Children of Samuel and Suzanna (Ramsey) Turrittin who were married
January 3,1827:

Thomas 		Born April 14, 1829; Died July 12,1908. Married
"Uncle Tom" 	Elizabeth (Aunt Lizzie) Kendal1 on July 10, 1860.
		Six children: Harry K., David Samuel, Sherman T.,
		Fanny Emma, Chloris Beattie, and George Edmon.

Hugh Born 	November 5,1831; Died January 22, 1887.
"Uncle Hugh" 	Married Frances (Aunt Fanny) Amelia Hess on"
		August 3, 1875. Three children: Female child
		died at birth, Ora Belle, and Maude Edna.

James B. 	Born September 21,1833; Died January 17,1912.
"Uncle Jim" 	Married Wilhelmina Kunigunde Jakobine Zwanziger
		on May 25, 1858. Seven children": Susan Anna, Frank
		E., Lily May, William Robert, Albert Hugh, Ida
		Viola, and Arthur Austin. His first wife died
		July 13, 1904, and James B" married Hannah Sophia
		Birdsall Turrittin, his younger brocher's widow,
		on october 5, 1905. There was no issue from this
		second marriage.

John S. 	Born November 21,1835; Died January 20. 1901.
"Uncle John" 	Married Hannah Sophia Birdsall on April 2, 1860.
		Two children: A son and daughter but both died
		as infants and their names are not known today.

Isabelle 	Born August 23, 1838; Died February 5, 1916.Married
"Aunt Belle" 	John Harmon Doughten on December 17, 1863. Six
		children: Lucretia Maria, Forrest Leroy, Byron
		Burns, Cora Belle, Bruce, and Sheldon Garfield.

Robert Ramsey 	Born February 25,1842; Died January 10,1920.
"Uncle Rob" 	Married Ella Lucinda Clapp on December 14,1871.
		Five children: Effie Belle. Alice M., Robert Clifford.
		Harry Howard. and Mary Ella.

George Francis 	Born February 22,1844; Died August 26, 1909.
"Uncle George" 	Married Mary- Estella (Aunt Stelle) Sherill on
		January 14, 1877. No issue.

William Alexander 	Born September 8,1846; Died April 27, 1906. Married
"Uncle Will" 	Mary Ann Benner on April 24,1873.  Six children:
		James Marvin. Bell Arminda. Grace May, Earl William,
		Howard Jermone. and Jennie May who died in infancy.

Family tradition maintains that there were also three Turrittin sons
who died at or shortly after" birth-. -No names have been" found for these
three boys.

Children of Samuel Snow and Frances (Oliver) Snow:

Charles Tripp 	Born August 14,1846; Died De.cember 7, 1923.
		Married Leah A. 'Pfingsday in 1876. Two children:
		George and Minnie.

Children of Samuel and Frances (Oliver Snow) Turrittin who were married
February 20,1849:

Andrew 	Born November 29, 1849; Date of death unknown.
		Died as an infant. and buried in an umnarked grave
		on the Oliver farm, Williams County, Ohio.

Lucinda M 	Born December 18,1850; Died February 26, 1919.
"Aunt Lucy" 	Married Charles N. Warrant on May 1, 1873. Three.
		children: Charles Elmer, Festus Lloyd, and Daisy
		Belle. -also called Daisy Ann.

Eli 		Born September 10, 1852; Died November 5, 1925.
"Uncle Eli" 	Married Harriet E. Mattocks on September 22, 1878.
		Five children: Roy T., George Francis, Harley,
		Ethel, and Bess.

Mary Jane 	Born September 11,1854; Died April 24, 1922.
"Aunt Jennie" 	Married Fred I. Benjamin on August 26, 1879. Six
		children: Lucy, W. S., L. 0., Gertrude, Myrtle,
		and Clarence. Lucy was an adopted child and Myrtle
		and Gertrude were twins. After the death of her
		husband, Fred Benjamin! Mary Jane Turrittin Benjamin
		married her brother-in-law, Charles N. Warrant, who
		was a widower, on October 2, 1920.  There was no
		issue from this second marriage.

George Washington:  Born October 6, 1856; Died January, 1928. Married
"Uncle Wash" 	Eva Clark. Four children: Roy, Harold, Mabel, and
		Grace.

Casey 		Born January 28,1859. Date of death unknown. Died
		as an infant and buried in an unmarked grave on the
		Oliver farm, Williams County, Ohio.

Alphons 	Born February 9, 1860. Date of death unknown. Died
		as an infant and buried in an unmarked grave on the
		Oliver farm, Williams County, Ohio..

Martha Manerva 	Born September 9, 1861; Died January.8, 1935.
"Aunt Mattie" 	Married Nicholas King on March 16, 1878. Four children:
		Edward N., Clara, Elsie, and Clark.

Frances Amelia 	Born September 9, 1864; Died July 18, 1928. Married
"Aunt Amy" 	Enoch B. Mapes. He died on November 17,1907. She
		then married Milo Knox. Later they were divorced.
		Children: One child -Bert. This boy was an ill-
		egitimate son of Amy Turrittin and George Buck,
		the son of Mrs. Buck, third wife of Samuel Turrittin.

