married Miss Laura L. Payton, who was born in Maury County, Tenn., March 13, 1840, and is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Payton, who came to Laclede County, Mo., in 1855, and engaged in farming. The father died in 1857, but the mother is still living, and makes her home with Mr. Turner. Mrs. Payton was born in Maury County, Tenn., September 29, 1807, and after the death of Mr. Payton was married to John Ragland, a native of Virginia, who died in 1876. Of the five children born to her first union three grew to maturity, but all are now deceased, with the exception of Mrs. Turner. To Mr. and Mrs. Turner nine children have been born: Ella, wife of Samuel E. Fulbright; Thomas A., Robert B., Bettie F., Maude A., Henry P., Elmo M., Edna E. and Myrtle O. Mrs. Turner is a member of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of the Blue Lodge and the Agricultural Wheel. He is a stanch Democrat in politics.

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This family biography is one of 104 biographies included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Laclede County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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