An October 2009 trip to the cemetery at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Quantico, MD

In October 2009 my husband and I took ten days and drove from Oklahoma to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to visit the state from which my great grandfather Ashby Turpin came. It was an enlightening, enjoyable trip, although very, very wet.

Below is a video I made while visiting the graveyard at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Quantico, Maryland. Quantico is a beautiful place with lovely old homes. The cemetery at St. Philip's has been well maintained. I was overwhelmed with emotion while visiting the graves of my great great grandparents and related ancestors.

One problem: when uploading my video to YouTube, the captioning failed. Pictures of people I included in the video are those of my great great grandfather, Thomas James Turpin, my great great grandmother, Ellmandia Kennerly Turpin, and scans of their death certificates. There is also a group shot of Ellmandia Kennerly Turpin with some of her children and their spouses included in this video.

The headstones are self-explanatory except for the small markers of the actual burial spots. "Father" is Thomas James Turpin; "Mother" is Ellmandia Kennerly Turpin. "Z. F." is Zenophine Kennerly Farrington; "W. F." is William Farrington.

If you scroll back through my postings on the Cherry Walk blog, there is a lot of information for some of the people buried at St. Philip's.

Also, I took pictures of some headstones because those people or their families were mentioned in letters written my my great grand uncle, Carl Julian Turpin. If you are related to this branch of the Turpins or Kennerlys or the extended family, I will be happy to share information with you.

If you are descended from people who lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland I urge you to visit at least once in your lifetime. What a lovely place!

Death certificate and grave site for Carl J. Turpin

The latest issue of Family Tree Magazine (August 2010) has an excellent article by George G. Morgan about the analysis of death certificates. I have a three ring binder full of death certificates that I have collected over the years. Mr. Morgan points out in his article that there can be errors. He said that genealogists should treat only the facts relating to the death of that person as primary sources. All other personal information should be looked at as secondary sources and verification of those sources should be made by other means. Boy! Mr. Morgan is right!

A look at my grand great Uncle Carl's death certificate shows his mother as being "Ellmandia Kennelly." I already knew -- from other sources -- that his mother's maiden name is actually "Kennerly." But, I had received my great grandfather's death certificate just the week before -- Ashby who was an older brother to Carl Julian Turpin -- and Ashby's death certificate listed his mother as "Amanda Kennedy." In both cases, their father's name -- Thomas J. Turpin -- was correct. If one had just started researching this line and did not have any additional information, this would be confusing.

In his article, Mr. Morgan points out that the errors could be ones caused by the transcription of the information. Also, the informant for the personal information on the death certificate may not be correct. In both cases, it was the wives of the deceased men who provided the information of their husbands' mother's names. I can only assume that rather than physically filling out the information themselves, the wives spoke the information to someone else who wrote it down, giving his or her own spin on the spelling of names. I cannot imagine a wife not knowing the full name of her mother-in-law.

Information that I found to be correct on Carl Julian Turpin's death certificate was his death date and that he was buried at Fairlawn Mausoleum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. The picture of the above crypt was taken during an October 2008 visit to Fairlawn Mausoleum in Oklahoma City. It is also interesting to see what Carl J. Turpin's wife, Frances Linton Turpin, gave as his occupation: "capitalist." And it's also interesting to see the cause of death and the name of the funeral home.

Regarding ordering death certificates in general, the states of Nebraska and Oklahoma are wonderfully efficient. One is required to fill out the appropriate form which can be found on line, then along with the form, enclose a photo copy of the requestor's ID, a check and a return self-addressed envelope and in a few weeks, the certificate will be waiting in the mailbox. California takes awhile, and Iowa . . . I haven't even tried it yet. One must sign a statement in front of a Notary Public stating that you are who you say you are, plus fill out a form, plus send a photo ID yada, yada, yada.

The State of Maryland has a system where one can flip through index cards on line to find an ancestor's death certificate. It's a system that needs improvement but one that has come in handy for me. I have ordered several Maryland death certificates this way.

I urge you to take a look at Mr. Morgan's article on death certificates in the August 2010 issue of Family Tree Magazine. He disects it bit by bit. Great article.

