Biography

Biographical Portrait Collection

• Big Joe. Ottawa.
  
• Blackbird, Andrew J.
  
• Butt, William collection of Native Americans
  
• Gim-Me-Won, St. Ignace
  
• Hoxey, Andrew.
  
• Indian Dave.
  
• Little Elk.
  
• Long John. Ojibwa
  
• Mandoka.
  
• Marksmann, Peter.
  
• Mingo, Dr.
  
• Native Americans- General.
  
• Nauk-E-Chig-E-Meh. Chippewa.
  
• Okemos. Ottawa.
  
• Pigeon, Willie. White Pigeon.
  
• Pokagon family.
  
• Santigo. St. Ignace.
  
• Shin-Ga-Ra-W’Ossin.
  
• Shomin, Joe and Family. Mackinaw.
  
• Shoppenagon, David. Chippewa.
  
• Tipsco, Jacob. Macomb County.
  
• Wabeness.

Books

This section includes material about individuals or families.

Brazer, Marjorie Cahn. Harps Upon the Willows: The John Johnston Family of the Old Northwest. Ann Arbor, MI: Historical Society of Michigan, 1993.

Settling in 1792 at Sault Ste. Marie, one of the major cross roads of the upper Great Lakes, the Johnston family left an indelible mark on the history of a vast region.

Britt, Albert. Great Indian Chiefs: A Study of Indian Leaders in the Two Hundred Year Struggle to Stop the White Advance. NY: Whittlesey House, 1938.

Includes Pontiac and Tecumseh.

Buechner, Cecilia Bain. The Pokagons. Indianapolis, IN: Indiana Historical Society Publications, 1933.

Pays tribute to Leopold and Simon Pokagon.

Bryce, George. Sketch of the Life of John Tanner, A Famous Manitoba Scout. Winnipeg: Manitoba Free Press, 1888.

A paper read before the Historical and Scientific Society of Manitoba in 1888.

Chapman, Charles. The Historic Johnston Family. Lansing, MI: State Pioneer and Historical Society, 1902.

With added photos inside front cover.

Chute, Janet E. The Legacy of Shingwaukonse: A Century of Native Leadership. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998.

Leader at Garden River near Sault Ste. Marie. Chute contributes to anthropological debates about Ojibwa leadership and to a historical understanding of the relationship between Native people and newcomers.

Clark, Rufus Wheelwright. Adario, The Rat. Address before the Society of Colonial Wars of the State of Michigan, 1902.

Of all the Huron chiefs, Kondiarunk or Adario, was best known as an example of leadership. To him and his counsels were the first settlers upon the Great Lakes indebted for a successful occupation of the territory.

Dowd, James P. Thunders Speak: Biographies of Nine Special Original People. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1999.

Includes Shabni, Big Foot Man, Billy Cadwell, The First Light (Wabansi) all of whom are Potawatomie or Ottawa Indians of the Great Lakes area.

Groves, G.I. Famous American Indians. Chicago, IL: G.I. Groves, 1944.

Short biographies of several mid west Native Americans: Hiawatha, Nissowaquet, Pontiac, Captain Pipe, Tecumseh, The Prophet, Shingabawassin, Topenebee, Black Hawk, Shabonee, White Pigeon, Hole in the Day, Blackbird, Sassaba "The Wolf," Metea, Nanawonggabe, Shavehead, Peter Jones, George Copway, White Cloud, Simon Pokagon, Charles Eastman.

Hambleton, Elizabeth and Elizabeth Warren Stoutamire. The John Johnston Family of Sault Ste. Marie. The John Johnston Family Association, 1992.

This publication celebrates the two hundredth anniversary of the marriage in 1792 of John Johnston and Oshauguscodaywayquay.

Ilko, John A. Compiler. Ojibwa Chiefs 1690-1890: An Annotated Listing. Troy, NY: Whitston, 1995.

This book is an attempt to acknowledge and honor past leaders of the Ojibwa tribe. The geographic area coverage includes Michigan.

Johnston, Charles H. L.Famous Indian Chiefs: Their Battles, Treaties, Sieges, and Struggles with the Whites for the Possession of America. Boston, MA: Page, 1909.

Includes Pontiac, Tecumseh and Black Hawk.

Lewis, James Otto. The American Indian Portfolio: An Eyewitness to History 1823-1828. Kent: Volair Limited, 1980.

Portrait and information about each person or event. Includes: Kaa Nun Der Waaguinse Zoo, The Berry Picker, a Chippewa chief; Nabu Naa Kee Shick, the Other Side of the Sky, a Chippewa chief; Shing Gaa Ba Wosin, the Figured Stone, a Chippewa chief; Wa Em Besh Kass, A Chippewa chief; Menoquet, a Pottawatomie chief; and the Pipe Dance and Tomahawk Dance of the Chippewa tribe.

