Turgeons of California
Turgeon and Delire Families
In California
Introduction:
We know the Delire and Turgeon families moved out to California; however, we have never had a timeline. Recently we found several books that mentioned one of our distant relatives, Joseph A. Turgeon. Joseph was brother to our grandmother, Mary Turgeon Smith. Mary was married to ‘Irish’ John Smith’s son, William P. Smith. Below, is a picture of Joseph as copied from a book titled, ‘History of Alameda County, California’. Next to Joseph’s picture is a picture of our grandmother, Mary Turgeon Smith.
Joseph A. Turgeon
The following was taken from the book titled, ‘History of Alameda County, California’, published by S.J. Clarke Publishing Company in 1928. The author is Frank Clinton Merritt.
Joseph A. Turgeon
“Joseph A. Turgeon has gained a wide reputation throughout the Bay district as a decorating and painting contractor, his enviable standing in that field of business being based on the high quality of his work and his honorable methods. Mr. Turgeon was born in South Dakota, December 19, 1886, and is a son of Philip and Meridah (Patry) Turgeon, both of whom were natives of Quebec, Canada. They were reared and married in that city and later went to South Dakota, where the father engaged in farming and stock raising, carrying that business on successfully until his untimely death by drowning in the Missouri River. His widow is now living in Iowa.
Joseph A. Turgeon spent his boyhood days in his father’s ranch and his early education was received in the grammar schools of that locality. He attended high school in Sioux City, Iowa, and then learned the trade of painting, which he followed there until 1911, when he came to Oakland and engaged in contracting as a painter and decorator. In this business he has met with very gratifying results, soon gaining a reputation for artistic taste and dependability, and during the intervening period has successfully handled some of the largest contracts in his line in this district, among which are the Scottish Rite temple, the California State Automobile Association building, the new Telephone building, the Pacific Gas and Electric building, the Oakland Bank building and the Medical building, as well as the Medical building in Fruitvale. He does all kinds of work in his line and employees from ten to sixty men, all of whom are expert workmen. Mr. Turgeon is painstaking in his work and takes pride in rendering service which is entirely satisfactory to his customers.
In 1917 Mr. Turgeon was united in marriage to Miss Vera Entwistle, who was born in Colorado, and they are the parents of one child, Veralee. Mr. Turgeon is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and in 1926 was made a member of the board of directors of the Builders Exchange. His extensive operations have made him well known throughout the northern part of Alameda County and his integrity of character and genial manner have won for him a large circle of friends, who esteem him for his genuine worth as a man and citizen.”
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In addition, we found the following information regarding Joe Turgeon taken from another book (“Oakland, 1852 – 1938; some phases of the social, political and economic history of Oakland, California”; Oakland, Calif.; Oakland Public Library, 1939; by Anonymous)
“The Oakland club, the third largest in Lions International, has a roster of 200 members. At one time it comprised a “district” in itself, but at present it is only one of 190 Lions Clubs which constitute the California – Nevada District of Lions International. Of the 10 charter members who composed the Oakland Club in June 1917, nine are still active in its affairs: Camille B. Calou, Karl T. Doall, Chester H. Miller, William J. Rigney, Guy W. Sanders, Louis Schoeeline, Joseph A. Turgeon, Walter J. Wilson and Charles H. Wood.
Various groups were formed within this club. … Groups X, XI and XII. Joe Turgeon, Ralph Nicholson, and Walter Wilson, chairman, united in support of the Oakland school bond issue.”
In 1920 we could see Joseph Turgeon and his family living in Alameda County, California. You won’t see it here, but the census does indicate Joseph is a painting and drafting contractor. It indicates his parents both came from Canada. Of interest though is where the census shows he was born in Illinois, which is incorrect. Otherwise, the rest of the census information appears to be correct.
In the 1910 US Census we could see the Delire family living in Mitchell. We can verify here that Joe Turgeon lived with the Delire family. You may recall that our great grandmother, Merida (Patry) Turgeon, married Pete Delire after Philias Turgeon’s untimely death due to drowning.
The following lived together in 1910: Pete Delire, Merida Delire, Joe Turgeon, Edgar Turgeon, Flora Turgeon, Louis Delire, Agnes Delire, and Cecilia Delire.
By 1920 we knew the Delire family did not live in South Dakota, but did not know where they lived. Joe’s biography gave us a hint that the family lived in Iowa.
The Delire family in 1920 was living in Sioux City, Iowa (Precinct 8). (The last name appeared as Delier and not Delire.) According to this information, Merida must have claimed she was naturalized in 1902. Pete Delire worked as an Insurance Agent for the New York Life Agency. At this time none of the Turgeon kids were living in this household. The following lived together in Sioux City: Pete Delire, Merida Delire, Louis Delire, Agnes Delire, and Cecilia Delire.
In 1930 this family was still living in Sioux City. So it is not clear when they finally moved out to San Leandro, California (Alameda County).
Death Certificates of Turgeons and Delires in California:
You might find the following information interesting. This lists shows all the Turgeons, who were born in South Dakota, but died in California. The last two names on this list belong to Pete and Merida Delire.
Another interesting record below belongs to Leda Turgeon. Leda was sister to Philias Turgeon, our great-grandfather. Somewhere along the line she too moved out to California to be with family.
Clayton A. Turgeon, b. 08/13/1903, male, born South Dakota, died Los Angeles on 02/06/1975, 71 years
Clair Thomas Turgeon, born 12/26/1917, mother’s maiden name ‘Kennedy’, male, born in South Dakota, died Los Angeles on 03/03/1984, 66 years.
Edgar F Turgeon, born 04/27/1890, father ‘Turgeon’, male, born South Dakota, died Santa Clara on 12/05/1958, 682 years
George Turgeon, born 09/13/1890, male, born South Dakota, died in Sacramento on 06/27/1952, 62 years.
George J. Turgeon, born 05/01/1920, mother ‘Dolezal, male, born South Dakota, died Los Angeles on 09/07/1964, 44 years
Joseph A. Turgeon, born 12/19/1886, mother ‘Patry’, male, born South Dakota, died Santa Clara on 04/24/1969, 82 years.
Joseph G. Turgeon, born 1/20/1911, male, born South Dakota, died Los Angeles on 12/2/1961, 50 years.
Leda Turgeon, born 10/04/1864, mother ‘Trachey’, father ‘Turgeon’, female, born in Canada, died Los Angeles on 09/19/1954, 89 years.
Louis Turgeon, mother ‘Wifred’, born 09/22/1898 in South Dakota, male, died in Los Angeles on 07/04/1978.
Margie Turgeon, female, born 03/09/1890, mother ‘Ratcliffe’, father ‘Fellows’, Born in South Dakota, died in Santa Clara 04/05/1990, 100 years old.
Phillip Turgeon, born in South Dakota on 09/27/1927, male, died in San Mateo on 12/29/1996, 39 years old.
Thomas Turgeon, born on 03/01/1937, mother ‘Willoughby’, male, born in South Dakota, died in Los Angeles on 03/20/1964.
Willard Theodore Turgeon, born 12/12/1913 in South Dakota, mother ‘Grenier’, male, died in Solano on 02/08/1967.
William Joseph Turgeon, born 02/28/1934, mother ‘Willoughby’, father ‘Turgeon’, male, born in South Dakota, died in Los Angeles on 03/12/1943.
Merida Delire, born 03/31/1864, father’s name ‘Patry’, female, born in Canada, died in Alameda on 03/09/1956, 91 years old.
Peter G. Delire, born 04/12/1870 in South Dakota, male, father’s surname ‘Delire’, died in Alameda County on 10/30/1949.