Vincent was the sixth of eleven children born to Elder John Calvin and Ruthama (Crowley) Turnidge. I have found three sources that say he was born in Caldwell County, Missouri so that is probably accurate though he did say he was born in Ray, Ray County, Missouri on his Civil War enlistment papers. His father was the Primitive Baptist Minister of the Log Creek Church in Caldwell County in 1847, and the family continued living in Caldwell County through the 1860 census.

On August 9, 1864 Vincent enlisted as a Private in the 44th Regiment, Missouri Infantry Volunteers. He was mustered in August 30th, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Vincent was wounded during the Civil War, having been shot in the heel of his foot. He was honorably discharged at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, on August 15, 1865. Because of his injury, he carved himself a peg leg which he wore attached to the front of his leg for the rest of his life.

Vincent and brother Joseph Elijah became Primitive Baptist Ministers, riding the circuits in Missouri just as their father and grandfather had done.

Vincent married Amanda Lorena Pennington on September 6, 1866 at the home of her parents, William Carroll and Synthia (Connell) Pennington, in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. They had nine children: Mary Josephine; Martha Ann; John Calvin; William Ace; Cynthia Ruthama; David Allen; Joseph Preston; Nancy Viola; Sirrilda. The family lived in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, where Vincent was farming.

In September 1874 the family moved from Mount Vernon to Salem, Oregon. Several other Turnidge families went with them. They boarded a train in Kansas City, Missouri that took them to San Francisco, California. They then boarded a ship, the Ajax, which took them to Portland, Oregon.

By 1880 Vincent had become the Baptist Minister for the Pleasant Hill Church in Crawfordsville, Oregon. He also rode the circuits in Oregon and held three day camp meetings where people would come from far away to hear him preach.

Vincent performed many rites of matrimony ceremonies after moving to Oregon, including a ceremony for his own grandson, Chester Vincent Turnidge to Marie Elizabeth Peters, on July 20, 1924 in Vincent's home.

The Turnidges were a large clan. They are one of the founding pioneer families of Oregon. In 1921 they held their first annual Turnidge family reunion on the farm of Vincent's nephew, William J. Turnidge. Here is a news article about it:

The Lebanon Express, Lebanon, Oregon 15 Jun 1921, Wed Page 2

Family Reunion Picnic Held At Home of W. J. Tumidge

A family reunion picnic was held at the home of William J. Turnidge, one mile east of Buena Vista, in Marion County, Oregon, Sunday June 12, which was well attended by the descendants of Elder John Turnidge who was born in the state of Missouri in the year 1874, with his family consisting of his sons and daughter and their families as follows- Joseph E. Tumidge, Vincent J. Turnidge, Jas. C. Turnidge and Jesse A. Tumidge and Elize Stakely and her family, Those present Sunday consisted principally of Elder John Turnidge's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, there being about one hundred persons present.

The relatives and friends assembled between 10 and 11 o'clock, a. m. and passed the forenoon in visiting and song service until about 1 o'clock pm when a table four feet wide by 24 feet long was piled full of many good things to eat, and the table being surrounded by the small children near the table, and larger children back of the smaller children, and the grown people and older people back of them, altogether forming a circle around the table from three to six persons deep, all standing, and Elder Vincent J. Tumidge, the only child present of the above referred to Elder John Turnidge, was asked to give thanks to the Heavenly Father for the bountiful meal.

After the dinner, prayer was offered by John Turnidge, grandson of Elder John Turnidge, followed by an able discourse delivered by Elder Vincent Tuniidge. William J. Turnidge -then followed with a few remarks concerning the family reunion. Many present expressed their feelings of gratitude and pleasure of meeting so many of their relatives, many of whom had not met during the past twenty to thirty years, and acquaintance was made with many relatives who had not met before. It was unanimously agreed that a family reunion be held at the home of W, J. Turnidge each year in the future, and to invite all relatives far and near to attend, and that the next meeting date will be the second Sunday in June, 1922. The meeting was closed by singing a familiar hymn, "How Firm a Foundation," and a farewell handshake, which all participated in.