McSpadden, J. Walker. Indian Heroes. NY: Thomas Y Crowell, 1928.

Includes Pontiac, Little Turtle, Tecumseh, and Black Hawk.

O'Meara, Walter. The Last Portage. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1962.

Based on John Tanner.

Sagatoo, Mary A. Wah Sash Kak Moqua: or, Thirty Three Years Among the Indians. Boston, MA: Charles A White, 1897.

She married a Chippewa Indian and lived with his family in the Saginaw area. Includes "Dr. Palmer's Experience among the Indians during the Smallpox Epidemic at Saganing, Michigan."

Sugden, John. Blue Jacket: Warrior of the Shawnees. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2000.

Blue Jacket was the most influential Native American leader of his time. He was in the Detroit area many times.

Tanner, John. A Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner During Thirty Years Residence Among the Indians in the Interior of North America. NY: Carvell, 1830.

Minneapolis, MN: Ross and Haines, 1956. Tanner presents a detailed picture of his life among the Indians of the Great Lakes area.

Thatcher, B.B. Indian Biography: or, An Historical Account of Those Individuals Who Have Been Distinguished Among the North American Natives as Orators, Warriors, Statesmen, and Other Remarkable Characters. NY: J and J Harper, 1832. 2 volumes

Volume Two includes Pontiac and Tecumseh.

Van Dusen, Conrad. The Indian Chief: An Account of the Labours, Losses, Sufferings, and Oppression of Ke-Zig-Ki-E-Ne-We (David Sawyer), A Chief of the Ojibbeway Indians in Canada West. London: W. Nichols, 1867.

Of particular interest is the explanation that a number of Michigan Potawatomis threatened with removal to the west in 1828 took refuge among the Ojibway in the Owen Sound area and were adopted by that tribe.

Werich, J. Lorenzo. Pioneer Hunters of the Kankakee. L. Lorenzo Werich, 1920.

Tecumseh and Potawatomie Indians in Indiana.

Wood, Norman B. Lives of Famous Indian Chiefs.​ Aurora, IL: American Indian Historical Pub., 1906.

Includes Pontiac, Tecumseh and Black Hawk.

Lewis Lithograph Collection

• Chat-O-Mis-See. Potawatomie Chief.
• Sun-A-Get Potawatomie Chief.
• Mac-Cut-Mish-E-Ca-Cu-Cae. Black Hawk.
• Weesh-Cub. Chippeway Chief.
• Com-No-Sa-Qua. Potawatomie Chief.
• Ta-Ma-Kake-Toke. Chippewa Squaw.
• Nah-Shaw-A-Gaa. Pottawatomie Chief.
• Kee-Me-One. Chippewa Chief.
• Chippeway Squaw and Child.
• Caw-Taa-Wau-Be-Ta. Chippewa Chief.
• Pe-Che-Co. Pottawatomi Chief.
• Mish-Sha-Quat. Chippewa Chief.
• Kee-O-Tuck-Kee. Pottawatomi Chief.
• Pach-E-Po. Pottawatomi Chief.
• Ash-E-Taa-Na-Quet. Chippeway Chief.
• Na-Mas. Chippeway Chief.
• A Celebrated Ottawa Chief, 1827.
• Pe-A-Jick. Chippewa Chief.
• Ke-Wa-Din. Chippewa Chief.
• Okee-Makeequid. Chippewa Chief.
• Pe-Shick-Ee. Chippewa Chief.
• Waa-Bin-De-Ba. Chippewa Chief.
• Kitch-Ee-I-Aa-Ba. Chippewa Chief.

Manuscripts

Avery, Chad. Chief Naakchigaawme Collection. 1 folder

Chief Naakchigaawme was a Chippewa chief in the Saginaw area. He signed the Treaties of 1830, 1837, 1855, and 1864.

The Brady Family in Oceana County before the Civil War. 8 pages.

Chief Little Elk Collection. 1 folder.

Includes a biographical article and copy of a portrait of Chief Little Elk.

Copway, George. Vertical file, Native Americans- Copway, George. 1 file

Corbin, George. Land Patent, 1871.

Land patent for 80 acres in Lincoln Township, Isabella County, Michigan.

Dominic, Robert. Vertical File. Native Americans- Dominic, Robert. 1 file

Hubbard, Gurdon Saltonstall. Note on Indian Chief Chabanee. 1 folder.

