Myra Turley (Nixon)

Description

SPOUSE

John Moseley Turley:

John Moseley Turley was born 1869 in Clayton, Johnston County, NC, the eldest of 6 known surviving children (2 boys/4 girls) born to CSA veteran and farmer, Joel Benton Turley and his wife, Annie Corbett.

He was the paternal grandson of Samuel Moses Turley & Lively Ellis; and gr-grandson of Thomas Turley & Patience Brady, all of Clayton, Johnston County. He is a direct descendant of Thomas Turley I, who was born in Ireland and came to the Johnston County ca. 1755. On his mother's side, he is grandson of John Corbett (Corbet/Corbit) and his wife, Catherine, of Johnston Co.

On October 20, 1895, the 26 year old married 26-year old Nellie Northam Rose, daughter of Dr. Joseph G. Rose of Smithfield. The couple set up housekeeping in Clayton, where by 1900, John had established himself as a merchant. They became parents of one known child, Joseph B. Turley (1896-1921).

Nellie Rose Turley died in 1899, and in 1904 the 35-year old widower married 32-year old Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ellington, daughter of Joseph C. Ellington (CSA) & Elizabeth "Bettie" Tomlinson of Clayton. Lizzie became stepmother to 10-year old Joseph Turley, and the couple soon became parents of two daughters: Elizabeth R. Turley (1906-1933), and Alice "Bernice" Turley (1909-1977), who married Edward Lee Jenkins (1906-1991) of Raleigh.

During this marriage, John Mosely Turley not only propsered as a Clayton businessman, but both husband and wife were active in almost all aspects of their civic and religious community. John was Secretary/Treasurer of the Clayton Cotton Mill, and was elected Mayor of Clayton in 1917. In 1919 he became Cashier of the newly formed Farmer's Bank in Clayton. He was again re-elected Mayor of Clayton in 1926, but stepped down when he was elected Sheriff of Johnston County in the November 1926 election. Of interest, this rock-solid citizen was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1927, which apparently had no ill effects on his standing in the community or his employment.

John was widowed for the 2nd time in 1919 when his bride of just 15 years died in 1919 at age 47. The now 50-year old widower remained in Clayton with the care of his 3 children. At some point before his death, John married for the third time to Myra Nixon.

Two years after the death of his wife, John lost his only son, Joseph Benton Turley in 1921 when the young man died at age 25. Joseph had married Duba Ellis of Clayton in 1919, and his only son, Joseph Jr., was born and died in 1920. Joseph's wife never remarried and died in 1986. She, her husband, and her infant child are all buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Clayton.

John died in 1942 at age 73. He was buried in Clayton City Cemetery near his 2nd wife, Lizzie Ellington, and his daughter Elizabeth.

John's eldest daughter, died in 1933 at age 30, and she is buried here in Clayton City Cemetery. His only surviving child, Alice Bernice Turley, married Edward Jenkins of Raleigh, son of Dr. Charles Lee Jenkins and Martha Ann Knight of Edgecombe Co, NC.

Gravesite Details

Spouse of (1st) Nellie Rose, (2nd) Elizabeth Ellington & (3rd) Myra Nixon