Parrish in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Major William Iredell Turner

1812-1881

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, May 11, 2022

1. Major William Iredell Turner 1812-1881 Marker

Inscription. William Iredell Turner was born in Richmond, Virgina and grew up in Alachua County, Florida, where he spent his early adulthood as a cattle rancher. He became a major with the Florida Volunteers in the Second Seminole War (1835-1842). He later served with the Confederate Army during the Civil War, but his military career was cut short due to complications from an earlier injury. After the war, Turner and wife Isabelle, settled in Manatee County, at a shady spot they named Oak Hill. The Turner plantation and orange grove at Oak Hill soon flourished, and within a few years, several other homesteaders joined them. The settlers bred cattle and hogs, grew citrus and tobacco, and harvested lumber. Together, Turner and his neighbors, including Crawford Parrish and his son John Parrish, formed the community that would later be known as Parrish. In 1877, Turner purchased 7 acres of land at Fort Braden on the Manatee River. Turner subdivided the acreage into lots, which quickly sold. He built a store and warehouse, "The Mansion House," a large home and hotel, as well as a dock, all along Main Street. He dubbed his new community

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Braidentown, a misspelled tribute to Joseph Braden, the area's first settler. In 1878, Turner opened Braidentown's first post office, where he served as postmaster. Considered the founder of Bradenton, Turner is buried in Parrish Cemetery.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.

Location. 27° 33.673′ N, 82° 26.11′ W. Marker is in Parrish, Florida, in Manatee County. It is on Forest Creek Trail just north of Hidden Forest Loop, on the right when traveling south. Marker can be found at the entrance to the dock leading to the gazebo on the lake. Marker is located in the gated community of Forest Creek. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Parrish FL 34219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, May 11, 2022

2. Major William Iredell Turner 1812-1881 Marker

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Charles Partin (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Parrish's Founding Family (about 700 feet away); Historic Parrish (about 700 feet away); Fort Hamer (approx. 2½ miles away); Fort Hamer 1849-1856 / Fort Hamer Military Road (approx. 3.2 miles away); The Town of Rye (approx. 5.9 miles away); Gamble Sugar Cane Mill (approx. 6.1 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Parrish.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Parrish (was approx. 1.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . History of Parrish. (Submitted on June 14, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,173 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.