1930s

The Great Depression Era

By the 1930 Federal Census only three Native families were living in Milton township.

family #9 -
White, Peter, head, owns home valued at $200, Indian, 81, age at first marriage was 30, farm laborer, can't read/write; Chippewa, mixed, Chippewa

White, Mary, wife, white, 72, age at first marriage was 14, can read/write, born Canada (English), father born England, mother born North Ireland, speaks English, to US 1865, Naturalized citizen

White, John Van, grandson, Indian, 11, goes to school, can read/write, Chippewa, mixed, Chippewa

family #85 -
Mamgona, Benjamin, head, rents, lives on farm, age 56, widowed, can read/write, born Michigan, mixed blood, Chippewa, farmer on general farm

Gladys, daughter, 9, attends school, can read/write, born Michigan, mixed blood, Chippewa
Mark, son, 10, attends school, can read/write, born Michigan, mixed blood, Chippewa
David, son, 7, attends school, can read/write, born Michigan, mixed blood, Chippewa
James, brother, 58, can read/write, laborer on farm, born Michigan, mixed blood, Chippewa
Francis, brother, 47, can read/write, laborer on farm, born Michigan, mixed blood, Chippewa

family #93
Sogod, Jacob, rents $1, 81, widowed, can't read/write, born Michigan, full Ottawa

Several other families lived in Elk Rapids township

family #14 -

Bush, Thomas, head, rents, age 32, age at first marriage was 20, laborer at odd jobs

Elizabeth, wife, 32, age at first marriage was 20

Leo, son, 12

Luella, daughter, 10

Oakley, son, 8

Dail, son, 6

family #34 -

Nada, Elizabeth, head, owns home valued at $300, 47, widowed

Bird, Julia, daughter, 19, married at 17

    Julius, son-in-law, 24, married at 22, laborer at odd jobs

    Delora, gr. daughter, 10/12

Southbird, Stephen, brother, 44, widowed, laborer at odd jobs

    Elizabeth, niece, 6

    Isaac, nephew, 3 6/12

    Mary, mother, 81, widowed

family #142 -

Russell, Clarence, head, rents, 35, married at 21, no occupation given

Margaret, wife, 33, married at 18

Ivan L., son, 13

Mary, daughter, 111

Myrtle, daughter, 9

Carl, son, 6

Dorie, daughter, 3 8/12

Nettie M., daughter, 1 8/12

family #191 - 

Anderson, Edward, head, owns home valued at $75, 54, married at 24, no occupation

Theresa, wife, 48, married at 18, laundress for private famiies

Edward Jr., son, 27, married at 25, laborer at the power company

Percy, son, 20, laborer for the highway

Irene, daughter, 16

Mary, daughter, 13

Ida M., daughter, 9

Dorothy, dau-in-law, 19, married at 17

family #192 -

Shaw, Lucy, Head, owns home valued at $50, 27, widowed

    Madeline, daughter, 9

    Geneva, daughter, 7

    Albert J., son, 6

Judson, Elizabeth, daughter, 5

    Elsie, daughter, 4

    Effie, daughter, 1 8/12

    Harry, step-son, 18, laborer at odd jobs

family #193 -

Crane, Charles, head, owns home valued at $50, 54, married at 45, laborer at odd jobs

    Anna, wife, 50 first married at 20

Daniels, Eliza, step-dau., 25

    Lena, gr-daughter, 6

Bailey, Sophia, gr-daughter, 4

Lott, Mitchell, gr-son, 10/12

Daniels, Charley, step-son, 27

Kewanaway, Mary, lodger, 24

Angelina Williams Crane died 18 May 1930 in Elk Rapids. Cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage. She was born about 15 Mar 1876 in Oceana county, the daughter of John Williams. Informant was Ed Anderson. Angelina was buried in Kewadin [Indian Mission Cemetery].

David Marks died 4 Jun 1930 in Acme. He was born 26 Dec 1877, the son of Peter Marks and Annie Shondaca (Shawandase). Cause of death was rupture of abcess of chest contracted at lumber camp. Burial was Kewadin [Indian Mission Cemetery]

Mount Pleasant Indian School 1930-1931 school year.

On 1 Sep 1930, Mary Anderson, age 15, daughter of Therese and Edward Anderson of Elk Rapids, was admitted.

