A-pong-ge-she-moke / Joseph Pom-ge-shig

A-pong-ge-she-moke or O pung ge she moke, later known as Joseph Pomegeshig was said to be born in 1831. He was the son of Pomegeshig/Paw me ge zhick, who was also known as Peter Pawmegezhick/ Ring Nose. Peter was said to be the son of Chief William Ring Nose. 

Joseph was possibly born in what is now Allegan county or Kalamazoo county. Michigan Pioneer Collection vol. 3 page 271 speaks of the Allegan county...Ottawa Indians were removed to reservation in the Grand Traverse region... But Muckatah, Mascaubee, Ring Nose, and all the rest of their chiefs have gone to the Indian's happy hunting grounds." [It is not proven that the man "Ring Nose" above is the same man who was in Leelanau county.]

From the Saugatuck/Douglas History Center:

"...an account given by James McCormick, adopted son of early Allegan County settler, Hull Sherwood. In an 1873 "Allegan Journal" he tells the story of an Indian burial near Saugatuck. The time of the tale is the early 1830's "There was a chief amonth them [the Indians which frequented the Pine Creek settlement near Otsego] name "Ring Nose," so called on account of his wearing a ring in his nose. He was a tall Indian, a great hunter, and somewhat eminent as a talker. I once heard him make an address at the funeral of an Indian near Saugatuck, where the Indians had a burial place. The address was to the dead Indians, who was placed in a sitting posture in a shallow grave, with his weapons and his others things. The brave was covered with brush poles and dirt. .."

 Michigan Pioneer Collection, vol 18, page 597 - Reminiscences of Kalamazoo as a Colony  

"At the time the Smiths and Mr. Drake settled upon the prairie the was a large Indian village of thirty or more lodges, on the farm Mr. Drake took up. It was one of the three villages at that time in the county, the other being on Gull Prairie, east of the corners, and the third on Prairie Ronde. This agrees with the statement of the earliest surveyors. The chief's name was "Ring-Nose," and he was friendly to the new comers, as were all the Indians."

Below is about Ringnose in Leelanau county.

From The Old Log Cabin by Martin Melkild

    "William Ringnose was said to be the leader of a band of Indians living in the vicinity of Onominese, which is several miles south of where the Indian Village of Louisville was, (Peterson Park). Peter Ringnose, the son of William Ringnose, was the leader of those living at Louisville. He live in a log cabin, one of the few to have been built in this area, and it was located on what became the Dechow property.

    Peter was said to have worn a small ring in his nose, from which was attached a larger ring which hung down over his lips. In each ear he wore a large gold ring. His overall appearance giving him the barbaric splendor of a wild cheiftain. It was he more than any other in Indian in the area that resented the observer. A decision was finally made by council that local Indians had enough of their own problems to solve, and a confrontation with white settlers was averted.

    My grandfather, Iver O. Melkild, upon arriving at Northport from Battenfjordsora, Norway in 1880, looked about for a home for his family. He found the Peter Ringnose cabin and purchased it from its present owner."

Joseph was first considered an adult in 1849. In prior years he would have been counted in his father's, Pay may ge zhick's, household.

1845 Annuity Roll under Chief Nain go tho pe nay (Sheen gaub beeng band)

#3 Pay may ge zhick, one man, one woman, four children, received $53.76

"In 1836 the Carp River Band under Chief Mich i nock was located in Leelanau County, Township T30NR12W, sections 4 and 9." "There were 103 members in this band in 1839. O naw maw neece became the chief of this band in 1839 and the population increased to 232." [From Larry Wyckoff] 

Paw may ge zhick was found living with the Carp River band in 1846 and beyond.

1846 Annuity Roll under chief Na mon ace [Onominese]

#39 Paw may geezhick, one man, one woman, four children, received $50.16

1848 Annuity Roll under Chief Na mon ace [Onominese]

#33 Paw may ge zhick, one man, one woman, four children, received $61.20

1849 Annuity Roll under Chief O naw maw neece.

#20 Paw me ke zhick, one man, one woman, three children, received $46.10

#24 O pung ge she moke, one man, one woman, no children, received $18.44

1850 Annuity Roll under Chief O naw maw neece - Carp River band

#31 Paw me ge zhick, one man, one woman, three children, received $44.75

#44 A paw ge she moke, one man, one woman, no children, received $17.90

1853 Annuity Roll under Chief O naw maw neece - Carp River Band

#22 Paw me ge zhick, one man, one woman, two children, received $36.04

#36 A pung ge she moke, one man, one woman, no children, received $18.02

Sister/half sister Rose was said to be born in Sep 1854 [from her death certificate]