The reason why Turpin, Oklahoma is named Turpin, Oklahoma

I had always wanted to visit Turpin, Beaver County, Oklahoma, named after a paternal uncle of my grandfather's. Being a native of Oklahoma, I am accustomed to flat spaces, but even the Panhandle's flatness amazed me. Oklahoma's Panhandle has a huge BLUE tent of a sky that reaches to forever. We could see the small town of Turpin long before we actually reached it. My husband took the above picture of our children taking pictures of the post office at Turpin, Beaver County, Oklahoma. Above that picture is a picture of my great grand uncle, Carl Julian Turpin.

Turpin, Oklahoma was named for Carl Julian Turpin, a son of Thomas James Turpin and Elmanda (Kennerly ) Turpin. Carl was born on 10 Aug 1871 in Quantico, Wicomico County, Maryland. He died 20 Nov 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. (1)

Carl J. Turpin was the general manager of the Beaver, Mead and Englewood Railroad. (2) In 1918, two Hardtner, Kansas farmers, Jacob Achenbach and Ira B. Blackstock, requested his assistance. Messrs. Achenbach and Blackstock had been asked by farmers in Beaver County, OK, and the surrounding areas to build a railroad through the Panhandle so that their wheat crops could be shipped to outlying markets. Achenbach and Blackstock knew how to build the railroad, but they needed someone to manage it. That is where Carl Julian Turpin came in. (3) Mr. Turpin had ample experience as a railroad man, his career beginning in 1888. (4)

Described as a “by the book” type of general manager, Carl J. Turpin was a stern, well groomed man. (5) He worked without salary, but did receive stock in the line, from 1918 until 1926. At its height, the Beaver, Mead and Englewood Railroad ran from Beaver, Oklahoma, to Eva, Oklahoma, with an extension and connection to the Santa Fe Railroad in Keyes, Oklahoma. The line connected with the Katy at Forgan, Oklahoma and the Rock Island at Hooker, Oklahoma. The BM&E was eventually sold to M-K-T (Katy) Railroad Company in 1931. (6)

“When I was a kid 20 years old, but married, I used to want to work for a railroad which paid $50 a month and furnished its agents a two-story house on the line, rent, brooms, and matches free. Maybe I still could find something like that,” he (Carl J. Turpin) said, after the sale of the Beaver, Mead and Englewood Railroad. (7)

Sources:

1. "Carl J. Turpin, Savings and Loan Official Here, Is Dead,” The Daily Oklahoman, November 20, 1942

2. United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places Inventory, Nomination Form for Turpin Grain Elevator, March 18, 1983.

3. “Panhandlers,” Time Magazine, July 13, 1931

4. “Carl J. Turpin, Savings and Loan Official Here, Is Dead,” The Daily Oklahoman, November 20, 1942

5. Hofsommer, Donovan L., Katy Northwest: The Story of a Branch Line Railroad, page 190, (Pruett Publishing Company, Boulder, Colorado, 1975; reprinted by Indiana University Press, 1999.)

6. “Faith in Oklahoma Reaps Rich Rewards,” The Daily Oklahoman, March 7, 1931

7. “Faith in Oklahoma Reaps Rich Rewards,” The Daily Oklahoman, March 7, 1931

(I also wrote and posted a portion of this blog posting under the entry for "Turpin, Oklahoma" on the Wikipedia site.)

Emma Leona Farrington Bishop, daughter of William H. Farrington and Zenophine Disharoon Kennerly Farrington Perry

These pictures were taken by me on an October 2009 trip to Quantico, Wicomico County, Maryland. Emma Leona Farrington Bishop is buried in the graveyard next to St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Quantico, MD. The first smaller headstone is the stone which marks the actual burial spot of Emma. The two additional shots are of the Farrington stone monument which marks where the Farrington family are buried.

EMMA LEONA FARRINGTON BISHOP was the youngest daughter of William H. Farrington and Zenophine Disharoon Kennerly Farrington. Emma was born 26 Oct 1852 in Quantico, Somerset County, MD. On 29 Sep 1879, Emma Leona Farrington married Lemuel J. Bishop in Wicomico County, MD. The June 1880 US Census shows Emma and her husband Lemuel living in Quantico, Wicomico County, MD. Lemuel is working as a clerk in a store. Sometime after this census was taken, Emma and her husband Lemuel moved to New York City, NY, where Lemuel took a job with Arnold, Constable and Co., as evidenced by the following article:

Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan 1881

“Mrs. Emma Bishop, wife of Lemuel Bishop of the firm of Arnold, Constable and Co., New York, died in that city on Friday last. She was the daughter of Xenophine [sic] Farrington whose husband Wm. H. Farrington was killed a year ago on his farm near Quantico, Md., by [John] Wesley Turpin. Mrs. Farrington was with her daughter who had not been married long, when she died. The remains of Mrs. Bishop have been taken to Salisbury for interment.”

