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.