Francis Tabasash

Both Tabasash and Tabasasch have been used as his surname, but his real name/given name is Taw baw sosh. He acquired the name Francis from the Catholic Church.

Francis was born 29 Dec 1827 in La Croix (Cross Village), Emmet county, Michigan. He was the son of Francis Assinauby and Theressa.

Francis married Mary Wobigog on 28 Feb 1851 at Cross Village in the Holy Cross Catholic Mission

The couple's children were Madeline born 1855; John born 1857; Rosa/Louisa born 1859; Louis born 1861, Agatha born 1864; Joseph born 1866 and Anna (date unknown).

In the 1855 land allotment Francis Taw baw sosh received 80 acres - the N1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 34 in T38N R6W. He is part of Chief Naw we maish co tay's band in Cross Village. In the annuity roll of the same year he receives $33.28 for 1 man, 1 woman, and 2 children.

"This band was located at the 'Village of the Cross' at the present day Cross Village. The chief of this band in 1836 was Naw we maish co tay and this band had a population of 305 individuals. At the time of the 1855 treaty, this band had a population of 254 individuals." [From Larry Wykoff].

1857 annuity roll #7 Francis, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, received $20.24 under Chief Naw we maish co tay.

1858 annuity roll - #6 Frn. Taw baw sosh, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, received $16.84 under Chief Naw we maish co tay.

1859 annuity roll - #6 Fr Tay baw sosh,  man, 1 woman, 3 children, received $24.85 under Chief Naw we maish co tay.

The 1860 Federal Census of LaCroix township, Emmet county lists the family as Francis Assinnaby, 34, farmer mechanic, value of real estate is $600, value of personal estate is $625; Mary, 22; Madeline, 6; John, 3; and Louisa, 1.

Living in the next house is Francis' mother, Theresa Okata Assinaby,  60, with real estate valued at $110 and personal estate valued at $50.

1861 annuity roll - #6, Francis Taw baw sosh,  man, 1 woman, 3 children, received $23.10 under Chief Naw we maish co tay.

The draft register - "Consolidated List of all persons of Class II, subject to do military duty in the Fourth Congressional District...June & July 1863..." show that Francis registered for the draft.

Residence Cross Village, Tausash, Francis, age 38, Indian, farmer, born Michigan. [The name above is John Tudoy, and in the remarks column is "volunteered in Ind Co 1863" - John did not join, but Francis did.]

Muster in roll - Francis Tabasasch, corporal, 38 years, enlisted 11 Jun 1863 at La Croix, enrolled by G. A. Graveraet, mustered in 20 Jul 1863 at Detroit.

In August and September of 1863, Francis accompanied G. A. Graveraet recruiting in Michigan. He then went to Camp Douglas with the rest of the unit. He was assigned to the Quartermaster Department doing construction and repairs in January and February 1964.

Francis became ill at Petersburg and was admitted to the hospital for diarrhea on 24 Jun 1864. On 3 Jul 1864 he was transferred first by wagon to City Point, Virginia and then on 5 Jul 1864 by steamer to Carver General Hospital in Washington, D.C.

On 26 Nov 1864 Francis was promoted to 1st sergeant. For reason not given he was demoted to 5th sergeant on 1 Mar 1865.

Francis mustered out 28 Jul 1865 at Delaney House, D.C. and returned to Detroit on the Steamer Morning Star.

The 1865 annuity roll: #30 - Francis Taw baw sosh, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, received $16.00, under Chief Naw-we-maish-co-tay

The 1866 annuity roll: #29 - Francis Taw baw sosh, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, received $18.70, under Chief Naw-we-maish-co-tay

The 1867 annuity roll: #34 - Francis Taw baw sosh, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, received $14.28, under Chief Naw-we-maish-co-tay

The 1868 annuity roll: #29 - Francis Taw baw sosh, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, received $79.25, under Chief Naw-we-maish-co-tay

The 1870 annuity roll: #29 -  Francis Taw-baw-sosh, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, received, $61.20, under Chief Naw-we-maish-co-tay

On the 12th of Feb 1870 Francis and Mary sold lot 5 section 13 of T35N R6W to Denis L. Douning for $50. Emmet county land records volume C page 30.

The 1870 Federal Census of La Croix shows the family as Francis Tabasash, 43, carpenter and farmer, real estate valued at $900 and personal estate valued at $800; Mary, 32; Madeline, 15, and John B., 13.

Daughter Madeline died in LaCroix on 4 Dec 1871 at the age of 16.

The 1880 Federal Census of Cross Village, Emmet, Michigan: Francis Tabasah, 51, farming; wife Mary, 38; son John B., 22.

22 Sep 1882 Francis applied for a pension based on his civil war service.

Pension letter 7 Nov 1882

On 15 Jan 1883 in Cross Village, son John Bapt. Tabasash married Anna Jackson. The couples children were Bazile (8 Feb 1881-25 Jan 1892); Paul (5 Jan 1885-15 Jan 1885) Madeline (3 Mar 1888-4 Mar 1888); and Angeline (4 Jun 1886-7 Feb 1949, married to John D. Petoskey).

Francis joined the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) Post #106 and served as officer of the guard. [The Traverse Region, page 143].

The Alpena Weekly Argus of 2 Nov 1892 tells of a Mr. Weadock helping soldiers and widows to receive pensions or increases.

4 Jun 1898 - gives marriage information, name and birth of son.

The 1890 Special Schedule of Veterans for Cross Village lists Francis Tabasash, Sgt., Company K, 1st Michigan SS, served from 7 Jun 1863 to 28 Jul 1865, a total of 2 years, 21 days.

The 1900 Federal Census - Cross Village Township - Frank Tabasash, head, born Dec 1825, age 74, married 49 years, occupation - U.S. Pensioner, owns free house,full Ottawa; Mary, wife, born Jul 1838, age 61, married 49 years, 7 children born, 1 living, full Chippewa; in same house - John Tabasash, head, born Aug 1857, age 42, widowed, occupation crossed out, Ottawa, father Ottawa, mother Chippewa; Angeline, daughter, born Jun 1886, age 13, occupation - at school, full Ottawa.

Wife Mary died 25 Aug 1900 in Emmet county. Cause given was paralysis. She was buried in Cross Village.

The Charlevoix County Herald of 17 Aug 1907 tells that Francis received $6 from the superintendent of the Poor.

1908 Durant Roll gives the family as follows:

Francis Taw-baw-sosh, age 81, P.O. Cross Village
Wife dead
Child 1 - Madeline dead, no children
Child 2 - John Tabasash, 50, P.O. Cross Village; wife Anna (nee Jackson) dead, daughter Angeline, 22, P.O. Cross Village, single, no children.

Pension declaration - 2 Feb 1910. Francis is described as 5 foot 8 inches tall, black eyes, black hair, and dark complexion.

The 1910 Federal Census - Francis Tabasoch, 83, widowed, own income, owns free house, full Ottawa; John, son, 52, widowed, laborer, odd jobs, full Ottawa.

Photo of Francis, year unknown.

Picture said to be of Francis hauling water, year unknown.

Francis died 22 Nov 1912 in Cross Village of diarrhea and old age.

Obituary from the Flint Journal, 23 Nov 1912

Francis is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Cross Village

Son John died 23 Jun 1922 in Cross Village of dropsy and is buried in Cross Village.

Copyright (C) 2019 Vicki Wilson

Henry Wassagezic / Condecon

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