(Note: Arnold, Constable and Co. was a famous silk merchant on lower Fifth Avenue, located on the famous “Ladies’ Mile,” a mecca for well to do shoppers in the late 1800s.)

Even though the Baltimore Sun article dated 4 Jan 1881 lists “Friday last” which was 31 Dec 1880, the monument at St. Philip’s Church, Quantico, lists 25 Dec 1880. Emma Leona Farrington Bishop died in New York City, NY and her mother Zenophine was with her. Emma died from complications during childbirth. She gave birth to Emma Farrington Bishop 25 Dec 1880 in New York City, NY. The child lived a short four years. Emma’s husband Lemuel died in April or May 1883 in New York City, NY, as evidenced by testimony given by Lemuel’s mother-in-law, Zenophine Disharoon Kennerly Farrington Perry.

Walter Clifton Turpin, son of Thomas James Turpin and Ellmandia L. Kennerly Turpin

The pictures of the above headstones were taken by me on an October 2009 trip to Quantico, Wicomico County, MD. Walter Clifton Turpin is buried in the graveyard next to St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Quantico. The larger monument lists the family members of the Thomas James Turpin and Ellmandia L. Kennerly Turpin family. The smaller headstone marks the spot where "Clif" is buried.

Walter Clifton Turpin was born 03 May 1875, Quantico, Wicomico County, MD; he died 24 Feb 1892. He was the youngest child of Thomas James Turpin and Ellmandia L. Kennerly Turpin.

Excerpt from a letter written by Walter Clifton Turpin’s mother, Ellmandia Kennerly Turpin, to an older brother of Walter’s, Austin Caleb Turpin, dated 19 Sep 1888, Quantico:

“We have had company, first one then another since my return from Fairmount cooking in this extremely hot weather, putting up fruit, with all other housework is the hardest work I ever did in my life because I am not strong enough to really do anything and have not had Clif’s (Walter Clifton Turpin) assistance as usual. He is working in the canning house and makes 30 cents per day. He is so ambitious. I do all I can to help him. As they will close in two weeks he will not attend school the first week as school begins Monday next. There are four canning factorys [sic]: Jones & Bro on Wes Disharoon‘s road, Geo Bounds by his house, Leo Gordy at the Cherry Walk, Thad Langsdale on the river. Everybody raised tomatoes this year. About one hundred loads pass here daily, besides other roads. All everything human from three years old upward are at work in some branch of this business, it is impossible to hire a woman or girl. Farmers are giving from 75 cents to 1.00 per day for hands to take down their fodder which is mildewing in the fields. We have had nearly three weeks of rainy weather, don‘t think I ever saw the like of it. . . . Clifton says you are owing him two or three letters, he don‘t know what to think of you.”

(The original of this letter is from the collection of Carl J. Turpin housed at the Western History Collection at the Monet Library, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)

I have also posted these pictures and information on www.findagrave.com.

Meet May. She is the older sister of my great grandfather, Ashby Turpin. At different times in her life, she was a school teacher and she also ran a boarding house. As evidenced by letters from the collection of Carl J. Turpin housed at the Western History Collection at the Monet Library, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, May was very involved in the lives of her siblings and parents.

After William Upshur Turpin's wife passed away in 1919, May traveled out to Iowa to keep house for him. One of the daughters of Ashby Turpin also lived with her from time to time. May also raised my great grandmother Mary Virginia Sparks Turpin and Mary's sister, Blanche Sparks Rivenbark, until they married. And, Ellmandia, May's mother lived with her after May's father Thomas James Turpin died.

