Lakota Speakers: The name "Saswe"

[winona]

Is there a translation for "Saswe"? Or is this a nickname? It is listed in the 1900 Census for Frank Pierre, a Lakota at Standing Rock. Thank you in advance!
Winona

[ladonna]

Frank Pierre is the son of Isaiah Dorman Pierre who is the son of I. Dorman
Frank who also went by Blackhawk

[winona]

Thank you Ladonna. I know you know your history, but I am confused. In a book about African Americans in North Dakota, they list Peter Pierre as Frank's father, a well known interpreter from Fort Union and the early fur trading posts. Is this the same man? He later married a Sioux woman and lived at Standing Rock. I know Frank's older brother was Baptist (Bacis). In the book Paha Sapa Tawoyake, William Wade talks about Peter Pierre in 1872, and says as a young boy he was brought from St. Louis to "exhibit" to the Indians. He learned the various Lakota and Dakota languages, and translated. I know from Frank's Hampton records, his father was described as a free black from Missouri. Do you think Peter Pierre and Baptist Pierre are the same man, or two different ones?
Also, I have heard the name I. Dorman before, is he written up in historical accounts? Thank you!

[ladonna]

This is what i have on the Dorman-Black Hawk-Pierre Family, yes your right Frank and Baptist are brothers. I did not have my file with me,
Black Hawk-Teat-Isaiah-Peter Pierre Dorman are all the same man from the record i found. Isaiah Dorman was killed at the Little Big Horn Battle they say by Moves Robe Woman-Mary Crawler. He worked for the forts along the Missouri including Fort Yates and Fort Abraham linclon

Black Hawk

Black Hawk, Azimpi or Teat-Isaiah Dorman b. 1832 d. 6-25-1876
Spouse: Visible b.1830 Isanti (Inkpaduta’s camp)
Children
Son: Baptist Pierre b. 1856 d. 1917
Son: Frank Pierre b. 1852 d. 11-20-1926
Son: Peter Pierre b. 1867 d. 8-27-1927

Makazilmaniwin b.1853
Children
Son: Benedict Dog Cloud b. 1894

Baptist Pierre b. 1855 d. 1-1-1917
Spouse: Winyan Tanka Large Woman- Julia b. 1845
Spouse: Wamniomniskawin- Jane b. 1855
Spouse: Mollie b. 1864
Children
Daughter: Wicincana Girl- Lucy Pierre b. 1884
Daughter: Annie Pierre b. 1899
Son: Louis Pierre b.1894
Niece: Hutedutawin-Red Wings b. 1865
Nephew: William Mutchler
Nephew: Janjan-Glass b. 1882
Nephew: Benedict Dog Cloud b. 1894

Wicincana Girl- Lucy Pierre b. 1884
Spouse: Moses Lafromboise
Children
Son: Baptist Lafromboise b. 1904 d. 1906
Daughter: Carrie Lafromboise b. 1908
Daughter: Sarah Lafromboise b. 1910 d. 4-17-1917
Son: Simpson Lafromboise b. 19 d. 4-9-1913
Daughter: Eva Lafromboise b. 1914 d. 3-2-1916
Daughter: Cecelia Lafromboise b. 11-6-1916
Daughter: Jennie Lafromboise b. d. 5-14-1917

Wicincana Girl- Lucy Pierre b. 1884
2nd Spouse: John Brought Plenty b. 5-2-1895
Children
Son: Kenneth Brought Plenty b.5-31-1930
Stepdaughter: Cecelia Lafromboise b. 11-6-1916
Niece: Annie Brought Plenty b. 1-23-1916
Niece: Mary Brought Plenty b. 12-29-1921
Niece: Victoria Brought Plenty b. 7-12-1933

Peter Pinta Pierre b. 1867 d. 8-27-1927
Spouse: Tasunkamaniwin-Louisa b. 1867 d. 6-17-1927
Children
Daughter: Rosa Pierre B. 1897 d. 8-28-1919
Daughter: Clara Pierre b. 1895 d. 5-19-1925

Saswe-Frank Black Hawk B. 1852 d. 11-20-1926 Feather (Wiyakawin) B. 1862 (Rebecca Pierre)

Children
Daughter: Jennie Pierre b.1898 d. 1902 Step-Son: Austin Wise Spirit-Kokabona B. 1881 Step-Daughter: Lizzie Wise Spirit-Kiniginktewin B. 1884
Step-daughter Daughter: Daisy Wise Spirit B. 1889 d. 10-15-1909

Nagi Ksapa-Wise Spirit b. 1841 Spouse: 1# Last Cloud (MahpiyaEhakewin b. 1846 Spouse: 2# Good Scraper (Tawahintkawaste)b. 1877
Spouse: 3# Walking Wind (Tatemaniwin b. 1852 Spouse: 4# Feather (Wiyakawin) b. 1862 (Rebecca Pierre)


