1830s & 1840s

Exactly when Annishnabek moved to the Kewadin area is not known. “The 1810 map is the first to show Ojibwa villages on the northeast shores of Lake Michigan in a region principally occupied by the Ottawa. Early Ojibwa locations tentatively identified are Stony Point on the western shore of Grand Traverse Bay and Wequagemog on the eastern side of the bay at the north end of Elk Lake.” [Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History, edited by Helen Hornbeck Tanner, 1987, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, page 97]

Dr. James M. McClurken states that the villages on Grand Traverse Bay considered themselves as ethnically Chippewa until the late 1840s.[The Michigan Historical Review, vol 12 #1, Spring 1986]

"Aish quay go nay be was the chief of a large band that was originally located north of Torch Lake in Antrim County. The population in 1836 was 292 and was 409 in 1837."

21 - Grand Traverse Band - Chief Aish quay go nay be
22 - Carp River Band - Chief Michinock
23 - Grand Traverse Band - Chief Agosa

[from Larry Wykoff at Academia.edu]

On March 28, 1836 a treaty was signed in Washington D.C. by the following Grand Traverse chiefs: Aishquagonabee, Oshawun, Epensysee and Akosa. In the treaty a tract of 20,000 acres on the north shore of Grand Traverse Bay was to be reserved for the use of the Grand Traverse Anishnabeeks. A supplemental article was signed on March 31st by Aishquagonabee and Akosa.

The tenth article of the treaty made payments to the various chiefs under the following schedule: those considered first class and entitled to $500 each at Grand Traverse - Aishquangonabee, or the Feather of Honor, Chabwossun, Mikenok; those considered second class and entitled to $200 each at Grand Traverse – Akosa, Nebauquumm Kabibonocca; and those considered third class and entitled to $100 each at Grand Traverse – Shawun Epenaysee and Agausgee.

The Indian Dormitory was built on Mackinac Island as part of the 1836 treaty as a place to house the Natives coming to the island for the annuity payments. As the Natives continued to camp at the harbor instead, the building was used as an administration building, a public school and currently an art museum.

Henry Schoolcraft's 1837 map of the area with Native Villages numbered.

1836 annuity roll 

The 1839 annuity roll of “the Band or Village of Grand Traverse” lists 110 families (91 men 105 women, 204 children) with a total of 400 people. Family #1 is Esh-qua-guen-a-ba (chief) who is living near Eastport and later Elk Rapids according to Rev. Dougherty's diary while family #76 is Ah-goo-say, who Dougherty places at Old Mission.

From a transcription by Larry Wykoff [from Academia.edu]

1.  Esh qua guen a ba, Chief , 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
2.  Shaw wan a shee, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
3. Na ska zee, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
4. Ah wan e gezhick, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children, $53.04
5. Ma mah gowina, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
6. Mache we dah 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
7. Kish ke qwence, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
8. Ah won ah be, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
9. Ogick, (or Fisher), 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children, $61.88
10. Menah nah quot, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
11. Main de do, 1 man, 3 woman, no children, $35.36
12. Ogema ghee ge do, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
13. Manedo wah be, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
14. Wah we yah do wan, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
15. Kezhe go Ogemaw, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
16. Nay to wah do wan, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
17. Pim way way, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
18. Shaw gah bon gon, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
19. Nis so guad, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children, $53.04
20. Kay me won ne skang, 1 man, 1 woman, no children $17.68
21. May zhe kain, 1 man, no women, 1 child, $17.68
22. Tay bah ke yah bau dam, 1 man, 1 woman, no childdren, $17.68
23. Ah kay os say, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
24. Ching wah, me kah o go, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
25. Omah yah won din o quay, no men, 1 woman, 2 children, $26.52
26. Otah be tah gezhick o qua, no men, 2 women, 1 child, $26.52
27. Mesah kam e go quay, no men, 1 woman, 4 children, $44.20
28. Ah be dah gah win aw, no men, 1 woman, 5 children $53.04
29. Om a dway je won o quay, no men, 1 woman, no children $8.84
30. Oshaw a nah a mo quay, no men, 1 woman, 2 children, $26.52
31. Pid way way skam, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
32. Mache ke wis, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
33. Ne bee zee qua, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
34. Ne ga nah quam, 1 man, no women, 1 child, $17.68
35. Nah ba nay gee zhick, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children, $53.04
36. Ah won nah quot, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
37. Pay bah me say, 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
Total - 31 men, 37 women, 72 children, total of 140 people $1,237.60

