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User:Allen3/turner

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William F. Turner
Chief Justice, Arizona Territorial Supreme Court
In office
August 22, 1863 – April 1870
Nominated byAbraham Lincoln, Ulyses S. Grant
Preceded byN/A (Newly created position)
Succeeded byJohn Titus
Personal details
Born1816
Milton, Pennsylvania
DiedDecember 1899 (aged 82–83)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Political partyWhig/Republican
SpouseHarriet Miller
ProfessionAttorney

William F. Turner[A] (1816 – December 23, 1899) was the first Chief Justice of the Territory of Arizona, serving in that capacity for about 7 years. He presided over the Territorial Supreme Court of Arizona.

Early life[edit]

Turner was born to Ann (Smith) and Dr. James P. Turner in Milton, Pennsylvania in 1816. His father was Federal Lands Commissioner for Louisiana and Mississippi during the John Quincy Adams administration. The family was based in Bayou Sara, Louisiana at this time. Dr. Turner's service ended during the Andrew Jackson administration and he moved his family to Mount Vernon, Ohio. The younger Turner was admitted to Kenyon College in 1838. As a student, he and Rutherford B. Hayes were both members of the Philomathean Society. He graduated on August 9, 1842. During a speech he gave at his graduation, he expressed scorn for those who taught themselves the law instead of attending college.[2] In the speech, Turner proclaimed "A man cannot hammer a lapstone and Blackstone at the same time".[3]

Following graduation, Turner was admitted to the Ohio bar. He moved to Keokuk, Iowa around 1854. Around the same time he married Harriet Miller of Mount Vernon, Ohio. There is no record that the couple had any children. The couple were financially prosperous, with the 1860 U.S. Census showing them with over $20,000 in assets (about $678,220 in present-day terms[4]).[3]

Arizona Territory[edit]

Initially a Whig, Turner joined the Republican Party following the collapse of the Whigs. He began seeking appointment to a government position in 1863. After failing to secure a position as assistant solicitor of the United States Court of Claims, Turner investigated diplomatic postings. Following the death of John A. Gurley, Turner wrote to President Abraham Lincoln seeking appointment as Governor of Arizona Territory.[3] His letter contained the message, "There appears to be no vacancy in consulships. Is there any reason why I cannot receive the appointment of Governor of Arizona... My friends think I was very badly treated in the matter of the Assistant Solicitorship of the Court of Claims, and the appointment to the above place would be very gratifying to themselves as well as myself."[5] After Lincoln advanced John N. Goodwin to Governor of Arizona Territory, Turner was nominated for Chief Justice of Arizona Territory on August 22, 1863.[3]

Turner officially accepted his new position in a September 7 letter to U.S. Attorney General Edward Bates. By the time he was prepared to depart for Arizona, most territorial officials were already in transit.[3] The Chief Justice nominee caught up with the Governor John N. Goodwin's party at Fort Larned.[6] He took his oath of office with the other territorial officials traveling together on December 29, 1863 during the ceremony officially establishing the new territory.[7] Governor Goodwin established three judicial districts in an April 9, 1864 proclamation. Turner was assigned to the third district, which encompassed all of the territory north of the Gila River and east of the 114th meridian.[8]

The new Chief Justice requested a four month leave of absence on March 28, 1864 for the purpose of moving his wife to the territory. His initial plans to go to Iowa were modified on April 9 when the citizens of Fort Whipple selected Turner to represent Arizona at the 1864 Republican National Convention.[9] He left Fort Whipple on April 11 and arrived at Fort Wingate on May 9.[10] Due to mail delays, formal approval for the leave did not arrive until after his departure.[9] Following the convention, Turner went from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.. There he lobbied for improved mail service. In a June 17, 1864, Turner reported to Territorial Secretary Richard C. McCormick that needed Congressional approval had been secured and that he would see the Postmaster General the next day to request expedited implementation of the approved legislation. From Washington, Turner proceeded to New York City. On July 21 he wrote a column for the New York Tribune responding to a complaint from "G." in Tucson claiming that Secretary McCormick had received a full year's salary prior to his taking office. Turner defended McCormick in his column and provided first hand information about the situation in the territory.[10] On October 12, 1864, Turner received an extension to his leave until the first of the year. Another request in January 1865 for an additional extension on grounds that lack of forage and difficulties with hostile Indians made travel too dangerous was denied.[11] Despite lack of approval for the extension, Turner did not return to his duties until November 1865.[11][12]


During his absence, Associate Justice Joseph P. Allyn filled in for Turner during one judicial session while all other scheduled sessions were not held.[11]

Turner held court in Prescott.[8]

Reappointed in 1868 with the backing of his friends back East along with the blessing of Richard C. McCormick and other members of Arizona's "Federal cliche".[13]


Objected to the appointment of Richard C. McCormick as territorial governor. In a letter to United States Secretary of the Interior James Harlan, Turner accused McCormick of appointing confederate sympathizers and copperheads to territorial offices instead of loyal union supporters.[14]

Removed by President Grant in 1870.[15]

Removal prompted by accusations of wrongdoing that included excessive absence from his post, conducting business affairs on the side, borrowing gold and then repaying the debts in paper currency valued at par, giving partial rulings, and colluding with lawyers as they prepared cases.[15]

His removal was largely due to his rough personality and members of the Federal cliche loosing patience with him.[15]


After leaving Arizona, Turner moved his family to Coffeyville, Kansas. Practiced law there before settling in Independence, Kansas.[16]

Did well for a time, partnering with William E. Otis to for the legal firm of Turner and Otis.[16]

Added a bank to his legal practice.[16]

Kept in touch with his friend, Rutherford B. Hayes, sending him a congratulatory note upon his election as President as well as condolences upon the death of Hayes' wife. Did not however ask for appointment to a federal position.[16]

Eventually suffered a financial reversal and lived his final years in poverty.[16]

His wife died on December 13, 1896 but Turner was too ill to attend the funeral.[16]

Moved to Indianapolis after the death of his wife were he lived with his brother Chauncey.[16]

Turner died on December 23, 1899 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Crown Hill Cemetery.[16]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Turner's middle name is unknown.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Goff 1978, p. 190.
  2. ^ Goff 1978, pp. 190–1.
  3. ^ a b c d e Goff 1978, p. 191.
  4. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Goff 1968, p. 214.
  6. ^ McClintock 1916, p. 315.
  7. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 32.
  8. ^ a b Wagoner 1970, p. 36.
  9. ^ a b Goff 1978, p. 192.
  10. ^ a b Goff 1978, p. 193.
  11. ^ a b c Goff 1978, p. 194.
  12. ^ Goff 1968, p. 224.
  13. ^ Goff 1968, p. 215.
  14. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 66.
  15. ^ a b c Goff 1968, p. 230.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Goff 1978, p. 207.


Category:Arizona Territory judges Category:Kenyon College alumni Category:1899 deaths Category:1816 births Category:Arizona pioneers

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