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Charles S. Turner
(1870-1957)

Charles S. Turner was born in February 1871 in Fayette County, the son of George Washington and Mary Frances (White) Turner. He married sisters Flora Hull (1877-1953) and Grace Hull (1884-1931). 

Charles is seen here in an undated portrait. He was a farmer and resided near Chalk Hill, Fayette County. 

In all, Charles had 10 children -- Robert M. Turner of Chalk Hill, Nancy Leonard of Greenbrier, Pearl M. McCartney of Uniontown, Bessie G. Smith Sorrels of Chalk Hill, Theodore R. Turner of Evans Station, Luella M. Thompson of Farmington, Eugene Charles Turner of the US Navy, Cornelia F. Turner, Apostle "Paul" Turner and Raymond Turner. 

Charles married his first wife, Flora, in 1895 at Cumberland, Allegany County, MD. After a few years of marriage, and two known children (Nancy and Robert), he allegedly left Flora and the family. She in turn filed for divorce, on the grounds of desertion. News of the legal proceeding was covered in the Connellsville Courier in late 1904 and early 1905. Attorney Leslie A. Howard was appointed master for Flora in the case. 

The divorce was secured. Imagine Charles' reaction when, in 1908, his ex-wife married his widowed father. The scandal made headline news in the Connellsville newspapers.

Brothers Charles (left) and John Turner

Charles made his own twist of revenge when he married his ex-wife's sister, Grace Hull. He and Grace were 14 years apart in age.  Circa 1910, they resided along West Newton Road in Rostraver, Westmoreland County, PA, with Charles working as a farm laborer. Residing in their home that year were children Nancy and Robert from the first marriage and Pearl M. Turner, Bessie Turner, Theodore Roosevelt "Teddy" Turner and Luella Turner from the second marriage. Living next door was Charles' brother and sister in law, John P. and Lillian Turner.

Sadly, Grace died at home as she neared her 48th birthday on Oct. 20, 1931. She rests for eternity in the Leonard Cemetery at Chalk Hill. 

Flora passed away at the age of 76 on the day after Christmas 1953, at the home of granddaughter Mrs. Ralph Smalley at Coolspring, near Uniontown. She was laid to rest at the Lutheran Cemetery in Chalk Hill. At her death, the Courier gave the names of her surviving children as Albert Turner of Perryopolis, Raymond Turner of Ohiopyle and Nancy Leonard of Dunbar. At the time, she had produced 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She also was survived by brother John Hull of Uniontown and sisters Sally Hann of Philadelphia, Prudence Swedeburg of San Francisco and Frances Grier of Washington State.

Charles lived in Uniontown, Fayette County circa 1951. He died in 1957. In all, the known children of Charles and his two wives are as follow:

Daughter Nancy "Nannie" Turner (1896-1982) married Edward A. Leonard (1889-1938). Edward was considered a "member of a pioneer family at Kentuck," Fayette County, the son of John W. Leonard. He also was known as "a lifelong resident of Kentuck and one of its most prosperous farmers." They had two sons -- Dale Leonard and Jay Leonard -- and attended the Union Church of Kentuck. Suffering from a "complication of diseases," reported the Uniontown Morning Herald in the winter of 1938, he "had been in declining health since the first of the year," and died at the untimely age of 49 on Feb. 9, 1938. His passing "came as a shock to members of the family and residents of the community." Burial apparently was in a cemetery near the family home. Nancy outlived her husband by more than four decades, making her home in Dunbar, Fayette County. She died in November 1982, at the age of 86.

Son Robert M. Turner (1899-1946) married Mabel Weimer ( ? - ? ). They lived at 105 Chestnut Street in Uniontown. The Turners had one daughter, Betty Guthrie. Robert died in the Uniontown Hospital at the age of 47 on April 17, 1946. His place of burial is the Leonard Cemetery.

Daughter Pearl M. Turner (1902-1992 ) wed Benjamin "Ben" McCartney. She resided in Uniontown circa 1970. She passed away in July 1992 at the age of 90.

Daughter Bessie Turner (1905-1987) apparently was married twice, first to (?) Smith and second to Dewey Sorrells. She lived in Washington, DC in 1970. Bessie passed away on Nov. 10, 1987.

Son Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Turner (1907-1970) married Viola Moreland ( ? - ? ). They resided in Uniontown for many years and later in 1964 moved to nearby Belle Vernon, Fayette County. The Turners had five children -- Frances Fotta, Beatrice Chidester, Elizabeth Golcher, Edward Turner and Theodore E. Turner. Ted died at the age of 53 on Oct. 18, 1970, and was buried in Leonard Cemetery. At the time, he was survived by 20 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 

Daughter Luella Turner (1909-1958) married James Thompson (1906-1994). They resided on the Chalk Hill-Ohiopyle Road near Uniontown. The Thompsons had three children -- Viola King, Hazel Clender and James R. Thompson. They attended the Chalk Hill Methodist Church. Luella passed away at the age of 49 on Feb. 3, 1958. She was interred in the Sunset View Cemetery. James outlived his wife by 36 years. He died in 1994, and rests for eternity beside Luella.

Son Eugene Charles Turner (1913-1959) resided in Imperial Beach, CA. He was married and had children. He was a retired chief gunner's mate with the US Navy, and was a World War II veteran, with 22 years' of service in total. He died at the age of 46 on May 13, 1959. 

Daughter Cornelia F. Turner (1916-1935) passed away at the age of 19, following an illness of four months' duration, on April 10, 1935. Following funeral services held at the home of her married sister, Pearl McCartney, she was laid to rest in the Leonard Cemetery in Chalk Hill, near Uniontown. 

Son Paul P. Turner (1917-1989) resided in Dunbar, Fayette County, circa 1970. He died on June 11, 1989.

Son Ray Turner (1923-1981) lived in Waltersburg, Fayette County in 1970. He died in August 1981.

Copyright © 2003-2004, 2006-2007, 2009-2010 Mark A. Miner

Grave marker photos courtesy of Brenda (Turner) Blake, which also are posted on the Find-A-Grave webpages for Bryer Ridge Cemetery