Obituaries and Death Notices

Billy Caldwell, (Indian chief "Sauganash"), died, Council Bluffs, Iowa, September 28, 1841, aged 60. (Source: 1843 Chicago City Directory, reprinted in 1896, sub. by K. Torp) Black Fox -- Died. The beginning of August,"Black Fox," a distinguished Chief of the Cherokee Indians, and a strong friend to the United States, who has often restrained his nation when they were about to make war on the whites. [20 Sep 1811; The Gleaner - Submitted by K. Torp] Near Knoxville, Black Fox Chief of the Cherokee Tribe of Indians [30 Aug 1811; Newburyport Herald] Death of the Black Fox The death of this distinguished Chief of the Cherokees, is an event of importance to the people of this section of the Western country. Many of the young men of the nation it is known, have expressed themselves with jealous hostility of the whites, insomuch that on several occasions misunderstandings, like to produce bloodshed have frequently taken place. Notwithstanding detachments of the U.S. troops have frequently been employed in removing trespassers off the Indian lands, encroachments continue to be made, and continue to furnish just subjects of complaint to this tribe of Indians. Circumstances of this kind afford to the restless and designing the means of sowing the seeds of hostility in the minds of many. On such occasions the influence of the Black Fox never failed to in quieting the minds of his unreflecting brethren - and when it is considered that a commercial intercourse with Mobile, through the waters of the Coosa, which rise in and pass through a considerable part of the Cherokee country, is an object of particular interest to the people of this State, the death of a Chief whose information enabled him to estimate the advantages that would result to this tribe, from a measure of the kind, is so much to be regretted [12 Aug 1811; Carthage Gazette - Submitted by K. Torp] BLACK HOOF, one of the Chiefs of the Shawnee Indians, died at Wapagthkonnetts (Wapakoneta, Ohio), about Sept. 1st, age about 114 years. He was known throughout the Western Country and was at St. Clairs, Harmer's, Crawford's, and Braddocks's defeat. (Oct. 11, 1831, National Intelligencer, sub by K. Torp) [Further info from wikipedia: Catecahassa or Black Hoof (c. 1740–1831) was the head civil chief of the Shawnee Indians in the Ohio Country of what became the United States. A member of the Mekoche division of the Shawnees, Black Hoof became known as a fierce warrior during the early wars between the Shawnee and Anglo-American colonists.] James Vann 19 February 1809 - James Vann, leader of the anti-treaty faction in the Nation, mentor to younger Cherokee Charles R. Hicks and The Ridge, and richest man in the Nation (east of the Mississippi River, in fact), is killed by a single shot while drinking at Buffington's Tavern, on the Federal Road northwest of Frogtown. Due to numerous persons having witnessed or been the victims of Vann's capricious fits of temper and drunken rages, possible suspects are nearly infinite. [The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - Submitted by Nancy Piper] Nashville, March 22 ---- VAN, the great Creek tyrant was shot a short time since by the same Indian who killed Doublehead. Van ought years ago to have paid his crimes and perfidy to the Creek nation with his forfeited life, but his life guards were too valiant for his enemies until the fatal moment. [The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) June 7, 1809 - Submitted by Nancy Piper] Mixton Died recently, at the Onondaga Castle, Onondaga Co, Mixton, one the chiefs of the Onondaga tribe of Indians, aged about 53 yrs. So trusted by the white man, he has frequently had credit of the merchants to the amount of upwards of $1,200. [Daily National Intelligencer, JAN 1, 1821 - Submitted by K. Torp] DIED - At the Onondaga Castle, in this town, Mixton, one of the Chiefs of the Onondaga tribe of Indians, aged about 53. It may be said of Mixton that he was scarcely inferior to the celebrated Schenandoa, in strength of mind and as possessing those qualities which adorn the human heart. He has for more than 30 years been a warm and decided friend to the white people. In the late war he took an active part, particularly at the battle of Chippewa. For a number of years he has had the perfect confidence of the white people indeed, so great was the reliance placed in his integrity that he has frequently had credit of our merchants to the amount of upwards of 1,200 dollars. Within the last few years he had been in the habit of becoming responsible for most of the tribe to obtain their clothing and such articles as they needed to make them comfortable during the inclement season, and, of paying when their money should be received from the State in June. In this way his account at a single store have been from 800 to 1,200 dollars. He kept all his accounts with the several individuals of the tribe by marks, and such was his accuracy, that he seldom was detected in an error. His death will be a great loss to the tribe, and sincerely regretted by his white friends - [Onondaga Reg, reprinted in The Rochester Telegraph, Rochester NY, Tue Jan 16, 1821] Red-Bird (Indian chief), d., Prairie-du-Chien, Wis. Feb. 16, 1828 (Source: 1843 Chicago City Directory, reprinted in 1896, sub. by K. Torp) Alex Robinson, (Indian chief), died, on his Reservation, April 22, 1872, aged 83. (Source: 1843 Chicago City Directory, reprinted in 1896, sub. by K. Torp) Sa-Gu-Yu-Wha-Hah (Keeper Awake), the noted Seneca Chief, died 20 Jan (1830) in the Indian Valley near Buffalo, aged 80. He had been known to the whites by the appellation of Red Jacket (28 Jan 1830, National Intelligencer, sub. by K. Torp) Died. Shuh-shee-ahsh, 68, also known as Curley, a Crow Indian scout, the sole survivor of the Custer massacre, of cancer of the liver, at the Crow Agency, Mont. He was buried on the Custer Battlefield. [Time Magazine, Jun 4, 1923 - submitted by K. Torp] There is controversy surrounding whether he was the "sole" survivor or not. View more data on him at our Montana site Lucy Tantiquigion, aged 97, died. She was born in the sixth year of George the Second's reign and was the sister of Rev. Samson Occu, the Indian warrior who went to England in 1766 to obtain school assistance for the Indians. (22 June 1830, National Intelligencer, sub. by K. Torp) Wabansee, (Indian chief), died, Boonville, Mo., fall 1846, aged 80. (Source: 1843 Chicago City Directory, reprinted in 1896, sub. by K. Torp) Back to the N.A. Index Background courtesy of http://www.firstpeople.us/ ©Genealogy Trails