William Bryant Turnipseed (1831 - 1927)

Born 1 Jun 1831 in Stark County, Ohio

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy A. (Miller) Turnipseed — married 18 Sep 1855 in Carroll County, Ohio

Husband of Elizabeth (Spyker) Turnipseed — married 26 Dec 1897 in Richland County, Wisconsin

Descendants

Died 1 May 1927 at age 95 in Richland County, Wisconsin

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Biography

This profile is part of the Turnipseed Name Study.

Corporal William Turnipseed served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: April 1864
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 41st Regiment Wisconsin Infantry

Corporal William Turnipseed served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: July 1864
Mustered out: 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co H, 46th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry

Civil War Veteran

41st Regiment Wisconsin Infantry and later, Co H 46th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry

Son of Johann Heinrich Turnipseed 1795-1861 and Alcinda Rhodes 1803-1885

Original Source for the following biography is unknown, it appears to have come from a local history book, and appears on the Find A Grave memorial page of William Byron Turnipseed:

WILLIAM TURNIPSEED is one of the sterling pioneers of Richland county, where he has made his home for nearly half a century, having resided on his present farm, in the town of Marshall, since 1859 and having lived a life reputable in all it s relations, so that he has not been denied the fullest measure of popular confidence and esteem.

The surname "Turnipseed" was derived from the name "Repsum" given in Germany by common usage to the perfector and grower of a seed by that name, the oil of which was used for lighting purposes. Later, the family became known as "Repsumer", the English translation becoming "Turnipseed."

William Turnipseed was born in Stark County, Ohio on June 1, 1831, and is a son of Henry and Alcinda (Rhodes) Turnipseed, the former of whom was born near Washington, D.C., and the latter in Loudoun County, Virginia. The father was married in Virginia, where he was a member of the state militia and where his occupation was that of overseer of a plantation. In an early day he removed to Stark County, Ohio, being one of the pioneers of that beautiful section of the old Buckeye State, and there he operated a farm and a coal mine. He also had a distillery and was an extensive raiser of hogs. He lived many years in Stark County, Ohio but both he and his wife died in Carroll County, that state. His father was a native of Germany and served in the German army, and together with his two brothers were pressed into service by the government to fight the colonial troops in America. He never saw his wife thereafter, as she died before his return home. The Christian names [given names] of the maternal grandparents of our subject [William] were Adam and Eve, the former a native of Germany, the latter of Pennsylvania. They became early settlers of Virginia. Henry Turnipseed was a man of spotless integrity and was held in high regard by all who knew him. He was one of a family of four boys and four girls. Their respective names are as follows: Adam, Peter, John, Henry, Catherine, Eve, Sarah and Susan. He was originally a Whig and later a Republican in politics and he held various township offices. Both he and his wife were members of the Christian church. He was thrice married, no children being born of the first union. Three daughters and one son were the issues of the second marriage, and concerning the offspring of the third marriage the following brief data are given: 1. Susan is the wife of William Ashbrook, of Augusta, Carroll county, Ohio.; 2. Lydia Ann became the wife of Thomas Marshall and died in Jefferson county, Ohio., in 1905; 3. William is the immediate subject of this review; 4. Lucinda is deceased; 5. Henry K. is a resident of Carroll county, Ohio. 6.David B. is a merchant in Alliance, Stark county, that state; 7. Samuel R. is a successful farmer of the town of Marshall, Richland county, Wisconsin.; 8. Diana is the wife of William McGranihan of Augusta, Ohio.; and 9. Jane, who became the wife of George Stackhouse, is now deceased. John Turnipseed son of Henry Turnipseed and his second wife, was engaged in the hotel business in Salesville, Ohio, for forty years and was an influential citizen of Guernsey County. He served as postmaster of his town and was killed by a train while placing mail-pouches on the same.

William Turnipseed, the immediate subject of this sketch, attended both German and English schools in his youth and could speak the German language well when but eight years of age. Later he attended a subscription school in a pioneer log schoolhouse, equipped with puncheon floor, fireplace and slab benches, and he recalls that the teacher would at the present time be ineligible for the position of instruction in the primary grades of our public schools. Under such conditions it is needless to say that the subject of this sketch received somewhat limited educational advantages. He remained at the parental home until he had attained to his legal majority and in 1855, when twenty-four years of age, he was married in Carroll County, Ohio, to Miss Nancy A. Miller who was born in Stark County, Ohio, on December 18, 1837, the daughter of Isaac Miller then a resident of Carroll County. After this important event in his career Mr. Turnipseed removed to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he remained several years, having been variously employed. In October 1859, he came to Richland County, Wisconsin, and at Lone Rock met Harvey Marshall, one of the brothers in whose honor the town of Marshall, Wisconsin was named. After a time he secured eighty acres of wild land in Section 11, that Township [Richland Township], erected a log house on the place and made other improvements. He reclaimed a considerable portion of the tract to cultivation and lived on the homestead until he entered the service of the Union, having in the meanwhile purchased an adjoining tract of eighty acres. In April, 1864, he enlisted for 100 days, in the Forty-first Wisconsin Regiment of volunteer infantry, with which he was stationed near Memphis, Tennessee, until the expiration of his 100 day term. He then returned home and shortly afterward re-enlisted, becoming a Private in Company H, Forty-sixth Regiment Wisconsin infantry, being made Corporal in his company, as he also had been in his former regiment, and also being made Company Commissary in both regiments. He was with the Forty-sixth Wisconsin on detached duty at Athens, Alabama, serving as a scout and having charge of six men, all of whom wore the Confederate uniform in performing their dangerous duties. He had many thrilling experiences and narrow escapes and his service throughout was one of marked fidelity and valor. He received his honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, at the close of the war, and he then returned to his home and took up the onerous work of clearing his farm, having located on his present homestead in the autumn of 1865. He has a well improved farm of 160 acres, and the same stands in evidence of the indefatigable and well directed efforts he has put forth in its reclamation and development. He recalls the pioneer epoch as having represented one of the happiest periods of his life. It cemented the warmest of friendships and made him acquainted with practically every resident of the county. He is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party and has served in many local offices of public trust, including that of member of the town board and the school board of his district. He is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. The first wife of Mr. Turnipseed died in 1893, eleven children having been born of this union: 1.Emery, who was born September 4, 1856, and who married Ella Berone, is a farmer of Marshall township; 2. Ellen, who was born December 20, 1857, is the wife of Eli Coulter, of the same township; 3. Samuel, born September 10, 1859; 4. Henry J., who was born June 6, 1861, and who married Jennie Lowrey, is a farmer in Sylvan Township; 5. Emma Jane, who was born May 29, 1863, is the wife of William Slade, owner of Prairie Garden stock farm, in Fulton county, South Dakota; 6. John, who was born October 15, 1865, died in childhood; 7. Harvey M. who was born April 9, 1868, is a farmer of the town of Marshall; 8. Lydia A., who was born July 7, 1870, married Charles Buck, and they reside near Ash Ridge, this county; 9. Isaac W., who was born August 19, 1872, is a farmer in Marshall township; 10. Allen H. was born October 24, 1874; 11. Hugh M., who was born March 2, 1879, has the practical management of the home farm.