Frank Black Hawk B. 1862 Spouse: Feather (Wiyakawin) B. 1862 (Rebecca Pierre)

Children Step-Son: Austin Wise Spirit-Kokabona B. 1881 Step-Daughter: Lizzie Wise Spirit-Kiniginktewin B. 1884
Step-daughter Daughter: Daisy Wise Spirit B. 1889 d. 10-15-1909

Feather (Wiyakawin) b. 1862 (Rebecca Pierre) 3rd Spouse: See The Bear

Children Daughter: Nancy See The Bear b. 1905 Step-daughter
Daughter: Daisy Wise Spirit B. 1889 d. 10-15-1909

Rosa Pierre B. 1897
1st Spouse: Felix Frog

Children
Daughter: Thelma Angela Frog b. 7-14-1917 d. 1917

Felix Black Cloud b. 1883 d.9-3-1951 1st Spouse: Rosa Pierre b. 1897 d. 8-28-1919 2nd Spouse: Clara Pierre b. 1895 d.5-19-1928 3rd Spouse: Sarah Thompson b. 10-11-1907 d. 12-26-1974

Children Son: Narcisse Black Cloud b. 6-13-1915 d. 3-5-1956 Daughter: Sophy Black Cloud b. 8-8-1917 d. 4-9-1967 Daughter: Pauline Black Cloud b. 7-24-1919 Son: Patrick Black Cloud b. 3-31-1921 d. 9-23-1993 Son: Peter Black Cloud b. 1923 d. 8-19-1954 Daughter: Anastasia Black Cloud b. 5-1-1927 d. 7-28-1978 Son: Louis Black Cloud b. 9-27-1928 d. 5-1-1934 Daughter: Pauline Black Cloud b. 7-15-1930 Daughter: Martina Black Cloud b. 5-9-1932 Son: Philip Black Cloud b. 7-22-1934 d. 7-30-1959 Daughter: Julia Black Cloud b.5-23-1936 d. 1-1-1939 Son: Jonson Black Cloud b. 9-24-1937 d. 1940 Son: Richard Black Cloud b. 12-4-1938 d.7-7-1982
Felix Black Cloud b. 1883 d.9-3-1951 1st Spouse: Rosa Pierre b. 1896

Children Son: Narcisse Black Cloud b. 6-13-1915 d. 3-5-1956 Daughter: Sophia Black Cloud b. 8-8-1917 d. 4-9-1967 Daughter: Pauline Black Cloud b. 7-24-1919 d. 3-14-1929
Felix Black Cloud b. 1883 2nd Spouse: Clara Pierre b. 1894

Children Son: Patrick Black Cloud b. b. 3-31-1921 d. 9-23-1993 Son: Peter Black Cloud b. 1923 d. 8-19-1954
Felix Black Cloud b. 1883 3rd Spouse: Sarah Thompson b. 9-12-1907

Children Daughter: Anastasia Black Cloud b. 5-1-1927 d. 7-28-1978 Son: Louis Black Cloud b. 9-27-1928 d. 5-1-1934 Daughter: Pauline Black Cloud b. 7-15-1930 d.10-12-1954 Daughter: Martina Black Cloud b. 5-9-1932 Son: Philip Black Cloud b. 7-22-1934 d. 7-30-1959 Daughter: Julia Black Cloud b.5-23-1936 d. 1-1-1939 Son: Jonson Black Cloud b. 9-24-1937 d. 1940 Son: Richard Black Cloud b. 12-4-1938 d.7-7-1982

[ladonna]

I have tried to translate the name Saswe and Sa- swe- but cant find anything then ask our speaker here all say it is not a word maybe a slang for Sapa

[emilylevine]

Translation of Saswe:
Don't know how this might be related, but Francois Des Laurias (Deloria) was called Saswe. I have read that this is how the Dakota pronounced Francois, but that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. See Singing for a Spirit (Vine Deloria, Jr.).

[winona]

Ladonna, Thank you so much for the great family history of the Blackhawks/Pierres. I have tried for years to find the name of the elder Blackhawk's wife, and I never saw it anywhere. Amazing that he died at Little Big Horn! I appreciate all the work!
Also thanks for the "Sawse"--it probably is slang for Sapa--that makes the most sense.
Winona

[winona]

emilylevine, thank you for the info. Saswe might also be used for Francois, as Frank Pierre's original name might have been Francois. If his mother was a Santee, as Ladonna has indicated, then it would have a Dakota origination. We know his father also spoke French, because of his early years at Fort Union as a translater and trader. There is a pay account listed for him that appears in the African Americans in North Dakota book by Nygard. Thank you so much. Your work sounds fascinating!

