Parmenas T. Turnley, career soldier, author, lecturer & public servant, was the oldest son of Mahala Taylor & John Cunnyngham Turnley; born 6 Sept. 1821, Dandridge, Jefferson Co., TN, came of patriotic lineage. His paternal ancestors came from England to Virginia in 1692 and bore their part in the struggles & conflicts of that colony. When the War of the Revolution broke out, the Turnleys were on the right side, and the name is found on many regimental rolls of the Continental Army.
George Turnley, his grandfather, served throughout the Revolutionary War, beginning his service when but fourteen. His maternal grandfather, Parmenas Taylor, was of English parentage, the family having settled in North Carolina at an early date. Parmenas Taylor was twenty-three at the time of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Continental Army first as Captain and then as Major under Colonel William White of Berks County, North Carolina, whose daughter Taylor subsequently married. At the age of 18 years, John Cunnyngham Turnley, the father of Parmenas Taylor Turnley, walked to Nashville to join Capt. John Kennedy's Tennessee militia company during the War of 1812. Early in 1813, they were sent to be with Jackson at New Orleans, but were reassigned upon arriving in Mississippi.
In 1841, Parmenas received an appointment to attend West Point Military Academy, but lacking the finical means, chose to walked the over 800 miles from Dandridge to West Point, New York; sleeping in fields, barns & occasional hospitable farmer house. At the Academy, his roommate was "Stonewall" Jackson & classmates included McCullen, Burnside, Maxey, Pickett, & Whistler (the artist-soldier).
Turnley led an extremely active life, during which he traveled through a good part of the western portion of the continent. After graduating from West Point, he served in the Mexican War in New Orleans, Veracruz, Monterey, and Mexico City. He spent a considerable time in Texas in the 1850s at Fort Brown, Austin, San Antonia, and along the Rio Grande, constructing new military roads & forts in the newly acquired territory. He accommodated Harvey's Sioux expedition, went overland to Fort Bridger, Salt Lake, and points west. During the Civil War he was active on the Union Side, and went on a special commission to Denver, until failing health caused him to be placed on the retired list by President Lincoln in 1863
This excerpt summarizing his service was from his retirement in 1865: "His 25 yrs of army service was all in distant frontiers, and 18 years of it (winter & summer) under canvas (tents); nor was he favored (in all those years of service) by even one month of relief from active, grinding, rugged duty."
Col. Turnley was married in Chicago in October 1853 to Mary R. Rutter. They had five children; Emma Gertrude, George H. (died at four years of age), Mamie R., Ernest Seymour [died at seventeen years of age – ed.], and Ethel T. From 1875 until 1880, Col. Turnley and his family resided in Chicago.
In 1881 Col. Turnley became a citizen of Highland Park, Illinois and has taken an active interest in the city ever since. In April 1886 he was elected Alderman of the first ward and was Mayor of the City from 1888 to 1891 inclusive. Col. Turnley is well known for his active interest in public affairs and although as he says he has retired from them, it will be remembered that only recently he wrote a vigorous protest against reckless automobile driving.
George Turnley, his grandfather, served throughout the Revolutionary War, beginning his service when but fourteen. His maternal grandfather, Parmenas Taylor, was of English parentage, the family having settled in North Carolina at an early date. Parmenas Taylor was twenty-three at the time of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Continental Army first as Captain and then as Major under Colonel William White of Berks County, North Carolina, whose daughter Taylor subsequently married. At the age of 18 years, John Cunnyngham Turnley, the father of Parmenas Taylor Turnley, walked to Nashville to join Capt. John Kennedy's Tennessee militia company during the War of 1812. Early in 1813, they were sent to be with Jackson at New Orleans, but were reassigned upon arriving in Mississippi.
In 1841, Parmenas received an appointment to attend West Point Military Academy, but lacking the finical means, chose to walked the over 800 miles from Dandridge to West Point, New York; sleeping in fields, barns & occasional hospitable farmer house. At the Academy, his roommate was "Stonewall" Jackson & classmates included McCullen, Burnside, Maxey, Pickett, & Whistler (the artist-soldier).
Turnley led an extremely active life, during which he traveled through a good part of the western portion of the continent. After graduating from West Point, he served in the Mexican War in New Orleans, Veracruz, Monterey, and Mexico City. He spent a considerable time in Texas in the 1850s at Fort Brown, Austin, San Antonia, and along the Rio Grande, constructing new military roads & forts in the newly acquired territory. He accommodated Harvey's Sioux expedition, went overland to Fort Bridger, Salt Lake, and points west. During the Civil War he was active on the Union Side, and went on a special commission to Denver, until failing health caused him to be placed on the retired list by President Lincoln in 1863
This excerpt summarizing his service was from his retirement in 1865: "His 25 yrs of army service was all in distant frontiers, and 18 years of it (winter & summer) under canvas (tents); nor was he favored (in all those years of service) by even one month of relief from active, grinding, rugged duty."
Col. Turnley was married in Chicago in October 1853 to Mary R. Rutter. They had five children; Emma Gertrude, George H. (died at four years of age), Mamie R., Ernest Seymour [died at seventeen years of age – ed.], and Ethel T. From 1875 until 1880, Col. Turnley and his family resided in Chicago.
In 1881 Col. Turnley became a citizen of Highland Park, Illinois and has taken an active interest in the city ever since. In April 1886 he was elected Alderman of the first ward and was Mayor of the City from 1888 to 1891 inclusive. Col. Turnley is well known for his active interest in public affairs and although as he says he has retired from them, it will be remembered that only recently he wrote a vigorous protest against reckless automobile driving.
