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Continued: Hon. Milton Turner is one of the representative men of Cambridge, and is a prominent Democratic Politician in this portion of the state. During the late war (Civil War) he made a gallant record as a defender of the Union, and served from October 24, 1861, until the close of the conflict , his discharge papers being dated August 6, 1865. He has always kept a warm spot in his heart for his soldier comrades, is a member of the Union Veteran League, and has been one of the most enthusiastic promoters of the Guernsey County Soldier's Monument.
**************** George Turner, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia, and his father, who bore the same Christian name, was a native of England. The latter emigarted to the United States in 1801, and died in 1812, as a result of an accident, a tree falling upon him. He left a wife, formerly Mary Stephenson (of Irish birth), and three children. The widow subsequently became the wife of John Shields. George Turner, Jr., was brought up as a blacksmith, and learned the trade in Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio. In early manhood he removed to Cambridge and worked at his trade with Mitchell Atkinson. He met and married Eliza J. Porter, their union being celebrated in April 1843. Eleven children were born to them, and of the seven who survive, Milton is the eldest. James was killed at Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864. He was a private of Company H, 78th Ohio Infantry, and participated in all engagements from Ft. Donelson to Atlanta. George died in Texas. Celesta became the wife of James Hunter, a telegraph operator. Isabella is the wife of James F. Hardesty, a bridge contractor of Cambridge. William is a weigh master in the Cambridge coal mines, and is ex-Deputy State Mine Inspector. Mary is the widow of Austin Sines. John P. is Principal of the South Side School in Cambridge, and Samuel is a resident of Columbus.
The parents of Mrs. Eliza (Porter) Turner were James and Hannah (Sharp) Porter, natives of County Down, Ireland. The former was born in 1796, and was brought to the United States when about five years of age. His father, Joseph, located near Carlisle, PA, and thence removed to Allegheny County where he died at the age of 77 years. He had three children, James, Robert and Margaret. James Porter came to Guernsey County in 1833 and followed agricultural pursuits from that time until his death, which occurred April 28, 1864. His children were as follows: Eliza J.; Joseph, who died at Peabody, Kansas in 1894; Mary Ann; James S.; Robert; Cynthia; Margaret; Ellen; Ann H.; William W. and John T. The Sharps were early settlers in Maryland and later in Pittsburgh, and the grandfather of Mrs. Turner was killed by Indians.
Milton Turner was born in Adams Township, Guernsey County, February 5, 1844 and received a common school education. He enlisted in the fall of 1861 and after the close of his term of service reenlisted as a veteran. His first engagement was at Ft. Donelson, after which followed the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Corinth, Jackson, Memphis, Thompson's Hill, Raymond, Black River and the siege of Vicksburg. He was wounded at Bentonville, NC, March 21, 1865, and thereby lost his right arm. He was discharged soon afterward at Columbus, Ohio. He had served in the Atlanta and Carolina campaigns and was with Sherman on his march to the sea.
Returning home, our subject attended school for a year, March 21, 1866, married Henrietta, daughter of Henry Urban. Seven children came to grace their union: Henry Howard, who is in the railroad employ and lives at home; James P., who is now working in the Cambridge Rolling mills; Charles W., who died April 7, 1871; Laura B., wife of James McMahon, of the Cambridge Rolling mills; Frederick Livingstone, a grocer of Cambridge and Milton Hoge, Jr., and Carlos, who are at school.
In 1866 Milton Turner was placed on the Democratic ticket to run for the position of Sheriff of Guernsey County, but was defeated. The next eight years he gave his attention to the management of a dairy. In 1874 he was appointed under Gov. Bishop as Vistors' Attendant at Columbus, and served as such for two years. In 1886 he was elected County Treasurer, receiving a majority of two hundred votes, in the face of a Republican majority of one thousand. He served for two years, after which he was nominated for Representative, running against D.D. Taylor, and reduced his opponent's majority from 975 to 250 votes. In 1890 he was elected to the State Board of Equalization for the 18th and 19th Districts, comprising the counties of Tuscarawas, Coshocton, Guernsey, Monroe and part of Noble. In 1892 Mr. Turner was nominated for Congress from this district, and was defeated bo only 1,100 votes, though every county in the district is Republican. Moreover, he carried Muskingum County, the home of Van Voorhies, by a majority of 500. In 1894 he was nominated Secretary of the State Convention. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In the intervals of his public office, Mr. Turner has been engaged in cultivating the farm which he owns in Cambridge Township, and which is principally devoted to fruit growing. Each year immense crops of peaches, in particular, are grown on this farm, and of late years the owner has been very successful in evaporating fruit, as with a company he erected a suitable building, equipped with the most modern processes and a wise counselor, a sincere friend and a desirable companion. He is generous, large hearted and just in all his dealings with his fellow men.
(The above was abstracted from the book "Portrait and Biographical Record of Guernsey County, Ohio)
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