smacmill
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Post by smacmill on Mar 4, 2024 21:06:48 GMT -5
Gregor - thanks very much for that historical info. Great grandmother's allotment certificate, which we have, is dated May 1891. She grew up at/near Ft. Randall because her father worked as the fort interpreter. She subsequently married one of the soldiers there.
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on Feb 28, 2024 15:53:00 GMT -5
Forgive my ignorance, but I've lived on the west coast all my life, but Mom grew up on the Yankton reservation. On my great grandmother's appearances on the Indian Census Rolls, sometimes she is categorized as Yankton, and sometimes as Yanktonai. I'm guessing the census takers at that time didn't know the difference. My question is - great grandmother lived at Ft. Randall, then was given an allotment in the Yankton reservation. Does that make it most likely that she was Yankton, and not Yanktonai? The reservation is in the south east part of South Dakota. Can anyone clarify the difference between the two designations? Is it primarily geographical?
One more thing. I keep reading that the Yankton are now considering themselves Dakota rather than the Nakota. Is that correct?
Thanks to anyone for taking time to answer my queries. C
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on Feb 28, 2024 15:43:26 GMT -5
I am unable to view these old Yankton photos. What's the trick? I would very like to view the one "Left Hand - Yankton", as he was my great great grandmother's brother.
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on Feb 16, 2021 14:03:11 GMT -5
Just a quick look at the Indian Census Rolls - no Sulrago. Two Mary Recountre's - one DOB 1826, the other 1865. Tons of Mary Zephier's. Middle initials include L, A, C, B, Bean. If she is the 1826 born Mary Recountre, finding her parents will be tough I think. Good luck. Don't give up! Think out of the box!
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on Oct 8, 2018 15:47:16 GMT -5
Come on now, I'm getting a complex about the lack of interest in the Yankton Sioux. I know they were known as the friendliest band, and did not roam the plains, but none the less they were a part of the seven council fires. You experts - I'd appreciate more Yankton related articles. Respectfully whining - Susan
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on Oct 8, 2018 15:34:39 GMT -5
Well, I haven't seen any reference to the Left Hand of my family as Left Hand Bear. But that's something I'll watch out for next time I go investigating. Thanks
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on Apr 5, 2018 15:08:45 GMT -5
Follow up - I found that Coal of Fire, or Fire Coal, completely changed his name to English, taking the name of an agent that he admired - John Gassman. There is a census record where he is shown by both names. Anyone know if during this transition era, did many completely discard their tribal names for English?
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on May 31, 2017 17:21:15 GMT -5
Thanks to American Tribes experts, I looked for my Yankton great grandmother's scout uncles (I had their names), googling subject matter "Yankton Scouts". I indeed found two of them in a Senate Record of the 57th Congress from 1902 discussing the possibility of this group of 51 scouts formed for General Sully in 1864 and 1865, getting a government pension, as they had been underpaid for their services. Besides this Left Hand being listed as #1 in the list of names of this scout group, it published the text of a letter that had been given to Left Hand to carry in 1865, which said that he was a reliable Yankton Indian etc. So I feel sure this is my great grandmother's uncle.
My question is, I also see descriptions of a Left Hand known as a Hunkpapa, who was scouting for Custer, but who left the expedition before the Big Horn battle, and was found dead at the adjacent Sioux encampment. I assume this is another man named Left Hand, but just want a confirmation of you all's opinion.
Thanks again.
P.S. The other uncle I found in the Sully group was called Coal of Fire. I had until then had his name as Fire Coal.
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on May 28, 2017 16:07:09 GMT -5
OK, a year later, and I have gone over my records with a new eye and better observation. All those Indian Census rolls, from 1894-1902, show that my great grandmother Anna Dezera Howard, was apparently the neighbor household next to Andrew Makeke and also Charles Jones. Charles Jones' history is documented in the book The Yankton Sioux and the Peyote Church. But I would still be interested in knowing more about Andrew Makeke, just to fill out the picture of Anna's life. So if any of you have a Makeke fact, please share.
