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| Synopsis of letter written by Elder Ira Turner to the "Primitive Monitor" from Palmyra Ill, Jan 15, 1886. ' I was born in Gibson Co IN in Nov 1843, brought up by Arminian parents in an Arminian neighborhood. (Arminian was Wesleyan sect). Religion manifested itself when I was 16- Jan 1860. After groping in darkness for some time I ventured a talk with my youngest sister, the only one that remained then single. I soon found, though she was a member of the New Light Church, that she had the same experience that I had. But the aversion of the family and the severe persecution that came against me by them all except father and my youngest sister became such----After conferring with my sister about it and she agreeing to fix up my clothes for me, I went to the barn where my father was and told him my intentions of leaving. Father said " I suppose you understand the consequences. If you leave me now you can't have the land that I have in reserve for you." He went to Owensville, seven miles distant without a dollar in his pocket. In Jan 1868 " I was attending academy to try to satisfy my insatiate thirst for more education than I had been permitted to obtain when I was a boy, with the intention of following what I considered a lucrative profession, to wit: the study and practice of medicine." Following the winter of "1868-69" he was on his way to Kansas. An article by Elder Ira Turner, in the Primitive Monitor, Vol. 1, 1886, p. 274-277, states: "I was soon on my way to Kansas. I was soon there, and thought that I had just found the place I was seeking. Wide, extensive plains, beautiful mounds interspersed with valleys, and large herds of cattle, greeted the eye; and farther away from the sparse settlements, deer, and antelope, and now and then a straggling bison, were to be seen of native delusion, how did my heart ache even to the panting of my soul with daily longings, to just see the face of an Old Baptist, and exchange a few words with him. On the third Sunday in June, 1868, there was a Missionary Baptist who had an appointment some fifteen miles up Fall River, about ten miles from where the city of Eureka now is, and I fixed, and mounted my pony and went. When I arrived at the place it was time for meeting to begin; and there were quite a number of people collected. The man of the house seeing me, came out, and told me that the preacher had failed to come, and that the people were waiting; and he wanted me to preach. I readily answered him that I was willing to try. From this my name was heralded everywhere as a preacher, though the very name preacher being applied to me would make me feel abashed. My name was soon heralded all over the county, and in different parts of the State, and eventually in other States. Letters of correspondence came to me, inquiring of the country. I soon found nine or ten Old Baptists in the county, and got them all together. We drew up a constitution, articles of faith, etc., and organized ourselves into a church. We soon heard of another church about fifty miles away. We called upon them for council, and were constituted into a church. This church was called Little Zion, and was located on little Walnut Creek, Greenwood County. We soon constituted Rich Valley Church, on Fall River, and in this church I was ordained to the ministry." These two churches became members of the Elk River Association, which was organized in 1873. In another short paragraph. " I was pastor of churches in IN from 1872 to 1875 and in Ill for 14 years, in MO for 30 years"--- " I have baptized over 300 persons, helped to ordain six preachers and 18 deacons. Since I have been living in MO I've married 151 couples. I was paralyzed in 1878 and have been a cripple ever since.155 1887 Debate: Elder Ira Turner (Primitive Baptist) vs. Elder James S. Bell (Campbellite), in Macoupin Co., Illinois, on the proposition that every individual of the human race is hereditarily and totally depraved.228 Ira Turner was minister at Liberty Baptist Church in Ashland, MO. His picture is behind the pulpit and since he died in 1943 and I was born in 1937, I'm sure I went to church with him or at least sat on his lap. I think he may have been disabled by a stroke and I don't know how active he was or how long he lived after the stroke. (Gladys B. Pace Gilliland, 9 June, 2003)342 (The following 60th Anniversary announcment kindly provided by Gladys B. Pace Gilliland). Elder Ira and Sister Malinda Turner are married 60 years, celebrate at New Liberty Baptist Church Saturday. Elder Turner joined the Primitive Baptist Church in Indiana in 1860. He was married to Malinda Johnson Oct. 15, 1861. Elder and Mrs Turner were both born in Gibson Co. Indiana. Each is the youngest of a family of 12 children and all of each family are living. Elder Turner entered the ministry in June 1868 on the frontier of Kansas, where he organized two churches in Greenwood Co. In the fall of 1872, he moved back to Indiana and took