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.

#9 Hannah Catherine Turpin - Another Adventurer

Hannah Catherine
Turpin Bell

Hannah Catherine Turpin was the youngest child born to Sarah Elizabeth Lowery Turpin and Robert Newton Turpin.  

We are so fortunate that Hannah left her story for others to read. She chronicled her pioneering adventures for the Williston Daily Herald and it is an amazing story.  It reminds us that we need to write our own stories to share with others in the family. Of course Hannah’s example could intimidate us into wondering what anyone would find fascinating about our own lives.  But don’t you think that Hannah was a bit like us though?  She probably thought her own life was somewhat normal…until the newspaper wanted to do a story on her.

Hannah was born 25 December 1864 in Greene County, Iowa.  She arrived in Nebraska with her father and step-mother.  Her step-mother was almost the same age as she was.  Soon after coming to Nebraska, she married Douglas Bell.  I have the marriage date as Oct 12, 1880 and the marriage records should be in Holt County, Nebraska.  I found Nancy and Joe’s marriage but not this one.