Turner, James, House

The Turner House, one of the oldest structures standing in Marshall, contains characteristic elements of the Early Greek Revival style and its transition into the Victorian. The Early Texas house, usually a simple frame structure with a porch, lent itself to being adapted to the classic forms of the Greek Revival style, which appeared in Texas in the late 1840s. The style was well suited to the conditions of mid-nineteenth-century Texas. Due to transportation problems, the builder often manufactured the parts of the house on the site and the boldly scaled details of the Greek Revival could be reproduced easily with a minimum expenditure of time and materials. The Turner House is representative of the movement toward a more dignified home and away from the crude cabin. The House is historically important because of its association with two prominent Marshall families. It has been owned and occupied for 125 years by the G.G. Gregg and the James Turner families whose members were active in local and state affairs.
Although the structure has been removed from its original site, the original design of the house has remained essentially unaltered. The Turner House deserves recognition not only for being one of the oldest structures in Marshall but for retaining its architectural integrity, as well as, for its historical association with important people who helped to shape the development of East Texas.

George Gammon Gregg purchased lot 2, Block 4 in 1846 and built the residence now known as the Turner House about 1850 or 1851 for his bride, Mary Ann Wilson. He and his wife lived in the house until 1854 when he built a larger, more elaborate home and sold the house at 406 S. Washington Avenue to his brother. Gregg was a merchant, financier and Confederate procurement officer. His wife was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Wilson, a President of the Masonic Female Institute.

In 1866, James Turner purchased the house at 406 S. Washington Avenue and it has remained in the Turner family since that date. Turner, a native of Sumner County, Tennessee, moved to Marshall in 1858 where he became one of the leading citizens. Turner was a self-educated man and studied law in the office of a brother-in-law in Tennessee. He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar but emigrated to Marshall, Texas where he began practicing law.

Turner married Eudora A. Knox, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Knox who owned a cotton plantation in the eastern portion of Harrison County. Turner served in a regiment during the Civil War commanded by Col. Walter P. Lane of Marshall and was elected lieutenant of his cavalry company. Records indicate he served in this capacity for the remainder of the War and "enjoyed such robust health that he was in all the battles in which is regiment participated" (Encyclopedia of the New West, p. 441).

At the close of the War, Turner returned to Marshall. Family records indicate that Turner won the title to the house at 406 S. Washington Avenue in a one-hour Sunday morning poker game. He moved his family into the house and he lived there until his death in 1913.

Turner was a Democrat who was interested in federal and state politics, but never ran for an office other than that for mayor of Marshall which he was elected to and served for four years. He was also one of the directors and stockholders of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and he held those positions after the line was sold to the Texas and Pacific Railroad Company. He served as the T&P's principal attorney for many years. It was stated that "few of his age has taken a more prominent part in the intricate and important questions, civil and criminal, which have been before the courts of the State "Encyclopedia of the New West, p.441).

Mrs. Eugene Gillespie, Turner's granddaughter, purchased the undivided interest in the house in 1977. Several years prior to this, the Office of the Harrison County Charities occupied the house. Mrs. Gillespie has completed the restoration of the house.