Sherman 	Born May 18, 1867; Died December 25, 1936. Married
"Uncle Sherman" Nora Bohn on April 28,1889. Six children: James
		Clayton, Chloris, Edward Bohn, Frances B., Fay Elmer,
		and Doris Lucille.

****************

Last Will and Testament of Samuel Turrittin
In the name of the Benevolent Father of all.

I Samuel Turrittin of Evansport Defiance County Ohio, do make and
publish this my last will and testament:

Item 1

I give and bequeath to my children all my real Estate
situated in section Thirty Three Springfield Township Williams County
Ohio containing Seventy Eight Acres of land more or less which shall
be and remain theirs for the term of five years not subject to sale
or division among them or their heirs.  At the exporation of said five
years. from my death the person to be hereafter named as my executor
shall sell said Real Estate and divide the proceeds thereof among said
children as follows. The proceeds to be divided Equally; except my son
Thomas who shall reeeive his equal share plus $50.00, John S. his equal
share plus $75.00 My Daughter Bell her equal share plus $50.00, and my
Daughter Jane her equal share plus $50.00.

Item 2

The house and lot owned by me in the village of Evansport I
hereby authorise my Exectuor to sell and convey the same to my wife
provided she is willing to pay and does pay the sum equal to the amount
I have expended upon said property by reason of purchase or repair. If
she does not desire said property then my Executor shall sell the same
and divide the proceeds as before stated.

Item 3

I desire that my Executor shall expose to sale my personal
property, and out of the proceeds of the sale to give my wife Seventy-
Dollars in lieu of her Dower interest in my Estate and offer the re-
sidue if any to the payment of my funeral expenses Doctors bill and
such other expenses or debts that are due out owing at the time of my
death.

Item 4

If the personal property after having been sold should not be
suffieient to cancel and pay all my obligations then my Executor shall
pay the residue of my debts out of the money arrising from the sale
of my real Estate before any division of the proceeds shall be made
among the children.

Item 5

I desire my Executor to purchase a grave stone for my three
children buried in Oliver grave yard in Jefferson Township Williams
Co. Ohio. Said stone to be sueh as my heirs shall approve and be paid
for as before stated out of the money arising from the sale of my property
before any division shall be made among my heirs and the same action
shall be done for myself.

Item 6

My wife shall have my household furniture of all kinds after
my death.

Item 7

I hereby nominate John Doughten William A Turrittin and Eli
Turrittin to be the Executors of this my last will and testament and
do hereby revoke all former wills or (?) made.

In testimony here of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 1lth
Day of October in the year 1884 -signed in the presence of and
acknowledged by Samuel Turrittin as his last will and testament.

Signed by us in his presence


Robert B (?)
E. D. Reprogle

******************

Last Will and Testament of Catherine Turrittin

In the name of the benevolent Father of all I Catherine Turritin of
the village of Evansport Defiance County Ohio: make and publish this
my last will and testament.

(1) I give and bequeath to my Dear Daughter Clara Snider one half of
my real property situated.in the village of Evansport Defiance County
Ohio.

(2) I give and bequeath to my dear granddaughter Loona C. Hall one half
(1/2) of my real property located in village of Evansport Defiance
County Ohio.

(3) My personal property to be divided Equally among my children.
In testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ---
day of May 1897.

(Signed) Catherine Turritin

Signed and acknowledged by said Catherine Turritin as her last will
and testament in our presence and signed by us in her presence.


w. A. Snider Evansport Ohio
L. F. Orahood Evansport Ohio


Children of Catherine BuckTurrittin as listed in Probate Court Records
Defiance County, Ohio.

William Buck of Stryker, Ohio.

Sarah Hall of Evansport, Ohio.

Clara Snider of Evansport, Ohio.

Thomas Turrittin

Thomas, the oldest child of Samuel Turrittin and his wife Suzanna Ramsey, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, April 14, 1829. He was of the Scotch-Irish race for his ancestors came from Scotland several generations before Thomas was born. He was named for his maternal grandfather, Thomas Ramsey of Lisselman, County Donegal, Ireland.

His father, Samuel Turrittin, emigrated to America as a widower in September of 1847. Thomas was eighteen years old at the time. The Turrittin family went west as far as Ohio, and Thomas, partly to escape the rule of his father and, partly to learn a trade, went to Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. He had received most of his formal education while a boy in Ireland, but in Toledo he studied the drawing, drafting, and building trade. Following his school days he became an apprentice to the carpenter trade and after serving his apprenticeship went to the state of Michigan.

In 1856, Thomas along with his three younger brothers, Hugh, James, and John went west to Minnesota. They took the railroad as far west as it went to the Mississippi River opposite Dubuque, Iowa, for there was no railroad west of the Mississippi at that time, then took a steamboat to St.Paul, and then. down the Minnesota River to St. Peter. Thomas did not see a railroad or locomotive again for fourteen years.