1855 Annuity Roll under Chief Daniel O naw maw neece

#23 Peter Paw may ge zhick, one man, one woman, three children, received $41.60

#26 Joseph A pung ge she moke, one man, one woman, one child, received $24.96

"The treaty of July 31, 1855 with the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan was a supplemental treaty to the 1836 treaty under which these tribes sold their lands in the western Lower Peninsula of Michigan and the eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula. This 1855 treaty ended the threat of removal and provided reservations in Michigan for these bands. A provision in this treaty provided for the allotment of lands on these reservations to the families and individuals of these Indians." [From Larry Wyckoff]

1855 Land Allottment under Chief Daniel O naw maw neece

Joseph A pung ge she moke, N1/2 of the SW1/4 of section 8, township 31 north, range 11 west, containing 80 acres.

Peter Paw nee ke zhick N1/2 of the NE1/4 of section 30, township 31 north, range 11 west, containing 80 acres.

1858 Annuity Roll under Chief Waw say quo um

#20 Paw me ge zhick, one man, one woman, three children, received $21.05

#23 O pung ge she moke, one man, one woman, two childen, received $16.84

1859 Annuity Roll under Chief Waw say quo um

#22 O pung ge she moke, one man, one woman, two children, received $19.88

Paw nee ke zhick is not found in annuity rolls after 1858, while Pawn de gay aw she is found in the rolls from 1859 thru 1870 under Chief Waw say quo um. The Durant Roll has Pawn de gay aw she as the father of Rose/Lucy, Angeline and Katherine, and the marriage and death certificates of the three daughters claim Peter Pamegeshik as their father. 

Sister/half sister Angeline was said to be born 22 Apr 1860. [From her death certificate]

Sister/half sister Katherine was said to be born 9 Oct 1860. [From her death certificate]

1860 Federal Census - Leelanau, Leelanau, Michigan

Dwelling 172, family 171 

Joseph Pahmegezhik, 30, hunter and fisherman

Sahgbanaqyam 25, female

Sunequa, 6, female

Nancy, 2, female

Pena se wha bo no, 52

Dwelling 170, family 169

Peter Pamgezhic, 50, farmer

Ono quataqua, 41, female

Merton man, 30, female, domestic

Nobe, 10, female

Pahgonequa, 6, female

Ped we wa ash e qua, 4, female

Shnne, 2/12, female

Daughter Nancy was said to be born 7 Jul 1861, but was listed as age 2 in the 1860 census.

1861 Annuity Roll under Chief Waw say quo um

#18 O pung ge she moke, one man, one woman, two children, received $18.48

1865 Annuity Roll under Chief Waw say quo um

#17 O pung ge zhe moke, one man, one woman, one child, received $12.00

1866 Annuity Roll under Chief Waw say quo um

#17 O pung ge she moke, one man, one woman, one child, received $11.22

Son Elijah was born 8 Aug 1867 in Leelanau county.

1867 Annuity Roll under Chief Waw say quo um

#16 O pung go she moke, one man, one woman, two children, received $14.28

1868 Annuity Roll under Chief Waw say quo um

#16 O pung ge she moke, one man, one woman, two children, received $63.40

1868 Property Taxes, Leelanau Township, Leelanau County, Michigan

Pamagezhik, Peter:

Lot 4 Cathead Village, section 29, T32N R11W, valued at $10

North part of SE1/4 of NE1/4 of __ 1, section 29, T32N R11W, 1 acre, valued at $10

Pamagezhik, Joseph:

Lot 3 Cathead Village, section 29, T32N R11W, valued at $10

Lot in SE1/4 of NE1/4, section 29, T32N R11W, 1 acre, valued at $10

1870 Annuity Roll under Chief Waw say quo um

#16 A pung ge she moke or Jos. Pomegeshing, one man, one woman, three children, received $76.50

1870 Federal Census - Leelanau township, Leelanau, Michigan

Dwelling 93, family 91

Ring Noose, 98, farmer, land valued at $200

Nashewakwa, 90, keeping house

Dwelling 94, family 92

Pahmekeshik, Peter, 54, farmer

Ahkahto, 40, female, keeping house

Catharine, 18, at home

Dwelling 99, family 97

Pahmegeshik, Joseph, 39, farm laborer, land valued at $500, personal valued at $100

Arvilla, 40, keeping house

Nancy, 13, at home

Elijah, 3, at home

1870 Federal Census - farm schedule - Leelanau, Leelanau, Michigan

Line 24 Pahmekeshik, Peter, 29 acres improved, 12 acres wooded, valued at $200; 3 swine, valued at $25; grew 40 bushels winter wheat, 18 bushels indian corn.

