Last Horse, Oglala

[Dietmar]

We have talked about Samuel Last Horse in another thread, but I think he deserves an own thread as there are many photos of him available. Kingsley has provided some biographical data already:


Samuel Last Horse belonged to an important Kiyaksa band family. According to the 1890 Census he was 41 years old, born c. 1848-49. His wife Saddle (age 31) and their two daughters, Red feet and Kills wood (both age 8 - twins?) lived in the same household. Also resident with them was a son, also baptised as Samuel and age 20 - presumably by a different mother.

Wilmer Mesteth mentioned to me last month that Last Horse was an important transmitter of Sun Dance traditions in the long period btw the government ban of the ceremony in 1883, and the beginning of its public revival in the late 1920s.

Must have been an interesting individual.

Read more: amertribes.proboards.com/thread/2157/charles-taylors-oglala-indian-scouts?page=2#ixzz3Ls9FW5u7



Last Horse is one of the dancers filmed in these clips of 1894 when he was part of Buffalo Bill´s Show:






Here are some of his portraits:

[kingsleybray]

I have looked, but don't find any reference to Last Horse in any of the Red Cloud Agency censuses from the period 1871-77. By that name - perhaps he is reported under a name that we are not aware of.

He first crops up in the 1879 Pine Ridge Agency Ration Roll, listed as a family head in Little Wound's Band - the Kiyaksa.

In National Archives-Kansas City, Records of Pine Ridge Agency, there is a tally of persons identified by band - probably some kind of ration register. Again, Last Horse is listed under the Kiyaksa Band. He settles with that band along Medicine Root Creek during the 1880s. Perhaps Ephriam can help with the later census entries after 1890. It would be interesting to know how long he lived, especially since he is credited with preserving Sun Dance traditions in this pivotal turn-of-20th-century period.

[Dietmar]

Last Horse is also in the list of Pine Ridge policemen in 1879:

List of Original Pine Ridge Policemen:

Name: Last Horse
Band: Kiyaksa
Chief Status: (unknown)
Marital Size: married
Family: 6
Age: 33


"Records of Changes in the Indian Police Service," 14 Sept, 1879, Pine Ridge Agency
(in: Reservation Akicitas: The Pine Ridge Indian Police, 1879-1885 by Mark R. Ellis)

[kingsleybray]

thanks Dietmar. So it's interesting Last Horse suddenly appears in the record in 1879, the first year of Pine Ridge's existence as home for the Oglalas, and is already a prominent Kiyaksa warrior, in his early 30s.

[kingsleybray]

ah-ha. Little digging. As Horse Comes Last, our man is named as one of the "Cut Off"/Kiyaksa band warriors enlisted in fall 1876 to serve as US Army scouts in the Mackenzie campaign. He was retained as a scout when new enlistments were made the following March. Source: John Gregory Bourke Diaries.

He is also listed in the Kiyaksa band register at Red Cloud Agency for March 1877. Source: Crazy Horse Surrender Ledger.

[kakarns]

Kingsley and Dietmar,

I have some Census listings in the years 1893, 1896, and 1897 which, contain the families of Samuel Last Horse, Samuel Last Horse Jr. and another older man, also named Last Horse. The older, may be a brother as he is only a few years older than Samuel Last Horse ?
Do you want me to post the information ?

kakarns

[kingsleybray]

that would be a help kim, please.

[kakarns]

Kingsley,

I have emailed you concerning the Last Horse family.

kakarns

[kingsleybray]

Luther Standing Bear has some interesting things to say about Last Horse - check out LAND OF THE SPOTTED EAGLE, pp 206-07. He says Last Horse was a very famous Thunder Dreamer who could divert thunder storms - and was a rare example of both a great holy man and a "splendid warrior as well."

Wishing everyone on the boards a HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

[Dietmar]

„… But where are our prophets and wonder workers today? Where are those with the magic song of Last Horse?

I was in camp once with a band of Lakotas getting ready for a woemahaha, a time of fun and gayety. Feathers were flying, horses were being groomed, and everywhere an air of joyous expectancy for the Lakotas entered into their festivities. The sun shone brightly, but suddenly became clouded over and soon large drops of rain began to fall, accompanied with gusts of wind which threatened to put a stop the merrymaking. Anxiety took the place of joy. But not for long, for Last Horse, the Thunder Dreamer, came from his tipi, hair streaming down his back and wearing only breechclout and moccasins. He carried only his Thunder Dreamer rattle in his hand. Walking to the center of the circled village, he raised his face to the clouds. Instantly everyone stopped in utter and reverential silence, watching him intently. He raised his voice in the Thunder Dreamer´s song. Last Horse sang, and his spirit soared above earth among the clouds, and he talked to his brothers the Thunder warriors of the sky. Soon the clouds began to part, as with his hands Thunder Dreamer Last Horse motioned them to drift in opposite directions. The sun shone once more and the festivities went on.”
(Luther Standing Bear: Land of the Spotted Eagle, page 73/74)



Last Horse while he was with Cody´s Wild West show:

[kingsleybray]

Last Horse's daughter Kate was the second wife of Franks Fools Crow, the great Oglala holy man and Sun Dance priest.