Walter Turnbow (1877 - 1947)

Born 3 Mar 1877 in Alexander, Erath, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Minnie Ann (Lowery) Gatlin — married 21 Dec 1903 (to before 1910) in Erath, Texas, United States

Husband of Verna (Holley) Turnbow — married 22 May 1912 in Marlin, Falls, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 2 Aug 1947 at age 70 in San Angelo, Tom Green, Texas, United States

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Biography

Walter Turnbow was born in 1877 to J. C. and Kitty Turnbow in the community of Alexander in Erath Co., Texas. He was well know for his athletic prowess including jumping over the span of an empty wagon and at one point listed his profession as foot racer. On November 23, 1897, Walter, his brother Tom, and their cousin George Turnbow attempted to rob a train 2 miles outside of Dublin, Texas in Erath County. The train came to a stop after seeing a pile of rocks on the tracks, and when the three men came at them with guns drawn, the engineer put the train in reverse and headed back into Dublin. Some stories say that the engineer recognized one of the robbers as Walter because he attempted to chase the train back to Dublin and he was the only man in the area capable of running as fast as the train. The three men were charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to rob the train and eventually all three pled guilty to the charges. They were sentenced to two years in prison at Huntsville State Prison beginning in June of 1898. Walter married Minnie Lowrey in 1903 and they had one son in 1905. Walter's gambling and pursuit of other women eventually doomed their marriage, and Minnie filed for divorce in 1908, long after Walter had taken up residence with other women in Fort Worth. Walter died in 1947 at age 69 in a San Angelo hospital of starvation while suffering from senility.

Sources

• Pylant, James, "Sins of the Pioneers", 2009

• Family records of Chesley Turnbow and wife Sabra (Rose) Turnbow and descendants compiled 1975-2020 by B. L. McCarty.

• Year: 1880; Census Place: Erath, Texas; Roll: 1302; Page: 51C; Enumeration District: 151

• Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 6, Hill, Texas; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0049; FHL microfilm: 1241645 (convict farm)

• Year: 1920; Census Place: San Angelo, Tom Green, Texas; Roll: T625_1844; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 194

• Year: 1930; Census Place: Precinct 1, Tom Green, Texas; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0012; FHL microfilm: 2342135

• Year: 1940; Census Place: Tom Green, Texas; Roll: m-t0627-04147; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 226-16