Re: McAfee, Crawford, Fowler, Sohn Bios-Hannibal MO/Mt. Sterling IL: Brown Co IL

About Charles Edward Turner & family of Mt. Sterling, Illinois (Brown County)
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Source:

History of the Illinois River Valley
BIOGRAPHICAL
VOLUME III
Illustrated
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING CO.
1932

Copyrighted, 1932
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING CO

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CHARLES E. TURNER (Page 525)



Charles E. Turner, a prominent lawyer of Mount Sterling
and former state's attorney from Brown county, was born De-
cember 1, 1894, in the town where he still resides. The father,
Charles H. Turner, was born in Brooklyn, New York, May 8,
1865, and when a small boy journeyed westward to Illinois with
his parents, George and Josephine Turner. George Turner was
one of the early merchants of Mount Sterling and a scion of a
colonial family that contributed to the Continental Army valiant
soldiers who aided in winning American independence.

His son, Charles H. Turner, attended the schools of Brown
county and the college at Jacksonville, Illinois. When his edu-



526 THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY

cation was completed he returned to Mount Sterling, becoming a
clerk and bookkeeper in a private bank conducted by a Dr. Glass,
with whom he continued until the institution was closed. The ex-
perience and knowledge thus acquired well qualified him for
financial work of importance and he was then selected as cashier
of the Mount Sterling First National Bank, with which lie re-
mained until his death on the 3d of December, 1905. He worked
untiringly and effectively to further its interests and lived to see
this become one of the largest and strongest moneyed institutions
in Brown county. His civic spirit prompted his valuable service
as a member of the Mount Sterling school board, to which he was
elected on the republican ticket, and his life was guided by the
teachings of the Presbyterian Church. On the 8th of May, 1888,
he had married Miss Carrie Ella Smith, a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. James Smith. The mother of Mrs. Turner was a Miss Ches-
ter, whose early ancestors came to America as passengers on the
Mayflower and took up their abode in the western part of the
country. They were related to the Morgans, early settlers in Vir-
ginia and Kentucky, and also to the Stoddards, a colonial family
that was represented in the Revolutionary war by Lieutenant
Vine Stoddard, an officer on the staff of General Washington.
Mrs. Charles H. Turner was born in Dwight, Livingston county,
Illinois, February 23, 1862, and after her graduation from the
university at Normal engaged in teaching in Colorado and Illi-
nois, continuing in educational work until her marriage, which
took place in New York. In the affairs of the woman's auxiliary
of the American Legion at Mount Sterling she is actively inter-
ested and has been post historian for a number of years. She
has long been a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church and
her political support is given to the republican party. Mrs.
Turner is the mother of three children: Robert R., whose sketch
is published elsewhere in this work ; Mary, who was born Febru-
ary 28, 1892, and is now the wife of Glenn Hersman, of Grand
Rapids, Michigan ; and Charles E.

The last named was graduated from the Mount Sterling high
school in 1913 and was a member of its debating, football, base-
ball, basket-ball and track teams. Entering the University of
Illinois in the fall of 1913, he won the Bachelor of Arts degree



THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY 527

from that institution in 1917 and on June 2 of the same year en-
listed in the army for service in the World war. He was sent
to the officers training school at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, where
he received the commission of second lieutenant, and sailed from
New York, January 3, 1918. He landed at Brest and after a
month's training at Chatillon-sur-Seine, a town in the depart-
ment of Cote d'Or, France, was assigned to the One Hundred and
Sixty-sixth, known as the "Rainbow" Division. Later he was de-
tailed for duty as an instructor with the One Hundred and
Thirty-second Regiment of United States Infantry but at the end
of six weeks was sent back to his own division with which he saw
service at Chateau Thierry and in the Argonne and St. Mihiel
sectors. After the armistice he went to Germany with the Army
of Occupation and was stationed near Coblenz until May, 1919,
when he returned to this country. Proceeding to Camp Grant, he
was ordered to Fort Bayard, New Mexico, for hospital treatment
and was mustered out of the service August 25, 1919.

In the fall of 1919 Mr. Turner matriculated in the law school
of the University of Michigan, which conferred upon him the
J. D. degree in 1922, and while pursuing his studies in Ann Arbor
he served on the editorial staff of the Law Review, a university
publication, also becoming a member of the Order of Coif and the
Phi Delta Phi fraternity. Admitted to the bar of Illinois in 1922,
he entered upon the general practice of law in Mount Sterling and
in 1924 was elected state's attorney, serving acceptably for a
period of four years. Keen intelligence and mature judgment
direct the utilization of his legal knowledge, which is compre-
hensive and exact, and a liberal clientele has been accorded him.

