A local Turgeon stopped in to give me an excerpt from a book that appears to be the official Turgeon history book.  Nothing special in there by any means.

 

    But what was interesting was that during the annual Turgeon get together the story making the rounds was the story about Philias Turgeon, the relative who drowned in the Missouri River in 1895. The story---he did not actually drown, though he was in the river for 3 months before his body was found.  The story was that he was shot by his other brothers . Whether it was Louis, Onesime, or Abraham was not stated; just that he was shot by his brothers and dumped in the Missouri.  Of course everyone poo-poo'd the story but everyone is also passing the story around too.  

Tim Responded:

That is an interesting story and sounds more 'wild west' than another story about drowning.  While it makes for fascinating lore, it does not gel with the facts.  Actually, two people drowned that day.  One was our ancestor, Philas Turgeon.  The other was his cousin, John Trachy.  As you know Steve, there would have to be a motive why Phil got shot. 

Putting the Pieces Together.

Phileas came to South Dakota in 1877 at the age of 16, and freighted with his brother Abraham.  He drowned on 1895, by the overturning of a skiff.  It was later ruled an accidental drowning, but there were rumors of foul play. (see drowning in the Missouri river)