THE TURNEY FAMILY MILITARY HISTORY

I will attempt to get this correct. You might want to do a double check as this is not my line. My line is the one in Van Buren County/Cleburne around Higden.

All of this should begin with Henry Turney b 1745 VA died 1843 Liberty, Smith/Dekalb Co Tennessee and his wife Elizabeth. They are both buried at Clear Fork Cem. there. Henry built and defended Fort Nashborough during Rev. War. Three of his sons came to Arkansas - they had all fought in War of 1812.

1. Jacob Turney Sr b 1771 VA died 1856 in Arkansas (his wife Nancy Gilliam died in TN). This son settled about 1839 on line between Searcy and Carroll Counties. 2. Peter Turney b 1795 NC (later TN). died 1840-42 in VBC Arkansas. He and wife Hannah arrived AR 1834 - several of his grandsons, and also his younger sons fought for C.S.A. from Higden area. 3. Isaac Turney b 1777 died 1829 in TN (supposed to have been wounded in War of 1812). His wife Mary Gilliam Turney and several of her children arrived Snowball, Searcy Co about 1836 - they are all on 1839 tax rolls. This is the family I will tell you about now.

Family of Isaac Turney and Mary Gilliam Turney 1. Joseph stayed in TN 2. Pleasant Turney born 1806 TN. (He was 2nd Lt. Co B, Mounted Ark Vols, mustered in 8 Oct 1836 at Fayetteville, AR. Mustered out 30 March 1836 at Ft. Gibson. To Patrol during Cherokee-Osage hostilities.) (1st Lt. Co. E, Ark Battalion & Mtd Rifles, Enrolled 26 June 1846 at Batesville. Mustered out 28 Feb 1847, Ft. Wayne, CN-Cherokee Nation.) You see his name on Peace Society. He is mentioned in your article about First Battalion Six Months Arkansas Union Infantry. He died along with about 150 of his men from disease and is buried at Batesville, Arkansas. He was a Captain.

3. Bowman Turney born 1810 TN. (also on list of Peace Society). (Pvt. Co. E, Ark, Battalion & Mounted Rifles - Mexican War. Enlisted 23 June 1846 at Batesville. Mustered out 28 Feb 1847 at Ft Wayne, Cherokee Nation.l) Pvt. Co. K, 14th Ark Inf (CSA) enrolled 5 Aug 1861, Yellville. Sent to hospital from Corinth, Ms. Died about 1864.

4. Dr. George Turney 1822-1911. Buried at Turney Cem. in St Joe, Searcy Co., AR. Pvt. Co. K, 14th (Powers) Ark. Inf. Enlisted 5 Aug 1861 Yellville, deserted 6 April 1862. (while listed as deserted, supposed to have been fighting Yankees around Searcy area). Also served Co. G, Jackman's MO Cav (CSA) enlisted Searcy Co., age 44, born TN, Paroled 5 June 1865 at Jacksonport, AR.

5. Lemuel Turney b 1808 TN died before 1850. I will have more about his sons.

6. John Clanton b 1812 TN died after 1880. Boone Co, AR. I do not know about his service record. Believe his son was in CSA.

7. brother-in-laws to these men were a Taylor, David Campbell, and James Adams. The first wife of Dr. George Turney was also an Adams, his second wife a dau. of Theophilus Parks on Peace Soc. list. Green Berry Adams, Joseph Adams, J. J. Barnes, Castleberry, Potter, Reeves, Rose, Strickland, Taylor, Wortman - all on the Peace Society list and all related to Turney family in some way.

Now for the family of Lemuel Turney and Mariah Taylor. 1. Isaac Turney born 1823 TN (was in Mexican War). He went to California and I dont have his service record.

2. Boman Turney b 1830 killed in Civil War. died 6 April 1862 at Shilow MS. A member of chain gang, Pvt. Co I, 18th (Marmaduke's) Ark Inf. I do not know where he was buried in MS. His wife was Laura Ann Strickland - more about her family.

3. Josiah Spurlock Turney. b 1835. (married to Cynthia Delilah Strickland, children married into Castleberry family). Sgt. Co. K, 1st Ark Inf. (Union). Enlisted 20 March 1863 at Fayetteville. Transferred to non-commissioned staff 1 march 1864. Mustered out 10 August 1865. (a Major). Pvt. Co. K, 14th (Powers) ark, Inf. Enlisted 21 Jan Campb Madison. Deserted 3 April 1862. (on list of Peace Society who had not been arrested. Evidently they caught him later and forced him to serve with Co. K, 14th AR. See his brother John Campbell Turney. In other words looks like he deserted C.S.A. and then joined Union where he ended up as a Major stationed at Ft. Smith, AR.) He survived to come home - was a school teacher in Snowball area. He died Jan 1868 and is buried in Snowball - whatever that cemetery is called.

4. Isham Turney born 1838 AR. Pvt Co. K, 1 Ark Inf (Union) Enlisted 1 Mar 1863, Fayetteville, AR. Died at Ft. Smith, AR 14 Sept 1864. I do not know where he is buried.

5. Presley Turney Born 1841 AR. (think this is our Presley). Member of Chain Gang, Co. I, 18th (Marmaduke's) Ark Inf. also Co A, 3rd Conf, Inf. Only member of Chain Gang that remained with unit throughout the War and was paroled 28 April 1865 as 3rd Corporal in N. Carolina.

6. John Campbell Turney. born 1844. Pvt. Co. K 14th (Powers) Ark Inf. Enlisted 21 Jan 1862 at Camp Madison. (Probably was forced to join as he probably was a Peace Society member). Died following the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern near Pea Ridge Arkansas in 1862. He died the 9th day of March 1862. Do not know where buried.

7. William L. Turney born 1847 died 1916. married to Mary Margaret Taylor. There are so many William Turneys I dont know which record is for him.

Now the Strickland and Campbell family was related to this group thru the wives. I will tell you what little I know about three Strickland brothers. Pvt. Eli F. Strickland - Co. H, 1st Ark. Cav. (Union) died at Fayetteville, Ark 1-28-1863. Two of his brothers in the same unit: Com. Sft. John A. and Pvt. James W. Strickland were mustered out with Reg. 8-23-1865 and returned to Searcy Co.

I know this is not in a form you can use, I do not know where all of these men are buried; but I do think it shows how the war split apart families. My family in Van Buren Co - cousins to this group - seem to have all been in 10th Ark C.S.A. A second cousin to these older men was Peter Turney in Tennessee who formed the 1st TN regiment and was later (1890s) governor of Tennessee - a die hard Rebel. The Strickland, Reeves, Taylor, Campbell, Turneys had relatives in Alabama (a lot of them died in war) who fought CSA, Tennessee - CSA, and Illinois - Union. When you also look at the wives families, you get an ideal of what a mess it all was. One of my VBC ancestors after being forced to fight, (CSA) and being wounded very badly, ended up the last months of the war living in a cave on his property. He only came out at night, but he felt his wife and children needed him - everything including the milk cow had been taken by either one of the armies or bushwackers.

You might want to check with James Johnston - Searcy Co researcher. He would probably have more info.