38. Koos say, Chief, 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children, $61.88
39. Nah kay os say, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
40. Qua ke ge won o quay, 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
41. Meshe naw do way, 1 man, no women, 1 child, $17.68
42. Ne che gaw me ke shin, 1 man, 2 women, 1 child, $35.36
43. Mo ke wenaw, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
44. Osee be qua, no men, 1 woman, 1 child, $17.68
45. Omis sin na sko day way, 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children, $61.88
46. Shaw won an gay o say, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children, $53.04
47. Meshee genee qua, no men, 1 woman, 2 children, $26.52
48. Kaw gee gay maig, 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children, $61.88
49. Ocheg wah gan, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
50. Ah ke wainzee, 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
51. Pash an o quang, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
52. Keway koskam, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
53. Kezhe aw ben o quay, no men, 1 woman, 2 children, $26.52
54. Pontiac, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
55. Ah kee naw ah inang, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 children, $26.52
56. Megis se mong, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
57. Pe wosh, 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children, $61.88
58. Oh aw on e gon abay, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
59. Kay quay dah ba tang, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
60. Amuk way bay, 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
61. Wah sange 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
62. Kah geem, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
63. Osaw an nah na quay, no men, 1 woman, 2 children, $26.52
64. Osaw ganah quoto, 1 man, no women, 1 child, $17.68
65. Kay shin sha way, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
66. O be me geen, no men, 1 woman, 1 child, $17.68
67. May ah wad ge way1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
68. Pedway we tum, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
69. Nay na gonce, 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children, $61.88
70. Kaw be bo an o kay, 1 man, 1 woman, 7 children, $79.55
71. Ay gaw che en, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children, $53.04
72. O to pen bee, 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
73. Penace wa no quot, 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
74. Qua ke o qua, no men, 1 woman, no children, $8.84
75. Osh aw on a benace, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children $53.04
76. Ah goos say, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
77. Mad way sah ge naw, no men, 1 woman, 2 children, $26.52
78. Ma ka da kis kaw gon, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
79. Kay way do say, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
80. Sha won day see, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
81. Kay dah gay, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
82. Mish wa quay, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
83. Wa be zhe bezhe, 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
84. Kay bay os say, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
85. Shaw bwa sang, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children, $53.04
86. Kaw gee zhe quang, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 child $35.36
87. Nis sah wah co wena, 1 man, 1 woman, 6 children, $70.72
88. Esh quay bay 1 man, no women, 1 child, $17.68
89. Nay way day geezhick, 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children, $61.88
90. Sageto, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
91. Wab Inni, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
92. Pezhe ke we gezhic, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
93. Maw je ge nig, no men, 2 women, 3 children, $44.20
94. Waw be na ce, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
95. Shaw go zhe way, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
96. Ka gen, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
97. Sa cum e go qua, no men, 2 women, 3 children, $44.20
98. Che ke wis, 1 man, 1 women, 3 children, $44.20
99. Qua tche o, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, $35.36
100. Ke o gemaw, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children, $53.04
101. Sa ge wa qua, 1 man, 3 women, no children, $35.36
102. Sa we mick, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
103. A na wa be, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, $17.68
104. Ne sa kay, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, $26.52
105. Nis saw wa quot, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, $44.20
106. Ke tche ge won o qua, no men, 3 women, no children, $26.52
107. She gaw gon we she qua, no men, 1 woman, no children, $8.84
108. Ke we twash ka mo quay, no men, 1 woman, no children, $8.84
109. Be naw gay, no men, 1 woman, no children, $8.84
110. Mis is sack, 1 man, no women, no children, $8.84
Total 60 men, 68 women, 132 children, total of 260 people, $2,298.40


