Leon Otashquabona

Leon Otashquabono was said to be born 6 Jan 1842 in Canada, the son of Matihagina and Ching buqua.

[Photo from the files of the Burton Library, Detroit, Michigan. Date taken unknown. Note his Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) hat and medal. He belonged to post 119,  the Baxter post of Charlevoix The post organized in 1883, was named for General Henry Baxter of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry and was disbanded in 1910.]

Leon O-tash-qua-bon-o, Little Traverse. Enlisted in company K, First Sharpshooters, Aug. 22, 1863, at Northport, for 3 years, age 23. Mustered Oct. 21, 1863. Promoted Corporal July 3, 1865. Mustered out at Delaney House, D.C., Jul 28, 1865. Died April 3, 1902, at Harbor Springs, Mich.

Leon was mustered in on 21 Oct 1863 at Camp Douglas in Chicago where Company K spent seven months guarding confederate prisioners. 

[Service records will be added here once obtained.]

Leon mustered out on 28 Jul 1865 at Delaney House in Washington, D.C. He then returned to Michigan on the steamer Morning Star.

On 7 Sep 1865 in Emmet county, Leo Odashkwabano, age 22, marred Mary Ann Giwaise, age 20. Both listed Little Traverse as home. The ceremony was performed by Seraphim Zorn, Catholic priest. Witnesses were Daniel and Philomene Nisawakwad, also of Little Traverse.

1865 Annuity roll - under Chief Paul Shaw way nay se

#65 Leon Tush quay aw baw no, 1 man, 1 woman, no children, received $8.00

A son was born about 1866.

1866 Annuity roll - under Chief Paul Shaw way nay se

#51 Leon Tush quay aw baw no, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, received $11.22

1867 Annuity roll - under Chief Paul Shaw way nay se

#50 Leon Tush quay aw baw no, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, received $10.71

1868 Annuity roll - under Chief Paul Shaw way nay se

#43 Leon Tush quay aw baw no, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, received $47.55

Mary Ann died 31 Jan 1869 at the age of 23 in Little Traverse. She was married, daughter of Louis and Lucy Kiwese. Cause of death was influmation of lungs from cold.

1870 Annuity Roll - under Chief Daniel Ne-saw-waw-quot

#42 Leon Tush quay aw baw no, 1 man, no women, 1 child, received $30.00

The 1870 Federal Census found Leon and his son living with Mary Ann's parents in Little Traverse, Emmet, Michigan.

Kewasa, Louis, 53, farmer, owns real estate valued at $440, personal estate valued at $160

    Lucy, 45, keeps house

    Margaret, 11, at home

Otashquabano, 4, male

    Leo, 26, farmer laborer, owns real estate valued at $100

Kewasa, Joseph, 27?, farm laborer

1870 Federal Census - agricultural schedule

line 29, Kewaesa, Louis

10 acres improved, 110 acres wooded; $440 value of farm; $25 value of implements

2 horse, 1 milch cow, $150 value of livestock

20 bushels of wheat, 40 bushels of corn, 50 bushels of oats.

On 7 May 1871 Leon was married to Mary Ann Kabaashqua Wemickwase in Charlevoix. He is 28, occupation farmer. She is 27. Ceremony was performed by Father Zorn and witnessed by Basil and Mary Migsawbe.

Homestead certificate #3097 dated 9 Sep 1878 gives Leon the NE 1/4 of section 15, township 34, range 7 (Hayes township, Charlevoix county).

Charlevoix county tax records - Hayes township

1878 - Otaskawbano, Leon, NE 1/4 section 15, township 34, range 7, 160 acres, no value given for land. Value of personal $4.00, total value $4.00 School district 1, state tax 44 cents, county tax, $2.80, township tax $3.20, school tax $10, total $16.44, paid 12 02

Abstract of title - Charlevoix county, Hayes township - section 15, township 34 range 7

Line 2 - United States to Leon Otish-quay-yaw-bam, patent, 9 Sep 1879, homestead, liber 4 page 465, all of the NE 1/4 of section 15, township 34, range 7.

Line 3 - Leon Otish quay yaw bam & wife to George & John Saunby, warrenty deed, for $300. 12 Nov 1878, liber 3 page 494, E 1/2 of the NE 1/4

Daughter Maggie was born on 26 Dec 1878 in Hayes. Her last name was given as Leon.

Line 10 - Leon Otish qua baw no & wife to Ellen J. Eaton, warrenty deed, for $500, 26 Nov 1880, liber 6 page 346, W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 - also on line 29, liber 18, page 257.

Charlevoix county tax records - Hayes township

1879 - Ote squabano, Leon, W1/2 of NE 1/4 section 15, township 34, range 7, 80 acres valued at $190. . School district 1, state tax 38 cents, county tax, $1.52, township tax $1.52, school tax $4.94 total  $9.36.

Value of personal $30, state tax 6 cents, county tax 24 cents, township tax 24 cents, school tax 78 cents, dog $1. total $2.32. Taxes paid Feb 28 except dog.

