In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1901) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1841, Bath County
From Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri (1901), The history of the bench and bar of Missouri : With reminiscences of the prominent lawyers of the past, and a record of the law's leaders of the present (1898)
TURNER ANDERSON GILL,
ONIC of the able jurists of the Western Missouri metropolis, and one who for years has occupied a position of commanding influence as a citizen, is Judge Turner Ander- son dill, who after many years of service in public life and as an official in various capacities, now fills a place of honor and responsibility as Judge of the Court of Apjjeals of Jackson County.
Judge Gill, the son of Marcus Gill and Sarah Gill, nee Bruton, was born in Bath County, Kentucky, December 8, 1841. His father was originally engaged in the milling business and came to Missouri in March, 1854, settling in Jackson County, where he profited by the wonderfully rapid development of that section and became one of the county's most influential and wealthy citizens. Both parents are now dead. The remote ancestor of the Gill branch of the house was the Rev. John Gill, D. D., an English Presbyterian divine and pulpit orator of ability and force, who came to America late in the last century and settled in New York.
Judge Turner Anderson Gill was tv/elve years of age when he came to Jackson County in 1854. A few years later he had progressed in his studies until it was determined that he should enter the University of the State of Missouri, where he was at the breaking out of the Rebellion. The sympathies of the family were naturally with the South, and fired with enthusiasm, the young man left his books and in 1861 enlisted in the Confederate Army. He was in active service during the entire four years of hostilities, and his gallant bearing won him promotion. On the declaration of peace, he was Captain of Company K, Second Missouri Cavalry — the fam-ous "Shelby Brigade."
After the war he studied law in the office of J. V. C. Karnes, at Kansas City, finishing his course at Kentucky University, graduating in 1868. The City of the Kaw's Mouth, at the time when he returned and was admitted to the bar, was little more than a country tovm, and its development did not begin until several years after the war. Although its citizens did not, in 1875, realize its final high destiny, they did realize, at that critical period of the city's upward start, that the municipality required a live and progressive man at its head, and to that fact was largely due the election of Mr. Gill as Mayor of Kansas City in the year above named. He was elected as his own successor in 1876, and on the expiration of his second term he was appointed City Counselor — 1878-9. About this time he formed a partnership with Judge Gardiner lathrop, an eminent lawyer of Kansas City, the firm being lathrop. Gill & Smith, and this arrangement continued up to July 1, 1881, when he was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court of Jackson County, by Gov. T. T. Crittenden, to fill the unexpired term caused by the death of Judge Samuel H. Woodson. This appointment was made at the solicitation of the Jackson County bar. In this responsible place he served eight years, being elected and re-elected; and at his last election as Circuit Judge was complimented by the indorsement of all political parties. He could doubtless have held the Circuit Judgeship for life, but the people demanded that he accept promotion at their hands, and in 1889, resigning his office, he was elected to the place he now holds — Judge of the Court of Appeals of Jackson County.
Judge Gill's attention has not wholly been absorbed by the details of his office or his profession. He is an enthusiastic believe in the future of Kansas City. He was one of those who assisted to create this urban wonder. He was a charter member of the Kansas City Board of Trade, a member of the Fair Association and has been identified with numeroirs smaller enterprises for the upbuilding of the city.
He was married March, 1871, to Miss Lizzie Campbell, of Kansas City. She is a native of that city, where her father was one of the earliest pioneers and established the first ferry across the Missouri at that place. The couple have three children, all boys, namely: Charles S., twenty-five, married and engaged in the brokerage and banking business, at Kansas City; George S., twenty-three, associated with the Posey-Brobeck Mercantile Company, as a part owner; William E., fourteen, yet going to school.
Judge Gill politically has always affiliated with the Democratic party, yet he is not an active partisan. In his profession as a lawyer he has covered a wide field, having paid attention to every department of the law, excepting criminal practice, in which he took no special interest. He has won a most enviable reputation as a Judge, his decisions being characterized by a clearness and discrimination that betokens deep study and a profound knowledge of the law; but he is possessed of that which is more essential than any other quality in a Judge: He is a man of absolute honesty and the loftiest integrity. No one ever questioned the uprightness or sincerity of Judge Turner A. Gill.
