USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Turner > A history of Turner, Maine, from its settlement to 1886 > Part 12
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TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.
There is a healthy temperance sentiment preva- lent in town, and there have been various tem- perance societies during the forty years past. The Washingtonian movement, which began as early as 1841, and swept over the State, made its influence felt in Turner, and a new interest was awakened in the subject. All parts of the town felt the awak- ening, and addresses were given and societies were formed for the purpose of reforming the drunkard, and of shielding the young from the power of temptation. Much good has been done by these means, and the people, as a whole, are decidedly temperate. An agent is annually chosen to sell liquors for medicinal and mechanical purposes, and occasionally one feigns sickness that he may obtain
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liquor to satisfy his craving thirst, but seldom with success.
There are three lodges of good Templars active in this work; one at the village, one at North Turner, and one at Chase's Mills. Many young people are members of these societies, and thus they receive good and do good, and strengthen the temperance sentiment in the community.
CEMETERIES.
For many years no pains were taken to make the place of burial in Turner pleasant and attractive, but the acre set apart for the burial of the dead was neglected, and permitted to grow up to weeds and briars. By this means the associations of death were gloomy and repulsive, and the thought of death awakened any emotions rather than those of a cheerful nature, and the young especially experi- enced a sense of relief when the "graveyard" had been safely passed, in the dark especially. But when taste began to be exercised in the planning of the grounds, in the erection of monuments, and in making the graves attractive with flowers and flowering shrubs, the cemetery assumed an attrac- tive appearance, and the thoughts and associations awakened by its presence ceased to be dreadful, but were pleasant and cheerful rather. Thus the cem- etery becomes a teacher, an inspirer of hope, and
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invites reflection and calm communion with dear ones, not lost, but gone before.
The location of the first cemetery was on the Upper Street, adjoining the farm of Joseph Leavitt, whose house was the first tavern in town. It is a small plot of ground, supposed by the early settlers, doubtless, to be large enough for their needs. It was common property, and was not laid out in lots with paths or walks between, but each one buried his deceased friend in any part of it he might choose, which was not already occupied. Head- stones or monuments were not generally erected, and in process of time, it became difficult for one not well acquainted with the grounds to tell where the remains of a former generation were buried. There was little or no order in the location of the graves, and in making a new one, very likely it would be found to be the place of an ancient one. Ezekiel Bradford was, probably, the first one buried here, and in this centennial year, his descendants have erected a monument to his memory. An account and description of this is annexed. This cemetery became the resting place of the early settlers as they passed away, and probably there is now scarcely a square foot of soil within its walls, in which the dust of some departed one does not mingle. It is a chaos of graves, into which it seems impossible to introduce any order. Many
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headstones and monuments have been erected in the later years, and some efforts have been made to relieve it of the desolate and dreary look which it formerly had, but not with full success. It cannot now be easily made a pleasant and attractive city of the dead. Amidst its monuments and its un- marked graves, one feels invited to muse thought- fully and solemnly upon life, upon its changes, and the future which is seen only by the light of revelation.
ACCOUNT OF EZEKIEL BRADFORD'S MONUMENT.
BY MISS CHLOE B. TURNER.
A fine monument has been recently erected, in the Upper Street burying-ground, to the memory of those noble pioneers, Ezekiel Bradford and wife, whose graves have until now remained unmarked, save by the common stones of the field. The idea was conceived as early as 1871, by Lieutenant R. B. Bradford, United States Navy, a great-great-grandson, who, while recovering from a tedious illness, occupied himself in collecting data concerning his branch of the Bradford family in Maine. With this end in view, he prepared an interesting historical paper on the family, which was published in the Lewiston Weekly Journal of January 18, 1883. In this paper he stated the object in view, and invited subscriptions to be sent to him, and to L. P. Bradford or A. E. Bradford, both of Turner, they having consented to act with him as a committee to forward the enterprise. A few generous contributions, and many small ones, were received at once; but since that time, Lieutenant Bradford, having in the course of his profession left the country, the work has, until recently, made slow progress, or none at all.,
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
During the past winter, the preparations for our approaching centennial celebration, and a general re-awakening of interest in the history of the town and its first settlers, revived the subject in the minds of those interested. The money on hand, however, was quite inadequate to the purpose in view, and its accomplishment appeared doubtful. At this juncture, the movement received a new impetus in the form of substantial aid from Mellen Bray, Esq., of Boston, a great-grandson, and a native of Turner, and Lieutenant Commander Bradford, above mentioned, also a native of Turner. To the united liberality of these gentlemen, the completion of the enterprise is due.