Brief note on Indian Chief Chabanee who died in 1869, describing his loyalty to Americans during the Black Hawk War.

Jones, Grace. Michigan Native American Collection, 1858, 1878. 1 folder.

Includes a homestead certificate for Joseph L. Key-way-se-say in Traverse City, 1878; Land grant certificates for Kawasa Newi of Emmet City, 1878; and Louis Key-waw-se-say of the Little Traverse Band, 1872.

Indian Dave. Vertical Files. Native Americans- Indian Dave. 1 folder.

Includes a five page article from the Crawford County Avalanche, August 21, 2003, about Thomas Ke-chit-ti-go who served in Company K, First Michigan Sharpshooters in the Civil War. Photos included.

Kiwaise, Louis. Collection. One item.

Last will and testament of Kiwaise, from Little Traverse, Emmet County, Michigan with Andrew J. Blackbird as one of the signing witnesses, 1867.

Knaggs, Whitmore. Collection, 1763-1827.

Collection includes family papers for several generations of Knaggs. Included is a petition of George Knaggs for property damage in the War of 1812.

Netemop, Luke. Vertical Files. Native Americans-Netemop, Luke. 1 folder

Pontiac, Ottawa Chief. Vertical File. Native Americans-Pontiac, Ottawa Chief. 1 file

O-Saw-Waw-Bun, Andrew. Land Grant Certificate, 1871. 1 folder.

Land grant certificate to O saw waw bun in Isabella County, Michigan.

Pe-Nay-Ce-Wap, William. Land Patent, 1872. 1 folder.

Land patent for land in Isabella County, Michigan issued in 1872.

Petoskey, Warren F. Correspondence.

Two letters by Petoskey concerning land claims of his family and other Ottawa Indians in Michigan. Also includes a Petoskey family genealogy sketch by Ella Petoskey, dated September 20, 1928.

Pokagon, Simon. Collection. 24 items.

Miscellaneous items about Pokagon and his family and the Pottawatomie Indians. Included are small photographs of Pokagon.

Riley, Stephen V.R. Riley Family Biographical Notes. 1 folder.

Riley had three sons, John, Peter, and James born to an Ojibwa woman, Me-naw-cum-g-go-qua. The Rileys are mentioned in the Treaty of Saginaw, 1819.

Schaedig, Cindy. Collection. 3 folders.

Includes notes about and photographs of Susan Gilbert, an Ottawa Indian resident of Presque Isle County, Michigan.

Shomin, Charles. Papers 1858-1915. 1 folder.

The Shomins were Ojibwa Indians who lived in Cross Village, Michigan. John, John B.S., and Louis all served in Company K, Michigan Sharpshooters during the Civil War. Papers include deeds and legal papers.

Shopenagonis, Chippewa Chief. Vertical File. Native Americans-Shopenagonis. 1 file

Smith, Moses. Land Patent, 1885. 1 folder.

Land patent for Moses Smith in Isabella County, Michigan, recorded in 1885.

Strong, Dennis. Land Patent, 1883, 1885. 1 oversize folder.

Land Patent in Isabella County, Michigan dated November 10, 1883.

Tecumseh. Vertical Files. Native Americans-Tecumseh. 1 file

United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Collection. 1 box.

Regarding Chief Pepeyah or Pe-pa-yah, a Potawatomie Chief in Paw Paw, Michigan and his land in Paw Paw, Michigan. Also Indian burials in Paw Paw Township. Includes a photograph of Mrs. Pepeyah.

Watson, Wingfield. Collection.

Includes correspondence from Andrew Blackbird 1891-1905.

Way-Win-Daw-Some. Land Patent, 1871. 1 folders.

Land patent in Isabella County, Michigan.

Paintings

Okemos.

Periodicals

Anderson, T.G. "Papers of Capt. T. G. Anderson, British Indian Agent." Wisconsin Historical Collections 10 (1883-1885): 142-149.

Includes speeches by Sau-sa-nau-ee, Black Hawk, Na-i-o-qui-nan, and We-tau-wau-no-quet.

Armour, David A. "Who Remembers La Fourche?"Chronicle, The Magazine of the Historical Society of Michigan 16 (Summer 1980): 12-16.

La Fourche, a chief of the Ottawa in the 18 th century, was respected as a shrewd leader and skilled negotiator.

Bailey, Bea. "Services for Raymond Bailey." Indian Talk 3 (January 1976): 13.

Account of his funeral at Peshawbestown.

Baldwin, Daryl. "Mihshihkinaahkwa Maamiikaahkia Akima (Little Turtle the War Leader)."Northwest Ohio Quarterly 74 (Winter 2002): 22-28.

