Biographical Sketch of

Joseph Turner

Transcribed by L. John Ribar and Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 351 - 353 

Dr. Joseph H. Turner, an honored pioneer of Wisconsin, of 1840, who has 
been a resident of Berlin since 1853, deserves special mention in this 
volume, not alone on account of his long residence in the State, but in 
consideration of the high position which he holds in the esteem of his 
fellow men, and the part which he has borne in the upbuilding of the 
community.

The Doctor was born in the town of Scriba, Oswego Co., N.Y., on the 19th 
of April, 1819, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Griswold) Turner, who 
were descended from Puritan ancestors, of English descent. In 1840, 
accompanied by his family, Joseph Turner, Sr., emigrated to the 
Territory of Wisconsin, and settled in Waukesha, where he resided until 
1855, when he removed to Menasha, Winnebago County, of the same State. 
Mr. Turner was active and influential in public affairs, and was a warm 
personal friend of Henry Dodge, the first Governor of the Territory. 
Gov. Dodge frequently visited at Mr. Turner's home, and together they 
would sally forth on horseback on some political mission. While a 
resident of Waukesha, Mr. Turner represented that county in the 
Territorial Council for two years, and later served for two years in 
the State Senate. He was a Democrat in early days, but later in life 
affiliated with the Republican party. By his [father's] union with 
Mary Griswold, five children, four sons and a daughter, were born: 
Joseph H., of this sketch, is the eldest; Harvey G., is an attorney, 
who settled in Port Washington, now Ozaukee County, Wis. He was the 
first Judge of that county, was a member of the Wisconsin Senate, and 
ran on an independent ticket for Congress against James B. Macy, but 
was defeated. He is now living in Milwaukee, and is senior member of 
the well-known law firm of Turner, Timlin & Turner, his son, William J., 
being the junior member of the firm: Eugene S., the third child of 
Joseph and Mary Turner, is now a prominent lawyer of Ozaukee County... 
Charles B., the youngest son, died in Florida in his youth. The only 
daughter of the family, Ann L., became the wife of Hon. Harrison 
Reed, Governor of Florida, and died in Washington in 1861.

Mr. Turner, the father of the above-named children, was a man of great 
energy and force of character, and his public and private life were 
alike above reproach. He served as a member of the County Board of 
Supervisors of Winnebago County for many years and was Superintendent 
of the poor for North District for several years. He was remarkably 
vigorous, both mentally and physically, up to a week of his death, 
which occurred at his home in Menasha on the 1st of February, 1874, at 
the age of eighty years. His wife survived him, and died in Berlin, 
Aug. 1, 1884, at the age of eighty-nine years.

Dr. Turner, our subject, attended the public schools until about 
fourteen years of age, when he obtained a position in a store in Oswego, 
at a salary of $4 per month. When fifteen years old, he went to Hamilton, 
Canada, where he engaed as clerk in a general store for an uncle for three
years, except a short time which he spent in a store among the Quakers. 
At the age of nineteen, he began pack peddling among the Indians of 
Michigan. That was in 1837. After a time he secured a horse and wagon, 
and in that way conveyed his goods from place to place until 1838, when 
he went to Ohio. The following year we find him in Iowa, and in a canoe 
he made his way down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Ohio, where 
he disposed of his canoe and took a steamboat up the Ohio, spending one 
year in Columbus. He then made his way to Michigan, and opened a store 
in Clinton County. He had pursued his studies as chance permitted, and 
was careful to keep good company, also to avoid intemperance and 
everything that would injure his character or lower his self-esteem. 
The good habits of his youth laid the foundation of a character that 
has marked his life and made him respected wherever he has been. He 
determined to qualify himself for one of the learned professions, and 
believing the business of a successful lawyer necessitated more or less 
sharp practice that was not consistent with the high standard of morality 
he had set up, he chose the profession of medicine in preference, and 
began reading with the intention of becoming a physician. Shortly after 
beginning his studies, he left Michigan and went to Wisconsin, reaching 
Waukesha in 1840. He read medicine one year in that place, and then 
returned to Oswego, N. Y., where he studied three years, and subsequently 
took a regular course of lectures in the Albany Medical College, from 
which he received his diploma in 1845. He then returned to Waukesha, and 
entered upon the practice of his chosen work.

In May, 1847, Dr. [Joseph H.] Turner was united in marriage, in Waukesha, 
with Miss Adelaide Jackson, daughter of David Jackson, one of the early 
pioneers of that place.  Mrs. Turner was born in Chenango County, N.Y., 
and is a descendent of Gov. Lewis, of Rhode Island. Two sons and a 
daughter were born of their union: David J., the eldest, married Miss 
Monemia J. McCallum, of Beaver Dam, and engaged in the banking business 
in Winneconne, Wis., for several years; his death occurred in Sioux Falls,
S.D., Feb. 18, 1885, at the age of thirty-seven years, leaving one child, 
James H., who is now nineteen years of age, and is a student in the State 
University of Wisconsin.  David J., or D.J. as he was familiarly called, 
was a bright active business man, true to his friends, and commanded the 
confidence and respect of all who knew him; Joseph, the second child of 
Dr. Turner, died in childhood. The daughter is the youngest of the family.
To her was given the name of Mary L., and she is now the wife of A. L. 
Buell, a merchant of Berlin.

Dr. Turner belonged to the Milwaukee Medical Society, the first society 
of the profession organized in the state, and was associated with Drs. 
Wolcott, Dousman and others of the eminent pioneer physicians and 
surgeons of the Wisconsin Teritory. He first visited Strong's Landing, 
now Berlin, in 1848, when Nathan H. Strong, the founder, had just settled 
there. He was present on the Old Indian Payment Ground on the south shore 
of Lake Poygan in 1848, when the treaty was signed by the Winnebago 
Indians ceding their land west of the Fox River.In 1850, he located in 
Poysippi, Waushara County, where he practiced his profession until 1853, 
when he came to Berlin. The opening of a new country offered better 
advantages for money making in the line of real estate than the practice 
of medicine, and Dr. Turner, after locating in Berlin, virtually abandoned
the practice of medicine, and engaged in real estate business. He entered 
thousands of acres of land for himself and others, and bought and sold 
as opportunity offered. He purchased a tract of land adjacent to the 
plat of Berlin, which he laid out in lots under the title Turner's 
Addition to Berlin and which he sold out by lots and blocks. In the 
summer of 1863 he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the 1st Wisconsin 
Calvary, and went to the front with his regiment. The change of climate 
and water prostrated him while at Nashville, Tenn., and his health became 
so seriously impaired that he was forced to resign and return to his home.
On recovering his health, he resumed business in real estate and 
insurance, which he has continued to the present time.

Dr. Turner is a Republican in politics, and has served eight years as 
Alderman in the City Council of Berlin. Socially he is a member of Berlin 
Lodge, No. 38, A. F. & A. M. and although not active in attendance at the 
meetings of the order, takes a warm interest in its prosperity. He was a 
membe rof the I. O. O. F for nearly forty years. The Doctor's wife is an 
active and consistent member of the Baptist Church of Berlin, with which 
she has been associated since a child of thirteen years. Dr. Turner has 
led an active life, and has had a varied experience, but through all the 
changes of fortune, he has preserved a consistently upright course, and 
has always aimed to so live as to maintain his honor and dignity, and 
deserve the respect and esteem of his fellow men.






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