John Michael Turpin #14

As I go back through the various records trying to trace old John Turpin Sr. to his parents, it appears that his father could be Michael.  But there are SO MANY Turpins and they were all Michaels, Johns, James, Roberts, Henrys .... there are even multiple Obediahs.  (Obviously the Turpins LOVED FAMILY or else had no desire to be original. If my mother was any measure, it was surely that they LOVED FAMILY!)

Anyway, it makes my head spin after a few hours of reading records. I go around and around.  I wish Newt Turpin had left some record of what he knew about his family. I wish I could channel his spirit and ask three questions!

Since it appears neither of those wishes are to come true, I tend to look for signs to guide me through the evidence.  And John Michael could be a sign.  Could be.  His name would be the combination of Newt's father's and grandfather's names.  But why wait until your 14th child to commemorate your ancestors? 

Newt!  Are you out there?

I have not been in touch with John's family for quite a while.  But I collected quite a bit on them in the 1980s.  A synopsis is below.

John M. and Cora Turpin and family

John Michael Turpin was born in Nebraska on 6 March 1882 according to the Family Bible pages.  He was married on the 1st of July 1908 to Cora Ellen Hall.  Cora was the daughter of Henry Clay Hall and Mary Ellen “Molly” Murray.  Cora was a middle child in their large family.  Cora was born on 1 November 1889 in Fillmore County, Nebraska.

According to son John Harlan Turpin's obituary in the O'Neill, Nebraska newspaper, John and Cora had a family of 10 children:  Hazel Ester, Helen Edith, Hester Irene, Harold Clinton, Hope Lucille, Doris Elaine, Opal Genevieve, Marold Keneston, John Harlan, and Robert Dean.  Some of their descendants still live in the area of northern Nebraska.

John died 3 March 1945 in Bassett, NE. Cora died in 1965.