Josiah Turner (September 1, 1811 – April 7, 1907) was a Michigan pioneer and Supreme Court judge. Turner was born in

New Haven, Vermont New Haven is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2020 census. In addition to the town center, New Haven contains the communities of Belden (sometimes called Belden Falls), Brooksville, New Haven Juncti ...

on September 1, 1811. In 1831, Turner moved to St. Albans, Vermont, to read law with his uncle,

Bates Turner Bates Turner (October 1760 – April 30, 1847) was a Vermont lawyer, judge and politician. In addition to serving as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, he was a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court for two years. Biography Turner w ...

, a former

Vermont Supreme Court The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont. Unlike most other states, the Vermont Supreme Court hears appeals directly from the trial courts, as Vermont has no intermediate appeals court. The Court ...

justice. In September 1833 he was admitted to the Vermont bar and then practiced law. In 1840, Turner and his wife moved to

Howell, Michigan Howell is the largest city and county seat of Livingston County, Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,489. The city is mostly surrounded by Howell Township, but the two are administered autonomously. Howell is part o ...

. Turner served as a Michigan circuit judge. In 1857, Turner was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court. Turner was involved with the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

. In 1860 Turner and his family to

Owosso, Michigan Owosso is the largest city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,194 at the 2010 census. The city is mostly surrounded by Owosso Township on its west, but the two are administered autonomously. The city wa ...

. In April 1864 he was elected Mayor of Owosso. He informed the people of Owosso about the assassination of President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

in 1865. In 1867, Turner was elected a member of the Michigan Constitutional Convention. Turner was appointed the United States Consul at Amherstburg,

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, Canada. Turner on died April 7, 1907, in Owosso, Michigan. Turner was a relative of

Wolcott Turner Brooks Wolcott Turner Brooks (October 6, 1826 – April 26, 1901) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Biography Brooks was born on October 6, 1826, in New Haven, Vermont. He was a relative of the Michigan Supreme Court Justice Josiah Turner, ...

, a member of the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

References

External links

History of Livingston County, Michigan 1880-biographical sketch of Judge Josiah Turner
People from New Haven, Vermont People from Howell, Michigan People from Owosso, Michigan Vermont lawyers Michigan lawyers Michigan state court judges Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court Mayors of places in Michigan Michigan Republicans American consuls 19th-century American diplomats 1811 births 1907 deaths 19th-century American judges {{Michigan-politician-stub