A land survey was taken of the area by deputy surveyors Sylvester Sibley and John Hodgson commenced on 20 Apr 1839 and was completed 27 Jun 1839. Elk Lake is to the south in section 11. [From the Bureau of Land Management]

“When the Protestant missionaries entered the Grand Traverse region, the Indians had several permanent settlements. There were gardens on the Old Mission Peninsula, a village of wigwams stood on the banks of Old Mission harbor.” [The First Protestant Mission in the Grand Traverse Region, by Ruth Craker, 1932, Rivercrest House, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, page 20] Natives in the region were found to be cultivating corn, pumpkins, beans and potatoes.

When Rev. Doughtery first came to the region, looking for a spot to set up his mission he stopped first at what would become Old Mission, a village containing a few bark wigwams and nearly empty of people. The Band was encamped at the mouth of the river on the opposite side of the bay. After meeting with both Chief Ahgosa (of Old Mission) and Chief Aish-qua-gwan-aba (from the East Port area), Chief Aish-qua-gwan-aba stated his intent to move his band to the Elk Rapids area and have the others join him so it was decided to set up the mission at Elk Rapids.

On May 20, 1839 Dougherty landed at Elk Rapids and commenced to build a house. This had been completed when Henry Schoolcraft, Indian agent from Mackinaw arrived on June 20th. Schoolcraft decided Old Mission was the best site to locate the Government provided carpenter, farmer and blacksmith. Soon Chief Ahgosa visited Dougherty and being unwilling to move to Elk Rapids asked Dougherty to move the mission across the bay to Old Mission peninsula.

Rev. Dougherty's diary tells us “Sabbath, June 30, 1839. The morning bright and pleasant. Most of the men absent. Sent word to Aish-qua-gwan-aba who attended worship with several of his men. Talked to them about the origin of man. All attentive.”

Andrew Blackbird (Me-ka-te-bi-neshi) arrived in the fall of 1840 as government blacksmith. Earning $240 per year, he stayed in the area for five years. While there he worked on the copper kettle of legend.

Dougherty's diary gives a glimpse of Aish-qua-gwan-aba. “Friday, June 3. The old Chief, Aish-qua-gwan-aba said I was too young a man to teach them. If they had an old man the Indian would listed. He is an old snake.” [But he was right in regard to Anishnabe feeling/reverence toward elders].

“Mrs. Susan Pequongay said that Aish-gua-gwan-aba came from Kewadin to Old Mission, that he was fat and short, and indulged in fire-water very often. The meaning of his Indian name is 'the last feather'.” [ Ruth Craker, page 68].

Chief Ahgosa has been described at tall and slim, good looking with a red face and straight black hair. He enjoyed dressing in white man's clothing, and there are pictures/drawings of him in a top hat. Craker's book claims he was born at St. Clair, migrated to a small island near Mackinaw, moved to Charlevoix, Norwood and lastly to Old Mission, being there only a short time before Dougherty arrived in 1839. It is unknown how many of his band moved with him, but since bands are loosely related it is likely the others also originated elsewhere.

"The [Grand Traverse Indian] agency employees were supposed to model European-American civilization for the Chippewa. Often what the Indians saw, however, were the expressions of jealousy and pettiness that marked the worst features of small-town life. The year before Blackbird came to Grand Traverse the agency carpenter, George Johnston, became embroiled in a dispute with the blacksmith, Isaac George. When the blacksmith claimed that Johnston was delinquent in paying him a $5 debt, the latter contended that his honor had been impugned. He took a gun to the blacksmith's shop and demanded that [Isaac] George apologized of "meet him like a man." The blacksmith refused and holed up in his shop the entire day with George Johnston waiting outside, his gun cocked. Dougherty found them so situated that evening and he intervened, convincing Johnston to return to his home. Akosa, one of the leading chiefs in the area, was shocked at the confrontation and he askied Dougherty for an "explanation of the matter." The chief told Dougherty the Chippewa "could not understand how those who called themselves Christians would thus try and shoot each other." Akosa slyly observed that for their part the Chippewa "lived in peace and they never saw anything like that unless men were intoxicated." [Pages 101-102, Blackbird's Song referencing a letter from Peter Dougherty to Walter Lowrie, 4 May 1839.]

