During this period, Turnbull also won election to the part time position representing his county in the Senate of Virginia, and served from 1894 to 1898.

Brunswick County voters also elected him as delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1902.

Following the death of Francis R. Lassiter, Turnbull won election as a Democrat to the Sixty-first Congress to fill the vacancy.

Turnbull resumed his legal practice in Lawrenceville, and again won election as clerk of the circuit court of Brunswick County, serving from 1916 until his death, January 22, 1920.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress