It is not known exactly when Nah-we-ke-zhick, later known as Peter Mark, was born. Most likely between 1838 and 1842. He is the son of
Pay-shaw-naw-quo-um and unknown.
Nah-we-ke-zhick is not listed in the 1861 Annuity Roll on his own and is possibly the child listed in his father's household. Pay-shaw-naw-quo-um, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, receiving $13.86 under Aish quay go nay be's band. Naw-o-quay-ke-zhick, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 children receiving $13.86 under Aish quay go nay be's band is brother Martin.
He is a grown man by 1864 when his first child, Mary, is born. She is baptized 18 Jun 1865 by Rev. Peter Dougherty of the New Mission/Grove church of Omena. Her mother is Mary Ann Allen, daughter of Moses Allen Naish-Ka-Ze and Anna. Mary Ann Allen had been baptized June 1846, received into the church 6 Jan 1861 and was a member of Grove Hill School.
The 1865 annuity roll shows Naw we ge zhe go #20, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, receiving $12.00 under Aish quay go nay be's band.
Nah-we-ke-zhick and Mary Ann's second child, son Moses, was on born 15 Dec 1865.
On 20 May 1866 Nahwagezhik was baptized by Rev. Peter Dougherty of the Mission church receiving the name Peter Mark. Son Moses would be baptized there on 12 May 1867.
The 1866 annuity roll shows Naw we ke zho go #17, 1 man, 1 woman, 1 child, receiving $11.22 under Chief Aish quay go nay be.
Antrim county land records recorded 4 Feb 1867 show Peter Mark Nahwaygezic and Martin Nockwegezic as sole
heirs of Pashawnaquong who had purchased NW 1/4 of SE 1/4 section 2 T29N R9W (Milton township) in 1850.
While only Peter and Martin inherit the land, there is also a brother called Joe Marks (mentioned on the Durant Roll) and a sister Mary (wife of Jacob Sogod). Joe and Mary could have been too young to inherit, or could have been the children of Peter's mother by another man.
1867 Annuity Roll - Naw we ke zhe go - one man, one woman, 2 children, received $14.28 - #11 under Chief Aish quay go nay be.
On 10 Oct 1868 a third child, also a boy, was born in Milton township. Unfortunately Mary Ann died the same day.
The baby is still living when the annuity 1868 roll is paid. Peter shows as #13 (Tay Baw Se Ke Zhick's band) Naw-we-ge-zhe-go 1/0/3/4 $63.40 [one male, zero females, 3 children, 4 total]
On 1 Nov 1868 the baby also passes at the age of 21 days. Mary and Moses are taken into their maternal grandparents' household.
P.M. is alone on the 1870 Annuity Roll - page 46 line 10 Naw-we-go-zhe-go 1/0/0/1 $15.30 [one male, zero females, zero children, 1 total]
He is not found on the 1870 Federal Census.
Peter meets Anna Shaw-wa-da-se and the birth of their first child, Alfred, is recorded at Antrim county as occurring 2 Aug 1871.
Newspaper article
"Oct. 15, 1873 Whiskey Again - On Monday afternoon one of our native American citizens known as "P.M." or Peter Mark Nah-way-ge-zic, partook of rather more "refreshments" than was consistent with perfect temperance and sobriety, and becoming demonstrative, found himself suddenly in the hands of an officer on the way to jail. His arrest caused quite a furor among his dusky companions and some of the more villainous whites standing by, and the constable became aware that he had quite a job on hand. A brother of P.M.'s, Martin Nah-way-ge-zic, struck him over the head with a stave, and one of the late arrivals of Chicago "Swedes," of Irish descent, undertook to pull the officer off. The bystanders were called upon to assist, but their inclinations seemed to be to obstruct rather than promote the arrest. Mr. S.O. Whitford finally came up and the arrest was affected of both the Indians, and soon after, of the Irish intruder. These gentry were brought out next day and pleading guilty, were invited by Justice Davis, to contribute five dollars each to the library fund and "go their way to sin no more." This is the first time an officer has ever been interfered with in this place while endeavoring to perform his duty, and we hope the next case of the kind will meet with much severer punishment."
(Source - Neumann, Glenn.
Bay Breezes, Local History Unfolding, volume I. Elk Rapids, MI. Elk Rapids Historical Society, page 213. 1996.)
Son David's birth is given as 11 Nov 1875 (on his death record - 4
Jun 1930, Acme, Grand Traverse county). Jane is born Nov 1876 (from
census records). No birth records found for these children.
Peter is next found in the land records when on 9 Sep 1878 Peter Mark-nah-we-ke-zhick purchased W 1/2 of NW 1/4, section 1, T29N R9W (Milton township, Antrim, MI)
The 1880 Federal census of Milton township gives the family as P M Wab-Ska Ne-Guan, age 38, Anna, wife, age 28; Alfred, son, age 9; Jane, daughter age 7; David, son, age 5, and Lillie, daughter, age 0.
