Little Bull - Chief Little Bull from the Wild Bill Cody Show

[nukemm33]

I've been researching a family member of mine named Samuel Little Bull. As he was the only Little Bull related to the family I didn't catch on to the fact that he was potentially the son of "Chief Little Bull" (I put it in quotes because I haven't found anything outside of the Cody show signifying him as Chief). '

Picture of Little Bull
codyarchive.org/images/view/cabinet_cards/wfc.img.cc.p.6.37

After spending hours combing through census records and the Mike Myers site, I now believe based on the evidence that Little Bull had at least one son (Samuel, but potentially Thomas as well) with my great aunt Pretty Woman. Pretty Woman was not Arapaho to the best of my knowledge and it does seem like Pretty Woman either died young or simply left her family behind to be raised by her mother Good Ring. 

Does anyone have more information on Little Bull? It was very hard to find anything outside of the information on the Cody site. I did find some information that Red Shirt (Oglala) and Little Bull were friends and I found one other picture with the two of them. 

Here are the census records I found corroborating the family. You'll see that Little Bull is actually on the census record with Samuel and Thomas. Good Ring and Rattling (Rattling Woman who is Good Ring's daughter) are also on the census records. Fannie was married to Thomas (hence the little bull name) but is then seen living with Samuel in the later years after (presumably) Thomas dies. 

www.fold3.com/image/216120367 - Rosebud
www.fold3.com/image/212192657 - Pine Ridge
www.fold3.com/image/216141070 - Pine Ridge (Robert Little Dog is married to Ruth, Rattling Woman's Daughter)
www.fold3.com/image/216107095 - Pine Ridge (I believe Clara Little Bull here married Little Bull after Pretty Woman. I am not sure if the Red Woman referred to in other census records is Clara or Pretty Woman)
www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1059/images/M595_366-0371?pId=6175773

[grahamew]

I suspect he was Oglala. I think Cody was trying to convince people his group contained people from many tribes

[nukemm33]

Hello Grahamew. I also suspect this and I know Cody uses these Chief titles for entertainment in many occasions. I found another picture of him with "Chief Painted Horse":

[nukemm33]

I did find a leader of Cheyenne's by the name of Little Bull, however, he was killed in 1873 at the Battle at Sappa Creek. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_at_Sappa_Creek

[nukemm33]

Here's another one of Little Bull with Adam Red Shirt:
explore.chicagocollections.org/image/chicagohistory/71/x34n19r/

[Dietmar]

I´m a little late, but I think we maybe confuse two different Little Bulls. This is Sam Little Bull and his wife Ellis in 1925:



Like the Little Bull in the previous pictures (who also went as Austin Little Bull), Sam Little Bull was a member of a Wild West show.

[nukemm33]

Dec 12, 2023 8:35:40 GMT -5 Dietmar said:

I´m a little late, but I think we maybe confuse two different Little Bulls. This is Sam Little Bull and his wife Ellis in 1925:



Like the Little Bull in the previous pictures (who also went as Austin Little Bull), Sam Little Bull was a member of a Wild West show.

Thank you Dietmar. It is my understanding that Sam and Thomas were sons of Peter Little Bull. I'm not sure if there is any relation to Austin Little Bull, however, I know this person from my research. Looking at the census records it would appear that Austin and Peter might be brothers, but I haven't validated this. 

[nukemm33]

And amazing that you found a picture! I've been looking for one for some time now!

[Dietmar]

Here´s another portrait of Sam Little Bull, taken in 1930:

[Dietmar]

...and finally a third one:


Sam Little Bull, 1929

[nukemm33]

Thank you so much for these pictures Dietmar! I'm not sure how you found them, but I greatly appreciate it.

[nukemm33]

I think I am mixing up Austin Little Bull and Peter Little Bull though. They appear to be brothers, but Peter is the father of Sam and Thomas and also Annie. It does appear there is a relation to Austin Little Bull as well just based on family connection and census records, but I haven't spent time to validate this connection yet. I might do so in the next few days.

[peter]

Nov 14, 2023 9:55:13 GMT -5 nukemm33 said:

I've been researching a family member of mine named Samuel Little Bull. As he was the only Little Bull related to the family I didn't catch on to the fact that he was potentially the son of "Chief Little Bull" (I put it in quotes because I haven't found anything outside of the Cody show signifying him as Chief). '

Picture of Little Bull
codyarchive.org/images/view/cabinet_cards/wfc.img.cc.p.6.37

After spending hours combing through census records and the Mike Myers site, I now believe based on the evidence that Little Bull had at least one son (Samuel, but potentially Thomas as well) with my great aunt Pretty Woman. Pretty Woman was not Arapaho to the best of my knowledge and it does seem like Pretty Woman either died young or simply left her family behind to be raised by her mother Good Ring. 

Does anyone have more information on Little Bull? It was very hard to find anything outside of the information on the Cody site. I did find some information that Red Shirt (Oglala) and Little Bull were friends and I found one other picture with the two of them. 

Here are the census records I found corroborating the family. You'll see that Little Bull is actually on the census record with Samuel and Thomas. Good Ring and Rattling (Rattling Woman who is Good Ring's daughter) are also on the census records. Fannie was married to Thomas (hence the little bull name) but is then seen living with Samuel in the later years after (presumably) Thomas dies. 

www.fold3.com/image/216120367 - Rosebud
www.fold3.com/image/212192657 - Pine Ridge
www.fold3.com/image/216141070 - Pine Ridge (Robert Little Dog is married to Ruth, Rattling Woman's Daughter)
www.fold3.com/image/216107095 - Pine Ridge (I believe Clara Little Bull here married Little Bull after Pretty Woman. I am not sure if the Red Woman referred to in other census records is Clara or Pretty Woman)
www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1059/images/M595_366-0371?pId=6175773


This a picture of Sam Little Bull born on 1861. The original picture was at the Museum of Fur Trade in Chadron Nebraska and it was stolen and we don't know the whereabout. Hope it will help.

Attachments:

Sam Little Bull-6 copy.pdf (1.04 MB)

[nukemm33]

Thank you Peter!

[Dietmar]

Thank you for sharing, Peter! Very interesting photo, indeed.

However, I don´t think it shows Sam Little Bull. Personally I believe this is an early photo of David Bull Bear, who was with Buffalo Bill Cody on several tours.