Written by
Turner, Preston H., American, 1840 - 1911
Subject of
Turner, Jake, American, 1832 - 1906
Date
1906
Medium
graphite on paper
Dimensions
H x W (each): 8 × 5 in. (20.3 × 12.7 cm)
Caption
Preston H. Turner (1840-1911) was the son of James S. Turner of Stanly County, North Carolina, who is listed with 31 slaves in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedule and 36 slaves in the 1860 U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedule. Preston Turner served in the Confederate Army, first in the 14th North Carolina Infantry and then the 28th North Carolina Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the end of the war and then returned home in June 1865. Around 1906, he penned this eulogy for Jake Turner, who had been enslaved by Preston's father and who accompanied Preston during his Civil War service as a valet. Preston died a few years later in October 1911.
Description
A eulogy for Jake Turner written by Preston H. Turner after Jake's death on October 18, 1906. The text is handwritten in graphite on three (3) sheets of paper, with text on the front and back sides of the first two sheets and on the front only of the final paper. The document is title "Tribute to a Servant Faithful to / the Last:" at the top, and begins "On the morning 18th October, '06 Jake Turner died at the ripe old age of 74 years. As a slave belonged to James S. Turner, my father. He was of robust manhood hardy up to his death." This is followed by a narrative account of Jake Turner's role as an enslaved valet to Confederate soldier Turner during the Civil War. Jake continued to work for the Turner family after emancipation, which is also contained in the eulogy. It is signed at the end "P. H. Turner".
Place made
Stanly County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Liljenquist Family Collection
Classification
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
eulogies
Topic
American South
Labor
Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
Slavery
U.S. History, 1865-1921
U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection
Object number
2016.166.1abc
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd59228da09-b041-4efb-b3ba-272d4d0a598a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page