Daniel Mwaw ke we maw / Mwakewenah

Mwaw-ke-we-naw was said to be born about 1817 in Pentwater, or possibly the Grand Traverse area.

Mwaw-ke-we-naw was baptized on 3 Jun 1843 by Rev. Peter Dougherty at Old Mission (Grand Traverse county) as Daniel Wells. Dougherty wrote Daniel's name as Muh su ah non, Mosuhenahnon, and Mo cuh e nah. His wife Quequeheahnoqua was baptized on 7 Jan 1844 as Phoebe Wells. Their daughter, Harriet, age 6 months, was baptized in Jul 1844. The couple was "kept back" from church services due to improper conduct in June 1846. Phoebe as listed as restored on 11 Jan 1852. [After Daniel's marriage to Catherine.]

Mwaw-ke-we-naw was married in December 1847/1848 at Old Mission to Catherine Ningasigekwe.

The Bear Creek "band was located on the southern side of Little Traverse Bay on the Bear River. The members of this band under Chief Daniel Mwaw-ke-we-naw appear to have moved to this area from the Grand Traverse region probably in the late 1840s or early 1850s. Earlier annuity payment rolls suggest these members were originally from Agosa and Aish quay gon abe’s bands. The 1853 annuity payment roll shows a population of 75 individuals which increased to 103 by 1855. Mwaw-ke-we-naw remained the chief of this band into the 1860s. The 1865 annuity payment roll shows Joseph Aw me quay bay as the chief of this band. He was still listed as chief on the 1872 payment roll." [From Larry Wyckoff]

Mwaw-ke-we-naw and members of his band purchased land in 1850 near the mouth of Bear River and the majority of this band took their allotments at the same location.

Mwaw-ke-we-naw was one of the signers of the treaty of 1855

1855 Land Allotment - Daniel Mwaw-ke-we-naw, W1/2 or the SW1/4 of section 10, township 34 north, range 6 west, 80 acres.

1857 Annuity roll - #1, Mwaw ke we naw, Chief, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, received $25.30

1858 Annuity roll - #1,Mwaw ke we naw, Chief, 1 man, 1 woman, 3 children, received $21.05

1859 Annuity roll - #1, Danl Mwaw ke we naw, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, received $19.88

1860 Federal Census - Bear Creek, Emmet, Michigan

Daniel Ma ke we now, 46, farmer, value of real estate $250, value of personal estate $300.
Mary, 45 [Catherine]
Joseph, 18, farm hand
Mary, 14

1861 Annuity Roll - #1m Mwaw ke we naw, Chief, 1 man, 1 woman, 2 children, received $18.48

Son John was born 15 Jan 1861

Son George was born 30 Apr 1863.

Daniel Mwaw-ke-we-naw enlisted on 15 Aug 1863 at Bear River (Petoskey), Emmet, Michigan for a period of three years. He was described as Five foot ten, black hair and eyes, dark complexion. He was mustered in 21 Oct 1863 at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Cook, Illinois where Company K guarded Confederate prisoners for seven months. 

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During the Battle of Spotsylvania in Virginia on 12 May 1864, Daniel was wounded in the face, right arm and left hand. Unable to load his rifle he was taken first to an aid station, later to the division hospital. After emergency surgery he was taken to the depot hospital at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Daniel was transferred to the wharf at Belle Plain Landing, from where he was taken by steamer to Armory Square USA General Hospital in Washington, DC, admitted on 28 May 1864. Infection processed to his heart and caused Daniel's death on 5 Jun 1864.

His belongings were listed as one overcoat, one pair trousers, one pair shoes and one blanket. 

The Evening Star 16 Jun 1864

Daniel was embalmed, placed in a coffin and sent on to Bear River, Michigan. Instead of being buried at Bear River, he was interred in lot 12, section 2-D of Brady Hill Cemetery in Saginaw.

Wife Catherine applied for a pension on 3 Dec. 1864. The pension was approved on 16 May 1865, retroactive to 5 Jun 1864. She received $8 a month until her remarriage.

1865 Annuity Roll - #21 Cath. Mwaw ke we naw, no men, 1 woman, 2 children, received $12, under chief Joseph Aw me quaw bay


Daniel's wife, Catherine, married Edward Noska on 13 Mar 1866.

Catherine died 18 Dec 1866.

Daughter Mary, married John Minakewand/Minakwas prior to 18 Jan 1868.

After Catherine's death Ann Rodd became guardian of minors John and George. Probate records dated 18 Jan 1868. [The probate records number 66 pages and continue until 1 Mar 1880.]

1868 Annuity Roll - #37, Jno and Geo. Mwaw ke we naw, no men, no women, 2 children, received $31.70 under chief Aw me quay bay

1870 Annuity Roll - #37, John and George Mwaw ke we naw, no men, no women, 2 children, received $30.60 under chief Aw me quaw bay

Land Patent 13 Jan 1872

Son George married Catherine Kewakondo on 15 Jul 1880.

Durant Field Notes #37 page 26

John Mwaw-ke-we-naw and George Mwaw-ke-we-naw, both dead, no heirs.

Copyright (c) 2021 Vicki Wilson

Updated August 2025

Link to Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters facebook group

William Isaacs

William Isaacs also known as Isaac Wahnasega was said to be born in 1844 in Saginaw county, Michigan.

Wah nah se gay enlisted as a private 18 May 1863 in Isabella and was mustered in 20 Jul 1863 in Detroit.

