A. J. Turner

This article is about the American musician. For the Australian pediatrician and entomologist, see Alfred Jefferis Turner.
Augustus John Turner

Nickname(s) A. J.
Born (1818-10-12)October 12, 1818
Spartanburg County, South Carolina, U.S.
Died May 14, 1905(1905-05-14) (aged 86)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Allegiance  Confederate States of America
Service/branch  Confederate States Army
Years of service 1862
Rank Chief Musician
Unit Company Band, 5th Virginia Infantry
Battles/wars

American Civil War

Spouse(s) Kate M. Aby
Relations Charles W. Turner (son)
Thomas Memory Turner (son)
Cora Turner Freijs (daughter)

Augustus John Turner, (October 12, 1818 – May 14, 1905) known as "A. J. Turner", was an American composer, band leader and music professor. He was the first director of the Stonewall Brigade Band of Staunton, Virginia,[1][2][3][4] the oldest-continuous community band funded by tax moneys in the United States.[5] Turner was a professor of music at both the Wesleyan Female Institute and the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute. He was also involved in the temperance movement.[6]

Early years

Augustus John Turner was born on October 12, 1818 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina to Samuel M. Turner and Mahala Johnson Chapman.[3] His father was a farmer.[7] Both his grandfathers fought in the American Revolution.[3]

Staunton

Before moving to Staunton, Turner lived in Middletown and Newtown, near Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia. He was married to Catherine "Kate" Montrose Aby on July 1, 1845 in Frederick County.[8] Her father was a shoemaker and veteran of the War of 1812; her mother the daughter of a drummer in the American Revolution. Turner's house in Newtown was lost in a fire on December 2, 1856.[9]

His former house in Staunton sold for $3,350 soon after his death.[10]

Stonewall Brigade Band

Alto saxhorn used in the band's antebellum performances.

In Staunton, Virginia in 1855, David W. Drake sought to found a band. He enlisted the help of his former music teacher in Newtown. Drake prevailed upon A. J. Turner to move to Staunton.[5][11] These two and other white, male citizens of the city formed the Mountain Saxhorn Band.[12][13][14] The band's first formal concert occurred on July 17, 1857 at Union Hall on Beverley Street in Staunton. It was known as Turner's Silver Cornet Band by 1859.[15][16][17] On April 4, 1861, Turner's Silver Cornet Band, together with the Staunton Musical Association and the Glee Club, presented at Armory Hall the last concert that was to be given before the Civil War.

Civil War

The band was mustered into the 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment under Stonewall Jackson.[18] The band earned the name Stonewall Brigade Band soon after First Manassas,[19] and has been known as such ever since. In addition to their instruments, the band members also fought and acted as couriers and letter bearers[20] or medical assistants.[19] Turner's first son Charles was a courier.[21] In addition to entertaining the troops in the field, they frequently appeared in concerts in Fredericksburg, Richmond, Staunton, and elsewhere to help recruiting rallies, clothing drives, and war relief fund raising.

Turner enlisted for the Confederacy on April 1, 1862.[6] He was for a time in the 14th Virginia Infantry Company I, then transferred into the 5th. He was discharged for his age on August 22, 1862. One engagement this places him at is the Battle of Cedar Mountain.

Post-war

The band was reorganized in 1869 with A. J. serving as leader. His son T. M. Turner served as assistant leader.[22] A. J. Turner directed the band until 1884.[6]

Music teacher

Turner could play most any instrument.[23] An ad for his services in 1896 reads "Prof. A. J. Turner respectfully solicits a class of young people of both sexes in music...Instruments: violin, piano, guitar, mandolin, cello and cornet."[24]

He was also an agent for the sale of Stieff pianos.[5][25][26]

Wesleyan Female Institute

Turner's first job in Staunton was teaching vocal and instrumental music at the Wesleyan Female Institute.[5][27]

Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute

Turner was for decades professor of music at the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute,[28][29] appointed in November 1866.[30] He taught the blind pupils.[31] One account of the institute's annual concert praises the pupils for "a high degree of musical taste and talent."[32] His salary was increased $200 in 1871.[33]

Temperance

Turner was also active in the temperance movement.

