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A. M. TURK, farmer, is a son of Noah G. and Ann B. (CARTER) TURK, and was born in Adair County, Ky., on the 6th of March, 1837. Noah Turk is supposed to have been born in Adair County, and was there reared and educated. He followed the occupation of farming, and also learned the tanner's trade, at which he worked until coming to Missouri in 1856. He settled in Jasper County, where he entered and purchased 1,800 acres of land, which is now one of the thickest settled portions of the county. At the breaking out of the war he had about 700 acres under cultivation. He died in Illinois. His wife is still living, and resides with her youngest son in Lawrence County. They were the parents of sixteen children: Thomas C. (in Texas), Amanda (wife of Norman ALLEN, of Kentucky), Benjamin K., Mary A. (wife of J. A. TRAYLOR, of Kentucky), Noah G., Margaret J. (wife of P. S. KELLEY), Albarine M., Julia A. (wife of M. DOBBY), Morticia J. (wife of D. J. MCKINZIE) and John C. The following are deceased: Eliza A., Hiram K., William, Robert, Josephine and Lusary{.} The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas TURK, as well as his wife, were Virginians, and after their marriage moved to Kentucky. He had served with distinction in the Black Hawk War, and held the rank of major. Both died in Kentucky, the grandfather being murdered. The maternal grandparents were also Virginians and died in Kentucky. They were Benjamin F. and Polly (SLED) CARTER. A. M. Turk worked for his father for some time after coming to Missouri, and then started on a trip to Pike's Peak, but owing to failing health was forced to return, and again engaged in farming, which he continued until the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in Raine's brigade for six months, and then joined Company I, Clark's brigade, Confederate States Army, serving three and a half years, being mostly on detail duty. After the cessation of hostilities he returned home and was married to Mary V., a daughter of Peyton TURK, and soon after moved to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming for three years. He then dealt in stock for one year, and returned to tilling the soil on the Illinois River, but the high water washed away everything that he had. He then returned to Missouri and began life anew, and now has a fine farm of 208 acres, 130 being under cultivation. He is a stanch Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Their living children are as follows: Alice J. (wife of E. E. BRACKNEY), Robert A., Lu Ellen, Noah G., Samuel J., Albarine M., James G., Walter Peyton, Charley H. and Herman L. Their children who are dead are Nicholas, an infant (unnamed), William Everett and Thomas.
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B. K. TURK, whose birth occurred in Adair County, Ky., in 1831, is the son of Noah G. TURK, who was born in Kentucky in 1837, and was reared to farm life. He married Ann B. CARTER, daughter of Benjamin and Polly (SLED) CARTER, of Virginia, and old settlers of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Turk were born sixteen children, eight sons and eight daughters: Thomas L., Amanda M., Benjamin K., Mary A., Noah G., Albrine M., Margaret J., Julia A., Martisha T., John C., Lusary, Hiram K, and Robert J. The last two were killed in the Confederate army, during the late war, and three died in infancy. In 1854 Mr. Turk moved to Missouri, and settled in Jasper County. He went south during the war, and died in Scott County, Ill., in 1867, at the age of sixty years. He was a democrat in politics, and was a tanner by trade. He was a good business man, a man of property, owning 1,800 acres of land in Jasper County, and some slaves. He was a man of character and honor. He and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Thomas TURK, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Virginia, and his son, Thomas, Jr., the grandfather of B. K. Turk, went to Kentucky when a young man, and was one of the pioneers, and a contemporary of the famous Daniel BOONE. Kentucky was at that time a wilderness, and overrun by Indians. He married Margaret CLEAVES, and reared a family of nine children. Mr. Turk lived to between the age of fifty-five and sixty, spending the whole of his life in Kentucky. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his sword and equipments are still preserved in the family. Mr. Turk was a land owner, and the master of slaves. His old homestead is still in the hands of his descendants. B. K. Turk, the subject of this sketch, was reared a farmer, and also learned the tanner's trade. He secured a common-school education, came to Lawrence County, Mo., in 1850, opened a tan-yard, and this he carried on until 1854, when he purchased land in Jasper County, and remained there until 1857. He then returned to Lawrence County, and bought his present farm of 400 acres. He also owns about 400 acres in Jasper County. Mr. Turk married Miss Martha A. GUM, daughter of Z. and J. (HASH) GUM, a Lawrence County family from Knox County, Ill., and of German-Irish descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Turk were born six children: William H., Noah G., John C., Jane A., Sarah E. and Ida B. After Mrs. Turk's death Mr. Turk married Mrs. Georgie A. (STROUD) PHILLIPS, a widow, and the daughter of Miles B. and Sarah E. (GUM) PHILLIPS. Mr. Turk is a large land owner and a prosperous farmer. He has a fine heard of Short-horn cattle, probably the best herd west of the Mississippi, which were purchased from the best herds of Kentucky. Mr. Turk is one of the founders of the Short-horn Breeders' Association in Southwest Missouri, and was purchasing agent, also secretary. He visited Kentucky and selected the finest he could find, paying high prices. Mr. Turk ranks high as a representative citizen, and is well known all through Southwest Missouri. He is a good financier, and an upright man. He is a Democrat in his political views, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
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