Thomas Davison Turner and Eliza Jane Beatty

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Husband Thomas Davison Turner ^{1 2}

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           Born: 21 Jun 1851 - Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co, PA 1 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 25 Jan 1905 - Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Hugh Turner (1809-1888) 3
         Mother: Catherine Duff (      -      ) 2 4

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       Marriage: 8 Jan 1878 1

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Wife Eliza Jane Beatty ^{1 5}

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           Born:  - Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA
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         Father: Richard Beatty (      -      ) 1 5
         Mother: Eliza Wilson (      -      ) 5

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Children

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1 F Mary Ella Turner ^{1 5}

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           Born: 
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2 F Laura Belle Turner ^{1 5}

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           Born: 
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3 M Thomas Davison Turner, Jr. ^{1 5}

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           Born: 
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General Notes: Husband - Thomas Davison Turner

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He attended the public schools till fifteen years old, worked two years at laboring-work, and then entered on a three years' apprenticeship as carpenter. After working as journeyman a like period, he en-gaged in the grocery trade for seven years. In 1881 he established the first undertaking business in Wilkinsburg, and a livery in con-nection, erecting a large building on Penn avenue, near Wood street, for the purpose. He was also owner of other property in the borough. Mr. Turner was an elder in the U. P. Church, president of the Wilkinsburg Build-ing and Loan association, and treasurer of the borough. Politically he was a democrat, with strong prohibition sympathies.

He was born, reared and died on the same lot in the borough of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools of his native place and early in life engaged in the grocery business, continuing until 1880, when he embarked in the undertaking business. He was one of the best known funeral directors in western Pennsylvania, his place of business being at Nos. 720 and 722 Penn avenue, Wilkinsburg. His whole life was identified with Wilkinsburg, where, in 1877, he erected for himself and family a fine mansion at 1015 Center avenue.
From its organization he was connected with the First United Presbyterian church. From the beginning he was a member of the session. He was the first and with the single exception of one year was the only superintendent of the Sabbath-school of that church.
He was in the early eighties a justice of the peace, which was the only public office he ever held. In his political views, though reared under Democratic influences, he became an ardent Prohibitionist.
He was the first vice-president of the First National Bank of Wilkinsburg, and served as vice-president and director up to the time of his death. At the time of his death the board of directors of the bank and the Wilkinsburg Real Estate and Trust Company adopted the following resolutions:
"In His wisdom God has removed from the directorate of the First National Bank of Wilkinsburg and of the Wilkinsburg Real Estate and Trust Company our beloved vice-president, Thomas Davison Turner. "Death for the first time has entered our boards and broken the social and business ties formed and cemented by years of intercourse around the directors' table.
"As a trusted friend, a wise counsellor and honored citizen and Christian gentleman our departed fellow director brought strength and stability to our institutions, helping to form and rear them on the confidence and good will of our community.
"His chair at our council board will be vacant, but his mature wisdom and character have been built into the structure, in the erection of which he has taken such an honorable part. As a board we desire to enter this minute testifying of our appreciation of his unswerving integrity, his fidelity to the best interests of our institutions and the profound personal esteem in which he was held by each one of us."
The high esteem in which he was held in the borough was shown by the closing of places of business during the hours of his funeral.
"He was an unassuming, retiring gentleman, but of exceptionally attractive and confidence imposing face and manner. He was a man holding strong convictions and consistent behavior as a true Christian. By his goodness and integrity he had won a place in the esteem of the entire community that is given to few men to enjoy. His sterling uprightness and warm-heartedness endeared him to an unusually wide circle of friends who deeply mourned his demise."

1 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 670.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 17.

3 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 470, 670.

4 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 470.

5 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 18.