Turgeon Family History
TURGEONS IN THE CANADIAN MILITARY
The following is a list of military records for Turgeon family members, who were cousins of our direct ancestors. In earlier times there was a direct relationship between your military rank and your social ranking in society. Many of our Turgeon ancestors were military officers and also prominent citizens in their own communities. The following lists the Turgeon military men in Canada.
Name:
Turgeon, Joseph
Location of Event: Lower Canada
Date: (1751-1831)
Rank: Major
Unit: Division de Terrebonne
Source: Biographical Dictionary of Canada
Notes:
Major with the Terrebonne Division – May 12, 1814
Captain with the Division of Isle Jesus on March 27, 1804, Saint-Louis de
Terrebonne. He again offered his services on July 11, 1812, during the War of
1812. He was a Master-Carpenter. He was also a member of the legislative
Parliament for Leinster in 1808. He married Louise Marion in 1788.
Name:
Turgeon, Joseph B.
Location of Event: Lower Canada
Rank: Capitaine
Unit: 7e Bataillon de la MEI
Source: Dictionnaire Biographique du Canada
Notes: Captain with the 7th Battalion of the MEI.
Name:
Turgeon, Louis
Location of Event: Lower Canada
Rank: Enseigne
Unit: Division of Isle Source
Source: Biographical Dictionary of Canada
Notes: Is an instructor with the Division of Isle Jesus – December 19, 1812,
Saint-Francois.
Name:
Turgeon, Louis-Charles
Location of Event: Lower Canada
Date: (1769-1828)
Rank: Second lieutenant
Unit: 7e Bataillon de la MEI
Source: Dictionnaire Biographique du Canada
Notes: Second-lieutenant with the battalion of the Canadian Acrobats – February
25, 1814
Recommended by C. M. Salaberry on February 18, 1814. Resigned in 1815 as a
lieutenant with the 7th Battalion of the MEI. With the 1e Battalion
of Quebec he was an instructor (August 15, 1812). He was a land surveyor with
the 2e Battalion of Quebec – March 21, 1812.
Name:
Turgeon, Michel
Location of Event: Lower Canada
Date: (1742- )
Rank: Lieutenant-colonel
Unit: 3e Battalion of Blainville
Source: Biographical Dictionary of Canada
Notes: Lieutenant-colonel with the 3e Battalion of Blainville and transferred on
May 9, 1812, to the 7th Battalion Deschambault. He was a major with
the Division of Isle Jesus on February 16, 1807. Cavalry. He married
Marie-Angelique Goat, who was the widow of William Oldham.
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US CIVIL WAR – 1st DAKOTA CAVALRY:
Dakota Territory
1st Batallion Cavalry
When you think about the Civil War you don’t think about Dakota Territory or the role it played in this conflict. Two Companies were organized during this chaotic time. Company "A" was organized at Yankton, Dakota Territory in April of 1862. Company "B" was organized at Sioux City, Iowa on March 31, 1863. This unit was assigned to duty in the District of Iowa and Dakota Department of the Northwest, defending frontiers and operating against Indians.
These companies did not participate in any Civil War battles. These companies were assigned to Sully's Expedition against hostile Sioux Indians in Dakota Territory from July 25th to October 8, 1864, with engagements at Tahkaha-kuty on July 28th and at Two Hills, Badlands, Little Missouri River August 8th - 9th. Company "A" mustered out on May 9, 1865. Company "B" mustered out on November 15, 1865. The following Turgeon volunteered with the 1st Dakota Battalion Cavalry:
Turgeon Ferdinand B Pvt
The following information is a brief history and description of the virtually unknown group of soldiers:
”In the fall of 1861, the War Department authorized the governor of Dakota Territory to raise two companies of cavalry for the War of the Rebellion, to be employed in patrolling and garrison duty in the territory. Three recruiting stations were established by Governor Jayne, by proclamation of December 7, 1861, viz.: At Yankton, Vermillion, and a third at Bon Homme, at that time the three principal towns on the Missouri slope....The governor appointed J. Kendrick Fowler, a brother-in-law of Secretary Hutchinson, recruiting officer at Yankton; Nelson Miner at Vermillion, and James M. Allen at Bon Homme. These recruiting officials entered at once upon their duties, and Company A had raised its complement of men during the winter following and was mustered into the service of the United States at Yankton in April 1862. Its commissioned officers when mustered in were Nelson Miner, captain, Vermillion; J. K. Fowler, 1st lieutenant, Yankton; Frederick Ploghoff, 2nd lieutenant, Bon Homme. The company rendezvoused at Yankton awaiting the formality of 'mustering in' to the service of the United States. The company was claimed by some of the Yankton people as a local organization, though no more than one-third of its members had been residents of the future county prior to enlistment, the remainder coming from Clay, Cole, Bon Homme, Minnehaha, and one from Nebraska. Its membership included several veterans who had seen service in the regular army. Taken collectively it was a fine body of men, physically, intellectually, and morally. Quite a number of the recruits were farmers and nearly all claimholders. The ceremony of 'mustering in' took place at Yankton on the 29th day of April, 1862, Lieut. M. R. Luce, of the Forty-first Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, being mustering officer. The term of service was for three years or during the war..." ---from History of Dakota Territory by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. I, pp. 191-192 (1915)”
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FRENCH FAMILY CUSTOMS
There was an old custom from France where Christmas was especially a church day and everyone attended Midnight Mass when it was possible. This was an important event. During Midnight Mass you could hear hymns sung in both Latin and French. Families would drive several miles, if needed, with horses hitched to a bobsled and pick up neighbors on the way. You knew others were going by your house by the sound of the sleigh bells. When you returned home from Midnight Mass you would eat a lunch.