While in St. Peter Thomas contracted with the United States governmeut for the construction of buildings at what would become Fort Abercrombie in present day North Dakota. Turrittin was employed as chief architect and builder. The company left St. Paul and went as far as the Chippewa River in Lac.Qui Parle County, when a large band of Sioux Indians attempted to dispute their passage. The sight of two companies of soldiers and two pieees of artillery, however, soon caused them to change their minds. Mr. Turrittin planned and superintended the construction of the bridge across the river. When the company reached the valley of the Red River of the North, the nearest white settlement was thee hundred miles away.

On reaching the neighborhood. where the'fort was built, Colonel Abereombie, who lead the expedition, sent Thomas Turrittin with a company of. men to select a suitable spot. The colonel with others took another direction for the same purpose, but eventually decided upon the spot seleeted by Turrittin.

In the winter of 1859 Mr.Turrittin with nine others and four mules made their way back to civilization amid many hardships and suffering. The snow was from two to three feet deep and the theremometer from twenty to thirty below zero most of the time. In 1907. Thcmas Turrittin.described this trip in his own words:

We came back in the spring of 1859
in February with the snow two and a
half feet deep, without any tent,
only dug into the snow banks at
night and crawled in. We suffered
terribly for ten night with the
thermometer 30 degrees below zero
most of the time. It was almost a
wonder that the party got hrough,
without any trail to go by, only
guesswork. We had four mules and one
night I thought they would surely
freeze to death on the open prairie
with a cold wind. Our party was
down over a bank that night, and
consisted of ten men who had been
working at the fort. At last we
arrived at St. Peter.

Thomas returned to Minnesota and located at St Peter, Nicollet County, where he was engaged in the building of a mill, the first grist-mill in St. Peter, and houses for many of the early settlers of the community.

In the spring of 1859, he became acquainted with Miss Elizabeth Kendall of Lake Washington, Le Sueur County. and on July 10, 1860. they were married. Elizabeth Kendall was born in 1838 near Bangor. Maine. She was a daughter of David and Julettie (Walker) Kendall. Both her parents were natives of Maine. where her mother lived and died. after which her father. together with his children, in 1857. came to Lake Washington, Le Sueur County. Minnesota, and being a millwright, built a saw and grist mill. which he moved to Marshall, Minnesota, in 1874. and which he operated for the remainder of his active life. He died in March, 1878.

After they were married Thomas and Elizabeth went to St. Paul and Minneapolis on a wedding tour on the regular line steamboat "Frank Steel". There was only one street in St. Paul at that time and one hotel in Minneapolis, the Nicollet House. While in St. Paul the Turrittins heard favorable reports of conditions in the South and in September they went down the Mssissippi River.

In the fall of 1860 we went south as far as Memphis, Tennessee. It was quite a contrast for when we left Minnesota the 18th of September it looked like winter, no leaves on the trees. and we sailed down into summer again, everything in full bloom. Memphis was a beautiful city and we expected to make our home there, but that winter the war of the Prbellion broke out and they began to inquire what side I was going to fight on. I could not think of it for a moment: After- wards I had three brothers in the union army. In my short stay in Memphis, I had the opportunity of seeing a catch of slaves that were brought from Kentucky to be sold. They were put up on a block and auctioned off like horses or cattle it was a sad sight. Finally we came north on the last boat that came up the Mississippi and when we passed Cairo the soldiers fired on us, but as we were going north they let us pass. This was about the latter part of April, 1861. It took two weeks to make the trip to St. Paul. We arrived in St.Peter the first of May in a steamboat.

The Turrittins settled in Cordova, Le Sueur County, where he was appointed postmaster by the Lincoln administration. In the spring of 1864 the family moved on a timber farm east of the village of Kasota, in Kasota township, Le Sueur County. Thomas purchased this place, cleared it up and for the next twenty-eight years farmed it, besides putting up a good substantial set of buildings on the homestead. Today a grand- son of Thomas and Elizabeth, Charles Turrittin and family, operates the family farm and live in the remodeled farm house.

Thomas and Elizabeth had the following children: Harry K. born March 5, 1861, died June 11, 1884; David Samuel born March 21, 1863, died January 15, 1944; Sherman T. born march 5, 1865, died April 13,1894; Fannie Emma born April 8, 1867, died July 6, 1883; Chloris Beattie born April 19,1869, died August 12,1918; and George Edmon born November 3, 1871, died December 4,1932.

In 1893, his son, David Samuel, took charge of the farm and Mr. and Mrs. Turrittin moved to Kasota and retired from active life. Though he said he never was a politician or even cared to hold any office, Thomas served the community of Kasota as a member of the township board of supervisors for many years. He was always an active member of the Presbyterian church, and was always interested it its work and in the general advancement of Christianity. Thomas Turrittin died early Sunday morning, July 12,1908, at the age of seventy-nine years. Services were held in the Kasota Presbyterian church conducted by the Reverend Clark of St. Peter and the Reverend Nathan Feather, who from 1904 to 1906 served the Presbyterian church in Kasota. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, which is east of St. Peter, Minnesota. Mrs. Turrittin lived two more years, for she died April 26, 1910, and was buried beside her husband.

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