T. M. Turner

T. M. Turner
Born	Thomas Memory Turner (1847-07-17)July 17, 1847 Middletown, Virginia
Died	September 2, 1917(1917-09-02) (aged 70) Norfolk, Virginia
Occupation	Music professor
Spouse(s)	Kate Grimes Nannie Wyatt Mary Goddard
Children	Susan Dorsey Turner Claude Eugene Turner Charles Augustus Turner Marcus Richardson Turner Cora Turner

Thomas Memory Turner (July 17, 1847 – September 2, 1917)^[1] was an American music professor. He spent many years working at the Western Lunatic Asylum of Staunton, Virginia.^[2][3][4]

He was once assistant director of the Stonewall Brigade Band, the United States's oldest continuous community band sponsored by local government and funded, in part, by tax monies. His father A. J. Turner was director.

Early years

Thomas Memory Turner was born on July 17, 1847 in Middletown, Virginia to A. J. Turner and Kate Aby, and moved to Staunton with them in the mid 1850s.

Civil War

Turner served in the Confederacy for much of the American Civil War. His father A. J. was a band leader in the Stonewall Brigade Band in the Stonewall Brigade. Thomas Memory was a musician alongside his father in the 5th Virginia Infantry from April 1 to August 22, 1862.^[5] He was later in the 14th Virginia Cavalry band, enlisting at Brandy Station on August 1, 1863.^[6] He was taken prisoner and paroled on April 30, 1865, at the age of 17.

Stonewall Brigade Band

The band was reorganized in 1869 with Turner as assistant leader and his father as leader.^[7] He continued to play in the Stonewall Brigade Band for years after the war.^{[8][9][10][11]}

First marriage

Turner married Kate Grimes of Maryland, daughter of Dr. Gassaway Sellman Grimes, on February 28, 1872 in Warren County, Virginia. They were married by a reverend Mr. Converse.^[12] A daughter, Susan Dorsey Turner, was born there in 1874.

Lewisburg

Turner lived in Lewisburg, West Virginia from about 1877 until November 1879.^[13][14] A son, Charles Augustus Turner, was born there.

Turner returns to Lewisburg in 1888, and his wife Kate dies on October 14th. His son Claude died there also at the age of just 13, falling headforemost into a vat of boiling water at the Greenbrier Cannery.^[15]

Return to Staunton

After the death of his wife and son, Turner returned to Staunton.^[14]

Western Lunatic Asylum

He became director of the Blackford Cornet Band of the Western Lunatic Asylum.^[16]

Watchmaker

Turner also ran a jewelry store in Staunton, fixing watches and jewelry as well as offering his services tuning instruments.^[17][18][19]

Second marriage

On February 15, 1893, he married Virginia Ann "Nannie" Wyatt at Harrisonburg, Virginia, at the residence of Hubert or Herbert Coffman. They were married by C. R. Cruikshank.^[20] She died March 9, 1894 in Staunton.^[21]

Maryland

In 1896–97 Turner was in Baltimore and Gaithersburg, "teaching a band" at the latter.^[22][23]

Norfolk

Turner settled in Norfolk late in life, where he taught music. He died there September 2, 1917.

References

Bibliography

• Brice, Marshall Moore (1967). The Stonewall Brigade Band. 

External links

• T. M. Turner at Find a Grave