The Turgeons of South Dakota
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE
FIVE TURGEON BROTHERS - BEGINNING
WITH THE YEAR OF 1869 IN SOUTH DAKOTA:
Abraham Turgeon arrived in South Dakota in the year of 1869. He was born
in 1847 near Quebec, Canada, near the St. Lawrence River. He first learned the
blacksmith trade in Massachusetts. He was engaged in cutting wood and put up hay
for the government for several years. Afterwards he freighted from Fort Pierre
to the Black Hills. At night the train of oxen was corralled at pickets put out
to guard against Indians. He took up three claims on the Missouri River and
raised stock and did general farming. He died in September 1890 accidentally by
taking medicine from the wrong bottle. His family of five children were: Alvena,
Joseph, Abraham, Jr., Susie, and Louis, deceased.
Onesime Turgeon was born in 1855 near Quebec, Canada, near the St. Lawrence River. He came to South Dakota in 1874. He freighted from Fort Pierre to the Black Hills. Later he worked on his own account for two mule teams carrying twelve tons of freight and received seven cents per pound. (To view pictures of the Turgeon brothers, go to The Turgeons in the genealogical section of this website).
It took two months to make the trip. Afterwards he came to Charles Mix County and took up two claims on the Missouri River and raised cattle. During the winter of 1880 to 1881, he lost nearly all of his livestock from severity of the winter and deep snow. He was one of the biggest cattle dealers east of the Missouri River. His home was near Bijou Hills in 1887. He had 48 acres of land and owned another 160 acres south of the river. He built an elegant barn, 100 x 62 feet and 20 feet high at the corners and built on a 10 foot basement. In 1895 he had an artesian well, 686 feet deep and 8 inches in diameter, the second largest well in the state. It flowed 22 inches above the casing. Twelve months later it raised the water to the height of 11 feet, and its flow estimated 5,000 gallons per minute. The roar of the flowing water has been heard nine miles away. People came from New York, and several also came from Chicago, to see his well. He married Desange Turgeon. To them was born seven children: Onesime, Jr., Annie, Rebecca, Blanche, Dolar, Desange, and Georgianna, deceased, and Cesaire.
Louis Turgeon was born near Quebec, Canada, on the St. Lawrence River in 1853. He came to South Dakota in 1876. He freighted to the Black Hills together with his brother Abraham. After one year he freighted on his own account. The brothers owned 400 oxen, 40 freight wagons, and employed on the average of 18 bullwhackers. According to the pioneers, three wagons usually made a train with 14 oxen pulling them. In 1878 Louis, together with his brothers, Abraham and Onesime, supplied Fort Randall with wood. He took up three claims and bought another and raised livestock. He had a large barn and two artesian wells, each six inches in diameter. His first wife, Dellia Labrecque, borne him three children: Joseph, Cesaire, and Josephine. Cesaire is deceased. His wife died in 1886. In 1887 Louis married in Canada to Marguerite Trahan, who borne him four children: Rosanna, Lucina, Regina, and Louis, Jr., deceased. He made his farm one of the best grain and livestock farms in the neighborhood.
Philias Turgeon, deceased, another brother who was born near Quebec, Canada, near the St. Lawrence River. He came to South Dakota in 1877 when he was 16 years old. He freighted with his brother, Abraham, to the Black Hills. Then he secured a freighting outfit for himself to the Hills on his own account. He took up two claims in Charles Mix County and went into the cattle business. He married Merida Patry of Canada. Their children born to them are: Mary, Dellia, Joseph, Laura, Edgar, Francis, and Florida. He drowned in the Missouri River on March 25, 1889, by the overturning of a skiff. His body was not recovered until three months later.
Ludger Turgeon, a younger brother, was born in 1862 near ^Quebec, Canada, on the St. Lawrence River. In 1880 he went to South Dakota and joined his brothers in Charles Mix County freighting from Pierre to the Black Hills. He then farmed and raised livestock west of the River on a ranch of 160 acres on the Whetstone, which was watered by a fine artesian well of 730 feet deep and 4 inches in diameter. The pioneer served as Commissioner of Gregory County from 1911 to 1916 and as City Justice of Peace for the last ten years. Ludger was married to Fleurida Turgeon, and their children were: Marie, Emma, and Joseph Ludger, Jr.
Abraham Turgeon arrived in South Dakota
at! the age of 22.
Louis Turgeon at the age of 23 years.
Onesime Turgeon at the age of 19 years.
Philias Turgeon at the age of 16 years.
Ludger Turgeon at the age of 18 years.
The father of the brothers, Cesaire Turgeon, was born from French Canadian parentage, and their mother, Jane Trachy, of English parentage.
The above and foregoing was written by
Rosanna Turgeon Lulewicz and is correct as far as I know.
p 590, A Short History of Brule County