Betsy Jane (Qualls) Turner (abt. 1852 - 1913)

Born about 1852 in Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Died 24 Feb 1913 at about age 61 in Lamar, Prowers, Colorado, United States

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Biography

'Betsy' Jane Qualls, b 1852/3, daughter of Francis M. Qualls and Parthena A. Wood. Born in Missouri, Betsy and her family lived in Marble Twp, Madison, Arkansas by 1860. ^[1] During and after the Civil War, the family moved between Missouri and Arkansas several times and while the family was censused in 1870 in Porter, Christian County, Missouri, Betsy was apparently married by then.

Married: ___ Turner abt 1870. Married 22 yrs before her husband passed away, together they had six children: ^[2]

1. unknown
2. unknown
3. unknown
4. unknown
5. unknown
6. "Daisy" Turner (1886 AR - 1918 CO)

The Qualls siblings and spouses first went to Colorado abt 1876. While younger brother, Jonathan returned to Missouri, Betsy moved between Colorado, Arkansas, and Indian Territory. Although their movements are difficult to trace, what is known for certain is by the mid-1880s, the Turners were in Arkansas where their child, Daisy, was born. They returned to Colorado where they lived in Bent County (later Prowers). ^[3]

Betsy's husband and five of six children died, likely before 1900. In that same year, her daughter Daisy was staying with her brothers Lewis Qualls, J. 'Frank' Qualls, and George Qualls next to the home of their sister M. Matilda Turner (wife of Robert), in Peoria I.T. (Oklahoma). ^[4]

In 1905, Betsy, referred to by local townsfolk as 'Grandma Turner', took sick, as noted in the local news:

We are glad to note that Grandma Turner is almost well again after quite a bad spell of sickness. The health of our people is exceptionally good considering the inclemency of the weather for the last two weeks. ^[5]

About that same time, her brother George moved to Lamar taking a farm next door. Their brother, Frank, moved in with Betsy the following year, along with his daughters. Their sister Martha (Turner), and Martha's child also came to live with them. ^[3]

Before 1910, Betsy's daughter moved in, bringing her two youngsters. Later that year, Betsy's niece, Altie, married in Lamar. As her extended family grew, lived, and worked together, Betsy appears to have been the family anchor - she held the family together until her death in 1913. ^[2]

Died: 24 Feb 1913, Lamar, Prowers, Colorado

Burial: (as) Betsy J Turner. Riverside Cemetery, Lamar, Colorado ^[6]

Note: Large portions of the cemetery, incl the family lot, were devastated by flooding in the mid-1960s. Most records and hundreds of grave markers were lost or destroyed. Of remaining records, Betsy's was one of those recovered, posted to the Find a Grave Website by volunteer transcribers.

Research Notes

LNAB: Qualls. FN: Betsy. Although her given name may have been Elizabeth, the name Betsy Jane or initials BJ are seen in records.

Spouse: Unk. Turner. The Turner family, in general, was of Missouri. Due to missing records and damage to the family burial plot in Lamar, the first name of her spouse has thus far been lost to posterity. He was likely related to her sisters' husband, Robert Turner.

Records

1860 census: Marble, Madison, AR ^[1]

Name: Betsy Jane Qualls

Event Place (Original): Marble Township, Madison, Arkansas

Age: 8

Race: White

Birth Year (Estimated): 1852

Birthplace: Mo

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

F M Qualls Male 33 Tenn

Parthena A Qualls Female 27 Ga

Lucy Qualls Female 12 Tenn

Rachel M Qualls Female 11 Tenn

Betsy Jane Qualls Female 8 Mo

Martha Qualls Female 4 Arks

Jonathan H Qualls Male 2 Arks

Charity Woods Female 50 Ga

1910 census: Lamar, CO ^[2]

Name B J Turner

Sex Female

Age 55

Event Place (Original) Lamar, Colorado

Birth Year (Estimated) 1855

Birthplace Missouri

Marital Status Widowed (was md 22 yrs, 6 children, 1 now living)

Race White

Relationship to Head of Household Head

Father's Birthplace Tennessee

Mother's Birthplace Georgia

Household Members Age Relationship

B J Turner 55 Head, widow

J F Qualls 40 Brother, widower

Altie Qualls 14 Niece

Martha Qualls 13 Niece

Daisy Verner 25 Daughter, divorced [sic/Turner]

May Baker 6 Granddaughter [Mary]

William H Baker 1 Grandson [aka Howard]

Note: Brother George Qualls & family lives next door.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M875-2DK : 18 February 2021), F M Qualls, 1860.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK4F-XNR : accessed 5 March 2022), B J Turner, Lamar, Prowers, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 136, sheet 14B, family 579, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 123; FHL microfilm 1,374,136.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Compiled family notes from available records. ~ kc
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSR1-DPJ : 11 March 2022), Daisy Turner in entry for Louis Qualls, 1900.
5. ↑ The Lamar Register, Volume 19, Number 35, February 8, 1905. Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection. Colorado Libraries. Digital Database. Article.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74921282/betsy-j-turner : accessed 03 March 2022), memorial page for Betsy J. Turner (unknown–24 Feb 1913), Find a Grave Memorial ID 74921282, citing Riverside Cemetery, Lamar, Prowers County, Colorado, USA ; Maintained by Leon Barton (contributor 46904326) .

See also:

• Illustrated history of McDonald County, Missouri: from the earliest settlement to the present time. Sturges, J. A., editor. Pineville MO, 1897. Internet Archive, 2008. archive.org.JH Qualls, p241-2.