[emilylevine]

Thanks Winona
Since D/Lakota has no "f" or "r" it could make sense.
Do you know about Frank Blackhawk and the Spicer murders? I have some information on that if you would like.

[winona]

emilylevine, i have done some research on that. I always wondered what happened to Frank Pierre Blackhawk afterwards. The story printed in one of the North Dakota newspapers in the 1920s, had him dying soon after 1897, and the claim was that a dance hall girl poisoned him,with an illegal bottle of alcohol, and they found him on the road back to Standing Rock. However, Winona, the village, was pretty well abandoned after Ft Yates closed in 1903. The man telling the story was pretty safe; most of the principals in the story were long gone.
Ladonna has him living until 1926, and I found an arrest in 1905 for a horse-stealing ring, but could find nothing more after that. He disappears from the Standing Rock census rolls around 1903, and wife Feather (Rebecca) lives with her daughters. Ladonna has her with third marriage, and more children, so it likely she divorced Frank.
I have Spicer trial transcripts and the newspaper accounts. Do you have anything else? Thanks, winona
Also, I misspelled the African Americans in North Dakota: Sources and Assessments, author: it is Thomas Newgard, Wm. C. Sherman, and John Guerrero (1994).

[ladonna]

This is what i was told and still have to check it out-
They said Frank BlackHawk worked up at the Catholic Church
here in Fort Yates, he was arrested for stealing wine from the
church and was sent to prison in Bismarck, after he was released
the church let him work there until he died.
I do know about the Spicer murders, my relative who was my great great
grandmother Nape Hote Win' son and was one of the boys that was
hung by the group of whitemen, he was a Ireland.
I have alot of information on the Spicer murders

[winona]

That is interesting about Frank Pierre (Blackhawk). I do know that he was arrested with Narcisse Benoit, and both convicted of selling "spiritous" liquor to "an Indian under the charge of an Agent." Benoit and Frank both got 16 months hard labor at the penitentiary in South Dakota in September 1887.
Would Frank have worked with Father Benedict and Father Francis at St. Peter's?
Ladonna, this is a delicate topic, but what was the belief of the people at Standing Rock?(We are referring to the murder of the Spicer family,6 people in Emmons County on their homestead in 1897. The accused were 5 young Lakota from Standing Rock Reservation.) I know that Major Cramsie, the Agent at the time, thought Alec Cadotte was innocent, and the third confession didn't even have Frank Blackhawk there. In the last confession, Paul Holy Track(Scare the Eagle) said he and Philip Ireland (Standing Bear) were the only two there at the Spicer farm, and that George Defender was also innocent. At the time of the murders, Frank and Alex Cadotte were in the guardhouse for allegedly stealing cattle, and Holy Track and Ireland thought they could name them as well, but then later changed their story to exonerate the other three accused.
When the prosecutors brought charges, they used the first confession that involved Blackhawk, Cadotte, Defender, Holy Track and Ireland to press charges. Obviously, 115 years later, it's hard to figure out who was innocent or guilty, but the whole thing raises so many questions.
I know in reading the trial transcripts, the issue of "time" and calendar days was so important, and most the Lakota as witnesses did not remember days in the Anglo way, which to the jury, made them think they couldn't recall the events, which wasn't true. They were just anchored by other natural events, such as a big snow, or death of a calf.
Cadotte, who was tried first, had as his lawyer, the former Asst. Attorney of the United States as his lawyer, along with the former State's Attorney for the Dakotas. Their representation was excellent, but I don't know if anything would have helped. Defender, in the second trial, was acquited.
Your thoughts?

[ladonna]

Great information, I can only tell you what is told in my family

Its was Alec (Alexander)Cadotte and Frank Black Hawk who were looking for alcohol and they were told that they could get it from the Spicer which was a joke because the Spicer did not drink.
They came back across and got two young men; Philip Ireland, (His father's name was Turning Bear not Standing Bear) who was 21 years old, and Paul Big Tracks some say was in his teens and
Then they got George Defender who was in his 30s to help them get some alcohol. Alec or Alexander Cadotte was 37 years old, and Frank was in his 40s, When the crime happened.
They went back across the river to the Spicers home and demanded Alcohol, from that point there are so many stories..
Mary-Nape Hota Win's Philip mother told us that Philip and Paul who were the young men were scared Frank and Alec were yelling at them to help but they Frank and Alec did the killing, she believed her son was innnocent and there is a picture of the hanging and my great grandmother is standing in the back with a blanket covering her in the transcript my great grandmother spoke at the trial. Who know if it is true mother's always believe their child is innocent. Beside what people say we believe that Frank and Alec did the killing.

