- Biography of son; James Turney
Soldiers and Citizens Album of Biographical Record: containing personal sketches of Army Men and Citizens prominent in the loyalty to the union. Published: 1888.
James C. Turney, of New London, Wis., member of G. A. R. Post No. 46, was born March 4, 1828, in Cool Springs, Mercer Co., Pa. He was 18 years old when he left his native place for Wisconsin, coming to the present site of Oshkosh in 1846. There was an Indian trading post there and a post office. At that time he commenced the business in which his civil life has been principally spent - that of a surveyor, "land-looker" and estimator of land values for their owners and other interested parties. He is now operating in the interests of the Centralia Wood and Water Power Company, who are purchasing for the pulp manufacturers. His advantages for schooling were small and so peculiar that the instance may be of interest. His father was a poor man with six children to whom he gave three months' schooling in successive years, that of Mr. Turney consisting of 12 weeks of schooling every sixth year.
But his native sagacity stood him in good stead, and he is an excellent representative of the real article of self-made men. He has been the medium between many men and riches, by giving them the benefit of his judgment in their slection of land. The Hon. Philetus Sawyer, has been one of his patrons, and they have been friends since the Wisconsin senator built his first sawmill at Algoma. Joseph Turney, his father, was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., and married Mary Wilson, the daughter of a native-born Scotchman.
In the course of the second year of the war, he determined to enlist, as things looked discouraging for the speedy termination of the unnatural struggle. He enrolled in Company I, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry as a recruit, Dec. 15, 1862, and went into camp at Madison, where he remained six months, joining the command in March, 1863, being one of "Conkey's recruits," as the several men were called who proceeded at that time to enter the company of Theodore Conkey at Appleton, where he enlisted. From Fort Leavenworth he went to Fort Scott, where he performed guard duty, Thence he went to Boone Creek and from there to Fort Lyon, and was detailed with his company to a point on Walnut Creek, Kan., where he assisted in the construction of Fort Zarah. They remained there 10 months, and were involved in a fight with the Indians, in which the command of General Blunt of the Army of the Frontier was engaged. The same command built Fort Dodge. June 8, 1865, in another engagement with the Indians, the company lost their equipments, including horses, wagons and supplies. They went next to Fort Lyon in Colorado, where they remained until ordered to Fort Leavenworth to be mustered out. While there in the beginning of his service, he was ill, but refused to be left behind when the regiment received marching orders for Fort Lyon. He was ill with chronic diarrhea six months, and was near death with it. Four of his brothers were in the service. Samuel enlisted in the 21st Wisconsin and was among the captured at Chickamauga. He was a prisoner at Andersonville, where he died June 18, 1864, after having been in captivity from September 1863. Benjamin L., the youngest of the five was a soldier in the same regiment, and was a teamster at Stone River. He was driving a mule team, when he was halted by the rebels. He refused to heed the order and was fired on. He dashed through their ranks, preserving his team, and fell dead on reaching the Union lines. (Dec. 30, 1862) John and Ira J. Turney were soldiers in Company I, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry, and both are still living. A brother-in-law, Ripley J. Richards, was a member of the company E, 2nd Wisconsin. John R. [Nickel], another brother-in-law, was an enlisted man of the 3d Wisconsin Cavalry. Eleazor Dexter, the brother of Mrs. Turney, was a soldier of the Mexican war and enlisted in the war of the rebellion.Mr. Turney was married Feb. 3, 1851, to Emily Rogers. In 1859 she died, leaving a daughter, named Emma. Dec. 25, 1867, he was married to Francis Dexter, and they have three children - J.C., Mau and Dell. Emma is the wife of William Struck and the mother of three children.
Mr. Turney is a man of sturdy, reliable character. He has seen much rough life in the woods and has found strange companions therein. Indians and wild beasts have made close acquaintance with him, and he has a personal understanding of all the exigencies of pioneer life. He has also earned the confidence of his contemporaries by his straight forwardness and rectitude. He has officiated as Chairman of the county of Outagamie from the town of Liberty, and has served as Supervisor from New London in Waupaca county.
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1807 - 1883 (75 years)
1850 Census
