I have been searching for records on DANIEL TURNEY that might lead to >determining the names of his parents. Thus far this search has been >fruitless. Information about DANIEL TURNEY that I know to be true follows: > >1. DANIEL appears on the 1850 Census for Rusk, Cherokee County, TX. as a 21 > year old living with the Arthur Keigan/Rogan/Reagen? family and that he >was born > in IL. >2. DANIEL appears on the 1860 Census for Rusk, Cherokee County, TX. as a 31 > year old living with his own family and that he was born in TN. >3. A copy of DANIEL'S marriage license shows he married ELIZABETH CATHERINE > SMITH March 20, 1851, in Cherokee County, TX. >4. DANIEL's and ELIZABETH'S children are: (1) Nancy Amanda Turney (married a > John Bruce Purves)--bn. in Cherokee County 4/22/1853, (2) Henry Petty >Turney-- > bn. in Cherokee County 9/16/1855, (3) John Reuben Turney--bn. in Cherokee > > County 6/4/1857, (4) James Russell Turney--bn. in Cherokee County 1/6/1859 > and (5) William Jefferson Turney--bn. in Cherokee County 12/21/1860. >5. Elizabeth Catherine and her children moved to ERATH COUNTY in the early 1800s. >6. Daniel and Elizabeth Catherine are my great grandparents. William >Jefferson is > my grandfather. > >Family tradition says That DANIEL died May 6, 1864, while in the service of >the CSA and that he is buried in an unmarked grave at the Oakwood Cemetery in >Tyler. Family tradition also says he worked for the Confederate Ordnance >Works in Tyler prior to his death. >I have read that a private gun factory, begun by J. C. Short, William S. N. >Biscoe, and George Yarbrough to make rifles for the state of Texas was >purchased by the Confederate Government in 1863. The gun factory expanded >into the Confederate States Ordnance Works at Tyler, and employed around 200 >men and boys, and that >in May 1865 the destruction of the Ordnance Works occurred because of an >explosion. At this point I don't know whether DANIEL died as a result of >battle, natural causes or an industrial accident at he Ordnance Works. >Any information or advice regarding how to obtain records/information for DANIEL, the Turney family >or records of employees who worked at the Confederate States Ordnance Works would be >appreciated. If Charles Wyly reads this I would appreciate any response he might have regarding the Turney family of Erath County. > >Ron Waters >OKC,OK. >