1880 Agriculture Census for the Unorganized Territories of Nebraska

This census was an additional, non-population census taken in 1880. This particular one gives us some insight into the inhabitants of the future Rock County, Nebraska and what their lives were like.  We find Newt settling in quite nicely:

Robert N. Turpin is on Page 2 of Enumeration District 191.   He owns his lands and has tilled 10 acres.  Additionally, he has a horse, 2 mules, 6 milch cows, 10 other cows, and 15 swine.  He made 140 pounds of butter in 1979.

1880 Ag Census for Nebraska, Unorganized Territory, Enumeration Dist 191, Page 2

Just a few years after arriving in Nebraska, we can see other puzzle pieces coming into place.  Others in the area with familiar names are:

S. A. Douglas Bell (same as the Douglas Bell who is husband of Newt Turpin’s daughter Hannah Catherine Turpin)

Joseph Bell (husband of Newt Turpin’s daughter Nancy Elizabeth Turpin)

Wharfield Paul (husband of Newt Turpin’s daughter Sarah Jane Turpin)

Issac N Turpin (James Turpen’s son and Newt’s nephew)

Samuel Turpin (James Turpen’s son and Newt’s nephew)

Chipman Robeson (Chipman H. Robinson, known as Chippewa.  He was another early setter on the Niobrara.  He was an Ohioan who moved to Greene County, Iowa and then to Nebraska.  He eventually returned to Greene County, Iowa per the Iowa 1895 State Census.)

See also:  “1878” blog entry for October 2011:  http://turpintraces.blogspot.com/2011/10/1878.html

Turpin Descendants in Williston, North Dakota 1930

Thanks to Dennis Bell for another contribution to the Turpin files. Here is the 1930 census record for Nancy Elizabeth Turpin and her husband Joseph Bell. Nancy was the 8th child of Robert Newton Turpin and Sarah Elizabeth Lowery.  She was mentioned back in a blog on November 28, 2011.  

1930 Census Listing for Nancy Elizabeth Turpin Bell, Williston, ND

In 1930 Joseph Bell and Lizzie lived in Williston, Williams County, North Dakota.  There are no descendants of this branch of the family as their only son Robert died from a gun accident.  Interestingly, living next door was their nephew Oscar Bell, wife May, and their son Raymond.  Oscar was the son of Hannah Catherine Turpin (child #9) and husband Stephen Douglas Bell.