The monument is of Quincy granite, eight feet in height, weighing five thousand pounds, is beautiful in design and execution, and is an honor to the many descendants who have contributed to its erection.
The inscription is as follows : -
Front :
EZEKIEL BRADFORD, GREAT-GRANDSON OF GOV. WILLIAM BRADFORD, OF PLYMOUTH COLONY; SON OF EPHRAIM BRADFORD AND ELIZABETH BREWSTER. BORN IN KINGSTON, MASS., 1728. DIED IN TURNER, MAINE, 1816.
Rear :
BETSEY CHANDLER, WIFE OF EZEKIEL BRADFORD, BORN IN DUXBURY, MASS., 1728. DIED IN TURNER, MAINE, 181I. Side :
SIX OF THEIR SONS SETTLED IN TURNER. Opposite Side:
ALL HONOR TO OUR PIONEER ANCESTORS.
*
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
At an early period, a place for burial was found to be necessary at the village, and a lot was obtained for the purpose. It was common property, and any one who had occasion to use it, selected a site for a grave where it pleased him. Thus it was, in the course of years, nearly all occupied, but little or no order was observed in locating the graves. Within a few years, the people being more thoughtful of such things than in former times, an effort was made to introduce some order into the arrangement of the lots, and to have paths for the accomodation of visitors and friends. The effort was only par- tially successful, yet there are now several family lots on which tasteful monuments have been erected, and surviving friends can visit the resting place of their departed, feeling that they sleep side by side, free from the intrusion of any not their own.
At the Center, a portion of land was early devoted to the burial of the dead, but it was not laid out in order, and each one had the privilege of selecting any place for a grave which was not already occu- pied. But several years ago, an association was formed to take charge of the cemetery, and put the grounds in order. Walks were made, graves were removed when necessary, lots for family use were arranged and sold to those who wished to buy, and a large addition was made to the grounds by pur- chase. Though it was impossible to lay out the
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grounds as would be desirable, without disturbing a large portion of the graves, yet something like order has been introduced, and each family has a lot sacred to the rest of its own dead. Most of the lots have received some care, and many monuments have been erected to the memory of departed loved ones. The association has kept up its organiza- tion, and meets annually for the choice of officers and the transaction of business. Though all has not been done that is desirable, yet the grounds have been improved, and it is a somewhat attractive place of rest for the departed.
At North Turner, a parcel of land was secured many years ago for burial purposes. The grounds are laid out in such a manner, that each family lot is accessible by a path or drive-way. Some pains have been taken to make the grounds attractive, but they might be made more attractive still, when more pleasant thoughts would be associated with death, and lessons of cheerfulness and hope be taught, with a more emphatic emphasis, to all who visit the place. For the cemetery is a teacher no less than the church. If the place where our dead lie is made beautiful and attractive, death ceases to be the king of terrors, and we contemplate upon it with emotions of solemn joy.
At Richmond's Corner, two miles east of North Turner, a portion of land has been set apart for the
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burial of the dead, and enclosed by a neat fence, as other burial places are in town. It is sufficiently large for the accommodation of the community in the midst of which it is located. Families own lots large enough, doubtless, in many instances, to fur- nish a resting place for the departed of several generations. Many neat memorial stones mark the places where the remains of the loved were buried.
Near Chase's Mills, in the westerly part of the town, an elevated spot of ground has been selected for a cemetery. It is not large, and having been used for many years, there are apparently few lots which have not been occupied already. Doubtless, more sleep in that narrow enclosure, than now live in that section of the town. The grounds show that departed friends are remembered, but all has not been done that might be to make the place a pleasant city of the dead.