Line 29 Pahmegeshik, Joseph, 5 acres improved, 35 acres wooded, valued at $400, grew 20 bushels indian corn.

1870 Property Taxes - Leelanau, Leelanau, Michigan

Pamigeshik, Peter - paid $2.88

SE1/4 of SE1/4, section 32, faded [T31N R11W?], 40 acres

Lot 4, Cat Head Village, section 29, faded [T31N R11W?] 2 acres

Lot 6, Cat Head Village, section 28, faded [T31N R11W?]

Pamigeshik, Joseph - paid 36 cents

Lot 3, Cat Head Village, section 29, faded [T31N R11W?]

Lot on SE1/4 of NE1/4 of section 29, faded [T31N R11W?]

Son Rock was said to be born in 1871. (Same person as Lark below?)

26 Jun 1872 - Joseph A pun ge she moke received patent to the land he selected in 1855.

Peter also received the patent to his land.

Son Lark was born 5 Sep 1872 in Leelanau county. Parents are given as Joseph and Marguritte. [Since there is no death record for Lark and no birth record for Rock, it is possible they are the same person.]

1874 Property Tax - Leelanau township, Leelanau, Michigan

Pamagechig, Peter:

N1/2 of NE1/4 section 30 T31N R11W, 80 acres, valued at $171.20

N1/2 of NW1/4 section 17 T31N R11W, 80 acres, valued at $171.20

NE1/4 of SE1/4 of SE1/2 section 32 T32N R11W, 10 acres, valued at $32.10

Lot 4 Loue Village section 29 T32N R11W, 2 acres, valued at $6.42

Pamagechig, Joseph:

Lot 3 Cat Head, section 29, T32N R11W, valued at $5.35

A piece of land in SE1/4 of NE1/4 section 29, T32N R11W, valued at $5.35

N1/2 of SW1/4 section 8 T31N R11W, 80 acres, valued at $171.20

SW1/4 of SE1/4 of SE1/4 of section 32 T32N R11W, 10 acres, valued at $42.80

1879 Property Taxes - Leelanau, Leelanau, Michigan

Pamageshik, Peter

NE1/2 of NE1/4 of section 30, T31N, R11W, 40 acres, valued at $80

S1/2 of NW/14 of NE1/4, section 30, T31N, R11W, 20 acres, valued at $40

NW1/4 of NW1/4 of section 17, T31N, R11W, 40 acres, valued at $40

paid county, township, highway and school taxes totaling $5.39 - did not have a dog

Pamageshik, Joseph

N1/2 of SW1/4 of section 8, T31N, R11W, 80 acres, valued at $160

paid county, township, highway and school taxes totaling $3.23 - did not have a dog.

1880 Federal Census - Leelanau, Leelanau, Michigan

Pamageshik, Joseph, 42, laborer

Margaret, 38, wife, keeping house

Rock, 7, son

1880 Federal Census - Bingham, Leelanau, Michigan

Dwelling 127 family 130

Pamgijig, Peter, 60, laborer

Margaret, 50, wife, keeping house

Wedominoe, Margaret, 10, servant

Gijigokwe, Angeline, 48, boarder

Daughter Nancy married James Wanageshick on 2 Feb 1893 in Northport. 

1894 State Census - Leelanau, Leelanau, Michigan

Dwelling/family 236

Pomagesik, Joseph, 65, husband, married, farmer

Margaret, 66, wife, married, 5 children born, 2 children living, housewife

Rock, 21, son, single, farm laborer

Father Peter died 22 Oct 1896 in Suttons Bay township. His age was given as 79. Cause of death was consumption. Occupation was farmer. Parents unknown. 

Peter's death was also recorded in the Peshawbestown Catholic Church records. 

John Kingbird, husband of possible sister Katherine, died 18 Apr 1902 in Peshawbestown. He was born in 1835 in Wisconsin, son of John Kingbird, first marriage at age 30, father of six children - one living. Burial was in Peshawbestown, informant was Tom Kingbird.

 Grand Traverse Hearld 17 Aug 1905

"Brother" West Rejoices

"A-pong-ge-she-moke, familiarly known as "Brother West," is a valued member of the Camp Meeting association, and though so full of religious zeal, was in his youth a perfect type of young savagry, his only dress until eight years of age being the dark brown retreat of the forest tree trunks, later superceded by the native dress of leggins and shirt. He is a perfect type of the great evolution of pagaism to christianity. His father, Old Ring Nose, always wore a ring in his nose and painted his face, though the Michigan Indians seldom wore paint, still he bedecked himself, filled his ears with rings and bore the marks of many battles."

