Turner, Erastus J., lawyer, member of Congress and one of the pioneer settlers of western Kansas, was born at Lockport, Erie county, Pa., Dec., 26, 1846. During his youth he moved west and located in Illinois. His college course consisted of a year, 1859 to 1860, at Henry, Ill. When the Civil war broke out he responded to the call for volunteers, enlisting in the Thirteenth Iowa infantry in 1864, and remained in the service until peace was established. Desiring to complete his professional education he entered Adrian College, Adrian, Mich., in 1866, where he received his degree in 1868. Two years later he was admitted to the bar and practiced in Michigan until 1879, when he came west and located at Hoxie, Kan. Mr. Turner took great interest in politics, which led to his nomination and election to the state legislature in 1881, and again in 1883. On April 1, 1883, he was elected secretary of the Kansas board of railroad commissioners, but resigned on Aug. 1, 1886, to accept the nomination for Congress, to which he was elected in 1886 and reëlected in 1888.