Presents! The French custom was to give presents only on New Year’s Day and relatives would come by that day and wish you a happy new year. Lunch would be served including the blood sausage and meat pies that were made in the late fall. The evening was spent playing games, cards and maybe some dancing. Some families might even have an old time fiddler as the entertainer.
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FAMOUS TURGEONS
During the mid-nineteenth century there was a Turgeon who became a famous Archbishop of Quebec. His name was Pierre-Flavien Turgeon. He was born on November 12, 1787, in Quebec and ordained to the priesthood on April 29, 1810. In 1834 he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Quebec. On February 28, 1834, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Sidyma. On June 11, 1834, we was ordained Bishop Titular Archbishop of Sidyma. On October 3, 1850, he succeeded as Archbishop of Quebec, Quebec, Canada. In this role he was active in social programs and worked with Parliament on many issues. He died on August 25, 1867.
Joseph-Ovide TURGEON (1797-1856) was born in Terrebonne and baptized in the Saint-Louis parish on December 17, 1797. He was the son of Joseph Turgeon, notary and Justice of the Peace, and Marguerite Lapailleur. From 1806 to 1814 he studied FIT in a small school in Montreal. Later he traveled to America. He was named Chief of Police for Effingham on July 16, 1930. He was appointed an elected official for d'Effingham in 1824 and was re-elected in 1827. He was elected an official in Terrebonne in 1830. He supported the Canadian party, then the patriotic party. He was named to the legislative Council on December 28, 1848. He died at Terrebonne on November 9, 1856. He is buried in the cemetery of the Saint-Louis parish, November 12, 1856. He married his cousin, Helene-Olive Turgeon on June 26, 1828, in Saint-Louis parish at Terrebonne. Helene-Olive was the daughter of Michel Turgeon, who was a colonel in the militia at d’Angelic Bouc. He was a cousin of Louis Turgeon, and his father-in-law was Louis LaBerge.
Joseph TURGEON (1751-1831) was born in Beaumont on April 5, 1751. He was baptized the next day in the Saint-Etienne parish under the name of Joseph-Marie. Joseph-Marie was the son of Jacques Turgeon and Marie Baker. He became a Master Carpenter in L'Assomption about 1775. He moved to Lavaltrie circa 1790. He was appointed an elected official of Leinster in 1808, and he generally supported the Canadian party. He died in Lavaltrie on May 1, 1831, at about 80 years of age. He was buried in the cemetery of the Saint-Anthony parish on May 3, 1831. He married Louise Marion, daughter of Charles Marion and d’Agathe Lalonde, on May 18, 1778, in the Saint-Pierre-du-Portage parish in L’Assomption.
Adélard TURGEON (1863-1930) was born in Saint-Étienne-of-Beaumont on December 18, 1863. He was the son of Damase Turgeon, navigator, and of Christine Turgeon. He studied at Laval University in Quebec. He was admitted to the bar in the province of Quebec on July 7, 1887. He was created council in law of the king on August 26, 1903. He began a law practice in Quebec with Ernest Roy, Louis-Rodolphe Roy and Arthur Lachance (appointed with the House of Commons of 1905 to 1917). He was President of the following companies: Quebec Land, Laurentian Power, Standard Copper, Frontenac Realty and Normount. He was Vice-president of Quebec Cartage Co and director of Quebec Power Co, and Cofounder of the newspaper l'Union liberal. He was a Liberal elected official appointed in Bellechasse in 1890, 1892 and 1897. This seat became vacant on May 26, 1897 at the time of its nomination to the executive Council and he was re-elected without opposition. He was the Police chief of Colonization and the Mines in the cabinet. He was re-elected without opposition in 1900 and 1904. He was Secretary and registraire and then nominated as minister of l'Agriculture. He occupied several other important cabinet posts. Officer of l'ordre of Léopold of Belgium in 1904. Knight of the Legion d honor in 1904 and officer in 1928. Companion of l'ordre of the Michaelmas and Saint-George in 1906. He died in Quebec on November 14, 1930, and is buried in the Saint-Etienne cemetery in Beaumont. He married Eugenie Samson, daughter of Etienne Samson, who as a manufacturer of ships, and Archange Labadie
Bernard Turgeon was a famous baritone in Canada. He was born in Edmonton on October 20, 1832 and began his musical training in Edmonton with his mother. He studied 1951-5 at the Royal Conservatory of Music with George Lambert and Ernesto Vinci, 1959-60 in Vienna with Ferdinand Grossmann, Heinrich Schmidt, and Helmut Froschauer, and 1960-3 in London with Walter Jensch. He appeared in several Royal Conservatory Opera School (University of Toronto Opera Division) productions 1951-5 and in 1955 won the top men's award in CBC's 'Singing Stars of Tomorrow.'
Melanie Turgeon, one of the greatest natural talents in World Cup ski racing, is a specialist in downhill and Super-G (a cross between giant slalom and downhill). She has competed in World and Olympic meets.
Pierre Turgeon is a premiere hockey player in the National Hockey League. He was rated the top amateur prospect in the 186-87 season. He has played center and forward with the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and finally Dallas. He has had his ups and downs, but he was considered at his best form during the 2003-2004 season.
US Revolutionary War
I could only find one reference in the Revolutionary War Muster rolls for a Turgeon. There was one who fought with the militia, unfortunately, his first name has been forgotten to history. The muster roll for Natchitoches Militia for 1780 lists a Turgeon but has no first name listed.