- March 16, 1873/1875: born in Tennessee, the son of Serelda Turpin. His biological father was Joshua King Christenberry.
- March 16, 1876: his biological father, Joshua King Christenberry, married Annie McKamey.
- 1876: his mother, Serelda Turpin, sued Frank Hardin for support.
- October 12, 1877: birth of his brother, Frank Turpin.
- 1880: lived in the home of his grandmother, Jerusa (a.k.a. Jerusha) Turpin in Roane County, Tennessee.
- March 1, 1881: birth of his sister, Laura Turpin.
- August 3, 1895: married Sarah Morrow in Anderson County, Tennessee.
- January 11, 1896: death of his father, Joshua King Christenberry, in Roane County.
- March 1898: a daughter, Rose/Rosie/Rosa B., was born to King and Sarah.
- Between 1898 and 1900: Sarah Turpin and her daughter, Rose, were taken to the Anderson County asylum for the poor--the poor farm. (In the 1900 census Sarah and Rose are enumerated with James Garrett at the county asylum.)
One Turpin researcher notes that Sarah and King's daughter, Rose/"Rosa Bell," died in 1977. She also notes that Rose married Charles Raby and by that union had a daughter named Amanda Jane Raby (Pearson).
- May 1899: a son, William McKinley Magsley/Magsby, was born to King and Elizabeth Belle Magsley/Magsby.
- 1900: lived in the home of his aunt, Amanda Turpin, in Anderson County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Belle Magsley/Magsby and her son, William, lived there as well.
- February 2 or 3, 1902/03: a son, "Little King" Turpin, was born to King and Elizabeth Belle Magsby in a houseboat on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- March 1, 1906: a daughter, Minnie Belle Turpin, was born to King and Elizabeth Belle Magsby in a houseboat on the Tennessee River someplace in Alabama.
- 1906-1910: divorced or separated from Elizabeth Belle Magsby.
- 1906-1910: death of Elizabeth Belle Magsby at 525 Market Square/Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- (1906-1916?: lived at "Tile Town;" lived at Mullins Cove.)
- 1907: his brother, Frank, bought 8 1/2 acres in Hardin Valley.
- 1910: lived in Roane County, Tennessee and is listed in the census as a farmer.
- March 28, 1913: A strong earthquake shock centered at Knoxville was felt over an area of 7,000 square kilometers in eastern Tennessee. "Two shocks were felt in many places. Movable objects were overthrown, and bricks fell from chimneys. A number of false alarms were set off at fire stations. Buildings throughout the city shook violently. The Knox County Courthouse, a massive brick structure, trembled noticeably. People outdoors experienced a distinct rise and fall in the ground; there were some cases of nausea." (Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ regional/ states/ tennessee/ history.php)
- 1916: lived in North Chattanooga.
- January 11, 1916: his son, "Little King," arrived at the Bonny Oaks boys home in Chattanooga, Tennessee after being taken from King.
- May 6, 1916: removed his son, "Little King," from the Bonny Oaks boys home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. "Little King" was sent to Concord / Hardin Valley to live with his uncle, Frank Turpin. The record at Bonny Oaks shows that King lived in North Chattanooga at this time.
- May 14, 1916: married Ida Belle Conatser in Walker County, Georgia. Justice of the Peace, D. H. Hixon, officiated. (Source: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/walker/vitals/marriages/grtys.txt)
- 1917/18: birth of son, John W. Turpin. (Source: 1920 census)
- 1920: lived in Knox County, Tennessee.
- About 1920: birth of daughter, Grace Turpin, in Tennessee. (Source: 1930 census)
- About 1921: birth of daughter, Georgia L. Turpin, in Tennessee. (Source: 1930 census)
- 1923: purchased 12 1/2 acres in Hardin Valley area from Amanda Stubbs for the price of "one dollar and love and affection." (Source: registry of deeds)
- About 1926: birth of son, Albert D. Turpin, in Tennessee. (Source: 1930 census)
- September 27, 1926: death of his mother, Serelda Turpin, in Concord, Tennessee
- October 27, 1926: death of his aunt, Amanda Turpin.
- About 1927: birth of son, Daniel N. Turpin, in Tennessee. (Source: 1930 census)
- 1929: moved to Knoxville.
- 1930: lived in Knoxville, Tennessee and is listed in the census as a moving picture operator.
- March 29, 1933: died in Knoxville, Tennessee.
More information about the life of King Turpin is contained in the book about his son, A Man Called King: The Life and Legacy of King Turpin, Jr.
