Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1241.
 
THOMAS L. TURNER

     One of the reputable farmers of Clackamas county, Oregon, was born in Ohio,
July 10,1840. His ancestors were early settlers of Virginia. Grandfather Daniel
Turner was a soldier in the Colonial army during the Revolution. Our subject's
father, John M. Turner, was born in Virginia, reared to manhood there, and in
that State married Miss Harriett Cook, and after their marriage they removed to
Ohio and settled on a farm.  In the fall of 1851 they moved to Missouri,
purchased land and established their home on it.  There the father resided till
the time of his death, which occurred in 1857. In religion he was a Baptist, and
in politics a Democrat. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His widow survived
him till 1885, being seventy-three years old at the time of her death. They were
the parents of ten children, nine of whom reached adult years, and six are still
living.  Thomas L. is the youngest in this family, and was only thirteen years
of age when his father died. He remained with his mother on the farm and aided
her in the management of it until he grew up to manhood, and in due time he
purchased land for himself.
     April 4, 1861, Mr. Turner married Miss Nancy Powers. She was born in
Missouri, September 19, 1844, daughter of Benjamin Powers.  They remained on the
farm until 1865, and that year crossed the plains to Oregon.  They had three
children born in Missouri, namely: Mary Frances, now Mrs. Frederick Ellegson,
who resides near her parents; Julia Elizabeth, wife of Edward Seely, of
Woodburn; and John Marion, a resident of the State of Washington. These children
they brought with them across the plains, being six months on their journey,
and, upon their arrival in Oregon, came direct to the farm on which they have
since resided, seven miles northeast of Oregon City. They purchased 160 acres of
land, at $2.50 per acre, paying $500 down and going in debt for the rest, and in
a log house on this farm they began their pioneer life in Oregon.  As the years
rolled by their honest industry was crowned with success. In 1869 a good frame
residence took the place of their primitive log house, and Mr. Turner not only
paid for his first purchase of land but also added 300 acres more to it, making
460 altogether.
     Eight children were added to his family in Oregon, viz.: Annie M. (who died
in her third year), James., Albert F., Ella H., Herbert T., Susie L., Charles
E., and Smith.
     Mr. Turner's political views are in harmony with Democratic principles. He
and his wife are charter members of the Grange, and he is Past Master of the
order. Mr. Turner has been a hardworking man for a number of years, in fact his
whole life has been one of great activity. Soon after coming to Oregon he kept
and ran a large plow, breaking up much of the wild land in this vicinity, and
thus has been a useful factor in the improvement of this section of the country.

*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.