U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Turnley Family --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 850-853, THE TURNLEYS. In England the Turnley family dates back to a remote period. Prior to 1550 the name is recorded as a family with a Coat of Arms in the registrar's office, the Turn Cup Lily or Turnley. The Turnley Coat of Arms consists of a green oak tree growing on a mound; pendant of left side a reddened shield charged with a "pattee" cross. Francis Turnley, the great-great-great-great-great grandfather of the Turnleys now in Preston County, West Virginia, (and the only Turnley in West Virginia) was born in England about 1620, was among the reinforcements dispatched to the garrison in Ireland by Cromwell. He participated in the battle near Dublin in 1649, and was present at the shameful butchery prepared by Cromwell at Drogheda. He remained in service in Ireland till 1651, when he obtained his discharge. He started to return to England, but slopped at Monmounth, Wales, where be married and reared two sons, John and Francis. He died in Monmouth in 1690. His two sons, John and Francis, after attaining their majority emigrated to the American Colonies in 1692, and were the first Turnleys in America. John settled in Botetourt County, Virginia, and Francis in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, and he, (Francis) is the progenitor of the Turnleys in Preston County, West Virginia. Francis with his descendents continued to live in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, where he was engaged in farming and the lumber trade. Our grandfather, John Turnley, born October 22, 1798, near Fredericksburg, married Miss Malinda Cowen of Spottsylvania County, Virginia, in 1821, and moved to Chesterfield County, Virginia, in or about 1840; he became interested in the lumber and coal trade, and lived near the Midlothian Coal Mines in Virginia. He spent the remainder of his life in that section, dying there in 1865. John Turnley a cousin, nephew or a relative of some sort of the above Turnleys was born in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, in 1754, enlisted in the army at the age of twenty-one, and served until February, 1778, when he received his discharge — the following is a true copy: "I do hereby certify that John Turnley, a soldier in the South Virginia regiment, has faithfully served his time of enlistment and is hereby discharged. Given under my hand at Valley Forge Camp, February 13, 1778." "George Weedon, Brigadier General." So we are all sons and daughters of the Revolution. James Madison Turnley, (the father of Preston County Turnleys) the eldest son and third child of John and Malinda Turnley was born near Fredericksburg Spottsylvania County, Virginia, September 14, 1833; lived with his parents until he was 17 years of age, when he became a stage driver from Richmond, Virginia, to the Hugenot Springs for two years. Then became overseer of slaves on a large plantation for Mr. Hill Spheres for one year and for Dr. Philip Johnston for two years; both in Chesterfield County, Virginia. At the age of twenty-three he left Virginia, and came to Piedmont, Virginia, now West Virginia, and was engaged by the B. & O. Railroad Company as brakeman between Piedmont and Fetterman, at which he served seven months, and, at the end of that time was promoted to conductorship on same division. He has in his possession now a silver medal given him by said Company for faithful service during the month of May, 1857. In 1869, he quit the railroad company and bought a farm one mile north of Newburg, Preston County, West Virginia. He moved from Piedmont, West Virginia with his family to Newburg about 1860, and was conductor on the grade from Newburg to Cranberry, now Terra Alta, until 1869, when he moved on the farm where he has since resided. James M. Turnley married Miss Matilda B. Thorn from Thornton, West Virginia, October 16, 1856; to this union were born thirteen children as follows: Mary Alice, born November 16, 1858, died December 24, 1859. Francis Calvert born September 24, 1860, lived at home with his parents on the farm until September 3, 1881, when he was accidently run over by a locomotive at Newburg and killed. Robert Lee, the second son of James M. Turnley, was born November 29, 1862: married Allie Faucett, Independence, May 10, 1885, was employed by the B. & O. R. R. Company at Newburg; was the father of two children, Francis, born September 7, 1886, now a B. & O. Engineer, and Bertha May, born May 18, 1889, is married and living in Los Angeles, California. Lee Turnley contracted a deep cold early in January, 1890, which developed into typhoid, and died January 24, 1890. Charles Turnley, third son of James M. Turnley, born March 30, 1865; married Miss Saphronia Montgomery of Newburg, December 24, 1884. Charles was employed at the Newburg Orral Coal & Coke Company, and was killed in an explosion January 21, 1886, of which 38 others were victims, leaving one son Charles, age two months. Luther Wright, fourth son of James M. Turnley, was born February 16, 1867, married Miss Mary Phillips of Independence, May 10, 1896, is the father of two girls, Lulu, born June 16, 1898, and Mildred, August 21, 1899. Luther is a very bright man having held several positions of trust in different parts of the state, but is now residing at Independence West Virginia. Arthur Peabody, fifth son of James Turnley, was born December 29, 1868; married Miss Lizzie Shafferman of Newburg, West Virginia, March 10, 1895, and is the father of one son, Richard, born July 21, 1896. Arthur is a conductor on the third division of the B. & O. He is a very thoughtful and careful trainman, having been awarded a prize for his quick, active work in stopping a passenger train on Terra Alta grade which was stopped in train length of itself and only one rails length of the wreck, which was caused by the train on which he was employed leaving the track and blocking both east and west bound tracks for quite a distance. Had not this passenger train (No. 7) been stopped not only the loss of life but property would have been immense. Turnley was the only one of his crew who realized that the passenger was so near at hand. Eunice and Lucy, second and third daughters of James M. Turnley, were twins born April 15, 1871. Eunice died in infancy. Lucy taught in the public schools for several years, then took a business course in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a stenographer for the Austen Coal & Coke Company for one year, and stenographer and book-keeper for the Orr Coal & Coke Company for more than two years. On January 27, 1908, she was married to J. C. Harrington, who for many years was the proprietor of a meat market in Monongah, West Virginia, but now resides on a farm a half male north of Newburg. Samuel Tilden, sixth son of James M. Turnley, was born May 9, 1873, married Miss Agnes Smith July 21, 1899. Of this union one child was born, Raphael Parmenas, April 14, 1900, being a name-sake of Parmenas Taylor Turnley of Chicago, Illinois, and who has spent not only years, but hundreds of dollars in writing a history of the Turnleys. And to this great author are the Turnleys indebted for their history, which was just completed in 1905. He died in 1910, age 91 years. Thomas H. Turnley, seventh son of James H. Turnley born February 29, 1876, is a mechanic by trade, and is employed by the Hamilton Coal and Coke Company at Newburg, West Virginia. He married Miss Minnie Squires August 20, 1901, and is the father of two children Iren, born July 21, 1902; Carl Byron, born July 16, 1904. Lelia L., fourth daughter of James M. Turnley, is single and is her father's housekeeper. Her mother died August 10, 1909, in Huffman's Hospital in Keyser of hernia. Agatha M., fifth daughter of James M., born October 21, 1883, died of diphtheria January 22, 1888. James Wade Hampton, youngest son of James M. Turnley, born April 27, 1885, married Miss Fannie Sheets May 30, 1905, is employed by the Hamilton Coal & Coke Company at Newburg, and is the father of one child, Mabel, born January 2, 1907. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------