2 min read

The Turner-McGinnis Connections

While researching the McGinnis family of Cortland County, New York, the name Turner is frequently seen. It can be very confusing, which is the reason I'm taking the time to summarize a few things for any fellow family researchers.

First, we know that William and Catherine (Smith) McGinnis had a daughter named Catherine McGinnis (1874-1923), also known as "Rene". She married Fred Turner (1869-1927), son of Dewitt C. Turner and Louisa (Underwood) Turner (1849-1923), of Groton. Rene and Fred Turner had at least two children:

Maurice Dewitt Turner (1898-1948), who married Ada Cooper (1892-1986) in 1917 and had a daughter named Eloise who married Gordon W. Sheldon in 1940. She was living in Florida abt. 1950.
Hazel Turner (1896-1971) who married Homer Reynolds (1892-1984) in 1916, and had children: Robert and Gertrude Reynolds. Homer and Hazel lived in Summerhill.

There is another connection between the McGinnis and Turners, however. One of William and Catherine McGinnis's sons, Charles McGinnis (1872-1934) also married a child of Dewitt & Louisa Turner. He married Anna Mae Turner (1876-1955) and had two daughters, Eleanor and Catherine McGinnis.

Dewitt and Louisa Turner also had a daughter named Bertha Frances Turner (1885-1954), who married Arthur William Lanpher in 1909. They had four known children:

(Daughter) Lanpher born 1911. (See Cortland Standard, Nov. 2, 1911, transcription below).
Lawrence Lanpher, who was born in 1915 and died the same year.
Ruth Leone Lanpher, born 1917 and died 1995, married Hatfield.
Clair William Lanpher (1919-2013).

Related news items found:

FREETOWN. Mrs. A. W. Lanpher is at East Freetown caring for her sister, Mrs. Chas. McGinnis and infant daughter. [Cortland Standard, Nov. 2, 1911].

MCGRAWVILLE. Dec. 12 - Mrs. Louisa Turner, widow of Dewitt Turner, died Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Cortland Hospital, where she has been cared for several weeks. Her age was 74 years. The remains were brought to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles McGinnis, where funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon. Burial was in McGrawville Cemetery. Mrs. Turner leaves four children, Mrs. McGinnis, Mrs. Arthur Lanpher, Fred and Frank Turner, and 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. [Cortland Standard, Dec. 14,1923].