As printed in The history of the bench and bar of Missouri : With reminiscences of the prominent lawyers of the past, and a record of the law's leaders of the present (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Gill, Turner Anderson, lawyer and jurist, was born December 8, 1841, in Bath County, Kentucky. His parents were Marcus and Sarah (Bruton) Gill. The father was descended from the Rev. John Gill, D. D., an eminent English Presbyterian divine who emigrated to America. Marcus Gill was a native of Kentucky, who removed in 1854 to Jackson County, Missouri, where he became a wealthy and influential citizen. His son. Turner, who was completing his education in the Missouri State University when the Civil War began, enlisted in March, 1861, in Company A, of Rosser's battalion, afterward merged in the Sixth Missouri (Confederate) Regiment. His army service was brilliant and brought him signal recognition. He was wounded in the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, and soon afterward was promoted from the ranks to a lieutenancy. - In the battle of Champion Hills, Mississippi, he was seriously wounded; he was taken into Vicksburg for treatment, and became a prisoner of war when that stronghold was surrendered. After exchange he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department and reported to General Shelby, who assigned him to duty as adjutant of Shanks' regiment. Lieutenant Gill acquitted himself most creditably, especially in scouting duty, and was promoted to the rank of captain. General Shelby's appointing order reciting that the promotion was **for gallantry and merit.'' Captain Gill, however, would not accept the honor until the company to which he was assigned had expressed its satisfaction, which it did by a unanimous vote. Captain Gill was wounded in a skirmish in Arkansas, and was engaged in the Battle of Westport, and in others of the later affairs under General Price. He was commander in frequent important expeditions, ever fulfilling the expectations of General Shelby, who held him in the highest regard. After the war Captain Gill located in Kansas City and read law under J. V. C. Karnes, and afterward resumed his studies in the University of Kentucky, from which he was graduated in 1868, with second honors in a class of seventeen. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in Kansas City. From 1879 to he was associated in the firm of Lathrop, Gill & Smith. In 1875 was elected to the mayoralty of Kansas City, and was re-elected in 1876. The city was then just entering upon a period of unexampled development, and the intense commercial activity gave opportunity for all manner of reckless aggression upon public rights. Mayor Gill introduced numerous reforms, frustrated dishonest raids upon the public treasury and enforced municipal law vigorously and effectively. On retiring from the mayoralty he was appointed city counselor, and served two terms. July i, 1881, he was appointed by Governor T. T. Crittenden to the position of judge of the Circuit Court of Jackson County, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge Samuel H. Woodson, the appointment being made at the solicitation of the Kansas City bar. He was elected and re-elected to the same position, in the last instance with the indorsement of all political parties. After serving eight years in this capacity he was called to a higher position, and in 1889 he resigned and was elected associate judge of the Kansas City Court of Appeals. As a lawyer he gave attention to every department of law except criminal practice, which had no attractions for him. As a judge he has acquitted himself most creditably, his honesty and integrity being absolutely unassailable, and his decisions characterized by that clearness and discrimination which mark the profound student and judicial mind. Intensely loyal to his home city, he has given aid to its most important enterprises; he was a charter member of the Board of Trade, and a member of the Fair Association, and gave able assistance to the purposes of these and other public organizations. He is a Democrat in politics, but has habitually held aloof from active participation in political affairs. In 1871 Judge Gill was married to Miss Lizzie Campbell, whose father, John S. Campbell, was a pioneer seiner at Kansas City and established its first ferry. Three children have been born 01 this marriage, of whom Charles S. and William E. Gill were living in 1900. George S. Gill died in the Klondike region, in Alaska, in
As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: J. V. C. Karnes (b. 1841) Marcus Gill Samuel H. Woodson (b. 1857)
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.