Wilfred Dent Turner was born in Iredell County, North Carolina, on January 30, 1855.

His grandfather, Samuel Turner moved to Iredell County from Port Tobacco, Maryland, in 1818.

Wilfred attended Duke University, Class of 1876, and was a member of Chi Phi fraternity.

He died on November 8, 1933, and was buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville, North Carolina.

[1][2] Wilfred was married three times:[1][2] A Democrat, Turner was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 1886, 1888 and 1890 from Iredell County.