Jacob Turney

Jacob Turney (February 18, 1825 – October 4, 1891) was an American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district from 1875 to 1879. He also served as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 22nd district from 1858 to 1860.

Jacob Turney
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 21st district
In office
1875–1879
Preceded byAlexander W. Taylor
Succeeded byMorgan R. Wise
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 22nd district
In office
1858–1860
Preceded byWilliam Wilkins
Succeeded bySmith Fuller
Personal details
Born(1825-02-18)February 18, 1825
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
DiedOctober 4, 1891(1891-10-04) (aged 66)
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and education

Turney was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to Dutch immigrants Jacob, Sr. and Margaret (Singer) Turney.[1] He completed preparatory studies and attended Greensburg Academy. He apprenticed as a printer and worked as a deputy sheriff and clerk in the register and recorder's office.[2] He studied law under Albert Marchand,[1] was admitted to the bar in 1849 and commenced practice in Greensburg.

Career

He served as district attorney for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, from 1850 to 1855. He gained prominence through the successful prosecution of several high profile murder trials. He was a presidential elector in 1856 and cast his vote for James Buchanan.[3] He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 22nd district from 1858 to 1860 and was elected president in 1859. He was an unsuccessful candidate for State Senator in 1871.[1]

Turney was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses. He served on the Privileges and Elections, Mines, Territories and Currencies Committees. He played a key role in the passage of the Bland-Allison Act which reintroduced the legality of silver currency.[1] After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law. He died in Greensburg in 1891 and was interred in St. Clair Cemetery.[4]

Footnotes
  1. "Pennsylvania Senate - Jacob Turney Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  2. Wiley, Samuel T (1890). Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: John M. Gresham & Co. p. 171. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  3. The Twentieth Century Bench and Bar of Pennsylvania. Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr., Bro. & Co. 1903. p. 142. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  4. "Jacob Turney". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.

Sources
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by
William Wilkins		 Member of the Pennsylvania Senate, 22nd district
1858-1860		 Succeeded by
Smith Fuller
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Alexander W. Taylor		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district
1875 - 1879		 Succeeded by
Morgan R. Wise


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