Nebraska Turpin Bullock, second son of John Wesley
and Elizabeth Amanda Bullock was born 14 February 1858 near Federalsburg,
Maryland. He came with his parents to Indiana when he was five years old, first
living in Fayette County, and later moving to Delaware County. Nebraska and Margaret Dunkin were married by the
Rev. Valentine Carmichael, 2 December 1890. Margaret was one of the
oldest daughters of John Sampson and Julia Ann DeWitt Dunkin.
Margaret was a twin, born 2 December 1870. Her twin sister was Martha
Dunkin Dill. Nebraska age 32 and Maggie (as she was called) age
20 started housekeeping on the Black Farm one mile east of Selma and south of the
railroad. Arthur Bullock, Nebraska, and sister Althea had
lived there, Arthur and Nebraska cultivating the land and Althea
keeping house. When Nebraska was married (as far as can be learned)
Althea returned to their parents home near Bethel and Arthur worked for
his brother, Charles, on the Graham Farm, west of Selma. After their
mother, Amanda, died Althea, Lena, Oliver, and their father
moved to the Hanna Farm near Nebraska and Maggie. In the meantime
Arthur, Laura, and Frank had married. Margaret and Nebraska lived on the Black Farm from
1890- 1898. Here three children were born, namely Mark Dunkin in 1891;
Ruth Almira in 1893; and Margaret Louisa in 1898. This house has
been moved out on the road for several years and is located at the intersection of 50 S.
and 700 E. In recent years it has been remodeled and is now the home of Mrs.
Plummer Boggs.
In 1898 they bought fifty acres of the John Dotson farm
located one-half mile south of the Black Farm. Here there was a four-room log
house, small barn, dug well, and two shade trees. Soon a new well was drilled and
many young fruit trees were planted, supplying all the fruit the family needed.
They lived here nine years and during that time a son, Paul Arthur, was born
7 March 1903.
In 1904 the farm was leased for oil and three wells were drilled
on the farm that were considered good producers, with an income of $90 to $100 a
month. This kind of an income was a God's send in those days.
IV-0-0.2
THOMAS, JOHN
NEBRASKA
In 1907 enough money had been saved and a nice six-room house was
built, with large rooms and big windows, so appreciated by the family as there had
been only one small window in the living room of the log house. For a year or more
they didn't hang curtains at these nice big windows for Nebraska said, "I
have lived in the dark long enough." As nearly as can be remembered, the
family moved into the new home with the farm and house debt free. In 1908 a baby
girl, Mary Ellen, was born and in 1911 Julia Elizabeth, the youngest child
was born.
There was never a great amount of money available, but there was
a comfortable living for all, good clothes, good beds, lots of love, and fellowship.
All six children went through high school. There was no outside income.
They had a flock of black Minorca chickens, a few cows and other livestock. The
children helped dress the chickens and churn the butter which they delivered in Muncie.
Either Maggie, or the two oldest children, Mark and Ruth, drove the
team of big work horses to the covered wagon, loaded with the butter, eggs, and chickens
which they sold in town. This was their cash income.
The family attended Sunday School for some time at the Smithfield
Christian Church, then they began going to the Methodist Church in Selma. In 1914
the entire family was received into membership in the Selma Methodist Church.
Nebraska and Margaret remained faithful members throughout their lifetime.
The N. T. family had been given a great heritage of patience,
love, and good spiritual training.