May Thomas Turpin was born 12 Apr 1859, Somerset County, MD. She passed away 11 Feb 1924. She was the oldest child of Thomas James Turpin and Ellmandia L. Kennerly Turpin. A second wife, May married Thomas B. Moore in April, 1888 after the death of his first wife, Rachel Lowe Moore in July 1887. Thomas B. Moore was 36 years older than May. Together they had one child, Emma Gertrude Moore. Emma Gertrude lived from 1892 to 1913.

From the Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr 1888

"Salisbury, MD., April 12 . . . At Quantico this morning Mr. (Thomas) B. Moore, a merchant of that place and Miss May Turpin, daughter of Magistrate Turpin, of the same town were married at the Episcopal Church by the Rev. Mr. Sweet."

Excerpt from a letter written by Zenophine Disharoon Kennerly Farrington Perry to her nephew, Austin Caleb Turpin, who was a younger brother of May Thomas Turpin Moore:

26 May 1888 Salisbury MD

“May and her husband (Thomas B. Moore) came up for the dedication but I did not see them; they dined elsewhere. She did not tell me of her marage (sic - marriage) til the day before, I received a letter. Your mother (Elmanda Kennerly Turpin, Zenophine's sister and Austin's mother) writes me she seems to be perfectly happy. “

(The original of this letter is from the collection of Carl J. Turpin housed at the Western History Collection at the Monet Library, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)

The above pictures were taken by me during an October 2009 visit to Quantico, Wicomico County, MD. May's and May's daughter Emma Gertrude have their names engraved on the opposite side of the large Turpin monument in the graveyard of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Quantico, MD.

I have also posted these pictures and similar information on www.findagrave.com.

MY DEAR ASHBY AND AUSTIN

Brothers Ashby, Austin, and Carl Julian Turpin, all sons of Thomas James Turpin and Ellmandia Kennerly Turpin, shown here in the late thirties at the farm of Ashby Turpin outside of Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas. Ashby, Austin and Carl Julian were all born in Quantico, Wicomico County, Maryland.

Copies of the following letters came into my possession through my grandfather. They are a gold mine of information, mentioning names familiar on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Family historians researching the Eastern Shore of Maryland, might see a relative or two mentioned in the following letters. My Great Grand Uncle Carl J. Turpin wrote detailed letters about his 1927 trip back east. (I find it amusing because he mentions that it rained or snowed on him and his wife Frances all the way there. We had a similar weather experience when we visited the Eastern Shore in October 2009. It rained all the time, whether we were in Oklahoma or states in between.)

Bleu

Letter from Carl Julian Turpin, dated December 12, 1927

Letterhead reads: Beaver, Meade & Englewood Railroad Company

My dear Ashby and Austin:

We arrived home today from our trip to Washington where I attended the American Short Line R. R. Assn. annual meeting and will tell you something of our trip.

We left here Wednesday, November 30, arrived in Baltimore Friday about noon in the rain; it rained all the way going or else snowed.

Friday afternoon I called on Gale Turpin who is Asst. Vice President of the Baltimore Trust Co. In the evening Frances and I went out to see Cousin Lizzie Dorman and from there to Robert Ballard's.

Cousin Lizzie was feeling very good she said but could not get around very much without holding onto something, she is 82 years old she said. Julia Giles Maddox was there. Cousin Lizzie lives with Julia and Julia's son, a young man about 35, who is an automobile salesman. They own the apartment they live in. "Cousin Julia" lost her husband Bryan 20 years ago. Cousin Lizzie talked about Austin most of the time and when we left to go to Bob Ballard's, she says, "Now Austin you be sure and give my love to Austin."

Amelia, Bob Ballard's wife, fell and injured her ankle and could not walk. Bob was looking well and we had a very nice visit with them. Their son Lester is Asst. Pastor of the M.P. Church at High Point, NC and is married, only married recently. He is over thirty years of age.

Did not get to call on Dolly Ballard Ward; it was very disagreeable weather, rained all the time.

Saturday morning we left for Salisbury via Wilmington and arrived a little late - 2:30 P.M. Judge Joe Bailey had his man meet us at the train and take us to the house. He was in Cambridge and arrived home just as we sat down to the table as Mrs. (Astelle McNeil) Bailey was waiting dinner for him. He brought some oysters with him and had them on the half shell. He also brought a wild goose which we had for dinner the next day. He told me that Slick Collier had died Friday. He was called Slick and that we would go to the funeral Sunday which we did in the rain. The church was full of people but when we came out, we went to the car to get out of the rain, except Joe and he went to the grave against the protest of his wife. Joe ordered his driver to drive to his sister's Ida who married a Hodgson and who died leaving one son, Herman. She then married Lee Taylor, a brother of Orlando Taylor, and had one son named Paul.

