Outlaw of Harlan County
My interest in `Devil Jim' was first aroused by the Reverend John Jay Dickey's interview with Woodard Lyttle and curiosity about the killings of William and David Middleton. Since then many bits and pieces of information related to the events surrounding Devil Jim's life have been discovered. The following partial account of Devil Jim Turner is compiled from many sources, Harlan and Clay County court records, census records, Narcissus Middleton's letter, traditional family stories, the above mentioned Woodard Lyttle interview with Dickey and other sources. Some assumptions have been made as to the character and personality of some of the persons involved and as to the timing of some of the events.
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my name is jim turner. my family is from harlan ky. i have lived here in bluffton, in. nearly all of my life. we moved away from coal fields in 1951. im 69 years old, ive always wondered about my family background. now i find a weird article about devil jim turner. my people are probaly decendences of devil jim. since one of my uncles shot the other in the back of the head over an apple.
ReplyDeletewe lived up in turners creek, at dizney ky. my grandpa was a mean man, and so were all of my uncles on the turner side so this dosent surprise me at all. my e mail address is jimturner46714@yahoo.com
This really goes deep, I believe James Middleton is my Great Great Grandfather, just recently started learning of these crazy things that happened so long ago, thinking about a full length film about Harlan and it’s colorful characters. What do you think?
DeleteMy name is Thomas smith, my great great grandfather is devil Jim turner. His son Calvin was my grandma's dad. I would like to meet any of the family that's willing.
DeleteHi there ! My name is misty and I am related to James "Devil Jim" Turner My cousin Told me last year that we was related to James "Devil Jim" Turner so I got intrested and trying to find info about him and all my relatives
ReplyDeleteMy Email is misty48507@hotmail.com
My names Tiffany saylor and my family was born in Harlan ky. We've just discovered through tracing our anestry that devil jim turner is my very great great grandfather and I don't know right now how far back, until I get all the info.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kim Turner daughter of Charles Turner Greatgranddauhhter of Minter Turner; great great granddaughter of Calvin Turner&Great (Great Great granddaughter OF DEVIL JIM TURNER)So I am A direct Descendant of Devil Jim Turner,,, I would love! To know more about his Ancestr,and since he was mulungen??? What exactly that is,,, my.if anyone knows the Answers, to the TURNER'S Ancestry please contact Me. THANKS.
ReplyDeleteYou are related to me calvin is my grandfather, his daughter is my grandma her name is sally turner smith,
DeleteMy name is Thomas smith, Calvin is my great grandfather his daughter Sarah zebra was my grandma they moved to Ohio in the early 1900 to Toledo Ohio. And devil Jim was buried in Toledo Washington weird, since Calvin was buried in Toledo ohio
DeleteMy name is Daniel Turner, and my family has been telling me that I am related to Devil Jim Turner, I am trying to find out how much further the family goes back. please feel free to contact me, I would love to get more info
ReplyDeletesubidriver03@gmail.com
My name is Gary Morris and I Devil Jim was my great, great grandfather. His youngest son, John D. Turner, was my great grandfather and one of the finest of men. He moved out of the Harlan County, KY region to Adair County, Ky in the 1920's to by a farm there and get away from the notoriety of being the son of Devil Jim. I spent many days with great granddaddy Turner and his wife Fannie Middleton Turner. Their marriage was said to have brought healing to the feuding/killing that cursed their families. Devil Jim was a murdering thug and no one should be proud of their family association with him.
ReplyDeleteI'm very proud of my family, I stand tall for and protect it. This day and age to many people have become soft as feathers back then there was men. Nothing wrong with being wild
DeleteMy name is Gary Morris and I Devil Jim was my great, great grandfather. His youngest son, John D. Turner, was my great grandfather and one of the finest of men. He moved out of the Harlan County, KY region to Adair County, Ky in the 1920's to by a farm there and get away from the notoriety of being the son of Devil Jim. I spent many days with great granddaddy Turner and his wife Fannie Middleton Turner. Their marriage was said to have brought healing to the feuding/killing that cursed their families. Devil Jim was a murdering thug and no one should be proud of their family association with him.
ReplyDeleteDevil Jim was my great, great grandfather and I am very proud of him and my other ancestors as well.
DeleteYES WE'RE DEFINITELY RELATED MY GRANDFATHER IS MINTER TURNER CALVIN TURNER IS MINTER TURNER'S FATHER. AND DEVIL JIM TURNER IS CALVIN'S FATHER...YOU&I BOTH ARE DIRECT DESCENDANTS TO DEVIL JIM TURNER,😊 I WONDER IF YOU&I LOOK ALIKE...HAHAHA... FRIEND REQUEST ME I WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOU.I THI2 WE WOULD PROBABLY BE COUSINS??? NOT SURE
DeleteMY Maiden name of course is (Kim Turner)* Charles TURNER IS MY FATHER.
DeleteGary I would love to hear about Fannie and John D Turner- what were their interest, how did they do the holidays? Tell me about Fannie cooking on that big wood cook stove in the kitchen by the "dough room"! I loved the farm house and went to visit with Orvis (my step dad at the time) when I was a kid. I loved the big farm house and we stayed with Denver, just after he had the stroke in 1974. We kids played in the barn, in the woodshed and all over the place. We also went to the old house that Blanche lived in and walked through it one time.
DeleteMy great great grandfather was William Turner, older brother of James Turner aka Devil Jim. They were a product of a turmulous era, not only in Harlan History but in americas history. People can not be faulted entirely for their actions.
ReplyDeleteGary Morris, I am a Turner and despite our disagreements. I'm proud of my family.
ReplyDeleteI am also proud of our family,
DeleteWilliam T. and Narcissus Middleton are my 4th great- grandparents.
ReplyDeleteMy mother's father was Hiram Turner
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather is Calvin turner
DeleteI believe devil jim Turner is my great,great,great,great grandfather hiram Turner is my great grandfather his son is silas Turner my grandfather would love to know more
ReplyDelete