The P. D. Turner, Sr., Family

Facts by Minnie Mae Turner Lacy

Powhattan Davis Turner was born on August 29, 1875, in Reelfoot, Tennessee. He married Willie Mae Lewis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Lewis, in Luxora, Arkansas, and they moved to Jacksonville in January, 1906.

When Mr. and Mrs. Turner arrived with their two sons, Lewis Davis and Frank Lee, ages three and one, they lived at the popular Tipton House, a boarding-rooming house located on the site now occupied by Gray Electric and Nichols Studio on Commerce Street. From here they moved to the Clark House at Bonner and Rusk streets (torn down in 1971), where they remained while securing lots and building a home at 517 Nacogdoches Street. At the time, this was a "new section" some distance (three blocks) from town with much pasture land beyond. The Turner home was completed in 1911 and stands much unchanged from the original plan of its builder, Joe Pressler.

Mr. Turner established a "racket" store, the type now called variety, and for the year of 1918, he advertised that his store had 190,757 customers and he 'hoped to sell 225,000 in 1919. The store was not only a community job store but served as employment for the nine Turner children, five of whom are living. The only Jacksonville resident is Minnie Mae, married to Buddy Lacy, a business man and local artist. Frank Turner is a retired First National Bank of Dallas guard, Louise is the wife of the late Foster B. Grisham, and resides in Fort Worth, Charles is a retired Air Force Captain and insurance claims adjuster living in San Antonio, and P. D., Jr., a Texas A. & M. graduate continues to live and teach in Kingsville. Deceased are Willie Beatrice, Robert, Lewis, and Lucylle (Mrs. Thomas Jones).

P. D. Turner was a member of K. P. Lodge, president of the Board of Trustees of the Jacksonville Independent School District in 1914 and 1915. During his tenure, land for Joe Wright School was purchased. Cornerstone of the building which was used for a high school bears his name. He was an active Methodist, on the official board of First Methodist Church, and chairman of its Board of Stewards from 1906 to 1914.

A favorite story told on P. D. Turner happened in the early 1920s, when he owned a farm southwest of town, and being no farmer he was the butt of many a joke. This time it was hay-cutting time in the meadow, the balky mule refused to budge when spoken to by Mr. Turner, a man not given to profanity. So turning to one of the workers whom he had noticed worked the mule very well when he spoke to it, he said "Brother—will you please speak to the mule!"

Powhattan Davis Turner, Sr., died in 1961 and was buried in City Cemetery beside his wife, Willie Mae Lewis Turner, who had preceded him in death in 1946.

P. D. Turner home, 517 Nacogdoches Street. Family group on porch in 1914.

P. D. Turner, Sr., as he appeared in his latter years. He died in 1961.

P. D. Turner's "Racket Store" sometimes called The Palace.

P. D. Turners with children and relatives on lawn of home in 1914.