Index of Mortgages - Charlevoix county

Feb 1880 Otashquabana, Leon & wife, mortagors to Lydia & Rachel S. Smith, mortgagees, liber 4, page 127, W 1/2 of NE 1/4 section 15, township 34, range 7. Discharged

1880 Federal Census - Hayes, Charlevoix, Michigan

Otoshkonobono, Leon, 36, farming

Mary A., 36, wife, keeping house

Philomen, 10, son

Rosa, 7, daughter

Stephen, 5, son

Mary M.,1, daughter 

1880 Federal Census - Agriculture schedule - Hayes, Charlevoix, Michigan, 5 Jun 1800

line 9, Otshbonobono Leon, tilled 3 acres, wood land 37 acres

value of farm $200, [as written], value of equipment $25, value of live stock $160

cost of building/repairing in 1879 $10

estimated value of production $80

grass land - 1 acre mown

poultry - barn yard 8, other 4, eggs in 1879 - 30 dozen

corn - 1 acre, 25 bushels

wheat - 1 acre, 20 bushels

maple - sugar 300 lbs., molassas 15 gallons

potatoes - 2 acres, 80 bushels

value of forest products sold $50

Charlevoix county tax records - Hayes township

1880 - Otesquabano, Leon W 1/2 of NE 1/4 section 15, township 34 range 7, 80 acres, valued at $450. School district 1, state tax 18 cents, county tax $1.80, township tax $1.35, school tax $3.15, total $6.48.

Personal valued $75, state tax 3 cents, county tax 30 cents, township tax 22 cents, school tax 53 cents, total $1.08. Taxes paid Feb 26/81

Index of Mortgages - Charlevoix county

Nov 1880 Otashquanbane, Leon & wife from Lydia & RAchel S. Smith, liber 4 page 127, discharge of mortgage.

Sep 1882, Otashquabono, Leon & wife to Luna H. Green, liber 4, page 593, lot 1 block, village of Ironton

Aug 1883 Otash qua bono, Leon & wife from Luna A. Green, liber 4 page 593, discharge of mortgage.

On 27 Apr 1882 L. Otashquabono purchased from Thomas C. Bird & wife, Lot 1 Block 4 in the village of Ironton, for $18. Recorded in Charlevoix county land records book 8 page 609

On 9 Nov 1885 Leon applied for a pension.

[Pension records to be added here when received.]

The following newspaper articles show some of the hardship and sorrow endured by Leon and his family.

4 Feb 1886 Charlevoix Journal

The daughter of Leon Otashquabono (Indian) died Friday night. The ladies aided the family in arrangements for the funeral, the expense of which was borne by the G.A.R. Leon having been a sharpshooter during the war, and is a member of the post just established.

4 Apr 1887 Charlevoix Sentinel 

Much sympathy is felt here for Leon Otashquabuno (Indian) who last Friday buried his 16 year old daughter, as this is the fifth child he has lost in a short time with consumption.

4 May 1887 Charlevoix Sentinel 

The father of Leon Otashquabono’s wife, an ancient Indian being about a century in years died at Leon’s house last week and was buried on Sunday.

The 1890 Veterans Census finds Leon living in Eveline township, Charlevoix county.

In 1895 at Ste Croix, Wikwmikong, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada, after the publication of banns, Francois Shigwadja, son of Louis Shigwadja and Catherine Lange married Sophie, daughter of Leon Otushkqayono of L'arbre Croche, Michinga and Marie Anna Wimigwans. [Record page 227 Drouin Collection for Ste. Croix, Wikwemikong]

The 1900 Federal Census for Eveline Township, Charlevoix county has Leon Otasquabono, born Jan 1842, age 58, married 27 years, born Canada, father born Canada, mother born Michigan, occupation wood chopper, came to US in 1850, naturalized citizen, owns house. Marion Otasquabono, wife, born Jan 1842, age 58, married 27 years, born Canada, father born Canada, mother born Michigan. Marion says she gave birth to 3 children, 1 living. Also in the household are Francis Shiwaga, son-in-law, born Feb 1872, age 28, married 3 years, occupation wood chopper, to US in 1896,born Canada, parents born Canada; Sophie Shiwaga, daughter, born Oct 1875, age 24, 1 child born, 1 child living, born in Michigan, parents born in Canada; and Rose Shiwags, granddaughter, b. Apr 1890, age 1/12, born Michigan, father born Canada, mother born Michigan. (If age is really one month Rose was born in 1900 not 1890.)

Leon died 3 Apr 1902 in Harbor Springs, Emmet county. His death certificate says he was born 6 Jan 1842 in Canada, the son of Matihagina and Ching buqua. Leon's wife is living and he was the parent of one child who is deceased.

Leon is buried at Holy Childhood of Jesus Cemetery in Harbor Springs. He has two monuments, a tombstone and a zinc angel.

From The Independent Democrat of 11 Apr 1902

On 5 May 1902 Leon's widow, Mary, applied for a pension. She received $8 per month until 19 Apr 1908, $12 per month until it was increased to $20 on 8 Sep 1916. Additionally increased to $25 per month on  6 Oct 1917 and $30 per month 1 May 1920.

The 1910 Federal Census has Marian Otashquabona living in Readmond Township in Emmet county. She is 69 years old, widowed, mother of 7 children, none living. Occupation is given as pensioner and she lives in a rented house.

In 1920 Mary Ann Otashquobona is still living in Readmond Township, but she has aged 21 years in the 10 year period, now giving her age as 90. Her occupation is now listed as none.

Mary died on  25 Feb 1924 in Cross Village, Emmet county, age given as about 90. Instead of cause of death the following is written, "Could get no facts concerning this woman. People she stayed with were not relatives and seem to known nothing of her." Burial is given only as Cross Village.

....

Copyright (C) 2017 Vicki Wilson