Outlines the events and difficulties that faced one of the Miami Nation's greatest war leaders.

Brace, Elmore. "Topenbee and the Decline of the Pottawattomie Nation." Indiana Magazine of History 14 (March 1918): 3-12.

Topenbee was for forty years the principal chief and sachem of the Pottawattomie tribe of Indians. He died in Michigan in 1840.

Brunson, Alfred and John T. Kingston. "Death of Tecumseh." Wisconsin Historical Collections 4 (1857-1858): 269-376.

Two accounts of his death.

"Chief Little Elk." News From Indian Country 4 (Early September 1990): 30.

Photo and notice of his death.

Clapp, Alice B. "George Johnston, Indian Interpreter." Michigan History 23 (Autumn 1939): 350-366.

Johnston was the son of John Johnston and O-Shau-Gus-Co-Day-Way-Qua.

Clifton, James A. "Leopold Pokagon: Transformative Leadership in the St. Joseph River Frontier." Michigan History 69 (September/October 1985): 16-23.

Pokagon was a Pottawatomie leader in Michigan.

Collins, Newell E. "Old Mother Rodd." Totem Pole. 26 (March 5, 1951): 1-6.

An Indian medicine woman of the Sarnia area who died in 1870 when she was over a hundred years old.

Curry, Wm. M. "The Wyandot Chief, Leather Lips."Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publications. 12 (1903): 30-36

Lived mainly in Ohio.

Cushman, Gwynne. "John Okemos, Son of the Chief." Michigan Archaeologist. 8 (September 1962): 20-26.

Cushman's grandfather told her about John Okemos.

Custer, Milo. "Kannekuk or Keeanakuk: the Kickapoo Prophet." Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 11 (April 1918): 48-56.

Information about him and some of his sermons and speeches.

De Longchamp, Shirley. "Recollections of an Indian Childhood." Michigan-Out-Of-Doors. 31 (December 1977): 30-31+.

Elizabeth Papin Roberts, and upper peninsula Chippewa, is profiled.

Doherty, Jim. "Robert Dominic." Indian Talk. 3 (March/April 1976): 14.

Dominic's obituary from the Petoksey News-Review, March 1976.

Fierst, John T. "Return to 'Civilization': John Tanner's Troubled Years at Sault Ste. Marie." Minnesota History. 50 (Spring 1986): 23-36.

Tanner, who served Schoolcraft as an interpreter at the U. S. Indian Agency, was a troubled person.

Greenman, E. F. "Indian Chiefs of Michigan." Michigan History. 23 (Summer 1939): 220-249.

Brief information about Andrew Blackbird, Cheecheebingway, Kinonchamek, Kishkawko, Kondiaronk, Mikinac, Minavavana, Noonday, Leopold Pokagon, Simon Pokagon, Pontiac, Saquina, Shingabawassin, Tarhe, Tecumseh, Walk-in-the-Water, Waubojeeg, White Pigeon and Winamac.

Hart, Irving Harlow. "The Story of Beengwa, Daughter of a Chippewa Warrior." Minnesota History. 9 December 1928): 319-330.

An interview done in 1927 with the daughter of Augenosh of the Sandy Hill Band.

Hendershot, Robert M. "The Legacy of an Ojibwe 'Lumber Chief': David Shoppenagon." Michigan Historical Review. 29 (Fall) 2003): 41-68.

David Shoopenagon's decision not to live on a reservation, his exploitation and promotion pf stereotypes, his participation in the deforestation of Michigan, his memorable character, and his enduring legacy, each contribute to his life's historical significance.

"The Life of Little Elk." Wilderness Chronicle 7 (Winter/Spring 1986): 12.

A biography of a Chippewa elder and ceremonial chief.

Livingston, Edward. "Monuments to Historical Indian Chiefs." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications 11 (193): 1-29.

Includes Leopold and Simon Pokagon.

McKee, Russell. "Remarkable Half-Breed: Charles Langlade." Michigan Conservation 35 (March/April 1966): 18-23.

Charles Langlade, son of Augustin Langlade and Domitilde, served under three flags and was a key figure in early Michigan history.

McKinley, Sarah and Helen Collar. "Chief Peaine and the Mormons" Journal of Beaver Island History 3 (1988): 19-30.

"Maconce."Totem Pole 21 (April 5, 1948): 1-4.

Maconce signed his totem in 1809. He was a Chippewa of Swan Creek.

Mahon, Louisa Leismer. "Bob Dominic: The Life of a Modern Warrior." Indian Talk 3 (March/April 1976): 10-12.