Murder
"10-27-82
Last Saturday night word was brought to this village that a murder had been committed beyond Indian town. The Prosecuting Attorney, who was then at Traverse City, was informed of the fact arrived about 1 o'clock; Sunday morning. In the meantime Joseph P. Mullery, Christopher Hughes and Perry Stocking started for the scene and arrested Joseph Nah-sho-ga-she, better known as Joseph Wah-be-sa, and George Ge-wa-je-wan, son of Gabriel O-ge-ta-na-quet; more commonly called Pe-ton-ne-quet, as the ones supposed to have murdered Peter Pe-dwa-we-dam, commonly called Peter Ke-wa-din and nearly murdered Peter Mark Nah-we-ge-shig, usually called P.M. From one who saw them that night we glean the following facts: It seems that the four mentioned left this place late in the afternoon of said day, considerably under the influence of liquor, and when they arrived at Banninger's they filled with three pitchers of wine. Just before leaving the house, one of the accused called some one a vile name and Ke-wa-din remonstrated with him, and this is where the quarrel of the night commenced, although we learn that there had been previous ill feeling. When they arrived just this side of Hi Robinson's place some harsh words were interchanged when the two accused took heavy clubs from the fence and knocked the two others down and commenced beating them about the heads with their clubs. Conrad Bachi, who lives near where the crime was committed, said that the Indians would pound them and then run around and whoop. Hi Robinson informs us that on Saturday night about 8 o'clock, Mary Ke-wa-din came to his house and told him that the Indians were killing her husband. Hurrying to the spot he met Wah-be-ska and Geo. Pe-ton-ne-quet, each carrying clubs, and upon going down the road some distance, found Peter Ke-wa-din and P.M. lying on the ground. Throwing the light of his lantern upon them he says he never saw such a sight. Ke-wa-din was lying in a pool of blood, and his face all covered with blood. Mr. Robinson says he went immediately for water and bathed Pe-ton-ne-quet's [sic, should be Ke-wa-din's] face, and found a fearful wound just above his right eye, the skull completely crushed in. After bathing his face he says that he lived about twenty minutes. The next morning on going to the spot he found a piece of the skull, which is now in Dr. Bailey's possession. P.M.'s wounds were of such a serious nature that he was thought to be dying several times. His skull was crushed in above his right eye, in almost the same place that Pe-ton-ne-quet's [sic,
should say Ke-wa-din's] was, and it is said he cannot live. The prisoners waved examination Monday, and on Tuesday they were taken to Bellaire, where their trial will come off before the Circuit Court next December."
(Source: Neumann, Glenn.
Bay Breezes, Local History Unfolding, volume II. Elk Rapids, MI. Elk Rapids Historical Society, 1997.) [
Last Saturday would be 21 Oct 1882]
The 1900 federal census of Clearwater Township, Kalkaska county gives the family as:
Peter Mark Head M 70 Michigan
Anna Mark Wife F 46 Michigan
Alfred Mark Son M 36 Michigan
Jane M Mark Daughter F 24 Michigan
David Mark Son M 22 Michigan
Josephene A Mark Daughter F 16 Michigan
Lillie Mark Daughter F 18 Michigan
Eugene Mark Son M 14 Michigan
Susie Mark Daughter F 12 Michigan
Marion Mark Daughter F 10 Michigan
Eliza Mark Daughter F 8 Michigan
Francis H Mark Son M 4 Michigan
One of the questions asked on the census are number of children born and number of children living. Anna is said to have given birth to 11 children with 10 living. While daughter Rosie is said to have been born 27 Jun 1900 she is not mentioned on the census which was taken 30 Jun 1900. The missing child, named William was born between Eliza and Francis and passed before 1900.
Son Moses Allen died 21 Mar 1901 in Leelanau County. It is not known what became of Moses' sister, Mary.
Prior to 1905 (the date on the postcard) the following picture was taken of Peter and Anna.
Anna dies in Clearwater township on 25 Aug 1906.
Durant Roll of 1908 describes the family as:
Mark, Peter, 78, male, Traverse band, #4324, Naw-we-go-zhe-go, ref: 10-46, res: Kewadin
David, son, 30, male, #4325, res: Rapid City
Josie, dau, 24, female, #4326, res: Philadelphia, Pa., 2235 N. 33rd St.
Eugene, son, 22, male, #4327, res: Pellston
Susie, daughter, 20, femal,e Res: Rapid City, remark: now wife of Casper Ance (A) see Ance
Marian, daughter, 18, female, #4328, res: Rapid City, remark: separated from Thomas Ogenawkedo
Francis, son, 12, male, #4329 res: Chilocco School, Okla.
Wm. name crossed out
Rosie, daughter, 9, female, #4330 res: Chilocco School, Okla.
[other children are married and with their families]
The 1910 census of Clearwater Township finds P.M. living with daughter Lily, 29 and son-in-law Moses King, 32 and their children Lucius, 7, George, 5, Joshua, 3 and Amelia, 0.
The Traverse City Police Records 1911-1916, page 116, states that on August 8 (year unknown) "arrested Peter Mark for DD [drunk and disordery]. Put him in coop to sober up and let him out to leave town."
1912 Tax Records of Clearwater township show Peter owning land in the south 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 8.
1917 Tax Records
1920 Federal Census - Clearwater township, Kalkaska county - P.M. is living alone.
The following appears in the Battle Creek Enquirer on 4 Jan 1925 and mentions P.M.'s sister Mary Sogod.
P.M. died in Leelanau county (visiting?) on 14 Jun 1926. While his age is given as 106 he was most likely in his mid 80s. He is buried at the Kewadin Indian Mission cemetery.
His obituary appeared in the The Kalkaska Leader and the Kalkaskian, June 17, 1926.
The Traverse City Record Eagle published on 27 Jun 1927 and 27 Jun 1928 the story of gold having been buried by Native Americans on the farm land now owned by John Steiner. While this is after Peter's death below are excerpts that mention not only Peter but his sister Mary Sogod.
The following was said about Mary:
Newspaper Notice
The Leader and the Kalkaskian, 24 Oct 1957
Notice to Peter Mark and/or heirs of the sale of 1 acre, section 8, T28N R8W for $2.80 tax owed for 1953. Sold to Gerald L. and Juanita Urick.
Peter was photographed many times.
Beebe postcard seen at Kalkaska Museum
Postcard
From personal collection - given by Leone Guy
From personal collection - given by Stuart Miller
Additional photos of PM and family
FAMILY LINKS
Children:
Mary Allen
Moses Allen
baby boy
Alfred MarkJane MarkDavid Mark