On the river road, below the center bridge, a small parcel of ground has been surrounded by a substantial stone wall, and set apart as a burial place. But it has a neglected appearance, for which reason many residing in its near vicinity chose to bury their dead in other places. It is not pleasant to commit the remains of friends to rest in a place which has little to make it attractive.
There are a few private, or family cemeteries in town. Those living at a distance from either of
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the grounds described above, chose to set apart a plot of ground for burial purposes. Two or more neighbors sometimes united in this work, so that they who had dwelt together in life, should not be separated in death.
The family sketches which follow appear out of place, because the information necessary to make them was gained at a late hour. Mr. Pratt kept a record of various matters relating to his family and his affairs, a small portion of which has been acces- sible to me, and from it a few items have been taken for the benefit of the reader.
Dan Pratt was born in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, October 7, 1761. Deba Jones, his wife, was born in Taunton, March 22, 1766. They were joined in marriage, November 14, 1783. Mr. Pratt kept the record of his children's birth with unusual exactness, as follows : -
John, their first child, was born in Taunton, January 14, 1785, Friday morning at nine o'clock.
Cyrus was born in Taunton, April 20, 1787, at ten o'clock Friday evening.
"Salla" was born in Taunton, May 19, 1790, at six o'clock Thursday evening.
Daniel was born in Taunton, June 6, 1793, at two o'clock Thursday afternoon.
Benjamin was born in Taunton, March 15, 1796, at four o'clock Tuesday morning.
14
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
Their sixth child was born in Taunton, April 5, 1799, at one o'clock Friday morning, and died Sunday, the fourteenth of the same month.
Deba was born in Turner, October 10, 1800, at ten o'clock in the morning. She married Thomas Waterman and died June 28, 1825, aged twenty-five years.
Almina was born in Turner, June 29, 1805, at one o'clock in the afternoon.
On the eleventh day of September, 1799, he removed from Taunton to Turner. He reached Capt. Sylvester Jones' the twenty-seventh of the same month, and remained with him until April 29, 1800, when he removed his family to John Turner's, with whom he lived until January 10, 1805, when he moved into his own house. His farm was lot 198, which he bought of Jeremiah Dillingham. He makes these notes which will be read with interest.
On April 15, 16, and 17, 1803, snow fell twenty or twenty-two inches deep on a level. And on the eighth of May, snow fell to the depth of ten or twelve inches.
June 7, 8, and 9, 1816, there was a fall of snow.
May 27, 1820, snow fell to the depth of three to six inches.
Mr. Pratt was in the War of the Revolution, and his gun and many other things which made up a soldier's outfit at that time have been carefully preserved, and they are interesting souvenirs of the past.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
WAR RECORD.
List of Revolutionary soldiers who have resided in town. Col. William Turner, aide to Gen. Wash- ington; Elijah Dresser, in the battles of Bunker Hill and Stillwater; Peleg Wadsworth, Brigadier- General in Massachusetts militia; Samuel Blake, Mark Andrews, Moses Merrill, Levi Merrill, Mala- chi Waterman, Richard Phillips, Abner Phillips, Joseph Merrill, served in defence of Boston in. 1775; Luther Cary, Joseph Wardwell, Jasial Smith; Laban Smith, James Lara, Bennet Pumpilly, Nathaniel Sawtelle, Richard Hine, Benjamin Co- nant, Paul Lowell, Joshua Davis, Moses Snell, Simeon Caswell, in the continental army; Benjamin Jones, John Keen, John Keen Jr., Asa Battles, Nathaniel Shaw, Daniel French, Jairus Phillips, Nathan Richmond, Benjamin Merrill, William Hay- ford, Job Randall, Solomon Millett, Ephraim An- drews, Benjamin Alden, William Putnam, John Allen, Thomas Atherton, Benjamin Chamberlain,. Wait Bradford, Isaac Phillips, Ichabod Phillips, in the Massachusetts militia; Joseph Ludden, in the Boston tea-party and in the continental army ; Jesse Bradford, on guard of Burgoyne's captured army, 1777; Abner Thayer, on Castle William in Boston harbor; Elijah Fisher, member of Gen. Washing- ton's life-guard; Abial Turner, scales-man in com- missary department; John Bailey, last three years'
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service ; Dan Pratt, in Rhode Island State troops ; Cornelius Jones, Massachusetts State troops and seaman; Andrew Bass, fell in the battle of Still- water, 1777; James Allen, musician in Massa- chusetts line; Jacob Gardner, during the war ; Nathaniel Marston, in New Hampshire line.