charge of churches there in 1875 and organized two new ones. He travelled extensively among churches of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, Missouri, Texas, and Colorado. At this time organizing churches in these states. Elder Turner never preached for a salary and never took up a collection during the many years that he has been preaching. In 1878, Elder Turner suffered a stroke of paralysis from the waist down and in both of his arms. For six months he was totally helpless. In 1889, he was called to take charge of the churches of Salem Association and he was elected to the pastorate of New Liberty Church 26 times consecutively. He is moderator of the association and Rev. J.H. Hardy (his associate?). Elder Turner has baptized several hundred persons, has preached 400 funerals and has married about 200 couples. Elder Turner took an academic education after he was married and spent his earlier days in teaching . He lived in Ashland, Missouri up to 2 years ago when he moved to Columbia on account of the declining health of his wife. He and Mrs. Turner now make their home with their daughter, Mrs. W. A. Wren, 301 East Broadway. He has given up regular pastoral work, but continues his services whenever called on. Elder Turner is still hale and hearty depite many hardships he has passed through. He says that he finds the general average of religious fevor much lower than it was 60 years ago and says that the Primitive Baptists continure to hold their percentage of members among the population of the country along with the increase in population. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anecdotes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History of this poem "Love at First Sight" was related to me by Lydia (Turner) Pace, daughter of Elder Ira Turner and Malinda (Johnson) Turner. Many years, ago about the middle 1800, a sister of Malinda Johnson married an older brother of Ira Turner. A little daughter was born to them. The baby’s mother died and its father took the baby to its grandmother’s home to be cared for. The grandmother and an aunt by the name of Malinda Johnson cared for and loved the baby as their own. A few years went by, the little girl’s father married again. He came to take his little girl to his home and her new mother. She didn’t even know her father and was so sad about leaving her grandmother and Aunt Malinda that Mr. Turner asked Malinda to go with them and stay until his little daughter got used to them. While Malinda was staying in the Turner home with her little niece, one of Mr. Turner’s younger brothers named Ira dropped by for a visit. This poem tells his thoughts as he stepped in the door of his brother’s home. (Gladys B. Pace Gilliland, October 2, 2002) 225 Love at First Sight By Ira Turner That bright Monday morning sun kissed and clear, I stepped in the door of a brother so dear. Amazed and filled with wondrous surprise; In the opposite door with dark glistening eyes Stood a fair maiden with half auburn red hair, With beautiful symmetry all lovely and fair. I had never seen nor heard before Was standing before me in the opposite door. I stood as a camera of magical art, Her image was taken in my soul and heart; An introduction revealed our names to each other, but lo: T’was late, our souls were together. Her image within me, my life did inflame And I resolved to change her fair name. We sat at the table so luxuriously spread, Yet not a word of love was spoke nor said. Her beautiful hair and that oval forehead, Her face without spot save a lovely red. Her eyes were sirens flashing lovely and true. I watched her, but shyly, as young people do. Her nose and her mouth were with symphony formed, Those dimples of chin her whole person adorned. When breakfast was ended, with a bow and a smile, I left her sweet presence, my intentions to file. And with her dear image my bosom onshrinded Through day and night dreams, she was fresh on my mind. I saw her again the next Saturday eve Preparing the next Sunday to leave. We agreed that in three weeks again we would meet At the Baptist church at old Bethlehem sweet. I cancelled my visits with my Bettys and Janes, And feasted on the image my soul so inflamed. We met and of course we are married you know And lived and labored our kindness to show. And now while those glistening eyes have grown dim, Her face is wrinkled and she doubled of chin; Her beautiful hair silken, silvered and gray In my soul is her image of that sun kissed day. Now sixty years of sunshine and love We are joined to each other with our Savior’s love. We enjoy the sweet hope our Jesus has given I have her dear image and I’ll know her in heaven. We have no promise of another day here And we welcome the visit of the messenger dear; And we are longing to enter that world of delight Where all will be peaceful and happy and bright And again join together our symphonic voice Good will toward men and in heaven rejoice. Where we’ll meet and tell the true story of love And sing the sweet anthems of redeeming love. Elder Ira Turner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Timeline for Ira Turner: 3 Nov 1843 Born, Gibson County, Indiana, to Arminian parents in an Arminian neighborhood. Church, New Light Church, Arminian. Jan 1860 Religion manifested. Age 16. Left home of parents for Owensville, Indiana. Presumably left Arminianism and became an Old Baptist. 