Biography

02/18/1825 - 10/04/1891

Jacob Turney (D22) Fayette and Westmoreland Counties 1858-1860

Early Life: 

Jacob Turney, born February 18, 1825, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; Jacob, Turney, Sr. and Margaret Singer Turney; completed preparatory studies; Greensburg Academy; apprenticed as a printer; deputy sheriff Westmoreland County, clerk, register and recorder's office, Westmoreland County; studied law; admitted to the bar, 1849; private law practice, Greensburg, Pennsylvania; district attorney, Westmoreland County, 1850-1855; married, Mary Stewart Richardson Turney, 1854, children, Catharine Maud Turney Kinkead, William Richardson Turney, Henrietta Margaret Turney Crowell elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate 1858-1860, president, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1859, unsuccessful reelection, 1860; unsuccessful candidate, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1871; elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, 1875-1879; resumed law practice; died, October 4, 1891, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; interment, Saint Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Apprenticed, as a printer; deputy sheriff Westmoreland County, clerk, register and recorder's office, Westmoreland County. Studied law, Albert Gallatin Marchand, United States Congressman, admitted to the bar, private law practice, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, 1849-1891.

District Attorney, Westmoreland County 1850-1855. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 22nd district, Fayette and Westmoreland Counties, 1858-1860, president, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1859; chairman, Finance Committee, 1859; unsuccessful reelection, 1860. 

Unsuccessful candidate, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1871; Senator Harry White, elected.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth Congresses, 21st Congressional District, 1875-1879; committee assignments, Privileges and Elections, Mines, Territories, and Currency Committees. Played a major role in framing the 1878 Bland-Allison Act, reintroducing the legality of silver coinage.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. Senate Members "T" (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Jacob Turney (1825-1891) - Find a Grave Memorial