Rev. Dougherty's diary mentions that on 13 Jan 1841 "last evening made an interestin visit to an old Indian, Kich-e-go-me-kish-en." Also from his diary 10 May 1841. "This day I opened the school with 25 scholars."


"A list showing the age time of entering & progress of Children attending the School at Grand Traverse Bay" 

The records of Rev. Dougherty's mission show who was in the Old Mission/Elk Rapids areas during the 1840s. [Original record book at Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.]

4 Jun 1843 - 12 baptized: Native name, given English name

Ah go sa (a chief), Addison Potts

Mechegumekshin, Samuel Miller

Menonequd, David Comfort

Naish ka ze, Moses Allen

Kah ga maig, John Krebs

Muh ou ah non, Daniel Wells

Nah we nah mik o qua, Sarah Miller

Tah we se qua, Jane Comfort

Ke wa zim oqua, Mary Downey

On je qua, Emma Allen

Se be qua, Abby Dodd

Shon das e qua, Ann Miller


Baptized 25 Jun 1843:

Ahgosa had:
Madwagonashe, David, about 9 years old
Kesis, Jhn Lowrie, about 7 years old
Anwahtin, Robert Lenox, about 5 years old
Kewadinequm, Albert, about 3 years old

Mechegumakishen had:
Mawaguhkong, Jane, about 9 years old
Mikenok, William about 3 years old

Nenonequd had:
Wassagezhieoqua, Eliza, about 10 years old
Wah bun oqua, Susan, about 8 years old
Aish kuh be gah sing, George, about 6 years
----, Henry, about 9 months old

Sebe qua had 2
Wahsa ah no qua, Hannah, about 7 years old
Sah wah nah ba, Joseph, about 5 years old

Kah ga maig had 1
Kessie sonqua, James, about 9 years old

Naish ka ze had 3
Wah sah go nabe, Walter Lowrie, about 6 years old
----, Soloman, no age given
----, Anna, no age given.


7 Jan 1844 - persons admitted to the church membership

Kah gee, named Henry
Unduhwahbushe, named Elizabeth
Quakejeshnoqua, named Phebe

Moses Allen had son Charles baptized


Jul 1844 - five persons admitted to the church

Babezha, named Agnes

Shahwenahshe, named Joseph

Shoundase, named Isaac

Gingwah nah quhum, named Charles Fisher

Ozhe gah bah we qua, named Jemima

Four members suspended for drinking - Emma Allen, Elizabeth, Phebe and Henry.

One member reinstated - Mary Downey

July 1844 - 4th Sabbath

Children baptized:
Isaac had 3
Mary about 8;
Levi about 6
Lydia about 6 months

Mo suh e nah had
Harriet, about  6 months

4 Jan 1845

Ke wa yon joined the church and was given the name Susan

Babezha / Agnes had on child baptized - Jane, about 6


7 Jan 1845, Elizabeth Potts, wife of Chief (Ahgosa) died.


18 May 1845

The chief's daughter,Mis suh nah ne qud joined the church and was given the name Ellen.

The Chief Addison Potts had baptized  one named George Hale

Me non e qud had one baptized named Sidney

Kah ge and Se be qua had an adopted child baptized Isabella


June 1846

Two members of the church, Mo kue nah (Daniel Wells) and his wife uaquejeahnoqua (Phebe Wells) were kept back for improper conduct.

Charles Fisher and Henry Gahgee or Crow were stored to church membership, having been suspended for drinking.

