Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1301

Rh military institute. He was born in Greenesville county, April 27, 1847, the son of Joseph and Mary Peebles (Mason) Turner. His father, who also held the office of clerk of the courts' and during two terms represented his county in the State legislature, was the son of Person Turner, a prominent citizen of Greenesville county and chairman of the county court, who was a native of England and founded the family in Virginia. Mary Peebles Mason was the daughter of Peyton Mason, a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a prominent merchant of Petersburg, and a worthy member of one of the prominent families of the South. E. L. Turner, during the early period of the war, was a student in his native county and at Petersburg, but during 1864, having entered as a cadet at the Virginia military institute, he took part in the service of the cadets under their commander, Colonel Shipp. In May, 1864, he shared in the fatiguing marches of the cadets in the Valley campaign under General Breckinridge, and participated in the defeat of Sigel's army at New Market. At the close of the war, sharing the impoverished condition of the commonwealth and its people, he was compelled to abandon further collegiate study and seek employment for a livelihood. In January, 1867, he entered the office in which his father had served efficiently during the last fifteen years of his life, becoming the deputy of John W. Potts, at that time clerk of the courts. On the retirement from office of Mr. Potts, Mr. Turner was appointed, in April, 1870, to fill the vacancy, and at the subsequent election he was elected to the office. He has discharged the duties of this responsible trust with such intelligence, skill and fidelity that at each succeeding election he has been again chosen for the position. In political affairs he has been active in the interests of the Democratic party and has participated in several State conventions. He is a faithful member, with the rank of adjutant, of Chambliss-Barham camp of Confederate Veterans. In the Masonic order he is particularly prominent and widely known. He was made a Master Mason in 1874, rose to Junior Deacon and Senior Deacon, and from 1880 to 1890 served as Worshipful Master, at the conclusion of this term being presented a handsome past master's jewel in evidence of the appreciation of his services. He was appointed district deputy grand master in 1880, became a member of the standing committee of the grand lodge on Masonic jurisprudence in 1883, and in the same year was commissioned by the grand lodge of Nebraska as its grand representative near the grand lodge of Virginia. He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in the Petersburg union chapter, April 16, 1885, and became a Knight Templar in Appomattox commandery April 18, 1889. He is also a member of the past master's association of Richmond, Va., and maintains memberships in the orders of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum. In 1876 he was married to Mrs. Ellen P. Wilson, daughter of Peter W. Walker, and they have three children: E. Peyton, Mary Ellen and Peter W.

James E. Turner, of Norfolk, well known among the pilots of the Virginia coast, was born in the State of New York in 1839. At the age of six months he was taken by his parents to Monticello, Ill., where they resided until he had reached the age of six years, when the family removed to Virginia, and made their home at Hampton. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary