Melissa M. (Ogden) Turner (1855 - 1932)

Born 15 Jul 1855 in Millburn Township, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Wife of Robert C. Turner — married 13 Mar 1880 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

Died 11 Nov 1932 at age 77 in Oakland, Alameda, California, United States

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Biography

Melissa (Ogden) Turner is a part of US Black heritage.

Melissa Ogden was born on 15 July 1855 in Millburn, New Jersey. Her parents were Cato and Catherine Ogden.^[1]

Her father died in April 1860. Census records from the same year show 4-year-old Malissa living with her mother and four siblings: Sarah (age 17), Mary (age 14), Alonzo (age 8), David (age 2).^[2] Another brother, Charles Ogden (age 19), is enumerated in the household next door.

Little is known about her formative years or how and why she moved to California. However, she married Robert C. Turner there on 13 March 1880 ^[3] , and the two of them are enumerated in the 1880 U.S. Census living at 32-1/2 Mary Street, San Francisco.^[4] Also at the same address are another couple named Robert and Mary Wilson, ages 37 and 38, from Virginia.

The 1900 U.S. Census^[5] shows Melissa Turner living with her husband at 2577 Sutter Street, San Francisco. Both of them are 44 years old; Malissa is listed as from New Jersey and the mother of one child (deceased). Also in the household are her mother, Catherine Ogden (age 81, from New Jersey), and a lodger named John H. Rogers (age 32, from Georgia).

The 1910 U.S. Census shows Melissa Turner, age 48, living at the same address.^[6] She is listed as widowed (her husband died the previous year), of mixed race, and the mother of one child, zero living. John H. Rogers continues to live in the household and is listed working as a Barber.

The 1920 U.S. Census enumerates Melissa Turner living with four new lodgers: Edwin and Ruby Boone (ages 36 and 32 respectively, from California); Anne Barnum (age 60, from Ohio), and Joseph Wilson (age 20, from California).^[7] Melissa is said to be 48 years old, of mixed race, and working as a Saleslady.

Voter registration records and city directory listings suggest that Malissa Turner lived at her home on Sutter Street until at least 1927.^[8][9]

In the 1930 U.S. Census, an 80-year-old Melissa Turner is listed in the home of Edwin and Ruby Boone at 667 42nd Street, Oakland, California.^[10] Also in the household is Ruby's mother, Eliza Barnum, age 69. All occupants are listed as "White".

Melissa Ogden Turner died on 11 November 1932.^[11] She is buried with her husband at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California. ^[12]

Research Notes

A very long 1884 article in the San Francisco Examiner suggests that Robert and Martha Wilson (listed at the same address in the 1880 census) were the aunt and uncle of Malissa Turner - Freeth-52 23:39, 9 September 2019 (UTC)

There is a list of all the people buried in Robert Turner's grave plot compiled by Roger Dahl, former archivist at the U.S. National Bahá'í Archives. (I have chosen to link it rather than paste it directly due to copyright) It appears to be part of a comprehensive new website dedicated to the life of Robert Turner, containing further info about his life and family. - Freeth-52 14:42, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ "New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ9G-CQ2 : 10 March 2018), Ogden, 14 Jul 1855; citing Springfield Twsp., Essex, New Jersey, United States, Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton; FHL microfilm 493,712.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFC9-JXQ : 14 December 2017), Malissa Ogden in entry for Cathrine Ogden, 1860.
3. ↑ Marriages (Turner-Ogden), The Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California), 17 March 1880. p.3. Accessed by richardvhollinger on 31 Jan 2017. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8665021/turner_marriage_1880/
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6P8-Q4S : 24 August 2017), Malissa Turner in entry for Robert Turner, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 134, sheet 260A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0076; FHL microfilm 1,254,076.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9G4-JHC : accessed 9 September 2019), Melissa Turner in household of Robert C Turner, Precinct 15 San Francisco city Ward 40, San Francisco, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 216, sheet 4A, family 86, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,105.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVGD-QCS : accessed 9 September 2019), Melissa Turner, San Francisco Assembly District 40, San Francisco, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 263, sheet 5A, family 87, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 101; FHL microfilm 1,374,114.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH4M-3SS : accessed 9 September 2019), Melissa Turner, San Francisco Assembly District 30, San Francisco, California, United States; citing ED 221, sheet 4A, line 6, family 75, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 138; FHL microfilm 1,820,138.
8. ↑ "California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Sep 2019), Melissa Turner, 2577 Sutter, San Francisco, California, USA. Party Affiliation: Republican. Occupation: Housewife. 1912-1913. California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968
9. ↑ "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Sep 2019), Melissa M. Turner (Robert C. Turner), h: 2577 Sutter, San Francisco, California, USA. Publication: San Francisco City Directory, 1912-17; 1920-22; 1925, 1927. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCXS-JPB : accessed 9 September 2019), Melissa Turner in household of Edwin Boone, Oakland, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 33, sheet 26A, line 18, family 579, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 102; FHL microfilm 2,339,837.
11. ↑ "California Death Index, 1905-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKS9-V42P : 8 November 2017), Mallissa Turner, 11 Nov 1932; citing 56737, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento; FHL microfilm 1,686,050.
12. ↑ Burial listing for Garden ES-D, Lot 141. Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, California. Accessed on 9 Sep 2019. https://www.cypresslawn.com/cemetery-map/