Joseph Shahwuhnakshe was ill

Baptized children were:

Moses Allen and wife - one named Mary Ann

Abby Dodd - one name Thomas


May 1847

Baptized:
Ahka, given the name James

Ahka's wife, given the name Ellen

Mengowene's wife, given the name Martha


25 Jun 1847

Baptized:

Mem go we ne, given the name Edwin

Wuh muh ge zhik, given the name Aaron

Nos cah, given the name Edward

Wah sahj, given the name Agnes

Pe me ga, given the name Margaret

Pe na se wah, given the name Catherine

Wah me mik o qua [no English name listed]

Children baptized:

Memgowene, one -  named Mary Ann

Nos cah, one - named Charlott

Wah be mik o qua, two -
Pabahmasa, named John
Tubuhsuhgezhik, named George

Pe me ga, one - Negonce, named Abby

Nashkaze, one named Nancy


1845 Annuity Roll - Chief Aish quay gon a bee - 163 people

1846 Annuity Roll - Chief Aish quay gon a bee - 178 people

From the Census Returns of the Indian Tribes of the United States 

1848

Algonquin Group - Chippewas of Grand Traverse Bay - #9 Eshquagonabee's Band:

Number of Families in the Tribe or Band is 24
Whole Number of Souls of all ages and both sexes is 127
Males under the Age of 18 is 49
Females under the Age of 16 is 20
Males age 18-60 is 27
Females age 16-60 is 28
Both sexes age 60-100 is 3
White males is 0
White females is 0
Male children of half or mixed blood is 0
Female children of half or mixed blood is 0
Marriages during the year is 0
Number of births during the year - male is 5
Number of births during the year - female is 0
Number of deaths during the year - male is 2
Number of deaths during the year - female is 0
Number of deaf / dumb is 0
Number of lunatics / insane is 0
Number of idiots is 0

Number born blind is 0
Hunters is 26
Farmers is 37
Male interpreters is 0
Female interpreters is 0
Blacksmith is 2
Carpenter is 1
Shoemakers is 0
Wheelwrights is 0
Silversmiths is 0
Tailors is 1
Traders is 0
Learned professions is 0
Males attending school is 37
Females attending school is 10
Children speaking English is 5
Males working as teachers is 0

Females working as teachers is 0
Male Sabbath-school scholars is 22
Female Sabbath-school scholars is 27
Males who can read and write is 10
Females who can read and write is 2
Males who know vocal music is 9
Females who know vocal music is 5
Females who spin, knit, weave is 13
Yards of homespun wove is 0
Pairs of stockings knit is 0
Females who can do seamstress work is 2
Garments made 101
Acres cultivated is 150
Bushels of corn is 530
Bushels of wheat is 0
Bushels of potatoes is 848

Bushels of oats is 0
Bushels of beans is 30
Bushels of peas is 0
Bushels of buckwheat is 0
Bushels of turnips is 0
Pounds of flax is 0
Pounds of hemp is 0
Pounds of cotton is 0
Fruit trees is 1
Melons grown is 3,000
Pounds of maple sugar is 8,800
Pounds of cheese is 0
Pounds of butter is 0
Pounds of honey is 0
Beef cattle killed or sold is 0
Estimated value of agricultural or hunt products of the family during the year is $80
Number of horses is 13
Number of mules is 0
Number of oxen is 0
Number of milch cows is 0

Number of cattle is 0
Number of sheep is 0
Fleece sheared is 0
Number of hogs is 60
Number of ploughs is 0
Number of carts is 0
Number of log-chains is 0
Number of crowbars is 0
Number of hoes is 51
Number of spades / shovels is 9
Number of axes is 63
Number of harrows / drills is 0
Number of buggies / pleasure wagons is 0
Number of saddles / bridles is 11
Estimated value of implements is 0
Average value of skins is 0
Number of skins is 0
Total estimated value of year's hunt in the family is $25.00

Cash annuity is 0
Male Christians is 32
Female Christians is 40
Practice Native religion is 54
Number of clans is 1
Number of chief - 1st class is 1
Number of chief - 2nd class is 1
Number of war chiefs is 0
Number of warriors is 0

1848 Annuity Roll - Chief Aish gua gon a bi and Chief Ah ko say

Transcription by Larry Wyckoff.

copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson

updated Oct 2024