William Turney

   William Turney was born in Germany in 1822.  It is not known when he came to this country or when he arrived in Kaufman, however he appears on 1852 Tax Rolls of Kaufman County, the first showing that he owned a horse, 10 head of cattle and hogs, all valued at a total $175.  By the year 1856 he paid taxes on hogs, 55 head of cattle, 5 horses and he had acquired 1600 acres of land, 640 acres of which was bought from the estate of John T Carter, a man who died in 1854 and who left a widow named Martha.

   In 1856 William Turney married the Widow Martha Carter.  They produced the following children:

1. William Henry Turney - known as "Billy"
       Born 22 May 1857 - Died 19 March 1921
       Married in Kaufman 10 Dec 1879 - Mary Ann Wigginton
       Billy was a grocer.  He bought out the interest of J A Dellis, his parner in Dellis & Turney Grocers, in October 1883, and began the business of W H Turney & Bros.  the store was located on the square in Kaufman.  The "Austin Statesman" a publication did a story about him in the March 13, 1884 edition.
2. Thomas E Turney
       Born 18 May 1859 - Died 30 Mar 1925
       Married Martha M Tinnin
       Tom was a banker.  From the Dec 18, 1898 edition of the Kaufman Sun: "Local Bank Officers Elected-Citizen's National Bank of Kaufman- T. E. Turney-Vice President"
3. Martha Jane Turney
       Born 4 Oct 1861 - Died 3 Sep 1944
       Married in Kaufman TX 7 Jan 1880 - Robert H Shaw
       She was a home maker and a mother.  She had 7 children with Shaw.

   According to records William Turney was primarily a farmer who dabbled in dealing cattle and horses and who also bought and sold many parcels of land from 1855 until 1861.  In 1857 - 1860 he bought and sold many Town Lots within Kaufman, including real estate on the town square.  He was a Mason and belonged to the Knights of the Pythias.

   In 1861 William Turney enlisted in the Confederate States Army, serving first in the 37^th Cavalry regiment, and secondly in Co A 6^th Texas Cavalry, with many of his neighbors and in-laws.  The war ruined William's health and he returned back to Kaufman with a frail body.  He died 17 Oct 1867 and was buried on his homestead which was situated three miles south of the town of Kaufman.

The following Resolution of Respect (similar to an obituary) for William Turney was found in an old 1867 Kaufman newspaper:

NOTE: The portions that are underlined could not be read - the newspaper was very faded and cracking from age.

At a slated communication of Bloomfield Lodge No.   2AFM, held in the town of Kaufman on the 19^th October 1867.  The undersigned having been appointed a committee, to deal resolutions expressive of the feeling of the lodge and commensed by the death of Bro. William Turney, who departed this life the 17^th day of October 1867, made the following, which was unanimously adopted.

Whereas it has pleased the all wise Ruler of the Universe to remove from our midst our esteemed friend and brother William Turney, thereafter be it resolved:

That in the death of Brother Turney our community has lost one of it's best friends, society a valuable member and this lodge a worthy craftsman.

That we sincerely     with the family and friends of our deceased brother in their sad bereavement and offer them our warmest sympathies.

That a copy of these resolutions be tendered the widow of our deceased brother and also a copy to the editor of the Kaufman Star for publication with a request that he publish the same.

Be it further resolved that the members of said lodge display the usual badge of mourning for thirty days as a       of high regard they        the memory of our deceased brother.