After the death of his first wife (Nancy) Mr. Turnipseed married Mrs. Elizabeth Stevenson, widow of Francis M. Stevenson and a daughter of Samuel Spyker, of Allen County, Ohio. The name of her first husband was Frederick L. Boyd, who laid his life on his country's altar at Bowling Green as a volunteer in Company B, Ninety-ninth Regiment of Ohio infantry, and he is survived by two children, Orin Boyd and Zettie Boyd. By her marriage to Mr. Stevenson Elizabeth had two children,--Della Stephnson, who is deceased, and Edward M. Stepehenson who is an electrical engineer, residing in St. Paul, Minnesota.

30 July 1860: Marshall, Richland Co., Wisconsin; Occupation of William: Farmer; William Turnipseed 25 Ohio; Nancy Turnipseed 24 Ohio; Emons Turnipseed 4 Ohio; Ellen Turnipseed 3 Ohio; Samuel Turnipseed 6/12 Ohio; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW9X-691

23 July 1870: Marshall Township, Richland Co., Wisconsin; Occupation of William: Farmer; Wm Turnipseed 39 Ohio; Nancy A Turnipseed 32 Ohio; Emory Turnipseed 13 Ohio; Ellen Turnipseed 12 Ohio; Samuel Turnipseed 10 Ohio; Henry Turnipseed 9 Wisconsin; Emma J Turnipseed 7 Wisconsin; Harvey M Turnipseed 2 Wisconsin; Lydia A Turnipseed 9/12 Wisconsin; John A Miller 29 Ohio; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNSQ-98R

3 June 1880: Marshall Township, Richland Co., Wisconsin; Occupation of William: Farmer; William Turnipseed Self 49 Ohio/Virginia/Virginia; Nancy A Turnipseed Wife 42 Ohio/Ohio/Ohio; Ellen Turnipseed Dau 22 Ohio; Samuel S Turnipseed Son 20 Ohio; Henry J Turnipseed Son 18 Wisconsin; Emma J Turnipseed Dau 17 Wisconsin; Harvey M Turnipseed Son 12 Wisconsin; Lydia A Turnipseed Dau 10 Wisconsin; William I Turnipseed Son 7 Wisconsin; Allen H Turnipseed Son 5 Wisconsin; Hugh Turnipseed Son 1 Wisconsin; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNHX-G8L

Children of William Turnipseed and 1. Nancy Miller:

Emory Turnipseed 1856–1925

Ella M Turnipseed Coulter 1857–1929

Samuel S Turnipseed 1859–1945

Emma Jane Turnipseed Slade 1863–1957

Johnny Turnipseed 1865–1867

Harvey Marshall Turnipseed 1868–1951

Lydia Ann Turnipseed Buck 1870–1919

Allen Hyatt Turnipseed 1874-1951

Hugh M Turnipseed 1879–1939

Siblings of William Turnipseed:

Duanna Turnipseed unknown–1846

Emily Susan Turnipseed Ashbrook 1828–1912

Lucinda Turnipseed 1834–1883

Samuel Rhodes Repsumer 1836–1923

Jane Sophronia Turnipseed Stackhouse 1848–1903

Find A Grave: Memorial #90335665 William Bryant Turnipseed

Sources

Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958; William Turnipseed; Spouse's Name: Nancy Ann Miller; Event Date: 18 September 1855; Event Place: Carroll,Ohio; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDFH-KL2

Wisconsin, County Marriages, 1836-1911; William Turnipseed; Event Type: Marriage; Event Date: 26 December 1897; Event Place: Richland Center, Richland, Wisconsin; Birthplace: Stark Co., Ohio; Father's Name: Henry Turnipseed; Mother's Name: Alcinda Rhodes; Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Stevenson; Spouse's Birthplace: Pickaway Co., Ohio; Spouse's Father's Name: Samuel S. Lyker [Spyker]; Spouse's Mother's Name: Sarah Weaver; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRPD-R8V

SECONDARY SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KHPP-SQG