[emilylevine]

I probably don't have anything re Spicer that you don't already know, but I'll post anyway:

©Josephine Waggoner
"About 1898, there was a great deal of la grippe, we called it then; later the same disease was called influenza. Mrs. Reed lost an infant and later lost a little girl two years old with diphtheria. They were buried in metal caskets right by their house. I also lost a son, my oldest son, David. The other children were girls.4 This disease took hundreds of the Indians from the villages. It took the oldest and the youngest. In 1896, my little daughter, the third child, fell from a highchair and hurt her back; she was only two years old at the time. I took her to Mr. Reed’s missionary hospital to a Miss Dr. Black in December.5 I stayed with my little girl; she was sick and cried for me so.6
While I was there, a young girl, Ella Spicer, did the cooking. One afternoon, a man drove to the hospital in a sleigh and took Miss Spicer away. I didn’t know what had happened till Mrs. Reed told me all the Spicer family had been killed by drunken Indians. Six of the most religious and peaceable lives passed out of existence. The Spicer family lived a few miles north of Winona. Gray Track, Frank Black Hawk, Alex Cadotte, and two other real young fellows, they had been drinking at Winona and made a nuisance of themselves. Someone directed them to the Spicer place thinking to play a joke on them, I suppose. It was a terrible affair and a shock to everyone, white people and Indians alike. Three of the boys were proven guilty and were lynched at Linton in North Dakota in January 1897. Frank Blackhawk and Defender could not be arrested as there was no evidence, but they soon died a natural death." 7

My note (© Emily Levine):
7. Winona, North Dakota, just across the Missouri River from Fort Yates, was basically a collection of saloons—there were nine of them—and whorehouses established to service the men of the post. The Indians of Standing Rock had long complained about the proximity of the town to the reservation saying it made “the soldiers brutal and abusive towards the Indians [and]. . . . they feared the influence upon their own people” (Aaron McGaffey Beede, “Spicer Murder,” unpublished manuscript, SHSND). They had requested the agent to do something about it and had gone so far as to ask him to write the president. Eventually, they hatched a plan to cross the river and clean up the town themselves, burning it to the ground. Dr. A.M. Beede writes that all of this contributed to the murders of the Spicer family. While the story is clouded, a few things are known: On Sunday, February 14, 1897, Frank Black Hawk, a mixed blood Indian-African American and Alexander (Alec) Coudotte, possibly a mixed blood French-Ojibway, tried to buy liquor at one of Winona’s blind pigs or underground saloons. (For Black Hawk’s parentage and a local’s view of the incident, see William Wade, Paha Sapa Tawoyake, 41 and 91-92.) The owner told them that his entire stock was being held by the town water hauler/drayman, a Mr. Pepper. The story goes that, as some sort of joke, Pepper told them the liquor was being stored in the basement of the preacher Thomas Spicer’s home. On the 17th, Black Hawk, Coudotte, George Defender, Paul Holy Track, and Philip Standing Bear Ireland allegedly went to the Spicer farm a mile and a half north of Winona and slaughtered all who were there: Thomas Spicer and his wife Mary Ellen, Mary Ellen’s aged mother Ellen Waldron, the couple’s daughter Lillie and her year and a half old twin boys. Ella, with whom Waggoner worked, and her sister Maggie were both away from home that day.
The arrest of suspects and subsequent trial were headline news. The state contended that there was not enough evidence to corroborate the confessions of the two men who had accused the other three and the State Supreme Court granted them a new trial. Either not willing to wait or fearing that the men would be acquitted, on November 13th a mob of forty men dragged Holy Track, Ireland, and Coudette from their cells while holding a gun on deputy sheriff Thomas Kelley. The other two suspects had been jailed at Bismarck or they would have been taken as well. Apparently the lynching was unsuccessfully attempted at two locations before the men were dragged to a beef windlass where Alec Coudotte was hung. According to the New York Times, by this point “Holy Track and Ireland were so nearly unconscious from the effects of being dragged to the spot that they did not realize what was about to happen when the ropes about their necks were tossed over the. . . beam. They were unable to stand and were slowly raised from the ground until their bodies swung in the air and dangled from the windlass” (“Mob Law in North Dakota,” New York Times, Nov. 15, 1897). The members of the mob were never prosecuted. Someone took a photograph. One account says that the mob was on their way to Bismarck to get Holy Track and Black Hawk, but had stopped at a bar in Mandan where two of the men accidentally drank ammonia and one of them died. The excursion to Bismarck was called off. Defender and Black Hawk were freed, but died soon after. Louise Erdrich used the Spicer family murders and the lynchings as the basis for her 2008 novel The Plague of Doves.

[emilylevine]