What I do know is:
His Grave Stone states exactly:
Pvt. Co K Hoods Brig-
5th Texas Inf CSA
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~polkcountytxconnections/TurnerJohnTCemetery.html
http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~polkcountytxconnections/CivilWarVets.html
The story is he rode with Texas Hood's Brigade. He was born abt.1846 & died abt.1910. He enlisted at age 15...he lied about his age. He did something with the horses, or took care of them. I know that when he was discharged he went to Mississippi, where he was born. He got into a disagreement with a "not good" Sheriff & to protect himself he slit his throat & killed him. He fled to Oklahoma Indian Territory & lived in "No Mans" land for a while then showed up in Texas. Started a life in Livingston, Polk, Tx. Owned all the tree & RR rights from there to Jasper, almost to Louisiana. He had a Mill & a huge Turner Survey. After his Death everything got sold off piece by piece & because of some turmoil from his last son Virgil Turner, my grandpa, my family lost touch with each other & a Diary he kept in the Confederate War.
So the Hoods Brigade is true, but why is he such a Mystery. All I've been told is it all had to do with the big Disaster in Mississippi. I am not sure if his parents were Thomas Turner. I am still not certain his full name was John T. Turner. I am concerned he change his name somewhere. I also, don't think he had a family...or not much of one. He did enlist in Virgina...from what I heard.
So is maybe all this because of what he did in Mississippi. The only living knowledge we have is to a In-Law Aunt in Texas & they really don't want to talk about any of it. I guess it's interesting to me but a problem for them, I wish I knew. My Dad is John T. Turners grandson. My Dad was born 1951 & his Dad 1897 & his Grandpa 1846. Because my Dad was the youngest & the only living child left...he did get to meet Grandpa John Turner or his Grandmother Eliza. All aunts & uncles & bros. & sisters were very old or dead by the time he wanted to learn about all of it.
I do have a Hoods Brigade Assoc. person helping me locate some info. As far as the Pension I am not sure where to began. I looked but because his info is so uncertain...it's worse than a needle in a haystack.
KN