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Major Gee’s brother, James, inherited Turner upon his brother’s death, and Turner managed James Gee’s hotel. Turner married a black woman, but a white man purchased her as his mistress. Turner never remarried, but the 1870 Census indicates he cared for a nine–year–old boy named Osceola. [2]
Benjamin Turner managed Gee's hotel and livery stable and was permitted to keep a portion of the business' profits. After the death of Major W.H. Gee, Turner was enslaved by Dr. James T. Gee, Major Gee's brother.
- Endures Civil War
- Becomes Leader After War
- Represents Alabama in Congress
- Opposes Cotton Tax and Advocates For Federal Funding
Probably sometime in the 1850s, Turner married a young black slave named Independence. Some records indicate that the couple had a son named Osceola. But the marriage came to a heartbreaking end when a white man purchased Turner's wife for his mistress. Turner never married again. Charles Carey notes in African-American Political Leaders: A-Z of Af...
Turner definitely became involved in efforts to reestablish order after the war. With a white doctor, John H. Henry, Turner urged fellow freedmen to make contracts with their former owners, or with other employers, and return to work. The white community noticed and appreciated Turner's peaceful efforts to bring order to a chaotic situation. Seeing...
Turner became the first African American from Alabama to serve in the United States House of Representatives. Forty-five years old, he took office on March 4, 1871. Recently freed, he did not have years of background experience in politics. But this mild-mannered man took his new responsibility seriously and spoke well for the people he represented...
Turner spoke eloquently for the repeal of the cotton tax imposed after the war. Calling the tax unconstitutional, he emphasized the extreme hardship imposed on the state and especially on the blacks who worked the fields. Although congressional colleagues recognized his political expertise, good judgment, and excellent understanding of congressiona...
Feb 11, 2020 · Upon Major Gee's death, Benjamin Turner was willed to Dr. James Gee where Turner was again positioned with the responsibility of managing the hotel. While working as the hotel's manager, Turner married a fellow enslaved woman named Independence, and together they had one son, Osceola.
March 21, 1894. Born into slavery near Weldon, North Carolina, congressman and merchant Benjamin S. Turner was taken by his owner, a widow, to Alabama when he was five. Allegedly taught by his owner's children to read, Turner was sold when he was twenty.
County. Thomas Turner’s first wife, Martha Binford Turner, had died in 1825. Then only six months after the Tumer-Gee marriage, Thomas Turner died on May 2, 1830, leaving a large estate of 2,600 acres and 50 slaves. One of these slaves was five year old Benjamin whom Elizabeth had brought to her second
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In 1867 Turner turned toward politics and was elected tax collector of Dallas County and in 1869 Turner became the City of Selma’s first African American city councilor. In the 1870 Census Turner had reported assets of over $12,000, which made him one of the wealthiest African Americans in Alabama.