Paul and Herman are law partners in Salisbury. Herman is about 38 and Paul is about 25. Herman lived with Joe and Paul lives with his mother at Quantico, driving back and forth each day as on the paved roads now it is only about 20 minutes drive. Austin will remember Herman. Paul was at law school when he was there. After the Judge had his visit out with his sister, Ida, we started to leave the house and I saw a pan of Maryland biscuits on the table and took one, Joe took a half dozen. She saw us and got a sack and filled it. We ate some at Baileys and I brought some home that Mrs. Bailey put in a metal candy box for me.

The Judge is a busy man. We were to start for Quantico the next morning as it had cleared up but did not get started until after two o'clock. At Quantico called at the stores of Will Gillis, Elmer Disharoon and George Graham and saw those boys. Also Lillie Brady and Crawford. Crawford lives with Lillie He was injured in a B & O wreck and draws a pension from the B. & O. as a retired employee.

We saw Charlie Gillis on the street and he took me in to see Fanny. The two live in the same house. They are brother and sister and Charlie is a brother of Will. Also saw John Bailey, a brother of Joe's. By that time, it was getting late and Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Taylor were in Quantico. I just had to ride in his car down to his house and the Bailey car followed.

They showed us all the vast amount of presents they got on their 50th wedding anniversary several years ago and opened up a bottle of homemade strawberry wine. They showed us all through the house and I brought some horse chestnuts back with me from the trees that Grandfather Caleb Kennerly planted. Before going down to the Taylors, however, we stopped at the church yard and I copied some of the inscriptions from some of the old tombstones of our people. I also took some snap shots. We left Taylors after dark and went back to Salisbury. The Judge expected to take me in another direction the next day Tuesday, but I had not seen all of the folks I wanted to see so we were to start back the next morning but did not get started until 11 o'clock. Somebody stopped the Judge downtown and we waited for him until it was after twelve and then he decided to go back home and get dinner so we did not get started again until two o'clock. At Quantico called on Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jones, Ella Brady, Graham George's wife who was getting ready to kill hogs but glad to see us. Saw Tom Venable and his wife who was Rena Kennerly. Then Dashiell who had been quail hunting the day before and said he did considerable fox hunting. He lives alone and is 70 years old, he said. Stopped at the house next to the Church and called on Irving Kennerly's widow who lives alone with her granddaughter. When Austin and I were there three years ago, there was a younger woman spoke to him and said she lived in that house and I expected to see her but could not remember who it was. Mrs. Kennerly is quite old and feeble and had fallen down and hurt herself. Joe insisted that we call on Mrs. Tell Collier which we did although I did not remember her only by name. We did and she was very glad to see us and kissed us good by for old times sake, she said.

Sadie Jones Chesnut had visited her about two weeks before. Mrs. Collier said that Sadie felt hurt because she was not notified of her cousin May's death. I told Mrs. Collier that I did not and was sure that Austin did not have her address.

We drove on down to Hebron and back to Salisbury which I will write you about in another letter as I think you have about all you want of this in one sitting.

Will say this, however, in this letter that most everybody called me Austin and asked all about Ashby and Austin and Ruth and wanted to be remembered to them. I forgot to say that I also called on Lee Ackworth's widow, May Kennerly. Lives just around the corner in the Disharoon property. They were killing hogs as were a number of others.

Will send the second installment of this when I get time and am not as sleepy as I am now.

Love to all from us both,
Carl J. Turpin

* * * * *


December 13, 1927

Ashby and Austin:

This is the second installment of my letter about our trip to Maryland. I wrote a part of it last night and was so tired and sleepy that I had to quit. Frances says that I have to finish it tonight before I forget what we did.

Frank Howard's place adjoins Hebron on the railroad. Cousin Lula Langsdale, Frank Howard's wife, was at home, but Frank had just left for Salisbury. She was glad to see us. All her children are grown up and married. Don't know how many she has but know she has one who married Boss Bounds. We had a little visit with her and she was glad to see us.

