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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Lewis M. TURNER 

Pages 831-832, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin 

[Surnames: HOUSER, KEITHLY, MARCHANT, MORSE, PATTEN, SOLDWELL, TRAVERS, TURNER] 

    
LEWIS M. TURNER. This gentleman is pursuing a successful career as an agriculturist, operating one hundred and forty acres on section 21, Fairview Township. One of the most noticeable features of the estate is the attention paid to horticulture, in which Mr. Turner is building up a fine reputation. At present he has an acre each of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries under cultivation. In 1889 he erected a fine barn with a slate roof, which is a model of rural architecture. The residence is a commodious one and is represented by a view on another page, together with the other prominent buildings. 
    
Elisha W. Turner, the father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., and taken to Hamilton County, Ohio, when seven years old. He married a lady of that county, Miss Sarah Morse, and in 1840 the young couple located in Hancock County, Ill. After a sojourn of three years they removed to Galena, remaining there until 1865. During that time Mr. Turner was engaged in lead mining and farming in the township of Shullsburg, La Fayette County, Wis. He had previously been occupied in the latter pursuit alone. In 1865 he purchased the estate now owned by our subject and removed thereto. His good wife bore him five children, namely: Mary, wife of James Patten, a farmer in Fairview Township; Amy, widow of Enoch Keithly, whose home is at Lewistown; George, a grocer in Galena, Kan.; the subject of this notice; Sarah A., wife of Thomas Travers, whose history is given on another page in this Album. The father died in 1879 at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother in 1880 at the age of seventy-three. Grandfather Turner, who was born in the Empire State and bore the given name of George, was a saddler. 
    
The subject of this brief biographical notice was born at New Diggings, Wis., February 25, 1849, and was a youth of sixteen years when he came to this county. He had attended the country schools of Shullsburg Township and after coming here continued his studies in Fairview. His taste led him to the pursuit of agriculture and he finally became much interested in fruit-growing. He is a man of more than average intelligence, clever and quick witted by nature and having his faculties well developed by study, observation and intercourse with mankind. His character is one of sterling worth, and he finds many friends among those of his own class and in the circles of the neighboring towns. His political adherence is given to the Republican party. 
    
Mr. Turner established his own home in 1878, when he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Houser. This lady was born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and was well educated and trained in useful domestic knowledge and habits. She is a twin sister of Mrs. Martha Soldwell, of Yates City and they are the oldest in a family of five girls. Their father, William Houser, a blacksmith in Yates City, was born in Ohio. Her mother, Sarah (Marchant) Houser, was a daughter of Joel Marchant, the first permanent settler in Farmington. Mr. And Mrs. Turner are the parents of three children: Sarah Naomi, Frederick D. and Blanche, whose bright faces and charming ways add to the joys of their home.