SAMUEL TURNER. There is much of interest in every life, and it is with pleasure that, we present a copy of our Album containing biographical sketches of those men who by their natural ability and excellent habits have advanced both their own interests and those of the community in when they reside. The subject of our present sketch is one of the representative citizens of Richwoods Precinct, Calhoun County, a man highly honored by all who know him, and one who at an early age realized the full import of the fact that life is real, and consequently acted bravely his part in it.
Mr. Turner's father, Samuel Turner, was born in Kentucky in which State he received his education and married. He then removed to Illinois, numbering among the pioneers of Calhoun County, and located in what is now Richwoods Precinct. He bought a tract of land that was covered with heavy timber, and upon this property built the log house in which our subject's birth occurred. This house was not more than one hundred yards south of Batchtown post-office. It was a difficult task to clear the land and prepare the ground for cultivation, and required both skill and energy, since the country was very wild, and the necessary means for bringing about improvements were exceedingly scarce in those days. However, in a short time he succeeded in cultivating his soil, and from time to time added to his estate. He bought another tract of land about three-quarters of a mile east of the village, and there resided up to the time of his death.
Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Miss Dicey Bell, was born in Kentucky and died at the home of her son, our subject. She was the mother of five children, and was a lovely Christian woman, kindly and charitable to an extreme degree. Mr. Turner was born in Richwoods Precinct, August 22, 1850, and was reared on the home farm. His early recollections of Calhoun County are of deer, wild turkeys, etc. His mother used to spin and weave and work very hard to supply the needed articles for household use. It seems strange to think that this prosperous and flourishing precinct only a few short years ago was scarcely more than a forest primeval. Our subject lived with his parents until he reached man's estate, and worked on the home farm up to the year 1875. He then bought the property that he now owns and occupies, but which at that time gave little evidence of the cultivation it now displays.
The subject of our sketch was married in 1876, to Miss Delia Dixon, whose birth occurred in Richwoods Precinct. Her father, Hiram Dixon, was one of the pioneers of Calhoun County. Our subject's marriage has been blessed with four children, viz: Hiram Carl, Etta, Oscar and Isaac.
Extracted 23 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, pages 738-739
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