Service records here

Honorably discharged 28 Jul 1865 at Delaney House, Washington, DC. Returned to Detroit on the steamer Morning Star

Married Sarah/Waingekeyzhegquay, daughter of William Fisher and Waindawbawnoquay, date unknown

Gruett Roll dated 1868

John Way-shaw-waw-no

Waw-say-che-waw, wife, died 1846

Jos. Pe-nay-se-wa-naw-quot, 22, married to Shaw-gaw-nosh-qua-um, no children

Aw-waw-say-ge-zhe-go=quay, 43, 2nd wife, died 1862

O-waw-naw-quay, 12, By 2nd wife

Susan Way-shaw-waw-no, 27, Child by 2nd wife's 1st husband

O-may-yaw-naw-ge-waw-no quay, married P. Chief

William Isaac, 23, Married William Fisher's daughter Sarah, no children

Their daughter, Emma, was said to be born in 1866.

William left his family and worked as a laborer and lumberjack in Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmett, Mecosta, and Otsego counties.



Charlevoix Sentinel of 4 Apr 1907 tells of William's death.

William is buried at Maple Lawn in Boyne City, Charlevoix county.

Copyright (C) 2021 Vicki Wilson

John Waubenoo / Negawnewaywaydung

Negawnewaywaydung / John Waubenoo/Waw be naw, was born about 1841 in Saginaw County, Michigan

John was married in 1855 to Delia Keezio / Obawnebawnoquay, daughter of Sauginah Kease.

John enlisted in Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, 18 May 1863 at Isabella City, Isabella for 3 years. He mustered in 26 May 1863 at Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

In August of 1863 while at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, John became ill and was sent home to Michigan on a furlough of about twenty days.

He was arrested between January and February 1864 - reason unknown 

1 Nov 1864 - promoted to second corporal

25 Feb 1865 returned to Michigan on a 20 day furlough 

3 Apr 1865 captured and held in Petersburg, Virginia

13 Apr 1865 released and returned to regiment

28 Jul 1865 honorably discharged at Delaney House in Tenallytown, DC

John returned to Detroit on the steamer Morning Star

Son Joseph was said to be born around 1 Nov 1867. [He would have been born earlier based on both his age on the Gruett roll, and the fact he was old enough to have land in 1885.]

Gruett Roll - taken in 1868

John Jones

O-me-squaw-waw-naw-quaw-do-quay, wife 80 acres

Thomas, 26, md Jane, 1 girl 6 yrs old; she has land with #215

John, 24, md O-baw-ne-ba-we-no-quay, 1 boy, Joseph, 5 yrs old; He has no land, she has land with #1971.

On 9 Feb 1885 son Joseph -received land - NE1/4 of NW1/4 of section 18, T15N R5W, 40 acres.

1890 Federal Census - Veterans Schedule, Nottawa, Isabella, Michigan

#12  John Waw be naw,  rest of line blank. Note on bottom of the page explained that John was Indian and not home, that the census taker was not allowed to see the discharge papers, if John even had them, and that the Indians were suspicious and wouldn't give any information.

On 18 Jul 1892 in Nottawa, son Joseph, age 25,  married Mary Shawboose, age 17, daughter of John Shawboose and Mary Pazhegezick. Daniel Covert performed the ceremony. Witnesses were John and Martha Agahgo.

John applied for an invalid pension on 1 Apr 1895, #1,166,185

On 29 Nov 1897 John was granted pension of $6 per month. The pension was listed in the Detroit Free Press of 12 Dec 1897

And again in the Detroit Free Press of 16 Dec 1897.

John  submitted declaration for an increase in pension on 24 Aug 1899, filed 28 Aug 1899

1900 Federal Census Isabella township, Isabella, Michigan

Wabinaw, Joseph, head, born Mar 1840, 60, single, day laborer

John, father, born Jun 1802, 98,widowed [wife Delia is still living, not listed]

John submitted declarations for an increase in pension on 3 Nov 1900 and again on 21 Jun 1907.

John Waubenau, died 25 Mar 1910 in Nottawa township of Brights Disease and old age. His father was given as Waubena, mother as Gesu. John was buried at Fairview Cemetery. Joseph Waubena was informant.

John was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Weidman, Isabella, Michigan

Delia submitted a declaration for a widow's pension 8 Apr 1910.

Delia Waubenoa died 25 Apr 1910 in Nottawa township, Isabella, Michigan. Her age was about 77. Father was given as Sanginch Keais. She was buried in Weidman. Informant was Joseph Bigfoot of Weidman.

Delia Wawbemaw - probate calendar - liber 2, page 124; file #2055 D. [Record not available online.]

1910 Federal Census - Nottawa township, Isabella, Michigan

Wabano, Joseph, 47, married twice, married for 15 years, farmer

Betsey, wife, 60, married twice, married for 15 years, 8 children born, 4 children living

Wawbegaykake, John, stepson, 18, farm laborer

Solomon, Agnes, step-granddaughter, 15

Solomon, Samuel, step-grandson, 11

On 15 Nov 1917 in Mt. Pleasant, Isabella, Michigan, Joe Wa-bano, 61, son of John Wa Ba No and Delia None-com-us-qua married Betsey Ogemos, 67, daughter of Jim Ogemos and Ellen George. It was a second marriage for each.

1920 Federal Census not yet found.

1930 Federal Census - Chippewa township, Isabella, Michigan - County Infirmary. Census taken 17 Apr 1930

Joe Wabinow, age 64, widowed, first marriage at age 22.

Joseph died 2 Sep 1930 in Midland, at the home of Arthur Jackson, informant. He had been there 3 months. Age was given as about 75. 

Joseph Wabenaw - probate calendar - liber 6 page 162; file #4223 D [Record not available online.]

Copyright (C) 2021 Vicki Wilson