W.R. Turner

W. R. Turner, a pioneer of Parker county, and the best known liveryman west of Fort Worth, was born in Christian county, Kentucky, December 8, 1836, but was reared on a farm in Ballard county, Kentucky. His father J. B. Turner, was also a native of Kentucky, and a son of Robert Turner, of Lynchburg, Virginia. The latter emigrated to Kentucky during its early pioneer days. J. B. Turner came to Texas in 1856 and died in this county in 1870, aged sixty-two years. He married MIss Mary W. Young a native of South Carolina and they had nine children, six now living, viz: Elizabeth, wife of Edward Gholson, of McCracken county, Kentucky; Cynthianna, widow of William Stokes, and a resident of Wise County, Texas, Mary Ellen, widow of J. G. Smith, now a resident of Weatherford, W. R., our subject; and A. P. a prominent stockman of Hale County, Texas.

W. R. Turner the subject of this sketch came to Parker County, Texas in July 1858. He engaged in freighting in the manner common in those days, covering the territory between Houston, Jefferson, Shreveport and Weatherford. He followed that occupation until the spring of 1861, when he enlisted in the Confederate service in the Eighth Texas Infantry, Wall's brigade, Walker's division, Captain Tomlinson's company, E, was sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, and participated in Banks' raid. Mr. Turner enlisted as a private but at the reorganization at Hempstead in 1862 he enlisted for three years or during the war and was elected First Lieutenant. After the close of Banks' campaign, the conflict was continued on Sabine River against General Steele.

After the close of the war, Mr. Turner immediately returned to this county, without money or good clothes. For the following three years he was employed by William Mosely to run cattle on the Clear fork of the Brazos river. He next assisted in driving many thousand head of cattle to the Union Pacific Railroad at Abilene, Kansas, through a country over-run with hostile Indians. Since 1870 Mr. Turner has been engaged in the livery business in Weatherford. His frist barn was a small frame building on the lot now occupied by his fine stone barn, 100 x 150 feet, which was ereted in 1886, but rebuilt in 1893 after its destruction by fire. For many years before the western country was visited by railroads, Mr. Turner's teams did the greater portion of the commercial work in which he made money rapidly and is still a leader in the business. He is a director and was vice president of the First National Bank of Weatherford.

In 1869, in Parker County, Mr. Turner was united in marriage with Miss E. C. Power, a daughter of J. C. Power, who came to Texas from Arkansas during the late war. Of their seven children, five are now living, namely: Kate, Robert, William, Eddie and Jesse. Mr. Turner is a member of the Masonic order, of the K. of H. and of the Tom Green Association of Confederate Veterans.  (History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Tarrant and Parker counties, 1895, pages 444 & 445, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)

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