The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-08
In Memory of Josiah Turner.
(Orange county Observer.

(OTdnS6 county ODSerNeF.J
AT meeting of the bar, held in the
| court house at Hillsboro on Wednesday
OF May term, 102, Major John w. Graham
was called to the chair and Major d. H.
Hamilton appointed secretary.
Frank Nash, Esq, chairman of the
committee appointed at March term,
1902, presented the following sketch of
the life of the Hon. Josiah Turner and
the resolution of respect.
Hon. Josiah Turner was born December
2Sth, 1921, married Miss Sophia Dever-
eux January oath, 1856, and died October
g. 1901.
Mr.. Turner was educated at the Cald-
we'll Institute, Greensboro, and at Chapel
Hill. At the latter place he did not
graduate on account of i'll health. Soon
after his coming of age, he studied law
obtained his county court license and
settled in Johnston county to practice his
profession. There he did not remain long,
but returned to Hillsboro. In this coun-
ty he enjoyed at one time a large, if
not lucrative practice. Having, however
! a peculiar aptitude and taste for public
life, he became an active politician, and
was elected as a Wing to the House OF
Commons from Orange and served in
1923 and 1915. with honor to himself
and great applause from the public. lie
was senator from Orange in 1859 and
in 1S69-61, and as such, in session and
out of season. he labored fearlessly to
preserve the Constitution and Union in
tact. Though SO ardent an Union man, when
war became an existing fact, he volun-
teered, saying, Constitution or no Con-
stitution I can not consent to see a Fed
eral army invade the soil of South Caro-
lima to subjugate and make her a con-
quered province" was on September 10,
1851 commissioned Captain of Co. X, 10th
Regiment of Cavalry, was desperately
wounded near Kinston April 18th, 1862,
and resigned his commission November
Sth, 1852, to enter the Confederate Con-
Eress. There he served continuously 10
the end of the war, and was elected, but
not allowed to take his seat to the Fed
eral Congress of 1867. He returned
home, resumed the practice of the law,
was elected President of the North Car
DINA Railroad, and in a few years pur-
chased the Sentinel newspaper and be-
came its editor. In this latter capacity,
he was a man of the times and for the
times, doing his work boldly, strenuously
and successfully, and thus at the most
trying period, of it's existence, he made
great figure in the history of the State.
Therefore be it
Resolved 1. That, we as body success
sors to himself and his co-laborers, de-
sire to record our testimony to the fact,
that, in Mr.. Turner'S death the State
has lost a successful lawyer, a faithful
legislator, a brave soldier, a distin-
guished editor and public spirited cit
len, and the people themselves an honest,
incorruptible Tribune.
9. That his extraordinary courage, his
imperturbable temper, his bigness of
heart, his fine courtesy to all, particu
larly to women, children and strangers,
his noble charity to the poor and help
less, his knowledge of human nature and
his industry and indomitableness, entitle
him to be entered upon the roll of the
great and good men who have made Hills
boro and Orange county famous.
8. That His Honor be requested to have
this minute of Mr.. Turner's life and these
resolutions spread upon the records of
this court. and that the secretary of this
meeting furnish copies to a Raleigh,
Charlotte and Hillsboro paper.
The adoption of the resolutions was
moved by F. H. Busbee, Esq, in an ap
propriate address, and seconded in a
feeling manner by S. NJ. Gattis, Esq.
Ordered by the court that the pro-
ceedings of the meeting together with
the resolutions be spread upon the min
utes and sent to the News and Observer,
the Charlotte Observer and Orange Coun-
. ty Observer with the request that they
publish it.
JOHN, w. GRAHAM,
Chairman.
D. H. HAMILTON, Secretary.