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Last week we learned about William Leighton Turner from England. He had a brother, George E. Turner, who lived from 1817- 1872. George E. came here in 1840 and homesteaded on Section 24 in Richmond Township, across the street from William on Winn Road.
He was an energetic, intelligent farmer and one of the most esteemed influential men of the township.
He was first married to Sarah Jane Reed (1821-1854), who was born in England. They had six children in a span of ten years, one son and five daughters. Sarah was 33 when she died in 1854, along with infant Agnes, either in childbirth or shortly thereafter.
About 1860, George E. married again to Janette Adams (1823-1904), who was from Scotland. She had come to America with her parents when she was five years old. Together they had another seven children, two boys and five girls, the last one being born when George E. was 49 years old!
In 1857 or 1858, he built a new brick house for his growing family. This house stood until 1993, when the Oak Valley Estates subdivision was expanded north of Monterra Drive. Slated for demolition was a barn, several sheds and the farmhouse. The house was located in the vicinity of Woodview Drive and Winn Road where a few ancient oaks still stand.
The McHenry County Historical Society had a survey completed in 1987 to document the types and architectural styles of old structures remaining in rural McHenry County, with an eye toward promoting preservation. This house appeared on the survey, but it was a little too late to save it. The hope of the historical society was that in the future developers would try to incorporate old structures into new developments rather than automatically tear them down.
When George was 45, his son Edward G. was born, who would take over and expand the farm. More on him when the story is continued next week.
Story by Laura Frumet
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