My Genealogy Hound

Henry M. Turnage is a son of Henry and Nancy (Colley) Turnage, and was born in Smith County, Tenn., June 11, 1824, and is the youngest of four sons and two daughters, only I. D. and H. M. living. The grandfather, William Turnage, was one of three brothers, who came from England at an early date and landed at Charleston, N. C., where William married and raised a large family; he served in the Revolutionary war. The father, Henry Turnage, had no advantages for education; he moved to Smith County in 1812, married in 1813, and in 1825 moved to Tipton County, where he continued funning until his death in 1873. He served in the war of 1812. The mother was born in South Carolina in 1789, and died in 1868, a devout member of the Methodist Church. Our subject was raised and educated in Tipton County. October 10, 1851, he married Elizabeth, daughter of William B. and Elizabeth Tucker, and by this marriage had six children: John C., William H., Horace E. (a merchant at Memphis); Alice May (wife of H. C. Polk, of Memphis), Ella K. and Emma. Since his marriage Mr. Turnage has resided in the Sixth District, except from 1858 to 1861, when he was in Mississippi, and in Arkansas until 1864; he then returned to Tipton County, and resumed farming until 1866, when he commenced merchandising at Mt. Zion, and is now carrying a well selected stock of merchandise, valued at $6,000. He owns 2,146 acres of land in Tipton County, in several tracts, and a half interest in another tract of 450 acres, making him one of the largest land owners in the county. Mr. Turnage commenced life a poor boy, and by his perseverance and fine business capacity has secured this fine estate. In early life he served five years as constable, and several years as magistrate, and in 1870 was again elected magistrate, and has since held the office. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but is now a Democrat. He is a long standing and prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and since 1853 has been grand master of Tipton lodge, for twenty years High Priest, and for eleven years has taken the commanding degree. Mr. and Mrs. Turnage are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mrs. Turnage was born in North Carolina in 1828; both of her parents were natives of that State.