On the 30th of June, 1926, Mr. Turner was married in Mount
Sterling to Miss Ruth Duncan, who was born in Franklin, Mor-
gan county, Illinois, May 13, 1891. She is a daughter of Richard
and Carrie (Reinbach) Duncan, who still make their home in
Franklin, where her father follows the trade of a blacksmith, and
both he and the mother are of German lineage. Mrs. Turner pur-
sued her elementary studies in Franklin and in 1911 was gradu-
ated from the high school at Jacksonville, this state. There she
attended the Illinois College for women, afterward becoming a
piano instructor at Mount Sterling, in the Illinois College of



528 THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY

Music at Jacksonville and in the Salem College of Music at Win-
ston-Salem, North Carolina. She is now giving private lessons
and belongs to the American Guild of Organists. Mr. and Mrs.
Turner are the parents of two children : Mary Carolyn, who was
born April 14, 1927; and Edward Duncan, born December 14,
1928.

Mr. Turner is a republican and has been active in behalf of
the party. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian and his wife
has membership in the Christian Church. She figures prom-
inently in the social life of the community and is widely known
by reason of her accomplishments in the field of music. When
the opportunity offers Mr. Turner enjoys the sports of fishing and
hunting, as well as a game on the links, and belongs to the Scripps
Golf Club. He was one of the organizers of the Mount Sterling
branch of the American Legion, becoming a charter member of
his post, which he has represented in the capacities of judge ad-
vocate and service officer, and is also identified with the 40 & 8
Club, the social branch of the Legion. However, the major por-
tion of his time is given to his legal work and his business in the
courts in steadily increasing in volume and importance. Through
his close conformity to the ethical standards of the profession he
has won the esteem of his fellow practitioners and has member-
ship in the Brown County, Illinois State and American Bar Asso-
ciations.
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his brother:

ROBERT R. TURNER (Page 364)



The interests of the State Savings, Loan & Trust Company of
Quincy are ably represented at Mount Sterling by Robert R.
Turner, whose connection with financial affairs covers a period
of twenty-seven years. He was born May 15, 1889, in the town
where he still resides, and is a son of Charles H. and Carrie Ella
(Smith) Turner and a brother of Charles E. Turner, of whom
extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. The grand-
father, George Turner, was one of the pioneer merchants of
Mount Sterling and his forbears served under General Washing-
ton in the Revolutionary war. Charles H. Turner was a financier
of high standing, well known as cashier of the First National



THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY 365

Bank of Mount Sterling, and continued as an officer of the insti-
tution until his death on December 3, 1905. His widow, who still
resides here, is related on the distaff side to the Chester, Morgan
and Stoddard families, all of which were established in this coun-
try in colonial times. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Turner were
born three children : Robert R. ; Charles E., engaged in the prac-
tice of law in Mount Sterling ; and Mary, now the wife of Glenn
Harsman, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The grammar and high schools of his native town afforded
the educational advantages enjoyed by Robert R. Turner, who
became a wage earner in 1904, when he obtained a situation in
the First National Bank of Mount Sterling. Starting in a humble
capacity, he was steadily promoted as he gained in proficiency
and knowledge and in 1908 was made assistant cashier. Eight
years later he assumed the duties of cashier and acted in that
capacity from 1916 until January, 1930, when the bank was
closed, at which time he became local representative of the State
Savings, Loan & Trust Company of Quincy. He makes his head-
quarters in Mount Sterling and looks after the real estate and
loan interests of the company in Brown county. Experienced,
dependable and efficient, he meets every requirement of the posi-
tion, which is one of large responsibility.

Mr. Turner was married July 20, 1923, to Miss Eileen Simp-
son, who was born in Exeter, Scott county, Illinois, July 25, 1893,
and obtained her early instruction in Winchester, that county.
Following her graduation from the Mount Sterling high school
she studied music, developing her talents along that line, but is
not a professional. She is a daughter of Wyatt and Isabel
(Armitage) Simpson, who still reside in Exeter. Her father
was born March 5, 1868, and the mother on July 3, 1873. Mr.
and Mrs. Turner are the parents of a son, George Robert, born
December 16, 1924.

Mr. Turner is a veteran of the World war. Enlisting in the
United States Army September 7, 1918, he went to Camp Grant,
Illinois, for training and sailed for France on a transport which
landed at Brest. He was attached to Evacuation Hospital Unit,
No. 37, from its formation until it was disbanded in July, 1919 ;
successively stationed at Joinville, Nevers, and Toul. He was



366 THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY

honorably discharged at Camp Grant. He aided in establishing
Brown County Post, No. 374, of the American Legion, Mount
Sterling, becoming a charter member of the Post, of which he
was for a long time adjutant and service officer, and is also
identified with the Forty and Eight, the social organization of
the Legion. Mrs. Turner served as president of the Woman's
Auxiliary of the American Legion at Mount Sterling in 1924
and is also prominently connected with the Twentieth Century
Club. Like her husband, she adheres to the Presbyterian faith,
and both are republicans in their political views. Fraternally
Mr. Turner is identified with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He is appreciative of fine music and comes of a family
of musicians. During his hours of leisure he indulges in hunt-
ing, fishing, golf, and other outdoor activities conducive to health.
Traveling has afforded him pleasure and he has visited many
points of interest in the United States and Canada, as well as
those in France which his sojourn there permitted. He is well
satisfied with Mount Sterling as a place of residence and has
always cooperated in movements for the growth and benefit of
his community. Honest, industrious and conscientious, Mr. Tur-
ner has fulfilled life's duties and obligations to the best of his
ability and stands deservedly high in the esteem of his fellowmen.

