Henry Wassagezic / Condecon was born in Michigan 30 Apr 1847 in Michigan, the son of John Waasegiizhig Okandikan Sr and Ikwezens Blackbird. John was the son of Chief Okandikan while Ikwezens (Mary) was the daughter of Chief Mukadabenance. Henry was the third child/oldest son of nine children.
Picture biography of Okandikan. The 1847 Treaty of Fond du Lac was signed by O-rum-de-kun (aka Okandikan), chief, for the Ontonagon band.
From the 1850 Chippewas of Lake Superior and Mississippi Annuity Roll transcribed by Larry M. Wyckoff:
Ontonagon Band
O kun de kun, Chief - total in family 1 [Henry's paternal grandfather]
Wah sa ge shick - total in family 4 [Henry's father, mother, sibling and Henry himself]
The obituary of Henry's grandfather, Chief Condecon (Okandikan/Kundickan) was published in many newspapers throughout the country and even in Glasgow, Scotland. Below is from the Detroit Free Press of 1 Oct 1859.
Henry enlisted in Company K, First Michigan Sharpshooters, 24 Sep 1864 at Pewabic, for 3 years. He was 17 years old, mustered in 20 Oct 1864.
Henry mustered out at Delaney House in Washington, D.C. 28 Jul 1865. He returned to Detroit on the steamer Morning Star.
1874 Chippewas of Lake Superior Annuity Payment Roll [transcribed by Larry M. Wykoff]
Ontonagon band:
Waw say ke zhick, Chief 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children, received $5.40.
While no longer a child in his father's family, Henry was not found as head of his own family.
Henry's brother John tells what life was like during this time and the movements between Michigan and Wisconsin in Seasons of Change, Labor, Treaty Rights, and Ojibwe Nationhood by Chantal Norrgard; pages 31, 67 and 68.
Henry lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan until 1887 when he and his family moved to Odanah, Wisconsin.
Henry is listed in the 7 Sep 1889 Bad River Reservation census, age 48.
G.A.R. roster - Custer Post 140, Ashland, Wisconsin - shows Henry as a member.
The Bad River Reservation census of 1890 has Henry, age 49, and wife Louise Mayotte, age 31.
Pension card - Henry applied 20 Oct 1890.
The Bad River Reservations Census of 30 Jun 1891 lists Henry, age 48, wife Louise Mayotte, age 31 and daughter Kin sense, age 1.
The Bad River Reservation of 30 Jun 1892 lists Henry, 49, wife Louise Mayotte, 32, and daughter Kin sense, age 2.
The Bad River Reservation on 30 Jun 1893 lists Henry, 50, wife Louise Mayotte, 33, sons Tom, age 2 and John, age 3 months, Mary Mayotte, daughter, 14 and Louis Mayotte, son, 11.
Louise died 11 Mar 1895.
The Bad River Reservations Census of 30 Jun 1895 lists Henry, 52; son Tom, 8, and stepson Louis (listed as son), age 13.
1895 Enumeration of Soldiers and Sailors, Ashland, Wisconsin
The Bad River Reservations Census 1896 thru 1899 doesn't change from the census of 1895 except for the ages advancing by one each year.
The Bad River Reservations Census of 30 Jun 1900 lists on Henry, age 57 and Tom, age 13.
The Bad River Reservation census of 30 Jun 1902 lists Condecon (no first name given) as 59, with son Thomas, age 15.
The 1905 State Census, town of Sanborn, Ashland, Wisconsin has Hy Condecon, age 56, widowed, farmer, born Wisconsin, parents born Wisconsin and Tom, son, 14, born Wisconsin, parents born Wisconsin.
In 1907 Henry received a pension of $6 per month. In 1909 the payments increased to $10 per month.
The Bad River Reservations Census of 30 Jun 1908 lists Henry, age 65, alone. Son Thomas Jr, age 21, is listed on his own.
1910 Federal Census - Bad River Reservation, Ashland, Wisconsin. Henry Condecon, 66, widowed, born Michigan, parents born Wisconsin, laborer at clearing land, rents house.
Henry's son Thomas died 13 Feb 1911 and is buried at the Bad River Cemetery in Odanah, Ashland, Wisconsin. [Photo from Paul Wilcox.]
Henry's second marriage was to Mary Denomie, (widow of Mike Pine), on 9 Jul 1913. (From Warriors in Mr. Lincoln's Army by Quita V. Shier; record not found.)
The Bad River Reservations Census of 30 Jun 1914 lists Henry, born 1843, and wife Mary, born 1866. This is the only census she is listed in.
On 25 Oct 1914 Henry was admitted to the US National Home for disabled soldiers in Milwaukee. He is 67 years old, 5 foot 8 inches tall, brown eyes, gray hair, Catholic and a farmer. His nearest relative is his wife Mary of Odanah. Henry is discharged on 28 Nov 1914.
Henry was a prize winning farmer. The Tomahawk, White Earth, Minnesota of 5 Oct 1916, tells of his 1st place wins in rutabagoes and turnips and 2nd place wins in potatoes, pumpkins and squash.
Bad River census - 30 Jun 1918 has Henry alone.
Henry and Mary had one child, Helena, born 27 Dec 1918. The Bad River Reservations Census of 30 Jun 1919 does not show Mary or Helena.
1920 Federal Census - La Pointe (Bad River Reservation), Ashland, Wisconsin. Living on Wisconsin Avenue - Henry Condecon, 70, widower, born Wisconsin, father born Michigan, mother born Wisconsin, farmer.
Henry's strawberry plants are described in the Chippewa Herald-Telegram, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 10 Sep 1921
Henry's pension was raised to $50 per month on 4 Mar 1922.
The Bad River Reservations Census of 30 Jun 1922 show Henry died 16 Apr 1922
Henry is buried at Bad River Cemetery, Odanah, Ashland, Wisconsin. [Photo by Paul Wilcox.]
Mary returned to Baraga Michigan and applied for a widow's pension on 19 Oct 1922. Her application was abandoned.
Photo below from "Proceedings of the La Pointed band of Chippewa Indians in General Council and Assembled at Odanah, Wisconsin, 1907"
From the Smithsonian Collections, photo by De Lancey Gill:
Copyright (C) 2018 Vicki Wilson
