Paul Douglas Turnbull

It is with heavy hearts that the Turnbull Clan Association family extends its sympathy to the family of our Vice President Douglas W. Turnbull and his wife Paula on the loss of their son Paul Douglas Turnbull, on June 25, 2003.

Paul is survived by his wife Terri, son Matthew, step-daughters Angie Blair and Shannon Richards, and three grand children

Services were held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marietta, Georgia, and officiated by Rev. Joseph Morris. The eulogy was given by long time high school friend Ed Brush.

Paul born in England was 50 years old. He love to hunt for arrowheads, cherished animals, he played soccer with two different teams, and grew fantastic tomatoes. He was a very talented carpenter, respected by his peers and served his community as a building inspector.

He will be greatly missed by his siblings, Peter, Fiona, Iain, Robert, Helen, Rowena and James, nieces and nephews, and the many friends, all who dearly loved him.

Turnbull Wagon Company

by Gordon W. Turnbull

It appears this Turnbull family arrived in Defiance, 0hio about 1876, when David Sr. established the Turnbull Wagon Company, known then as Turnbull and Shelly, manufacturing wheels for agricultural implements. The family residence was located at the NW corner of Jefferson and 2nd Street. At least 2 of his 3 sons were involved in the business. The factory ultimately consisted of 24 building, occupied 5 acres on the south bank of the Maumee river in East Defiance. (the only remnants left are the old smoke stack in shambles) By 1880 they began manufacturing the Turnbull Wagon a farm wagon involving a D.B.Turnbull patent dated April 1866. In 1882, they incorporated into Turnbull Wagon Works and began to also manufacture buggies and carnages. By 1883 they were one of the Largest employers in Defiance, with 400-500 men manufacturing 2000 wheels and 15 wagons daily. At this time, names other than Turnbulls, were listed as senior officers of the company. By 1885, W.H.Turnbull moved on and years later settled in Cleveland where he apparently lived until his death in 1928. By 1906 the annual capacity of the factory was 10,000 farm wagons and 50,000 sets of vehicle wheels with rail shipment of their products nation wide. In 1913, a flood inundated the factory and apparently forced the Turnbull Wagon Works into financial difficulties. By 1916/1917, the Turnbull Wagon Works had merged with Defiance Motor Truck Co. and was known until 1919 as the Turnbull Motor Trucks and Wagon Co. They built 1&3 ton trucks with a large part of their production being fire appliances. By 1921, the Turnbull assets were sold to the Defiance Motor Truck Co. The Defiance Motor Truck, using a Continental engine, was one of the finest motor trucks put on the market, but soon failed financially. By the mid 1920’s it was taken over by Century Motor Truck Co. with a Canadian assembly plant and during the last few years of its existence thru c1930, was operated as the Century Motor Truck Co with their vehicles referred to as Century Trucks.