Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1887 — Death of Jap Turpen. [ARTICLE]

Death of Jap Turpen.

W J. Turpen*, better known as Jap Turpen, and one of the best known newspaper writers of Indiana, died at Washington City of consumption, Saturday morning at the age of forty-five. Mr. Turpen was born in Tipton, Ind„ in 1842. He served in the Eleventh Indiana regiment, under- Gen. Lew Wallace during the war. After it was over he established the Tipton Times, and it was while here engaged in fighting a local political ring that, he acquired his sobriquet of the “Tipton Slasher,” Afterward he edited various papers in Kokomo, Kansas and other places. He went to Indianapolis and wrote for various papers there and elsew he re. When President Cleveland was elected Turpen went to Washington, expecting to get a position through the- influence of Mr. Hendricks, whose steadfast friend and adviser he had been for years. It took him a long time to-seeure recognition, and it was only last winter that he procured an appointment in the pension department. In the meantime he earned a precarious living by newspaper work. He continued in office until the 15th of last month, when he had to retire on account of failing health. He waa able to be out as late aS Saturday.