My Genealogy Hound

TURNER C. HORNBUCKLE, a leading attorney-at-law in Warrensburg, is a young man of superior ability and stands high as a member of the Bar. In January, 1887, he was elected Chief Clerk of the Thirty-fourth Missouri General Assembly, and has the honor of being the youngest man ever elected to that position. In 1892 he was elected County Attorney, serving for two years, and was then once more honored with the nomination for the position in 1894. However, he was defeated, owing to the great Republican land-slide of that fall. He is a stalwart Democrat, and first voted for Grover Cleveland, in 1884. On numerous occasions he has served as delegate to district, state and congressional conventions of his party, and during a period of four years, when this county was in the Fifth Congressional District, served as Congressional Committeeman. He enjoys a good practice and is prospering financially.

Born in Hazle Hill Township, Johnson County, April 12, 1861, our subject is the son of William Lewis and Malinda (Walker) Hornbuckle In 1874 the family moved to this city, and from the time he was fifteen years of age until his graduation in the Class of ‘80, Turner attended the normal school. After securing a certificate, he engaged in teaching a country school in this county, and later taught in a village in Pettis County. At length he was chosen to serve as Principal of Schools at Warsaw, Benton County, Mo., and during his career as a teacher devoted much time to the study of law. In the fall of 1883 he entered the law department of the State University at Columbia, and in one year covered the regular two-years course. Necessarily this required an unusual amount of hard work, but as his means were limited he was obliged to be as economical as possible. After graduating in 1884 he at once opened an office and began practice in this city.

December 8, 1886, Mr. Hornbuckle married Virginia Lee Asbury, who was born in Lafayette County, Mo. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children. The first two, Louise and Louis, twins, were born at Lee Summit, Jackson County, this state, February 24, 1890; Mary and David Francis were born in Warrensburg, the former April 7, 1892, and the latter August 12, 1894.

Mr. and Mrs. Hornbuckle are members of the Southern Methodist Church, and move in the best social circles of the city. Our subject is a member of the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic order, and is also a Knight Templar. He has served as Senior Deacon and Junior Warden in the blue lodge, and at present is Junior Warden of the commandery.

William Lewis Hornbuckle, father of our subject, was born near Fulton, Mo., December 31, 1823. His father, Rufus, was a native of Kentucky, while his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Turner, came from Virginia. They were married in the Blue Grass State in 1820, and soon afterwards moved to Missouri, taking up their abode in Callaway County, where Mr. Hornbuckle engaged in farming and in teaching. At the age of sixteen years William L. came to this region with his parents, his father purchasing a farm, in 1839, in Hazle Hill Township. The boy received good training in various branches, and when about twenty years of age returned to Callaway County, where he attended an academy near Fulton. On his return home his friends persuaded him to take a school, and as his health was not robust enough for farming he taught until the beginning of the war. For the same reason he was not able to enter the service, and on being drafted his eldest son, Alexander, took his place in the Federal ranks. At the end of ten months the latter received an honorable discharge, and is now living in Jefferson City. After the usual occupations of life had been resumed at the close of the war, Mr. Hornbuckle resumed teaching, but as he was ultimately obliged to discontinue this, concluded to try an out-of-door life. His father helped him to get a start by giving him a tract of land comprising forty acres, and a brother also gave him a like amount. Later he entered some land from the Government, selling his original farm, and now owns two hundred acres in Hazle Hill Township, in the mean time having owned two or three different places.

In 1874 W. L. Hornbuckle was elected Probate Judge, and served as such for twelve years. About 1855 he was honored with the position of Justice of the Peace, and acted in that capacity until the war. For one term he was Township Trustee, for six years was a member of the Board of Education, and has also been Treasurer of that body. In 1844 he cast his vote for Clay, and of late years he has been a Democrat. About 1866 he became identified with the Masonic order and has taken the chapter degree. During the ‘40s he joined the Baptist Church, and has held the office of Deacon for many years. His marriage, which was celebrated on New Year’s Day, 1846, proved a fortunate step in his life, for his wife has been a faithful companion and helpmate, cheering and assisting him in his struggles and difficulties.