Mabel Smith [Ransom] foster daughter of Mary Smith, age 12, had been admittted 1 Sep 1928. 

Amgeline Wilson, age 8, and brother James, age 7, were admitted 8 Sep 1930. The children of Anna and Charles Wilson, they were living in Mancelona at the time. [Probably at Lumber Camp 40]

Leo Bush, son of Eliz. and Thomas Bush of Elk Rapids, age 15, was admitted 2 Sep 1929.

Also from Elk Rapids were Myrtle, age 9, and Mary, age 12, daughters of Clarence Russell. They had been admitted in September of 1929.

Elizabeth Louise Bird died 9 Feb 1931 in Elk Rapids. She was born 11 Oct 1930, the daughter of Julius Bird and Julia Nada. Cause of death was enteritis. Elizabeth was buried in Kewadin [Indian Mission Cemetery].

The 1931-1932 register of the Mount Pleasant Indian School shows Mary Anderson as graduating.

Others attending that year were:

Angeline and James Wilson

Gladys and Mark Mamagona

Leo Bush

Mabel Smith [Ransom]

Battle Creek Enguirer 2 Oct 1931 page 13

Article was picked up by the Associated Press and published in the Detroit Free Press 2 Oct 1931; The Pinconning Journal 21 Oct 1931 and the Madera Tribune (California) 20 Oct 1931.

Phyllis Ann King died 9 Oct 1931 in Elk Rapids. She was born 24 Aug 1931, the daughter of Jesse King and Anna Nada. Cause of death was enteritis. Informant was Jesse King. Phyllis was buried in Kewadin [Indian Mission Cemetery].

Former Milton township resident Amos Fox died 27 Oct 1931 at the Newberry State Hospital, Newberry, Luce, Michigan.

Louisa Ann Bird died 7 Dec 1931 in Elk Rapids. She was born 23 Jul 1873 in Suttons Bay the daughter of Mitchell Ance and Mary Ann Boursaw. Informant was her husband, Joe Bird. Louisa was buried in Kewadin [Indian Mission Cemetery.]

Charlie Crane died 27 Aug 1932 in Elk Rapids. He was about 62 years old, parents unknown. Cause of death was accidental burned over 1/2 of boy surface. Informant was Sam Nada. While death certificate says Charlie was buried in Elk Rapids he is said to be buried in Kewadin Indian Mission Cemetery.

Rosie Anewishki died 2 Jan 1933 at Bates, Acme township, Grand Traverse county. She was born 22 Dec 1899, daughter of John Anewishki and Angeline Chippewa. Cause of death was post partum hemorrhage. Burial was in Kewadin Indian Mission Cemetery. [Baby lived and was named John Anewishki Smith]

Frank Mamagoa died 26 Feb 1933 at the State Hospital in Traverse City. He was born 4 May 1878, the son of Noah Mamagona and Eliza. Cause of death was acute alcoholism delirum tremer, with acute nephritis. He was buried in the Kewadin Indian Mission Cemetery. 

August Gould died 8 Mar 1933 at Acme. He was born 8 Oct 1881, the son of August Gould and Rose Curtis. Cause of death was apoplexy. August was buried in Kewadin [Indian Mission Cemetery].

Steven Southbird died 31 Jul 1934 at Elk Rapids. He was born Apr 17 1885, the son of Isaac Southbird and Mary Chippewa. Cause was pleurisy chronic tubercular. Burial was in Suttons Bay.

Mancelona Herald 20 Sep 1934

About 200 Indians from Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Antrim and Emmet counties gathered at the Kewadin Indian church for an all day session Sunday to organize the various Indian societies into one association to prepare programs for the year. The speakers of the day were Amos John and Ed Hall of Northport, Amos Kagger and Andres Wasaquam of Petoskey and Paul Smith of Bay Shore.

Rosemary Anderson died 18 Mar 1935 in Elk Rapids. She was born 13 Mar 1935 in Elk Rapids, the daughter of Eddie Anderson Jr and Lena Williams. Informant was Eddie Anderson. Rosemary was buried in Kewadin [Indian Mission Cemetery].

Susan Anewashki died 27 Apr 1935 in Acme. She was the wife of Charles, daughter of Peter Marks and Anna Shawdase.  Cause of death was pneumonia. Susan was buried at the Kewadin Indian Mission Cemetery.