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The Turnidges did continue to hold annual reunions, but by 1924 they were no longer held on the farm. Here is an excerpt from an article about the 1924 reunion which was the 3rd one though the article says it is the 4th one:

Albany Daily Democrat (Albany, Oregon) · 16 Jul 1924, Wed · Page 2

LACOMB SCENE OF BIG REUNION

LACOMB, July 16 (Special)- The fourth annual Turnidge reunion was held at the J. C, Hardin home In Lacomb July I3. ....... One hundred and six persons were at long tables under the maples. ..... A song by the assembly, a prayer and a short talk by Vincent Turnidge of Willamina, the oldest member present. ........ After more singing of familiar hymns, John Turnidge dismissed them, and visiting and ice cream assisted In passing the day. During the afternoon many friends from Lacomb called to greet the visiting members. Those answering roll call were Mr. and Mr. Vincent Turnidge and family, Willamlna; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stakely, Portland; Rev. and Mrs, D. M. Higbee and family, Albany; John Turnidge and family, Lacomb; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Turnidge and son, Albany; Mr. and Mrs. Lee Galnes, daughter and granddaughter, Sclo; Rev. and Mrs. Oscar Blair and three sons, Portland; Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Turnidge and two daughters, Crabtree; Mr. Keith; Mr. and Mrs. Asa Turnidge, and family; Calvin Turnidge, Willamina; Mr. and Mrs. Neep, Portland; Mr. and Mrs. Leon Hanson and three daughters, Salem; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wyman; Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Henson, daughter and three grandchildren, Portland; Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Henson and three daughters, Lacomb; Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Pound, and two daughters; Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Edwards and family and Mrs. Lockett Talbert of Lebanon; Mr. and Mrs. Southworth, Rob and Ethel Fuerstein, Albany; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hardin and two sons; Mrs. Bertha Turnidge and three children, Lacomb; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McDonald, Philomath; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Young, Crabtree; and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Myers of Albany.

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The Lebanon Express, Lebanon, Oregon, 22 Jul 1925, Wed Page 1

Turnidge Family Holds Annual Reunion At Dallas

The fifth annual reunion of the Turnidge family was held at the city park, Dallas, Oregon, July 12, 1925. The morning was spent with the older folks greeting old, making new acquaintances and visiting ..... At noon a wonderful dinner was spread on long tables beneath the green trees, at which time all gathered around with reverently bowed heads while Elder Vincent J. Turnidge of Willamina gave thanks to our Heavenly Father for the many blessings of life, after which all fell to with hearty good will to sample the good things on the bountifully spread table. At 2:30 a short time was spent in the transaction of business, at which time Chester Turnidge of Portland, Ore. acted as chairman and Mrs. John Turnidge as secretary-treasurer. ....... The remainder of the program consisted of the following numbers: ....... two poems composed and recited by Elder V. J. Turnidge ..... song "Blessed Be The Tie That Binds" led by Elder V. J.and James C. Turnidge; closed with prayer by Elder V. J. Turnidge.

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The Oregon Daily Journal 16 Jan 1913, Thu Pg 5

Veteran Lives To See Fourth Generation

Dallas, Oregon - Vincent J. Turnidge of Dallas, a Civil War veteran, has lived to see his family perpetuated to the fourth generation. His wife, Mrs. Amanda Turnidge, also still is living. The four generations are Mr. and Mrs, Turnidge, their daughter (Mary Josephine), Mrs. Nora Wonderly, and her son, Ersel Wonderly.

Mr. Turnidge was born In Caldwell County, Missouri, June 1, 1847. In the spring of 1866 he moved with his parents to Lawrence County, Missouri, at which place he met and married the present Mrs. Amanda Turnidge.

The couple remained In Missouri until September, 1874, when they came to Oregon and settled at Salem; from there they moved to Dallas and bought land and built the house that is now being used as offices by the Dallas Lumber & Logging Company and the Salem Fails City & Western Railroad Company.

After several years they moved to a farm near Dallas, where they lived until a few months ago when they moved to a farm near Wlllamina, OR.