Parmenas T. Turnley, career soldier, author, lecturer & public servant, was the oldest son of Mahala Taylor & John Cunnyngham Turnley; born 6 Sept. 1821, Dandridge, Jefferson Co., TN, came of patriotic lineage. His paternal ancestors came from England to Virginia in 1692 and bore their part in the struggles & conflicts of that colony. When the War of the Revolution broke out, the Turnleys were on the right side, and the name is found on many regimental rolls of the Continental Army.
George Turnley, his grandfather, served throughout the Revolutionary War, beginning his service when but fourteen. His maternal grandfather, Parmenas Taylor, was of English parentage, the family having settled in North Carolina at an early date. Parmenas Taylor was twenty-three at the time of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Continental Army first as Captain and then as Major under Colonel William White of Berks County, North Carolina, whose daughter Taylor subsequently married. At the age of 18 years, John Cunnyngham Turnley, the father of Parmenas Taylor Turnley, walked to Nashville to join Capt. John Kennedy's Tennessee militia company during the War of 1812. Early in 1813, they were sent to be with Jackson at New Orleans, but were reassigned upon arriving in Mississippi.
In 1841, Parmenas received an appointment to attend West Point Military Academy, but lacking the finical means, chose to walked the over 800 miles from Dandridge to West Point, New York; sleeping in fields, barns & occasional hospitable farmer house. At the Academy, his roommate was "Stonewall" Jackson & classmates included McCullen, Burnside, Maxey, Pickett, & Whistler (the artist-soldier).
Turnley led an extremely active life, during which he traveled through a good part of the western portion of the continent. After graduating from West Point, he served in the Mexican War in New Orleans, Veracruz, Monterey, and Mexico City. He spent a considerable time in Texas in the 1850s at Fort Brown, Austin, San Antonia, and along the Rio Grande, constructing new military roads & forts in the newly acquired territory. He accommodated Harvey's Sioux expedition, went overland to Fort Bridger, Salt Lake, and points west. During the Civil War he was active on the Union Side, and went on a special commission to Denver, until failing health caused him to be placed on the retired list by President Lincoln in 1863
This excerpt summarizing his service was from his retirement in 1865: "His 25 yrs of army service was all in distant frontiers, and 18 years of it (winter & summer) under canvas (tents); nor was he favored (in all those years of service) by even one month of relief from active, grinding, rugged duty."
Col. Turnley was married in Chicago in October 1853 to Mary R. Rutter. They had five children; Emma Gertrude, George H. (died at four years of age), Mamie R., Ernest Seymour [died at seventeen years of age – ed.], and Ethel T. From 1875 until 1880, Col. Turnley and his family resided in Chicago.
In 1881 Col. Turnley became a citizen of Highland Park, Illinois and has taken an active interest in the city ever since. In April 1886 he was elected Alderman of the first ward and was Mayor of the City from 1888 to 1891 inclusive. Col. Turnley is well known for his active interest in public affairs and although as he says he has retired from them, it will be remembered that only recently he wrote a vigorous protest against reckless automobile driving.
George Turnley, his grandfather, served throughout the Revolutionary War, beginning his service when but fourteen. His maternal grandfather, Parmenas Taylor, was of English parentage, the family having settled in North Carolina at an early date. Parmenas Taylor was twenty-three at the time of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Continental Army first as Captain and then as Major under Colonel William White of Berks County, North Carolina, whose daughter Taylor subsequently married. At the age of 18 years, John Cunnyngham Turnley, the father of Parmenas Taylor Turnley, walked to Nashville to join Capt. John Kennedy's Tennessee militia company during the War of 1812. Early in 1813, they were sent to be with Jackson at New Orleans, but were reassigned upon arriving in Mississippi.
In 1841, Parmenas received an appointment to attend West Point Military Academy, but lacking the finical means, chose to walked the over 800 miles from Dandridge to West Point, New York; sleeping in fields, barns & occasional hospitable farmer house. At the Academy, his roommate was "Stonewall" Jackson & classmates included McCullen, Burnside, Maxey, Pickett, & Whistler (the artist-soldier).
Turnley led an extremely active life, during which he traveled through a good part of the western portion of the continent. After graduating from West Point, he served in the Mexican War in New Orleans, Veracruz, Monterey, and Mexico City. He spent a considerable time in Texas in the 1850s at Fort Brown, Austin, San Antonia, and along the Rio Grande, constructing new military roads & forts in the newly acquired territory. He accommodated Harvey's Sioux expedition, went overland to Fort Bridger, Salt Lake, and points west. During the Civil War he was active on the Union Side, and went on a special commission to Denver, until failing health caused him to be placed on the retired list by President Lincoln in 1863
This excerpt summarizing his service was from his retirement in 1865: "His 25 yrs of army service was all in distant frontiers, and 18 years of it (winter & summer) under canvas (tents); nor was he favored (in all those years of service) by even one month of relief from active, grinding, rugged duty."
Col. Turnley was married in Chicago in October 1853 to Mary R. Rutter. They had five children; Emma Gertrude, George H. (died at four years of age), Mamie R., Ernest Seymour [died at seventeen years of age – ed.], and Ethel T. From 1875 until 1880, Col. Turnley and his family resided in Chicago.
In 1881 Col. Turnley became a citizen of Highland Park, Illinois and has taken an active interest in the city ever since. In April 1886 he was elected Alderman of the first ward and was Mayor of the City from 1888 to 1891 inclusive. Col. Turnley is well known for his active interest in public affairs and although as he says he has retired from them, it will be remembered that only recently he wrote a vigorous protest against reckless automobile driving.
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