Samuel Koon died 21 May 1936 at the Grand Traverse County Hospital in Garfield township, Grand Traverse county. He was the son of George Koon and Mary Pequongay. Informant was Edwin Koon of Elk Rapids. Burial was in the Kewadin Indian Mission Cemetery.

Peter White died 11 Oct 1936 in Kewadin. He was about 90, born at Old Mission. A retired fisherman, he was widower of Mary, son of John White and unknown. Burial was in the Kewadin Indian Mission Cemetery.

Grand Rapids Press - 15 Oct 1936

Funeral at Kewadin For Peter Wabsquaw

    Elk Rapids, Oct. 15.---Funeral services for Peter Wabsquaw, better known as Peter White, 95, one of the oldest Indian residents of Kewadin was held Thursday at the Kewadin Indian mission. Burial was in the Indian cemeter there.

    He was born in Muskegon and moved to Kewadin when a young man, living there ever since.

    Surviving are two adopted sons, Jesse of Lansing and John of Grand Rapids.

Mary Eliza Williams died 2 Nov 1936. She was born 26 Apr 1916 in Brethern, the daughter of Edward Anderson and Theresa Roundsky. Husband was James Williams. Cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis. Informant was Mrs. Theresa Anderson. Mary was buried in Kewadin [Indian Mission Cemetery].

The Detroit Free Press 26 Dec 1936, page 2

ELK RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 25 --

Thieves are not considered by Ben Mamagon, Ottawa Indian, when he sleeps beside his huge copper kettle on the rare occasions when it is exhibited at a fair.

    He does it because the kettle, apparently pounded out of one sheet of heavy cooper, is a sacred trust. He smiles when he thinks of what would happen to a thief who stole it.

    Mamagona believes that it is a magic vessel and indicates that there is a secret about it. What this is, he says, will be known only to his son and he will not learn it until Mamagona is ready to die.

    Tradition says that the kettle owned by Mamagona, who lives in Kewadin on the northern extremity of Elk Lake, was discovered by one of his ancestors hundreds of years ago.

    The ancestor, a chief, was told in a dream to go to a huge white birth tree at what is now called Lake Mitchel, at Cadillac. There he found the unusual vessel, about three feet in diameter and two feet deep, and alongside it the stone with which the kettle had been made. 

    Mamagonna has the stone, flat-bottomed and round topped, with unusual weight for its small size. It is of a greenish tint unlike stones found hereabouts, and flecks of copper imbedded in it indicate the force used in making the kettle.

    He says that the one time it was out of his possession---when he loaned it to another Indian to make medicine---its action brought quick pleas for him to call for it. He said it suspended itslf in mid-air over a fire, astounding the medicine makers. Once, he says, it cried out when a thief came to steal it.

    During troublesome days for his tribe, he says, it was buried for many years until it came time for it to be brought out into the open again.

    In the future, he hints, it has some great mission. But he refuses to talk when questioned about what it might be.

Mary Southbird, wife of Isaac Southbird, daughter of Steve Chippewa and unknown died 24 Jan 1937 in Elk Rapids. Her birth was given as 7 Jun 1851. Burial was in Peshawbestown.

Julia Bird, wife of Julius Bird, daughter of Eli Nada and Elizabeth, died 3 Feb 1937 of tuberculosis. 

Gordon Francis Lewis, infant son of Bennett Lewis and Lucille Anderson died of pneumonia on 6 Feb 1937 in Elk Rapids. Baby was born 4 May 1936. He was buried in Kewadin Indian Mission Cemetery.

Mabel Irene John, daughter of Harry John and Ida May Anderson, died 22 Dec 1938 in Traverse City of lobar pneumonia and malnutrition. She was born 28 Apr 1938.

Twin daughters of Percy Anderson and wife Louise nee Williams were born 26 Jun 1939. Sadly the babies died soon after. Rose Ann Anderson, died 2 Jul 1939, while twin sister Mary Ann Anderson died 4 Jul 1939.

Eddie James Anderson, son of Eddie Anderson and Lena Williams died 22 Dec 1939 of atelectasis. He lived for only 15 minutes. Baby was buried in the Kewadin Indian Mission cemetery.

Copyright (c) 2023 Vicki Wilson