WAR OF ISI2.
Judge Prince, in his history of Turner furnished for the Androscoggin County Map, makes these remarks: "In this war the following citizens of the town volunteered, and served on the Canada frontier one year or more. Capt. Stephen Turner, Isaac Allen, James Allen, James Allen Jr., Jacob Merrill, William Lombard, Theodocius Merrill, Peter Lombard, John Bailey, Charles Staples, Josiah Keen, Israel Smith, Jacob Keen, and Barnet Pumpilly. Captain Turner was killed at the battle of Bridgewater, and Theodocius Merrill died in the army. In September, 1814, a British seventy-four gun-ship lay off Portland harbor, and other indica- tions that the enemy designed to land on our coast so alarmed the people that the entire militia were called out to defend the sea-coast. The militia of this town consisted of two companies of infantry, commanded by Captains Seth Staples and Aaron Soule, and one of artillery, commanded by Capt. Leonard Richmond. The Turner troops were or-
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
dered to Portland where they served two weeks, when about one-half were drafted to serve forty days longer, the others given liberty to return home. Those of the infantry thus liberated re- turned, but the artillery (with two or three excep- tions) remained the forty days. In that campaign, Mr. Benjamin Jones of this town furnished nine sons, leaving no one at home but the 'old folks ' and five daughters to do the harvesting; of these fourteen children, all lived to be married and have families of their own. Previous to this, Mr. Jones had lost one daughter in 1804, aged one year."
THE AROOSTOOK WAR.
I quote from the same authority, as follows : " The Aroostook or Madawaska War is entitled to some notice. Although more tears than blood were shed, and not a person was killed or wounded, and but one taken prisoner, still it was of sufficient magnitude to sound the tocsin of war, and to claim the attention of the whole country at the time. There had been some difficulty on the northeastern boundary of Maine, and dispute as to the true line between this State and the Province of New Bruns- wick. In 1839, the crisis came. A party from New Brunswick seized Mr. Rufus McIntire, land agent of Maine, near the Madawaska settlement, and carried him to Fredricton on a horse-sled. The
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
news sped with the rapidity of lightning over the country. Gov. Fairfield, of this State, called out the militia. Gen. Hodsdon, of Penobscot, took command, and the troops rendezvoused at Bangor and Augusta. Those from Turner marched no further than Augusta. Gen. Scott was ordered by the government to Maine, and upon his arrival at Augusta, sent a communication to Sir John Harvey of the provincial government. Mr. McIntire was released, the alarm subsided, and the troops were disbanded and returned home. In 1842, a treaty was formed between the two nations, and the whole cause of trouble amicably adjusted."
