When the War Between the States broke out, Charles Turner (1822-1875), one of the founders of Fort Worth, opposed the secession of Texas from the Union. However, when the state voted to secede, he abided by the majority decision of his kinsmen. Evidence of his acceptance of the mandate was manifested in his equipping a company of local volunteers out of his own pocket.

But when the Confederacy demanded that its citizens exchange their gold for Confederate notes, Turner chose not to follow the directive. Instead, he buried his gold under a live oak which was growing on the farm he had settled in 1851.

After the War, Turner used his gold to aid in restoring to prosperity the town he had helped found.

The Turner Oak is located in Greenwood Cemetery, in Fort Worth, about 200 yards from main gate in the middle of a round median.