1860 Census, Montgomery Township, Gibson County, Indiana. 15 Oct 1861 Married Malinda Johnson, New Harmony Church, New Harmony, Posey County, Indiana. Jan 1868 Attending Academy for the study and practice of medicine. 28 Jan 1868 First child, Florence Cathrine born. Winter 1868/69 He was on his way to Kansas. 20 Jun 1869 Preached first sermon in Missionary Baptist church on Fall River, near Eureka, Kansas. Organized Little Zion Church, (Old Baptist), on little Walnut Creek, Greenwood County, Kansas. Organized Rich Valley Church, (Old Baptist), on Fall River. Ordained in this church. 1873 Organized, Elk River Association, (Old Baptist). 1875 Moved to Illinois (Sometime between 1875 and 1886 changed from Old Baptist to Primitive Baptist). 1878 Paralyzed. 1880 Census, Raccoon Township, Marion County, Illinois, 15 Jan 1886 Article, Primitive Monitor, written from Palmyra, Illinois. 1887 Debate with Elder James S. Bell (Campbellite), in Macoupin County, Illinois. 1889 Moved to Missouri 22 Feb 1932 Died, Boone County, Missouri. Feb 1932 Buried, New Liberty Primitive Baptist Church, Ashland, Boone County, Missouri. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Obituary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rev. Ira Turner Minister of the Gospel 65 years died at the home of his daughter Mrs. W.A.Wren of No. 2nd. St. Columbia, Missouri age 88 years, 3 months, 19 days. Elder J. H. Hardy assisted by Lloyd Sapp conducted the services at New Liberty Primitive Baptist Church in Ashland, Missouri. Born in Posey Co., Indiana, November 3, 1843. He came to Boone County in 1888 and was pastor of New Liberty for 26 years and also pastor at Goshen, Old Union, and Rocky Fork. He came to Boone Co. and located at Ashland, lived there. Thirteen years ago he came to Columbia to make his home with his daughter. He married Malinda Johnson Oct. 15, 1861. She died Oct. 23, 1925. They lived together 63 years and had eight children, three of whom died in infancy, James Turner another son, and a Spanish American War veteran died 15 years ago. The living children at this writing is Mrs. W. A. Wren of Columbia, Mrs. E. R. Rippeto of McBaine, Missouri, Mrs. J. R, Pace of Ashland, Missouri, and J.R. Turner of Columbia, Missouri.\par Nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren also survive. Pallbearers were seven grandsons: Ira, Haskell and Hartley Wren, Elbert Rippeto, Casper, Carl, and Robert Pace. Elder Turner was the last and youngest member of a fmily of 12 children. Last Sept, he received a fall from the effects of which he never fully recovered. He was never able to leave the home of his daughter after the accident, but he was able to be around the house and since had spent most of his time writing on a religious book which he intended to have published. He was the author of several religious publications. He kept a record of the marriages and funerals at which he officiated, but this book was not available today. He married many couples and preached at many funerals during his ministry as an Elder of the Primitive Baptist Faith. He traveled in practically every state in the union and preach his ministry over a period of over 65 years. Elder Turner was an exemplary adherent of the most exalted principles of genuine, manliness and of spiritual living, always good natured, inclined to be humerous; his jovial disposition invariably made him a welcomed presence among his thousands of friends, He was a fervent minister of the gospel and he never preached a sermon during his 65 years ministry that he did not live every day. To say that a man was a good man means much when it is said earnestly and that can be said of Elder Turner. He lived consistently with the teachings of his bible. He was a minister and he wanted to be know as nothing else. On any and all occasions he spoke and acted as a minister and he was not afraid to go into any presence or any organization and advocate his religious beliefs. He was a fine gentleman, a minister who brought peace and comfort to his fellowmen and it can be truly said that because he lived; the world is better, for he left an example of clean living that all might well emulate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| They had eight children, three of whom died in infancy. (From Ira Turner's obituary) Obituary written by Ira Turner says that Malinda's father was Alexander Johnson. (Gladys B. Pace Gililand has the obituary).342 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Last modified November 1, 2003 |  
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Copyright © 2008 Paul L. Hathcoat |