The life of the President of the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association and his wife Waunetta.

"Martha (Chance) Pratt/ New-e-gee-zek: Interpreter." Harlow's Wooden Man 20 (Spring 1984): 2.

In the late 19th century there were many Chippewa living in the vicinity of Marquette who did not speak English. New-e-gee-zek was their interpreter.

Maynard, Daniel P. " Marquette's Kawbawgams." Michigan History 74 (March/April 1990): 26-40.

Charles and Charlotte Kawbawgam left their mark on Marquette.

"Michigan Group Wants Shrine Named for Tekakwitha." News From Indian Country 11 (Late July 1997): 7A.

What's stirring the Roman Catholics in Indian River, Michigan is the push to have the "Cross in the Woods" renamed for the American Indian woman who inspired it.

"Michigan's Indian Sleuth." Indian Talk 1 (August 1974): 14-15.

Frederick Boyd, Director of Concerned Indians of Michigan.

"Na-Qua-Chic-A-Ming." Totem Pole 18 (November 4, 1946): 1-2.

Chippewa chief in the Saginaw Valley.

Norris, Caleb H. "Tarhee, the Crane - Chief of the Wyandots." Historical Society of Northwestern Ohio Quarterly Bulletin 2 (April 1935): 13 pages.

Tarhee died in 1794. The article includes many facts about his life including his speeches.

"O-Ge-Ma-Ke-Ga-To." Totem Pole 22 (January 3, 1949): 3.

Brief information about this chief who was the principal speaker at the Treaty of Saginaw.

"Okemos." Totem Pole 22 (January 3, 1949): 1-3.

Some disputed information about him.

Petoskey, Ella. "Chief Petoskey." Michigan History 13 (Summer 1929): 443-448.

A brief sketch by his grand-daughter.

Plano, Shirley. "Charles Kawbawgam, Chippewa Chief." Harlow's Wooden Man 7 (Fall 1971): 4-5.

A brief biography of the Chippewa chief in the Marquette, Michigan area.

"Profile: Fred S. Chivis, Jr." Indian Talk 2 (November 1974): 9-10.

Chivis is the Assistant Director of the Grand Rapids Inter-Tribal council.

Rafert, Stewart. "Ozahshinquah: A Miami Woman's Life." Traces 4 (Spring 1992): 4-11.

Ozahshinquah was the daughter of Frances Slocum, the Indian captive.

"Remembering Chief Little Elk." Wilderness Chronicle 20 (Summer/Fall/Winter 1991): 22-23.

Chief Little Elk died in 1990.

"Reminiscences of the Chippewa Chief, Hole-in-the-Day." Wisconsin Historical Collections 5 (1867-1869): 378-409.

Several writers' accounts of Hole-in-the-Day.

"Saginaw-Chippewa Leader Sowmick and his Wife Killed in Accident." News From Indian Country 4 (August 1990): 5.

Sowmick was largely credited for bringing jobs and relative prosperity to his small Isabella Reservation tribe of about 1,000 members.

Saltonstall, Brayton. "Chief Keshkauko." Michigan History 7 (January/April 1923): 42-48.

An appeal not to name a county after him.

Schlup, Emil. "Tarhe - the Crane." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publications 14: 132-138; 313-318.

Tarhe was a Wyandot Indian born near Detroit in 1742. He became the Grand Sachem of the Wyandot nation.

Stone-Gordon, Tammy. "The Other Schoolcraft." Michigan History 78 (March/April 1994); 24-29.

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft was a gifted author and a major contributor to her husband's literary work.

"The Story of Chief Ogemaw." Wilderness Chronicle 12 (Summer 1987): 19-20.

Biography of the famed Indian from Michigan whose name was used in 1892 for a post office.

Swift, Ivan. "Chief Andrew Blackbird." Michigan History 10 (April 1926): 233-240.

Biography of Chief Blackbird.

"Tarhe - The Crane." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications 20 (1911): 64-73

Where to look for information about Tarhe.

"Tonquish." Totem Pole 12 (February 7, 1944): 1-3.

A Pottawatomi from the Detroit area in the 1800's.

Turner, F. N. "Chief Okemos." Michigan History 6 (1922): 156-159.

The speech given at the marking of the chief's grave.

Whicker, John Wesley. "Pierre Moran, or Chief Parish of the Pottawatomi Indians." Indiana Magazine of History 23 (June 1927): 229-236.

A biography of Chief Parish.

Prints

• J-Aw-Beance. Print by C.B. King.
• O-Jib-Be-Ways. Lithograph.
• Ta-Ma-Kake-Tore. Chippewa woman