FORWARD The idea of writing a book about our family came to me several years ago while living In Washington, DC. There we had access to the National Archives census records and a small beginning was made on identifying and locating our families "roots". In 1975 we were transferred to the small community of Lompoc, California, and suddenly I found myself cut off from the valuable records needed to complete the family history. Since 1975, over a 1000 letters have been written and answered putting together the family's history. With the help of my grandmother, Mrs. Florra (Charles Anderson) Turnbo, we located several older relatives; from their combined help, we were able to start piecing together the information needed. In November 1976, Mrs. Turnbo passed away and we lost our beloved link with the older Turnbo generation. We were able to locate a number of interested kinfolk In Bell County, Texas, and the surrounding area, who cheerfully pitched in and helped us by remembering little pieces of information, i.e., names, dates, locations, etc., that filled the voids of our family history. In June 1977, a mini-family reunion was held in Conder Park, Killeen, Texas. Through the help of Mrs. Opal Barrington and Mrs. Ione Conder, we were able to assemble some thirty-five Turnbo descendants. We spent an enjoyable evening exchanging stories and trying to fill in the past. Through their interest and help, we've been able to pull together the information necessary to complete this book. Writing a family history isn't easy when one starts with absolutely no factual Information. My father, Leland Hugh Turnbo, died in 1971 before work was started on the family history. His father, Charles Anderson Turnbo, died when I was a youngster and I have few memories of him. Because we've lived the past thirty years away from the Bell County area, we've had very limited contact with the Turnbo family. My interest in writing and publishing this book was to leave for our descendants some record of their past. Our forefathers left little written history of their lives and activities; this has been part of the difficulty in writing this book. When I started, I had no information on my great grandfather, Hugh Anderson Turnbo, or his parents. I found that other Turnbo relatives had heard the same stories as I, namely that we were "part-Indian and early Texas settlers, " but little was known in the way of specifics. The "official records" have aided greatly in putting this book together. Confederate and Revolutionary War records, marriage licenses, land records, and census data have been largely responsible for giving us the time table of events in our book. We have searched in vain for the old family Bible or trunk to help us with our study, but none has ever been found. Fires at the Bell County and Wayne County, Tennessee, Court Houses destroyed other important records, which were badly needed. Other remnants of the family's history have been destroyed through the years by floods and tornadoes in several relatives homes. Even in spite of these difficulties. I'm satisfied with the pieces of family history that we've been able to capture and print in this book. When we began, I wanted to concentrate only on direct relatives who lived in Texas. Through the outstanding help of "distant relatives" such as Ermadine Turnbo Riley, Delma Turnbow Freeman, and Richard Clifford, we were able to expand our horizons. We have included a Listing of other Texas Turnbo/Turnbow families and a good bit of information on the Carolina/Tennessee Turnbough's. It is not possible to acknowledge all of those who contributed to this work. I've attempted to give rightful credit to known contributors throughout the book. I must acknowledge the faithful help of my mother, Mrs. Leland Hugh Turnbo and wife, Regina, who've stuck with me from beginning to end. A special thanks for their patience, support, and encouragement! While I have made every attempt to be accurate and complete in this writing, I would welcome comments or corrections from readers. Perhaps we can even publish a more comprehensive publication, if further research develops new information. Special thanks also go to those who purchased this book and contributed to the research, which produced it. Charles Alton Turnbo August 7, 1977 |
From the book "The Texas Turnbo's"
By: Charles A. Turnbo