To Be an American

To be an American

In the 19th century a wave of different ethnic groups left their native lands for American shores.  Even our own family had Irish forebears who left extreme poverty and want in their old land for greater freedom and promises of a better life in a new land.  However, not all our ancestors braved sea travel before stepping foot on USA land.  Our French ancestors left their native Quebec and traveled south to the great Melting Pot known as America.

According to family lore, Abraham Turgeon spent some time in New England before moving west to Dakota Territory.  What about the rest of the Turgeons and their kin?  We know they lived in Charles Mix County, Dakota Territory.  How did they get here?  We know they entered the United States of America in Detroit, Michigan.  How they traveled to Dakota is unknown.  Our ancestor, Philias Turgeon, became a naturalized US citizen along with the rest of his relatives.  Do we know when he immigrated. Yes, it was in April of 1877.

Clearing Method

	Phileas Turgeon. Our direct ancestor, husband of Merida (Merilda) Patry, Beaumont, Quebec. Click to Enlarge
	Louis Turgeon, lived in Kimball, SD. Click to Enlarge
	Francois Turgeon Click to Enlarge
	Onesime Turgeon Click to Enlarge
	Serephim Turgeon Click to Enlarge
	Ludger Turgeon Click to Enlarge
	Florida Turgeon Click to Enlarge
	Ludger Turgeon Click to enlarge.
	Flora Trachy, cousin to the Turgeons from Quebec. She attended the University of Dakota, business school. She also taught school before marrying Joe Rail. They moved to Pennington County, and at one point lived in Deadwood. Click to enlarge
	Archille Patry Brother to Merida Patry Turgeon. He and his brother Joseph lived near Gregory, SD. Sometime after 1895 both left Dakota territory and moved their families to Alberta, Canada. Click to enlarge