Mr. and Mrs. Turnidge have seven children living, four boys and three girls; 20 grandchildren, and one great grand child, all living in the vicinity of Dallas.

Mr. Turnidge served one year In the Civil War. He enlisted August 9, 1864, and was mustered August 16, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn.

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Obituary of Vincent J. Turnidge

The Observer Dallas, Oregon 11 Sep 1930

Vincent J. Turnidge of Willamina, father of Mrs. Charles Guy of Dallas, passed away at his home Thursday, September 11. Mr. Turnidge was 83 years of age and his death came quite suddenly as the result of heart trouble. Funeral services were held Sunday at 2 o'clock in the Methodist Church at Willamina, with Rev. Brown of Sheridan officiating. Interment was made in the Willamina cemetery.

Mr. Turnidge had written a short biography of his life which was read at the funeral services. He writes:

I, Vincent J. Turnidge, was born in the state of Missouri on June 1, 1847. I remained in northern Missouri, Caldwell County, until the spring of 1866, at which time I moved to southeast Missouri and settled with the rest of my father's family. My father and mother were both living at that time. I remained there until the fall of 1874, at which time, together with their entire family circle, we sold our homes, including our real estate and all our personal property and boarded an immigrant train at Kansas City, Missouri, and came to Oregon.

We arrived at Salem on September 20, 1874 and settled thereabout and purchased homes, each of us for ourselves and have lived in Oregon ever since. My oldest brother Joseph E. Turnidge and I served in the Civil War. We were in company C, 44th Regiment, and Missouri Volunteer Infantry. We enlisted in this regiment on August 9, 1864, and where mustered out of service on August 15, 1865. During said service we had a chaplain or minister by the name of Bratton who held frequent prayer and preaching services with us. We were converted to the Christian religion and faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ. So after serving in the United States Army for one year and six days in the following named states to wit: Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Mississippi, we both received honorable discharges when we were mustered out at Benton Barracks., St Louis, MO. And after having suffered series affliction during our army life we where both permitted to return to our old home in Missouri.

"I have never forgotten meeting our precious and dear old mother on our return home, fairly shouting praise to God to meet her sons on earth once more. We attended meeting together at a church called Log Creek Church, where our father had the pastoral care. The opportunity for membership was extended to us, so we as brothers went forward and declared as best we could what the good Lord had done for us during our army life and we where heartily received into their fellowship amidst great rejoicing. We were baptized in the waters of Log Creek, a usual place of baptism.

In the spring of 1866 we sons all together purchased a very good farm on state highway, leading from Mt. Vernon, our country seat to Kansas City, MO. While living there I formed an acquaintance with Miss Amanda Pennington and in 1866 we where united in marriage at the home of her father and mother Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Pennington. We remained in Missouri until the fall of 1874 and then moved to Oregon, where we have lived very pleasantly and happily together until my dear wife and very precious companion was taken from us by death's resistless power on the 14th day of February 1928, after we had lived together over 60 years.

Mr. Turnidge is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Char. Guy, Dallas, Mrs. Jesse LePage, Willamina, Mrs. Chas. Coonrad, Camas, three sons, Calvin & Asa of Willamina and David of Sheridan and one sister Mrs. Eliza Stakley of Portland.

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U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865

Name: Vincent J. Turnidge

Side: Union

Regiment State/Origin: Missouri

Regiment Name: 44 Missouri Infantry

Regiment Name Expanded: 44th Regiment, Missouri Infantry

COMPANY: C

Rank In: Private

Rank In Expanded: Private

Rank Out: Private

Rank Out Expanded: Private

Film Number: M390 roll 49

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Page 46, "The Trail Blazers" by Alice Turnidge Hamot:

Vincent Jasper and his brother, Elijah Turnidge, enlisted, in the Union Army, 9 Aug 1864, Ray Co., Miss., 44th Reg. Missouri voluntary infantry, one month after their uncle, Jesse Calvin Turnidge was murdered by confederate soldiers, July 1864. They served for 1 year and 6 days in the following states: Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Mississippi. They were honorably discharged when they were mustered out at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., 15 Aug 1865. Both received pensions from the U.S. Government.