HENRY E. TURNER, junior partner in the favorite mercantile firm of Lohman & Turner, at West Newton, Allen county, was born in Hardin county, Ohio, Jan. 27, 1862, where he received a very good common-school education and was reared on his father’s farm.
     Alexander Turner, great grandfather of Henry E., was a native of Virginia, of German descent, and married Nancy Phillips, of the same state, and both passed away in their lives in the Old Dominion.  Their son, John Turner, grandfather of our subject, was born in Loudoun county, Va., July 8, 1810, and in 1833 married in Harrison county (now W. Va.), Lucy Bartlett, who was born in that county May 30, 1815.  In 1839 he brought his little family to Ohio and settled among the pioneers, and in the wilderness of Auglaize township, Allen county, cared out a farm from the primitive forest and died, an honored early settler, Apr. 15, 1868.  Starling B. Turner, son of John Turner and father of Henry E. Turner, was born in Allen county, Ohio, was reared to farming, and in 1861, married Maria Monfort, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Staley) Monfort, this union resulting in the birth of Henry E., or subject.  In August, 1862, Mr. Turner bade farewell to his young wife and child and volunteered, in defense of the honor of his countrys flag, in company B, Forty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and met an untimely death in the rebel prison-stockade at Andersonville.  His widow subsequently married William Lohman, to which union have been born four children, viz: Eva M., John A., Earnest M. and Arda R.
     Henry E. Turner, the gentleman with whose name this memoir is opened, dates the happy event of his marriage from Dec. 20, 1884.  The bride, whose maiden name was Florence A. Williams, was born in Auglaize township, Allen county, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1863, and is a daughter of William and Mary E. (Morrow) Williams.  The father of this lady was a prominent farmer of the township, was a factor in public affairs, and died Feb. 22, 1890.  His widow, a highly respected lady, still resides on the old farm.  The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Turner resulted in the birth of two children, only – William H., deceased, and Starling B.   Mr. and Mrs. Turner are members of the Baptist church, Mr. Turner being superintendent of the Sabbath-school.  In politics Mr. Turner is a republican, and through the favor in which he stands with his party is now filling the office of township trustee.  He owns a good farm of 148 acres, and through his industry and judicious management of his capital has placed himself beyond the reach of the gaunt wolf that at times howls proverbially at the door of the less fortunate.  In his business as a general merchant, he has met with phenomenal success through his urbane manners and a manifest disposition to please his patrons, and a fair, square, upright method of dealing that never fails to bring prosperity – the inevitable result of honesty.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical History of Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio, Publ. 1896 - Part II - Page 519