We drove over to Hebron and called on Clifton (Boss) Bounds and Will Phillips. They have a big outfit - canning factory, basket factory & etc. Boss is the business end of it while Will looks after the factories and shops. Judge Bailey said they had made lots of money and plenty of funds. They certainly looked prosperous. Boss was better dressed than I was. We drove back to Salisbury via Spring Hill, all paved roads. Before leaving Quantico, I saw Lit Cotman, the colored man who used to live in that little house in the edge of the woods on the left hand side of the road from our old home to Quantico. He lives between Quantico and Hebron and owns the place he lives on so he said and that he was fixed for the rest of his life and did not owe anyone. Judge Bailey told me afterwards that his wife had the money when he married her and Lit had done very little work since. He used to take me fishing with him when I was a little fellow.

We also drove up to Marion Messick's house (the old Dashiell farm) and had a little visit with he and his wife. This was before we left Quantico for Hebron. Also I went to see Retta Langsdale who must be about 90 years old. She talked freely and intelligently in whispers; wanted to know about Ashby and Austin and sent her love. They say she has been about like that for twenty years. I never saw a person before so near skin and bones. Gladys Langsdale who I think is her granddaughter takes care of her. I ask lots of questions at the time and then get mixed up and forget who is who and which is which.

I went back from Hebron to tell you what I had failed to tell about Quantico. Judge Bailey had invited Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Taylor to take dinner with us at his home so they were there and we had a very pleasant evening. This was Tuesday evening. Mr. Taylor told all about how Father (Thomas James Turpin) had made him rich by persuading him to buy the Waters farm and some other farms which I am not sure about. Told a lot of stories, he and Bailey, some of which I thought I had hear Father tell. Joe Bailey sang a son which he said he used to sing when he was a boy, a part of which is something like this:

There are no old maids in Kansas
When they get 31, the Sheriff takes his gun,
And shoots them for fun - in Kansas.

He says he sure wants to go to Kansas if he ever comes to see me in Oklahoma.

Orlando Taylor told me about cutting down the largest pine tree (which he always regretted) that he ever saw; that had an eagles' nest 125 feet from the ground and a growing corn stalk in the nest with tassels on it. He and his wife and one girl live in the old Kennerly-Farrington Place, the other children are all married and live by themselves. I saw Clifford in Quantico; he came to the car during the funeral and spoke to us. I saw Bird in Salisbury; he is County Commissioner, both sons of Orlando.

I also saw Will Brady and Rodney Jones in Quantico. Rod, in the language of Judge Bailey, is just "wore out"; he is very feeble.

Will Brady gets around very well and looks well. Larry Jones, Albert Jones's younger son runs a filling station in Salisbury.

Well, after supper Tuesday night the Taylors went home and the Judge decided that we would drive to Ocean City Wednesday morning. We got started after a while; it had cleared up some. It was, of course, out of season at Ocean City. There had been a storm and washed things around and out more or less. After looking at the ocean a while and taking a stroll on the board walk, we started for Snow Hill, where the judge stopped to see somebody and showed us the courthouse where he holds court and etc. From there to Pocook City; enquired where Emma Blades lived and found her out in the street. Did not get out of the car except that I got out to let her in. She was much disappointed that we would not go in, but we had to catch our train at 3:06 P.M. and dinner was waiting for us at Mrs. Bailey's home. Mrs. Bailey was with us but she had given orders. I told her that I wanted her to stop calling me Austin, that everybody down to Quantico called me Austin and would say, “Austin, now give my love to Austin." She said she didn't care; she wanted to send her love to Austin, too; that he was nice to her and sent her a Christmas card every Christmas. We had to break away and leave. Drove within a half mile of Westover and through Princess Anne, but could not stop to see Cash Dashiell as had only a little over an hour until train time.

We made the train all right and arrived in Washington at 8:40 P.M. and drove to the Willard Hotel. Was there Thursday, Friday, and until 2:15 P.M. Saturday. Attended the Short Line RR convention and transacted business with the Fourth Section Bureau of the Interstate Commerce Commission. We got to shake hands with "Cal" (President Calvin Coolidge) while there.

That is about all I can think of so goodnight with love from us both to all.

Yours,
Carl J. Turpin