Sons of Jonadab

In 1878 Turner was the Most Worthy Grand Chief of the Sons of Jonadab.[34]

Indianapolis

Turner left for Indianapolis, Indiana in 1900 to live with his daughter Cora Turner Freijs.[35] He would reside there until his death.[36][37]

List of compositions

References

  1. ↑ Zenas J Grey (October 4, 1881). "The Blue and the Gray at Carlisle, PA". Staunton Spectator.
  2. ↑ "Handsomely Done". Staunton Spectator. June 3, 1885.
  3. 1 2 3 J. B. O. Landrum. History of Spartanburg County. p. 407.
  4. ↑ "A Band of 1845 (sic)". Popular Science. March 1935.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Stonewall Brigade Band". Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "Soldiers Records". Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Obituary". Spartanburg Herald. June 11, 1879. p. 3.
  8. ↑ Dodd, Jordan R., et al.. Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850. Bountiful, UT, USA: Precision Indexing Publishers.
  9. ↑ "Fire Near Winchester". Richmond Whig. December 2, 1856.
  10. ↑ "Local Briefs". Staunton spectator and vindicator. August 25, 1905.
  11. ↑ "Deaths During the Week". Staunton Spectator and vindicator. October 29, 1909.
  12. ↑ Marshall Moore Brice. The Stonewall Brigade Band.
  13. ↑ Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia 3. p. 2583.
  14. ↑ J. A. Hiner. "The Stonewall Brigade Band". Confederate Veteran: Published Monthly in the Interest of Confederate Veterans and Kindred Topics 8: 304.
  15. ↑ e. g. "The Concert". Staunton Vindicator. June 1, 1860. p. 2.
  16. ↑ "Staunton's Stonewall Brigade Band". Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ "We call attention to the advertisement...". Republican Vindicator. June 4, 1859.
  18. ↑ John Overton Casler. Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade. p. 48.
  19. 1 2 James I. Robertson. The Stonewall Brigade. p. 47.
  20. ↑ The Civil War Paintings of Mort Künstler. p. 142.
  21. ↑ William Couper. The Corps Forward. p. 209.
  22. ↑ "Reorganized". Republican Vindicator. November 19, 1869.
  23. ↑ "NOTED BANDMASTER DEAD". Harrisonburg Daily News. May 18, 1905. p. 5.
  24. ↑ "Music". Staunton Spectator. September 9, 1896.
  25. ↑ "Pianos, Pianos, Pianos!". Staunton Spectator. December 26, 1865.
  26. ↑ "Pianos, Pianos.". Staunton Spectator. April 17, 1866.
  27. ↑ "Wesleyan Female Institute". Staunton Spectator. July 5, 1870.
  28. ↑ Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, Staunton (1876). Report.
  29. ↑ Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, Staunton (1886). Report.
  30. ↑ "Local News". Staunton Spectator. November 13, 1866. p. 3.
  31. ↑ "Concert By The Blind Pupils". Staunton Spectator. June 30, 1868.
  32. ↑ "[No Title]". Staunton Spectator. June 28, 1870.
  33. ↑ "D. D. & B. Institution". Staunton Spectator. August 8, 1871.
  34. ↑ "Briefs". Staunton Spectator. May 21, 1878.
  35. ↑ "Personal". Staunton Spectator.
  36. ↑ "Virginia News". Alexandria Gazette. May 17, 1905.
  37. ↑ "Death of Prof. A. J. Turner". Shenandoah Herald. May 26, 1905.
  38. ↑ "Pray Maiden Pray". Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Bessie Bell Waltz". June 15, 1858. p. 3.
  40. ↑ "La Perle". Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  41. ↑ "To the ladies of the Confederate States : Palmetto schottisch". Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Spring time polka". Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  43. ↑ "New Music-Good Music". Staunton Spectator. March 1, 1859. p. 2.
  44. ↑ "Memorial Day at Staunton". Staunton Spectator. June 10, 1879.
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