Fresh Start

What is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks?  Genealogist Amy Crow Johnson has offered the idea of doing 52 posts about ancestors in the 52 weeks of 2020.  For more information:  https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/  Here is my first installment.  

Challenge #1: FRESH START

For this one, I’ll go back to one of Newt Turpin’s younger daughters, Leta Arvilia Turpin.  I’ve posted items about her previously.  After leaving her quiet Rock County home for life in Omaha, Nebraska, Leta seemed to live on the wild side.  After multiple run-ins with the law, Leta left for her FRESH START in California.

Leta was born in 1888 in Mariaville, Rock County, Nebraska.  By 1905 Leta had moved to Omaha and lived with her husband Bert Douglas.  Leta ran a dance academy and her events were occasionally mentioned in the social pages of the Omaha Bee.   She held charity card parties, a Temple Israel Sisterhood dance, and more.

Leta and Bert had a child between 1905 and 1910 according to the 1910 census. That child died and there are no family stories telling us what happened. 

In April 1910, John Alfreds was a lodger in the building where Leta and Bert lived. In September that same year, Leta married John O. Alfreds, age 24, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  This relationship must have been tumultuous and only lasted about seven years.  When Leta’s sister Susan died in March 1917, Leta was listed in the obituary as Lettie Alfred, living in Omaha.  By July, Leta had filed for divorce from John claiming non-support and extreme cruelty.  The divorce was granted in August. 

Apparently, John found someone new and was anxious to remarry.  It must have upset Leta because she began to make the news with frequency within months.  Leta was in court in February 1918 accused of throwing hot coffee on Agatha Zimmerman who Leta discovered keeping company with her divorced husband John at the Metropolitan dance hall one evening.  The incident was reported in the January 25th Omaha World Herald.  Leta surrendered to police but the case was dropped when Zimmerman repeatedly failed to appear in court and did not pursue the charges.   

When Leta’s mother died in January 1926, Leta was using her maiden name and living in Los Angeles as Lettie Arvelle Turpin according to the obituary.  However she still had ties to Nebraska.  In 1928 she was in trouble again in Omaha.  The World Herald reported that a Mr. Myre and a Mr. Marfisi got into a scuffle over Leta at a pool hall.  Gunshots were fired and, in the end, Leta and Mr. Marfisi were booked on charges of disorderly conduct. 

Regardless, Leta ended up in California and got the fresh start she sought. The 1930 census listed her as widowed and working as a dancing teacher.  On February 20 1940 she was a resident of Los Angeles, listed as Leta A. Turpin, the inventor in U.S. Pat. No. 2,190,895 for Body Developing and Correcting Apparatus (see the February 25, 2012 post in this blog).

Leta Turpin, about 1940

In obituaries for brothers William and James in December 1941 and June 1943 Leta was listed as Lettie Turpin of Los Angeles.   In 1946 her address was 1142 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.

Letters from her companion, William H. Meverden say that he had to commit Leta to a hospital as she evidently suffered from dementia in the last years of her life.  Leta died 4 February 1963 in Los Angeles.

Leta Turpin John Alfreds Marriage

Leta Arvilia Turpin Alfreds

Leta Turpin was one of Robert Newton Turpin's younger daughters, born 11 February 1888. See my 25 February 2012 post.  Cousin Dennis Bell, who knew Leta, has found her marriage record.

Council Bluffs, Iowa Marriage Book

The transcription:

groom's name: John O. Alfreds

groom's birth date: 1886

groom's birthplace: Nebr.

groom's age: 24

bride's name: Leta Turpin

bride's birth date: 1888

bride's birthplace: Nebr.

bride's age: 22

marriage date: 15 Sep 1910

marriage place: Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa

groom's father's name: Nelson Alfreds

groom's mother's name: Ellen Johnson

bride's father's name: Newton Turpin

bride's mother's name: Mary Leonard

groom's race: White

groom's marital status: Unknown

groom's previous wife's name:

bride's race: White

bride's marital status: Single

bride's previous husband's name:

indexing project (batch) number: M02660-0

system origin: Iowa-EASy

source film number: 1476866

reference number: rn 19892 p 145

Will of Michael Turpin of Halifax County

From the Reynold Friends and Families PA to VA and All Point Beyond website:

Michael Turpin was the father of John Turpin, Sr. and the grandfather of Robert Newton Turpin. 

Halifax Co., VA, Will Bk 3, p. 96 

Will of Michael Turpin of H, very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind,

To my wife Edith--all my stock and my household furniture and the land which lies the other side of the creek, during her natural life, and then to descend to my sons John and James. I also give my wife the mill and half the profit (the other half to son Obediah Turpin).

To my son Obediah Turpin--the remainder of the land. If the rent of the land does not pay for the land at the end of 4 years, then each of the boys before mentioned to pay equally what is due.

Executors: sons Obediah, John and James

Signed

Michael (+his mark) Turpin 

Wit--Allen Whitehead, Benjamin Clements, Josiah (+his mark) Shelton

The will of Michael Turpin dec'd was OR at H Court of Jan. 27, 1794.

Transcript of John and Elizabeth's Marriage Bond

Thanks to our Turpin cousin Dennis Bell for a transcription of the marriage bond of John Turpin and Elizabeth Carter.  Dennis did some analysis on the ink that seemed to have bled through. When he flipped the image vertically, it turned out that ink bled from the same document, which was apparently folded in half vertically, then in half again, before the ink had dried!

Transcribed on 25 May 2016, he notes that this marriage bond appears to follow the standard wording used in many areas of the U.S. in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

<modern stamp circa 2015>
Halifax County Circuit Court, VA
Robert W Conner, Clerk
A copy tested Delma W Marable Dep. Clerk

<modern handwritting>
Turpin, John
to
Carter, Elizabeth
Feb. 27th, 1797

<original handwriting on document>
Know all men by these presents that we John Turpin & Rich. Carter of Halifax County are held and firmly bound unto James Wood Esq. governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the terms <unreadable word or two> in the just & full sum of $150 to which payment well & Truly to be made to the said Governor & his successors we bind ourselves & each of our joint & several heirs Executors & administrators jointly & severally firmly by these presents.  Sealed with our seals & dated this 27th day of February 1797.  The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage suddenly intended to be had & Solemnized between the above bound John Turpin & Elizabeth Carter of this County now if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the solemnization of the said intended marriage then the above obligation to be void else to remain in full force & virtue.

<witness>
A. Watlington <Armistead Watlington per the Reynolds genealogy site where the marriage bond was posted>

<signed>
John Turpin  X his mark

Richard Carter