Turner Irvin

Turner Erwin's last name is spelled different ways due to the family trying do decide the best way to spell it. Some of it came about due to census workers spellings of it. However, it was a bit of a delima the best way to spell it. Regardless of which way each family decided to spell it, we know who we are. The last names are spelled the way each individual choose to spell it. There are many ways to spell it, including Urwin. Other ways are Erwin, Irvin, Irwin, Ervin, and so on. We are aware of the annoyance of a last name that can be spelled so many ways, but it is not a hinderance to us.

For Turner Erwin it was spelled as such! Erwin!!

Toni Russell-Barna, March 20, 2011 5:29 P.M.

Also, I remember a story that was told by Turner Erwin Jr. on the front porch our our family home that Turner's dad changed his last name because he did not want his slavemaster's last name. That when they settled in in Smith, Texas they took the name of a street there. The name of that street is Ervin street. That he was well know in his town and everyone looked up to him as an elder. I an not sure if this was in regards to Turner, or his father. I did not follow this end of the story well. My memory fades but I do not know why I remember this story that he told us. I doubt if anyone else remember it as well. However take a look at this in regards to the Smith County Jail and the B.W. Rowland-Liebreich Building, both of which happens to be located on ERWIN St. The street has many historic building on it, and I was told that at that time this street was the main street for African American's, and how proud they were of it. Turner or Jim Erwin, unsure which, was said to be some sort of civil leader in the community and well respected amongst African Americans in Tyler, Texas.

It is possible that there may be some truth to this legend:

http://www.cityoftyler.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=358 _____________________________________________________________

United States Census, 1880 for Turner Erwin

Name: Turner Erwin Residence: Precinct 6, Smith, Texas Birthdate: 1869 Birthplace: Texas, United States Relationship to Head: Son Spouse's Name: Spouse's Birthplace: Father's Name: Jim Erwin Father's Birthplace: Virginia, United States Mother's Name: Julia Erwin Mother's Birthplace: Race or Color (Expanded): Black Ethnicity (Standardized): American Gender: Male Martial Status: Single Age (Expanded): 11 years Occupation: Works On Farm NARA Film Number: T9-1326 Page: 241 Page Character: D Entry Number: 287 Film number: 1255326

 Household Gender Age  Parent  Jim Erwin  M 35  Parent  Julia Erwin  F 35 (Step-Mother)

  Turner Erwin  M 11 

Rena Erwin  F 2 

Lucius Erwin  M 3M 

Jennie Payne  F 18 

Bud Payne  M 14 

Robert Payne  M 10 

John Payne  M 7 

Fannie Payne  F 4 

Sylva Payne  F 55  _____________________________________________________________

United States Census, 1900 for Turner Erwin

Name: Turner Erwin Titles: Residence: Justice Precinct 4 (voting precinct 8), Smith, Texas Birth Date: Mar 1869 Birthplace: Texas Relationship to Head-of-Household: Self Spouse Name: Cinta Erwin Spouse Titles: Spouse Birth Place: Texas Father Name: Father Titles: Father Birthplace: Virginia Mother Name: Mother Titles: Mother Birthplace: Texas Race or Color (expanded): Black Head-of-household Name: Gender: Male Marital Status: Married Years Married: 3 Estimated Marriage Year: 1897 Mother How Many Children: Number Living Children: Immigration Year: Enumeration District: 0106 Sheet Number and Letter: 8A Household ID: 131 Reference Number: 32 GSU Film Number: 1241670 Image Number: 00103

 Household Gender Age 

  Turner Erwin  M   Spouse  Cinta Erwin  F   Child  Leroy Erwin  M   Child  William Erwin  M   Child  Turner Erwin  M   Child  Mary Erwin  F  

John Rhone  M   _____________________________________________________________

United States Census, 1910 for Turner Irvin

Name: Turner Irvin Birthplace: Texas Relationship to Head of Household: Self Residence: Justice Precinct 1, Smith, Texas Marital Status: Married Race : Black Gender: Male Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: Virginia Mother's Birthplace: United States Family Number: 18 Page Number: 6

 Household Gender Age 

  Turner Irvin  M 45y  Spouse  Cinty Irvin  F 33y  Child  Leroy Irvin  M 16y  Child  Mary Irvin  F 15y  Child  Willie Irvin  M 13y  Child  Turner Irvin  M 11y  Child  Phoebie Irvin  F 9y  Child  Larissie Irvin  F 7y  Child  Beatrice Irvin  M 5y  Child  James Irvin  M 2y  _____________________________________________________________

U.S. Census 1920 Goes Here When Found _____________________________________________________________

United States Census, 1930 for Turner Irwin

Name: Turner Irwin Event: Census Event Date: 1930 Event Place: Wortham, Freestone, Texas Gender: Male Age: 63 Marital Status: Married Race: Black Birthplace: Texas Estimated Birth Year: 1867 Immigration Year: Relationship to Head of Household: Head Father's Birthplace: Texas Mother's Birthplace: Texas Enumeration District Number: 10 Family Number: 166 Sheet Number and Letter: 6B Line Number: 97 NARA Publication: T626, roll 2332 Film Number: 2342066 Digital Folder Number: 4547955 Image Number: 00338

 Household Gender Age 

  Turner Irwin  M 63  Spouse  Sinthia Irwin  F 54 (error-Cynthia Irwin) Child  Arseler Irwin  M 14 (error-Arsola Irwin) Child  Katherine Irwin  F 11  Child  June Irwin  M 6  _____________________________________________________________

Texas Deaths, 1890-1976 for Turner Erwin

Name: Turner Erwin Death Date: 22 May 1936 Death Place: Precinct 5, Freestone, Texas Gender: Male Race: Col. Death Age: 71 years 1 month 23 days Estimated Birth Date: Birth Date: 15 Mar 1865 Birthplace: Smith Co., Texas Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Sinthie Erwin (error-Cynthia Erwin) Father's Name: Jim Erwin Father's Birthplace: Smith Co., Tex. Mother's Name: Febie Erwin Mother's Birthplace: Smith Co., Tex. Occupation: Farmer Place of Residence: Worthan, Texas (error-Wortham, Texas) Cemetery: Worthan Cemetery (error-Wortham Cemetery) Burial Place: Burial Date: 24 May 1936 Additional Relatives: X Film Number: 2116935 Digital Film Number: 4166731 Image Number: 645 Reference Number: cn 25613 ________________________________________________________________

• Note: Burial Ground Information: Wortham Cemetery was "(Renamed "Blind Lemon Jefferson Memorial Cemetery" as of 2008)" Source: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/freestone/cemetery/worthamb.txt Toni R. Barna April 4, 2010 11:05 A.M.
  • Note: Unfortunately, some cemetaries are not as well maintained as they should be. They are all beautiful gardens no matter how weeds grow and choke at the stones, for they can never take away the beautiful serenity of the place. Source: http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Video-v69521-Wortham-The_Grave_of_B... Toni R Barna April 5, 2012 6:44 A.M. _____________________________________________________________