James Turnbull
James Turnbull, who was long a prominent citizen of Steubenville, was born in Philadelphia in 1795, and from there removed in 1807, to Pittsburgh, where he took up tiie trade of book-binding. In 1816 he came to Steubenville, then a town of only about 900 inhabitants, and set up a book-bindery and publisliing house, probably the first in Ohio. Quite a number of books were published here, which are valuable on account of their rarity. From 1835 to 1847 he was an active member of the firm of Holdship, Hanna and Turnbull, operating the Clinton Paper Mill, now the Hartje Mill on North Third Street. He also conducted a book and stationery store until 1850, in the room now occupied by his son-in-law, Capt. John F. Oliver, the apartment having been used continuously in this business for upwards of ninety-three years. As a business man he was thoroughly successful and took a lively interest in public affairs. He voted for James Monroe for president in 1816, and for his successors until 1884, and was the last survivor in this section of the War of 1812. He was elected county treasurer in 1831 and declined re-election on account of his increasing private business; served two terms in the City Council, five terms as member of the Board of Education, and as Water Works trustee was identified with the building of the first water works at the foot of Adams Street. He was also a director in the old Farmers and Mechanics Bank, The Jefferson National, the original Steubenville and Indiana Railroad, and took part in almost every other public enterprise. He lived under every president from Washington to Cleveland. Mr. Turnbull was married three times, his first wife being Caroline Galbraith, the second, Sarah Todd and the third, Margaret McDevitt, who died October 21, 1898, Mr. Turnbull having passed away on June 13, 1887. Two children survive, Elizabeth, wife of Major James F. Sarratt, and Caroline, wife of Capt. John F. Oliver. Mr. Turnbull was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, and his remains were laid at rest in the presence of a large attendance of citizens and public officials.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910