The Aroostook War caused a great deal of excitement and anxiety in Turner, as in other parts of the State, for if war should come in earnest, we should seem to be in the very midst of it, and might suffer in various ways. The writer of this went with the troops when they marched to Au- gusta, and saw the militia from this section of the State reviewed by Gov. Fairfield, and participated in the excitement, the enthusiasm, and the anxiety which prevailed on all sides. Both the State gov- ernment and the soldiery were in earnest, and were determined not to submit to any injustice or wrong treatment. The thought of a posse invading our territory, seizing one of our citizens when in the discharge of his duty as a State official, and hurried
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away to prison beyond our jurisdiction, could not be endured. Whether it was the intention to res- cue the prisoner, and restore him to liberty in his native State, we do not know; but there was a deep conviction that something must be done, and an earnest purpose to do it.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
When soldiers were called for in the War of the Rebellion, Turner responded with a good degree of promptness. As this is no place for recording the events connected with the. war, nothing will be attempted except to give the names of those who filled the quotas required from time to time. It has been no easy task to make out a full list of names that is wholly free from errors. It is hoped that the list here presented is substantially correct. Numbers, after serving the time for which they enlisted, enlisted again, so that a full list of all the names will not represent the full number of soldiers for which the town received credit. The names of those who fell in battle or died of disease, are sim- ply recorded, as also the names of those who were promoted for faithful service or gallant conduct. Several men are not assigned to regiments.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
TURNER SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Francis M. Blossom.
Charles H. Piper.
Sanford Conant.
Davis O. Pollard.
Luther K. Cary.
Samuel H. Powers.
Samuel F. Coffin.
Edward Record.
A. H. Davis.
Nathaniel Spaulding.
Henry Donham.
William H. Shaw.
Alvah N. Dexter.
George E. Stone.
Charles Emerson.
Charles H. Thayer.
Alonzo Fuller.
John Werner.
Horace J. Gilbert.
Roscoe A. Williams.
Arad E. Gilbert.
Hiram Beal.
Charles Gilman.
James M. Gilbert.
Samuel J. Gilman.
Luther C. Burgess.
Edwin W. Gould.
Everet G. Ford.
George W. Harradon.
Joseph W. Richardson.
James Jones.
Stewart Holmes.
William W. Keen.
George Anderson.
Frank Kilgore.
Daniel Patterson.
Albert Ladd.
Charles E. Shirley.
Orpheus M. Leonard.
Edward Wilson.
Lucius Libby.
Thomas Roustin.
Thaddeus Leavitt.
Henry C. Drake.
Charles E. Metcalf.
Isaac A. Tukey.
Mellen Merrill.
Addis E. Luke.
Billings J. Hood.
First Cavalry.
Charles R. Delano.
Seth H. Keene.
George M. Delano. Laban Smith.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
District of Columbia Cavalry. John French. Dexter W. True.
Thomas J. Owen.
First Regiment Infantry. Robert C. Thayer. Sixth Regiment. Martin V. B. Gilmore.
Seventh Regiment.
Henry J. Ricker. Loren C. Records.
Eighth Regiment.
Franklin Bradford.
Elisha Keen.
Henry Calahan.
Waldo B. Keen.
Sylvester G. Delano.
Thomas A. Kilgore.
George E. Fales.
Josiah Libby.
Augustus Hayford.
Cyrus E. Metcalf.
Gad Hayford.
Levi W. Metcalf.
Samuel Holt.
William W. Sampson.
Abraham W. Jackson.
Samuel E. Smith.
Edward Shurtleff.
Ninth Regiment.
John Blake 2d.
James B. Walker.
Tenth Regiment.
Ethan Allen.
Moses Merrill.
Gladden Bonney.
John F. Quinby.
Horace J. Coburn.
Edward Rickards.
Charles O. Fargo.
Aaron A. Simonds.
Charles M. Keen.
Ezra F. Stephens.
Henry Stirk.
Twelfth Regiment.
Royal A. Bray.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
Thirteenth Regiment.
Waldo A. Blossom.
Wayne W. Blossom.
Daniel F. Smith.
Fourteenth Regiment. Charles Walker.
Sixteenth Regiment.
Seth H. Alden.
Frank M. Merrill.
Sidney A. Allen.
Isaac J. Monk.
William Bray.
Sarson C. Pratt.
Curtis V. Fales.
George T. Piper.
Freeman H. Farris.
Thomas L. Roberts.
George C. Hamond.
Joseph W. Richardson.
Otis Hood.
William B. Staples.
Calvin M. Haywood.
Sampson A. Thomas.
Orlando A. Jones.
Jones Whitman.
Archibald D. Leavitt.
Columbus A. Whitney.