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Note: Charles Edward Turner had a daughter with Lillian Belle Crawford of Mt. Sterling, Illinois. Her name was
Marjorie Alberta Crawford and she was born March 25, 1918,
in Mt. Sterling, Brown County, Illinois. Marjorie married Henry E. Sohn of Hannibal, Missouri. Marjorie died on November 1, 2005, at her residence at Beth Haven West Apartments, West Ely Rd., Hannibal, Missouri. She is buried
alongside her husband, Henry Sohn at Grand View Burial Park, US Hwy. 61 South, Hannibal, Ralls Co, Missouri.
Marjorie had a daughter, Sandy Jean Sohn, who married John Edward "Eddie" Daggs. They had two daughters, Dana (Daggs) Stebler of Austin, Texas and Robin (Daggs) Hollis of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Lillian Belle Crawford, daughter of Charles Crawford and Margaret Fowler of Mt. Sterling, Illinois, married Charles Thomas Mahlon McAfee of Hannibal, Missouri in June 1920 at the First Presbyterian Church Parsonage in Hannibal, Missouri. Lillian died in April of 1968 and is buried at Grand View Burial Park just outside Hannibal, Mo.

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History of Illinois and Her People

Page 39

Charles E. Turner, state’s attorney of
Brown County, was born at Mt. Sterling, rep-
resents a family long, well and favorably
known in banking and other affairs in the
county, and was one of this county’s repre-
sentatives in the American Expeditionary
Forces, serving with the famous Rainbow Di-
vision.
He was born December 1, 1894, in the same
house where he still resides. His grandfather,
George Turner, was of New England ancestry,
a native of Massachusetts, and came West
from Brooklyn, New York, bringing his fam-
ily by river to Illinois, being a pioneer of
Brown County. He was a merchant and later
for many years was identified with the First
National Bank of Mt. Sterling. He died in
1903, when about eighty years of age. His
chief interest outside his business and home
was the Presbyterian Church. George Turner
married Josephine Barrows, who survived
him nearly twenty years. They had three
children: Arthur; Charles H.; and Minnie,
wife of Dr. H. B. Todd, of Houston, Texas.
Charles H. Turner, father of the state’s at-
torney, was born in Brooklyn, New York, in
1863. He grew up and received his early edu-
cation at Mt. Sterling, and from early man-
hood was identified with the First National
Bank, being its cashier when he died. He was
also president of the local school board, was
trustee and treasurer of the Presbyterian
Church. He married at Brooklyn, New York,
Miss Carrie E. Smith, a native of Dwight, Illi-
nois, who had been a teacher before her mar-
riage. Her father, James Smith, came from
New York State and was a farmer at Dwight.
The children of Charles H. Turner and wife
were: Robert R., cashier of the First Na-
tional Bank of Mt. Sterling; Mary, wife of
E. G. Hersman, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
Charles E.
Charles E. Turner after finishing his course
at the high school at Mt. Sterling entered the
University of Illinois, graduating with the
A. B. degree. However, he was granted his
degree and formal graduation while already in
training camp for service in the World war.
He joined the colors June 2, 1917, attended the
Officers Training School at Sheridan, Illinois,
and was commissioned a second lieutenant of



40
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS
infantry. Mr. Turner went overseas as a
casual in January, 1918, sailing from Hoboken
on the U. S. S. Huron and landing at Brest.
After one month in the corps training school
he was assigned to the One Hundred and
Sixty-sixth Infantry of the Rainbow Division.
This was the Ohio unit of the Forty-second
or Rainbow Division. At different times he
served with Companies H and M with Head-
quarters Company, was with the regiment in
the Lorraine Sector, and in July, 1918, par-
ticipated in the Champaign-Marne defensive,
was on the front at Chateau Thierry, and in
the great Argonne campaign. He was at the
front when the armistice was signed in No-
vember, 1918, and subsequently accompanied
the Army of Occupation into Germany, his
regiment being stationed at Rolandseck on
the Rhine River. In May, 1919, he returned
to the United States, sailing from Brest on
the ship Leviathan. He was honorably dis-
charged from Camp Grant, Rockford, August
27, 1919. Since the war he has been service
officer of the local post of the American Legion
and is a county judge advocate of the State
Legion.
Mr. Turner soon after his discharge entered
the University of Michigan Law School and
graduated in 1922. He has since built up a
successful practice at Mt. Sterling. In Novem-
ber, 1924, he was elected state’s attorney of
Brown County as a candidate of the republi-
can party, and the only man on that ticket
successful in the election. In fact he has the
remarkable distinction of being the first re-
publican to hold a county office in Brown
County over a period of forty-two years. Mr.
Turner was elected by a majority of 360 votes
in a county normally democratic by 700. Mr.
Turner is unmarried. He is a member of the
Phi Delta Phi college fraternity, the Order
of the Coif and is a trustee of the Presby-
terian Church at Mt. Sterling.
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