William Turpin appears on the 1880 Dallas County census, living with the E. W. Crawford family, as a hired hand, engaged in farming. His parents are shown to be born in Ireland. Turpin's age is listed as 40 years old -- he was more likely about age 67.1

     Yesterday afternoon late, [Wade] Bennett, a young man who lives just north of the city, reported that William Turpin, an old man who was living on the old Jim Cole place, was found dead yesterday morning. Bennett said he saw Turpin the day before yesterday, and he seemed to be in good spirits and enjoying good health.
     The body was first discovered by a German woman who went to deliver a chicken early yesterday morning which Turpin had ordered the day before.
     Justice Lauderdale, accompanied by Dr. Elliott, went out late yesterday evening and viewed the body. A close examination of the body was made but no signs of violence were discovered. Whether Turpin's death resulted from natural causes or otherwise, Justice Lauderdale and Dr. Elliott could not conclude.
     Turpin was over 60 years old and a strange genius. He led a solitary life and made few acquaintances and fewer friends. He has lived on the bank of Turtle creek remote from anyone and had few visitors.
     Turpin was a native of Erin's Isle, and it has been said that [he] sprang from a good family, but quarrelled with his father in his younger days about a love affair, and left home without a penny, to never return. There was undoubtedly some sorrow in his life, as he could never be induced to talk of his past. Whatever the sorrow was that darkened his life, he guarded it with untiring vigilance, and it will probably sleep with him in his lonely grave. He was educated, courteous, and could have been a shining light in society, where it is believed he belonged by birth.

     Justice Lauderdale yesterday held an inquest on the remains of William Turpin, a gardener 78 years old, who, for a long time, has lived in a house by himself two miles north of the city, near Turtle creek. A physician accompanied the justice to view the corpse. He found no marks of violence, this fact considered in connection with the statement of a physician, who had recently prescribed for the old man, brought about the conclusion that he had died of heart failure.

     Wade H. Bennett was appointed temporary administrator of the estate of Wm. Turpin, deceased, and his bond approved in the sum of $400.
...

     William Turpin is buried in an unmarked grave (Block 1, Lot 61, Space 9 (SE) at Trinity (Greenwood) Cemetery.3

     His homeplace was located near Turtle Creek, somewhere between Lemmon Avenue and Mockingbird Lane.