Source: HISTORY OF THE PAN-HANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA 1879
Page 357

     CLARENCE BROOKE TURNER: The ancestors of the subject of this sketch, were among the earliest settlers of Virginia. It is now two hundred years since they first came to that state. His great grand father, Judge Pendleton held the appointment of District Attorney from Patrick Henry, while Governor of Virginia. The family was related to Presidents Madison and Taylor, and also with the families of Page and Pendleton. George Turner, father of Clarence B. was born October 29th 1793, near Port Royal, Virginia. He married Miss Philadelphia Frazer, who died a few years after, leaving two daughters, Elizabeth and Julia. He married in 1836, Miss Martha Frazer, for second wife. This lady was the mother of the subject of our sketch. She was the daughter of Reuben Frazer, of Spottsylvania county, Virginia, who was of Scotch descent. She was born at Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia October 11, 1811. She was a cousin to Lieut. Herndon, who was commissioned by the government in 185- to explore the Amazon river in South America, and whose report was published by order of congress. He perished in the ill-fated Central America, which wrecked in the Carribean sea in 1858, by a storm. Lieut. M F Maury, the author and Nautical scholar, and she was also related on her mother's side to the families of Crutchfield, Chandler and Hansford. Geo. Turner, by his second wife had ten children, seven sons and three daughters. His children in all were Mildred and Julia by his first wife, and Elizabeth Georgiana, Reuben F., Edmund P., Carolinua, S. Wilson, Frederick F., Erasmus H., Clarence Brooke, and Selina C.

     Clarence Brooke, the subject of this sketch, was born April 6th 1850, near Bethany, Brooke county, Virginia, now West Virginia. He entered Bethany Coillege in the fall of 1867;, and graduated in the school of Mental and Moral Philosophy, Belles-Lettres, English Literature, Chemistry and Natural Science in 1870.; was engaged in teaching till the fall of 1874; when he was elected Clerk of the County Court, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of W. P. Latimer, and was re-elected in 1878, by an increased majority, for a full term of six years. In addition to being a clerk of the court the duties of the office embrace the probating of wills, appointing personal representatives, issuing marriage license, recording deeds, mortgage and settlements. He was married July 18th `875 to Miss Callie Burt of Wellsburg, who died Nov 21st 1877. He was married a second time March 27th 1879 to Miss Ida E Halley of Wellsburg.

     (Please note. The book has a much longer bio. of this man. You can stop at the library for further details.)