Grand Traverse Herald - 24 Aug 1905, regarding the Camp meeting taking place in Northport

Sister Katherine, age 40, daughter of Peter Pahmejak, married once before, married on 20 Jul 1907 in Bellaire, Antrim County to Thomas Jocko, 41, son of John Jocko and Josephine Pontiac, as his third wife.

Durant Roll Field Notes

page 16 #38

A-pong-ge-she-moke, or Joseph Pom-ge-shig, 76, Gill's Pier

wife Margaret (Kaw-won-ge-go-saw), 79

children:

    1. Nancy, 48, Northport, married James Won-ge-zhick, see 7-46

    2. Rock Pom-ge-shig, 35, not married

page 7 #46

Aw-waw-naw-ke-zhick, dead, wife dead

Child 1 James Won-ge-zhick, 55, Northport

Wife Nancy (Pam-ge-zhick) 48, see 16/38

 their children:

    1 John, 31, Brutus, see 15/31 

        wife Mary, children Cecelia,8; Agnes, 6; Irene, 5; Esther, 1, born Sep 1907

    2. David, 20, Northpost

    3. Levi, 18

    4. Anna, 10

    5. Archie, 8

page 14 #38

Pawn-de-gay-aw-she, dead; first wife dead; 2nd wife Agatha Aw naw quaw do quay, 72, see #72 page 42 [which says she has no children]

Children:

1 Lucy Nanego, 56, of Suttons Bay, see #39 page 41

2 Chatarine Shawkoo, 50, of Suttons Bay, husband Thos. Shakoo, see #5 page 41

3. Angelina Chippeway #1, see #18 page 41

Grand Traverse Herald - 14 Aug 1908

"Brother West

Po-me-kes-shik is present at the meeting this year, but the years have fallen with a heavy hand upon him. His form is bent and decrepit, he is feeble and poor in health, but the heaviest of all physical affiections has fallen upon him the last year - that of total blindness. 

Faith Unshaken

But not even this great afflication has shaken his faith in God one iota. Sunday evening he sat upon a fron seat and the Rev. W. D. Robinson singled him out and assisted him to the platform, where his voice, still strong and clear, was lifted in prayer. During the singing of one of his favorite hymns, 'I can, I will, I do believe, that Jesus died for me' the old man stood with hands lifted as if in prayer, his sightless eyes raised as if in supplication, while he sang the words as if they came from the bottom of his heart. The simple faith of the blind old man was an inspiration."

"...the one on the extreme right is 'Brother West' known among his brothers as 'Po-me-kes-shik."

Son Rock died 17 Oct 1909 in Leelanau township, his body found on the lake shore. His age was given as 38, single, parents as Joe Pomigesik and Mary Antoine. Rock's occupation was laborer. He was buried in Onominese cemetery. Informant was John Big Joe.

Wife Margaret died 15 Dec 1910 in Leelanau county, of old age. Her birth was given as May 1836, parents as Antoine and Mary Naytoshing. Burial was in Onominese cemetery. Informant was Thomas Naytoshing.

Joseph died 20 Jun 1915 in Leelanau township, Leelanau county, Michigan. His age was given as 84, born 1831, widowed, parents unknown. Cause of death was extreme age, no burial site listed.

Possible sister Angeline died 1 May 1920 in Suttons Bay township. Cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. She was said to be born 22 Apr 1860, the daughter of Peter Pmaekshk. Burial was in Peshawbestown, informant was her husband, Sam Chippewa.

Possible sister Katherine died 1 Oct 1926 in Suttons Bay township. Cause of death was valvular disease of heart. Her birth was given as 9 Oct 1860, daughter of Peter Pomegishik. She was buried in Peshawbestown. Information was her son, Thomas Kingbird.

Possible sister Rose died 4 Feb 1937 in Suttons Bay of broncho-pneumonia. She was said to be born in Sep 1854 in Kalamazoo county, the daughter of Peter Paw-mek-i-shek. Rose was the widow of Peter Nanego, burial was in Peshawbestown. Informant was Mrs. Edward Ostie of Omena. 

Daughter Nancy, widow of James Wonegeshik, died 28 Oct 1937 in Traverse City, at the age of 76 years, 3 months, 21 days. Her father was given as Joseph Pomegeshik, mother not known. She was buried in Onominese cemetery. Informant was Archie Wonegeshik.

Northport Leader - 17 Mar 1938

Northport Leader 14 Mar 1938

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