Joseph A. Turner, Sr, Papers

Joseph A. Turner, Sr, was born in Greensville Co, Virginia, on August 6, 1839. He attended Richmond College (now University of Richmond) from 1856-1858, and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts. He then attended the University of Virginia from 1858-1860 for his Masters of Arts. He served in the Civil War as a member of the 41st Virginia Regiment (Mahone's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia). He became a member of the Masons in 1865, and worked his way up through the ranks of that organization until his death. He married his first wife during this time, although her name and the date of their marriage is unknown. His first wife eventually died, leaving him a widower with one daughter, whose name is also unknown. In 1867, he was hired at Hollins College as a professor of English and modern languages. He married Leila Cocke, daughter of Charles L. Cocke (Founder of Hollins), in 1871; they had a daughter, Leila Turner, in 1872, and a son, Joseph Jr, in 1875. In 1878, after a bout of ill health, he passed away at the age of 38, possibly of laryngitis. He is buried in the Cocke Family Cemetery on Hollins campus.