The Turgeons of South Dakota
The Turgeon Family of South Dakota
Tidbits Taken from
Brule County History by Brule County Historical Society
The Turgeon brothers arrived in South Dakota at the ages described below. Click on Hyperlink below to take you to the item on this page.
| Turgeon Brothers | Ole Peter Olsen | Turgeon Cattle Brands |
| Houska Family | HBO Deadwood (Swearington and Odelia Turgeon) |
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.
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Pp 358 – 360
(Editor’s note: This family is not related to our own. A Ben Turgeon married into this family.)
Ole Peter Olson, born 18 October 1900, married 11 September 1923 to Loretta Houska. He is known as Pete Olson and has been since childhood.
… Their children are Glenn, Hope, Lois and Pearl.
Hope – Ben Turgeon have one daughter, Judy – Roger Campbell and their children are Heather and Ryan. Roger is engineer with FMC Link Belt and Judy is Home Economic teacher in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ben and Hope live on a farm south of Pukwana, South Dakota.
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page 549
I found the following interesting as it shows the cattle brands used by the Turgeons in this part of South Dakota. The following brands indicated cattle owned by Ben Turgeon, Onesime Turgeon and Seraphine B. Turgeon.
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Page 258
(Editor’s Note. This family is not directly related to our own. A Blanche Turgeon married into this family.)
John Houska was born on May 16, 1880 in Cresco, Iowa to John and Mary Houska, one of ten children. … He married Carrie Benda in 1905 and moved to a quarter section one mile south of the home place where they built up the buildings, most of which are still in use by his son, Wayne and family who operate the farm now. They had six children, their second daughter dying in infancy. … Ivan married Blanche Turgeon and live in Richland Township. They have five sons.
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I don’t know how many of you have ever seen the HBO series, ‘Deadwood’. One of the characters in the show is a man named ‘Al Swearengen’, who is portrayed as ‘the ruthless town boss’. In real-life Deadwood, Al married a Turgeon. You might find the following of interest as it is an index of news articles about Al and his wives, one being Odelia Turgeon. Right now I cannot tell you how Odelia is related to our family; however, another Turgeon family lived in this area. Perhaps close cousins to our own ancestors. What I can tell you is that the Turgeons freighted goods between Deadwood and the Missouri River. The following information is copied from an on-line blog found on Deadwood’s website. All Turgeons are descended from the same Canadian ancestor, Charles Turgeon.
As Lily from ‘Blazing Saddles’ might say of Al, “He was a very nice guy!” J
Al's Wives
Al first appeared in Deadwood news print in August 1876 under various surnames;
Swearinger, Swearingen, Swearingengen, Swaringer, Swarenger, Swearenger, and
Swearengen. Over the years he had several hundred articles written about him
from announcing grand balls and dances, Fourth of July celebrations, community
support, traveling to Chicago and New York to arrange for theatrical acts, being
sued in court for various reasons, and as well to being charged with assault. In
1892, the last article of notable attention found Al branching out with a new
business endeavor.
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Al had troubled times with his wives and his employees.
Title: Assaulted Lena Bruce so violently he was fined $10
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Nov 21 1880, p.4 , col.5
Subject: Swearingen, Albert E.
Title: Assaulted by Swearingen at Gem for disobeying rule
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Nov 21 1880, p.4 , col.5
Subject: Bruce, Lena
Title: A den of prostitution.
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times, Sept. 5, 1884, p.3, col.3.
Note: Summarization of article.
Summary: A den of prostitution under the guise of a dance hall; stocked with
unsuspecting and innocent girls.
Subject: Gem
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Al had two wives, Nettie and Dela, both ending in divorce.
Wife Nettie leaves in 1878.
Title: Notice, has left husband's bed & board
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Feb 18 1878, p.1 , col.1
Subject: Swearingen, Nettie
Title: Notice, not responsible for wife's debts
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Feb 18 1878, p.1 , col.1
Subject: Swearingen, Albert E.
Title: Takes her departure for Omaha this morning
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Apr 17 1880, p.4 , col.5
Subject: Swearingen, Albert E. Mrs.
Title: Summons
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Sep 01 1882, p.2 , col.5
Subject: Swearingen, Nettie
Title: Summons
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Sep 01 1882, p.2 , col.5
Subject: Swearingen, Ellis
Title: Summons
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Oct 01 1882, p.4 , col.4
Subject: Swearingen, Ellis
Title: Summons
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Oct 01 1882, p.4 , col.4
Subject: Swearingen, Nettie
Title: Summons
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Nov 01 1882, p.4 , col.1
Subject: Swearingen, Nettie
Title: Summons
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times Nov 01 1882, p.4 , col.1
Subject: Swearingen, Ellis
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Wife Odelia appears 1899
Title: Swearingen and Turgeon married.
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times, July 10, 1889, p.3, col.4.
Note: Complete article cited.
Full Text: Married: Swearingen-Turgeon
-- At St. Ambrose's presbytery, on the evening of July 3d, 1899, Father Walsh
officiating, Ellis Alfred Swearingen to Odelia
Turgeon, both of Deadwood.
Subject: Swearingen, Ellis A.
Subject: Turgeon, Odelia.
Title: Swearingen takes it too far.
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times, Dec. 10, 1889, p.3, col.1.
Note: Summarization of article.
Summary: Al Swearingen choked, repeatedly struck and threatened life of wife.
Mrs. Swearingen obtained a warrant, but husband had skipped.
Subject: Swearingen, Albert E.
Subject: Swearingen, Albert E. Mrs.
Title: Justice Court Dec. 18.
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times, Dec. 18, 1889, p.1, col.4.
Note: Summarization of article.
Summary: Case of d.d. settled; upon request of Dela Swearengin the case
against her husband dismissed; notice issued to all saloons forbidding sales of
intoxicating liquors to John S. Harp.
Subject: Swearingen, Dela.
Subject: Swearingen, Albert E.
Title: Mrs. Swearingen hemorrhaging.
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times, Jan. 31, 1890, p.3, col.2.
Note: Complete article cited.
Full Text: Dr. Rogers was summoned late last evening to attend Mrs. A.E.
Swearingen, who was reported rapidly sinking, the result of hemorrhage.
Subject: Swearingen, Dela.
Title: Swearingen to divorce wife.
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times, July 27, 1890, p.3, col.1.
Note: Complete article cited.
Full Text: A.E. Swearingen began action for divorce against Odelia Swearingen,
on the grounds of adultery.
Subject: Swearingen, Albert E.
Subject: Swearingen, Odelia.
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Note: E. A. (Ellis Alfred) Swearingen and Albert E. Swearingen have both been
shown in print to be associated with the Gem Theatre, and are presumed to be one
in the same.
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Al branches out in later years
Title: Swearinga trying to set up Lead gem.
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times, March 3, 1892, p.3, col.4.
Note: Complete article cited.
Full Text: A.E. Swearingen is trying very hard to secure a building in Lead in
which to open a Gem. It is reported that he offered $125 per month for a large
building on Bleeker street, now used as a hotel.
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Of course, Swearington decided to seek a divorce from Odelia on the grounds of adultry:
Title: Swearingen to divorce wife.
Journal: Black Hills Daily Times, July 27, 1890, p.3, col.1.
Note: Complete article cited.
Full Text: A.E. Swearingen began action for divorce against Odelia Swearingen,
on the grounds of adultery.
Subject: Swearingen, Albert E.
Subject: Swearingen, Odelia.
This site was last updated 06/05/11