James Martin Turley was born in the west part of Callaway Co. on April 20, 1843 and was a life long resident of the Kingdom of Callaway. He was the son of Samuel Turley .He was married to Miss Martha Beeding on December 24, 1834. They had eight children, one of whom died at birth. James M Turley died May 29, 1924 and is buring at the Millersburg Cemetery in Millersburg Missouri.

He was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in the Confederacy. Company IV Wood's Reg't Missouri Calvary -13th Missouri Cavalry Regiment, Col. Robert Woods ;14th Missouri Cavalry Battalion, Lt. Col. Robert Woods (Raised to 13th Regiment) . Civil War Records indicate that James M. Turley was a private in CO. K , Wood's Regiment, Missouri Calvary. He was captured at Bollivar, Missouri Oct 31, 1864. He professed to belong to the regular Confederate Service and was sent to St. Louis, during the month of November, 1864. He appeared on the Roll of Prisoners received from Springfield, Mo. Nov 21, 1864 and transferred from St. Louis, Mo. to Rock Island, Illinois, Dec 24 1864. This Roll was dated Headquarters Department of the Missouri, Office Provost Marshal General, St. Louis, Missouri, December 24, 1864. Following his release, he returned home to Callaway Co. Missouri.

He followed the occupation of farming practically all of his life, except for a short time when he was in business in Fulton. Following his retirement from the mercantile business he removed to the northwest part of the county where he farmed since.

For many years he has been an elder in the Christian Church, first being a member of the Boydsville Christian Church and later in life transferring his membership to the church in Millersburg. He was an industrious farmer, well liked by all who knew him, and always took an interest in the affairs of his community as long as his health permitted. According to his descendants, he had a good singing voice.

This information was supplied by

Debbie Turley Schmidt
Great Grand Daughter