T. M. Turner
T. M. Turner | |
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Born | Thomas Memory Turner July 17, 1847 |
Died | September 2, 1917 | (aged 70)
Occupation | Music professor |
Spouses |
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Children | 5, including Charles A. Turner |
T. M. Turner | |
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Allegiance | 14th Virginia Cavalry |
Battles/wars | American Civil War
|
Thomas Memory Turner (July 17, 1847 – September 2, 1917)[1] was an American composer, band leader, and music professor. He was known to his friends as "Mem".[2]
He was once assistant director of the Stonewall Brigade Band of Staunton, Virginia, the United States's oldest continuous community band sponsored by local government and funded, in part, by tax monies. His father A. J. Turner was director. They were mustered into the Stonewall Brigade under Stonewall Jackson of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Turner served through the Valley Campaign, the Seven Days Battles, and was at the Battle of Cedar Mountain.
Memory trained several
Early years in Staunton
Thomas Memory Turner was born on July 17, 1847, in
Civil War
Turner served in the
Stonewall Brigade Band
The Stonewall Brigade Band was reorganized in 1869 with Turner as assistant leader and his father as leader.[5]
First marriage
Turner married Kate Grimes of Maryland, daughter of Dr.
Lewisburg
Turner lived in Lewisburg, West Virginia from 1876 until November 1879.[9] A son, Charles Augustus Turner, was born there. Memory Turner's job is listed as a goldsmith on his birth record.[10] Turner directed the Lewisburg Concert Band. His sister Cora would sing for them.[11] He also was a jeweler and watchmaker.[12]
Return to Staunton
Turner returns to Staunton in November 1879, and lived on 12 Madison Street. He continued to play in the Stonewall Brigade Band.[13] He directed the "Stonewall Octette", a group of singers attached to the band.[14]
At a rally for
Watchmaker
Turner ran a jewelry store in Olivier's Bookstore on 102 E. Beverley Street (also known as Main Street) now a part of the historic district. Turner fixed watches and jewelry as well as offered his services tuning instruments.[17][18][19] He continued to tune pianos for most of his life.[20][a]
Return to Lewisburg
Turner again instructs a band in Lewisburg in 1884,
Second Return to Staunton
After the death of his wife and son, Turner again returned to Staunton, and lived at 213 W. Beverley St.[9]
Western Lunatic Asylum
He became director of the Blackford Cornet Band of the
One account reads "The music of the Hospital Band sets aside solitude and relieves the monotony of asylum life, and has a wonderful effects in quieting the noisy and disturbed patients, besides being a source of great pleasure and enjoyment to the more quiet class, and is greatly enjoyed by visitors to the institution."[27]
Second marriage
On February 15, 1893, he married Virginia Ann "Nannie" Wyatt in Harrisonburg, Virginia, at the residence of Hubert or Herbert Coffman. They were married by C. R. Cruikshank.[28] She died March 9, 1894, in Staunton.[29]
Maryland
From 1896 to 1897 Turner was in
Norfolk
Turner settled in
Notes
- ^ A square piano showing markings indicating it was tuned by Turner belongs to the National Music Museum of Vermillion, South Dakota.[21]
References
- ^ Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
- ^ "Mem Turner Here". Staunton Daily Leader. September 8, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- ^ National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations, compiled 1903 - 1927, documenting the period 1861 - 1865; Catalog ID: 586957; Record Group #: 109; Roll #: 429
- ^ a b "Soldiers Records".
- ^ "Reorganized". Republican Vindicator. November 19, 1869.
- ^ "Married". Staunton Spectator. March 5, 1872.
- ^ "Grange Picnic In Clarke". Spirit of Jefferson. September 7, 1875. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Personals". Staunton Spectator. Vol. 57, no. 9. November 18, 1879.
- ^ "West Virginia Births, 1853-1930," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F1P2-X4L : 9 March 2018), Charles Turner, 02 Apr 1877; citing Lewisburg, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 595,033.
- ^ "Monroe County, West Virginia - Monroe/Border Watchman Surname Index,October - December 1877".
- ^ "The Stonewall Brigade Band". The daily dispatch. October 27, 1881.
- ^ "Staunton". The daily dispatch. February 14, 1880.
- ^ "Hancock and English Pole". Staunton Spectator. Vol. 57, no. 42. July 6, 1880.
- ^ "[No title]". Staunton Spectator. Vol. 57, no. 42. July 6, 1880.
- ^ "Card!". Staunton Spectator. Vol. 58, no. 46. August 2, 1881.
- ^ "Watches and Jewelry". Staunton Spectator. Vol. 57, no. 32. April 27, 1880.
- ^ "Special Notices". Norfolk Landmark. July 14, 1900.
- ^ Square piano
- ^ "Personals". Staunton Spectator. April 22, 1884. p. 3.
- ^ "News of the Day". Alexandria Gazette. September 7, 1889.
- ^ Brice 1967, p. 181
- ^ "Report of the Superintendent of the Western Lunatic Asylum". Staunton Spectator. Vol. 69, no. 17. December 16, 1891.
- ^ Virginia (1891). Annual Reports of Officers, Boards and Institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 61.
- ^ Virginia (1892). Annual Reports of Officers, Boards and Institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 13.
- ^ "Professor Turner Weds Mrs. Nance". Richmond dispatch. February 17, 1893.
- ^ "Virginia News". Alexandria Gazette. March 10, 1894.
- ^ "Death of Mrs. Turner". Staunton spectator and vindicator. December 30, 1896.
- ^ "Personal". Staunton spectator and vindicator. March 4, 1897.
Bibliography
- Brice, Marshall Moore (1967). The Stonewall Brigade Band.