The sons of the Emerald Isle came in generous numbers to Jo Daviess County during its pioneer days, and to them it is accordingly largely indebted for its early development. Mr. Turner should be placed among the front ranks of those adventurous spirits who braved the Western wilds, and established one of the first homes in the wilderness. He is now a veteran of eighty years, having been born in 1809, in County Tyrone, Ireland. His early advantages were extremely limited, and he has had to fight his way through life as best he could. All things considered he has made a good record.

Alexander Turner, the father of our subject, was also of Irish birth and ancestry, his native place being County Tyrone, and his birth occurring about 1775. He spent his entire life upon his native soil. He married Miss Jane Taylor, who after his death came to America, and made her home with her son, our subject, until her demise, which occurred in 1856. Of the six children born to the parents of our subject there are only two living: Joseph and Alexander. The latter married Miss Mary Campbell, of Galena, and is living on a farm in East Galena Township.

The boyhood and youth of Joseph Turner were spent mostly employed as a clerk in Baltimore, and upon reaching manhood he was married to Miss Maria Saunders, of Baltimore, Md. This lady died in 1846, and Mr. Turner was a second time married – to Mrs. Barbara Wise, a native of Germany. Her first husband, Mr. Jacob Wise, was killed by a horse about the year 1857, in Jo Daviess County. Mr. Turner is the father of five children; His eldest son, James, married a Miss Martin, of East Galena, is a miner and makes his home at Pilot Knob, this county; George married Miss Evans, also of East Galena, and is farming in Rice Township; Josephine is unmarried; she is an industrious young woman, and earns her own living; Lena is the wife of Jacob Klais, a miner of Rice Township; Eliza is unmarried, and keeps house for her uncle in East Galena

Mr. Turner when a boy learned the weaver’s trade, but after coming to America turned his attention to farming, in which he has since been engaged. His homestead embraces 160 acres of good land, which he took up from the Government in 1833, at a time when the Indians were roaming over the unsettled prairie. He endured in common with his brother pioneers many hardships and privations, but he adhered steadily to this first purpose of becoming a permanent citizen of Illinois, and has been useful in his community, while at the same time Rice Township has proven to him a pleasant and profitable abiding place. A man of decided ideas, he votes the straight Republican ticket, and has held some of the local offices. He has been personally acquainted with many prominent men, including Gen. Grant, John H. Rawlins, E. B. Washburne, and others of note in Illinois. A quiet and law-abiding citizen he has been content to make very little stir in the world, but at the same time has given his support and encouragement to the enterprises having for their object the best good to his fellow-men.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)