JOHN W. G. TURPIN. In the death of this gentleman, Illiopolis Township lost a citizen who could ill be spared, as he was a farmer of practical ability who was interested in stock improvements, and a man whose influence in the community tended to elevate its social, educational and moral status. A native of Scott County, Ky., born in 1830, he was a son of Robinson and Rachael (Powell) Turpin. His parents were also natives of Kentucky, and were members of prominent old Bourbon families.

Mr. Turpin was taken from Kentucky to Hendricks County, Ind., when he was a boy and there he grew up to a farmer's life. Notwithstanding his meager school advantages he acquired a fair education and was a man of rather wide reading. Becoming impressed with the superior advantages offered by the prairies of Illinois for farming purposes, in 1853 he made a journey to Sangamon County on a prospecting tour, which was repeated in 1854, when he entered tow hundred and forty acres of land in Illiopolis township from the Government. He returned to his home in Indiana, and for several years farmed and made the trip back and forth between the States, dealing extensively in stock. Once he made the long journey overland to Philadelphia with a vast drove of cattle. He continued to carry on a flourishing business, buying and selling stock and added eighty acres to his first purchase of land which gave him a fine property of three hundred and twenty acres of land, all lying in a body.

In 1865 Mr. Turpin moved his family to Illinois and lived one year near Mechanicsburg, spent a short time in Buffalo Heart and then, in 1868, permanently settled on his farm in Illiopolis Township. He began at once to improve it and though during his life he bought and sold other farms, he retained possession of that. He was a successful farmer, carrying on his business after the best methods, and grew to affluence and influence. He was ever identified with the best interests of the community, and always showed himself to be a loyal and public spirited citizen. He was not connected with any church yet he was a devout believer in the Bible and its teachings, being a Baptist in faith, and he led a pure Christian life. His death occurred June 7, 1882, and he was laid to rest in Steinberger cemetery.

Mr. Turpin had the cheerful co-operation of one of the best of wives to whom he owned much. Their marriage was solemnized February 24, 1854. Mrs. Turpin, who formerly Elizabeth B. Swain, is a native of Hendricks County, Ind., where she was born September 13, 1834. Her father was born in 1812 and her mother in 1810. The marriage of our subject and his wife was blessed to them by the birth of seven children, of whom four are living: John R. and James H. at home; Bennett N., and Annie E., who married William J. Eblin and lives at home. Bennett was married in 1886 to Miss Mittie Cash, who died December 25, 1889. She was a native of Clark County and a refined and estimable lady.

Mrs. Turpin resides with her sons. She is a fine woman and is much respected by all who know her. She has a good recollection of pioneer times, and often speaks of her and her husband's upward struggles in a new and strange country. The sons are of the progressive stamp of the father, and the farm under their management is in a flourishing condition, and is being tiled and placed in a yet better state of cultivation. They raise the best of stock and are known as excellent farmers.