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on May 28, 2017 15:59:15 GMT -5
All so fascinating. Thank you both. Historians rock!
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on May 26, 2017 17:53:57 GMT -5
Thank you so much, gregor. So yesterday, thinking of what ephriam wrote above, I googled "Yankton Scouts" and found a Congressional Record that mentioned two of my 2nd great grandmother's (Smoke) brothers who were also Yankton scouts - Brave Face and Coal of Fire. I hadn't before gotten any documentation of them other than a mention in an obituary. Again, I was horrified that they were scouting for Gen. Sully, but this is apparently my family's native heritage, like it or not. So thanks all, for helping me along.
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on May 25, 2017 18:07:47 GMT -5
Thanks so much for your input and info, you two. Upon relooking at my collection of documentations for Marie Louisa, the definite consensus birth year was 1856, not 1855. Of course the snowy conditions could have been either early 1856 or late 1856. It is helpful for me to know that there were Yankton at Ft. Pierre that winter. The more I read, the more I am horrified that Marie Louisa's father (my 2nd great grandfather) worked for Gen. Harney, but we can't choose the history we find. Now onward with my search to find more about her mother Smoke or Smoky. Just FYI, Marie Louisa was adopted out (from Ft. Randall) at age 4 to a wealthy woman in St. Louis, where she was educated, and married a civil activist mulatto man, and where she lived the remainder of her life. Thanks again!
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on May 24, 2017 13:52:38 GMT -5
To clarify, here is what was written in the obituary of the daughter of my second great grandmother. Granted, this was written by a newspaper man, but someone must have told him this story.
"Her mother was the once famous Sonka (Smoke)." Me speaking now, the family knew her as Smoky. Her grave marker says Ashotia, no doubt the the grave marker was made by Ft. Randall Cemetery caretakers. The Lakota term for smoky is asota.
Again regarding the daughter, "Born in the midst of warlike conditions on the rugged trail across the western plains from the Rocky Mountain wilderness to Fort Pierre, in mid-winter, in a blinding blizzard, and carried as a papoose strapped to the back of her Indian mother for many weary miles, she became the pet of the soldiers and officers of Fort Pierre."
This daughter (Marie Louisa Dezera) is said to have been born in December of 1856, with the newspaper description as above. Her mother "married"(David Edward Dezera), who was said to be an interpreter for General Harney.
I always wondered about this birth description, and what her mother was doing trekking east to Fort Pierre with soldiers. I recently came across an old news clipping about someone who was on that trek with General Harney, after the Massacre at Ash Hollow. So now I suspect that Smoke or Smoky may have been one of those hostages taken.
I would appreciate any comments on this theory, and would really appreciate it if anyone knows if there is a list that exists of those taken hostage. Also, I would appreciate any clue as to why the newspaper referred to Smoky as "the once famous Sonka".
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on May 23, 2017 16:43:26 GMT -5
It has occurred to me that my second great grandmother might have been one of those 70 women and children taken hostage by the U.S. Army after the massacre at Ash Hollow in 1855. I have an obituary of one of her daughters suggesting that the daughter was born during the trek from Fort Laramie to Fort Pierre that winter. So does anyone know if there was any documentation regarding the identities of those hostages? Thanks
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smacmill
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Post by smacmill on Apr 24, 2017 19:25:08 GMT -5
My great great grandmother was called Smoky and her name on the gravemarker at Ft. Randall says Ashotia (undoubtedly written by Anglo). I've found in the Buechel dictionary the word asota for smoky, and since I have not studied the language, I struggle with how it should be spoken. After looking online at many Lakota translators, I settled on "a-SHO-dah". Absolutely guessing. How would you think it should be spoken? I really would appreciate your input. I was thrilled to see your entry! Susan MacMillan
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