Aubrey Leavitt.
Charles P. Winship.
Seventeenth Regiment. Edward L. Stevens.
Twentieth Regiment. Henry C. Simmonds.
Twenty-third Regiment.
Jason L. Allen.
Asa L. Berry.
John E. Ashe.
Charles Blake.
Charles E. Bradford.
William Bray.
Lewis P. Bradford.
Philip Bray.
Leonard P. Bradford.
Benjamin L. Briggs.
·Chandler B. Bailey.
Morrill E. Briggs.
Benjamin F. Beals. Samuel S. Butler.
John O. Bean. James Clark.
Mellen A. Bearce.
James A. Cary.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
Twenty-third Regiment-Continued.
Howard Conant.
James McCorrison.
Sanford Conant.
Calvin McKenney.
Benjamin Cox.
Marcellus S. Merrill.
Jason Cutler.
Shirley Merrill.
Thomas W. Davis.
Winslow Merrill.
William H. Delano.
Seth Pickard Jr.
Elbridge G. Francis.
Samuel T. Perry.
Edwin S. French.
Isaac Phillips.
Hartwell S. French.
Edson Reckards.
Edwin E. Fuller.
Philo C. Reckards.
Lewis D. Hayford.
Justin K. Richardson.
Cyrus W. Hersey.
Ira A. Shurtleff.
George F. Holmes.
Edgar E. Swett.
Ronello B. Keen.
George C. Wheaton.
Lorenzo D. Leavitt.
James A. Whiting.
John B. Woodman.
Thirtieth Regiment.
Horace C. Haskell.
Jason Cutler.
Simeon C. Higgins.
James M. Fish.
Seth D. Bradford.
Oscar L. Johnson.
Chandler B. Bailey.
Albert P. Leavitt.
Benjamin F. Beals.
Justin K. Richardson.
Asa L. Berry.
Jacob Keen Jr.
Philemon A. Bradford.
Ronaldo B. Keen.
John C. Carver.
William H. Washburne.
Thirty-first Regiment.
Andrew J. Bryant.
Fred J. Johnson.
Hiram A. Conant.
Oliver N. Leavitt.
Cephas Fish.
Alvora S. Pease.
Albion Hood.
Isaac Phillips.
Daniel G. Harlow.
Orison C. Phillips.
Mellen N. Jones.
George Sylvester.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
Thirty-second Regiment.
James J. Chase.
Francis Snell.
Charles B. Chandler.
Judson Pratt.
James B. Walker. Charles E. Phillips.
First Battalion Infantry.
Royal A. Bray.
Horace J. Gilbert.
John E. Ashe.
Samuel J. Gilman.
William S. Alden.
Frank Kilgore.
Sanford Conant.
Thaddeus Leavitt.
Luther K. Cary.
Lucius Libby.
Algernon H. Davis.
Orpheus M. Leonard.
Henry Donham.
Albert Ladd.
Alvah N. Dexter.
Mellen Merrill.
Alonzo Fuller.
Edward Shurtleff.
Edwin S. French.
Charles H. Thayer.
Mounted Artillery.
Roscoe A. Williams.
Charles Emerson.
First Regiment Veterans.
Welcome Beals.
Albert W. Hinds.
George M. Delano. Joseph Jones.
Davis N. Merrill.
Third Regiment Veterans.
Thomas J. Bryant.
James L. Faden.
William B. Bryant. Orville Young.
Fifth Regiment Veterans.
George W. Fargo. Albert W. Hines.
Charles E. Jones.
Several men procured substitutes, and their names do not appear in the above list.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
VALUATION.
The valuation of the town, as shown by the assessor's books for the year 1886, is given below. Probably the full value of all taxable property is considerably in excess of the amount given, for the assessors would naturally choose to be on the safe side by fixing a valuation on all estates at less rather than above the prices at which they are held by the owners.
The valuation of resident real estate is $502,360 Valuation of non-resident real estate is 32,225
Total valuation of real estate, $534,585
Valuation of resident personal estate is $143,801
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