Honoring Native Ancestors: John Chingman

Thursday, October 23, 2025

John Chingman

John Chingman was said to be born 16 Mar 1898 in Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan, the son of George Chingman and Mary Williams. He joined siblings Tressa Christine (born 1 Feb 1885), Charles (born 26 Aug1888), and Peter (born 1 Nov 1891). There are most likely other children born between Peter and John who died young.

John's paternal grandfather, Mackey Chingman, died 10 Jan 1900 in Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan, at the age of 77. He was listed as married at 22, parent of 2 children, both living. Occupation was farmer, father was Akin. Cause of death was chronic brights disease, burial in Elbridge.

1900 Federal Census - Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan

Chingman, George, born Apr 186_, 39, married 16 years, day laborer, rents house, Native name Kah Kob, Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood

Mary, wife, born May 1869, 31, married 16 years, 4 children born, 4 children living, Native name Ogeth Komgequo, Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood

Christina, daughter, born Apr 1886, 14, Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood

Charley, son, born Feb 1889, 11, Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood

Peter, son, born March 1891, 9, Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood

Tate, son, born Nov? 1899, 1, Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood

Brother Joseph was born 8 Aug 1900 in Elbridge, Oceana, Michian. Sadly he died 9 Sep 1900 in Elbridge. Cause of death was heart failure, burial was in the Elbridge Catholic Cemetery

Brother Anthony was born 19 Jul 1901 in Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan

Father George, age 45, and grandfather Ching-gwan, deceased, received $287.98 on the 1904 Taggart Roll of Potawatomies

Son John attended Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School

1907 Mt. Pleasant boarding school register - Chingwang, John, Ottawa, son of Geo. Chingwang of Lattin, full blood, age 8, admitted 27 Aug 1907 for 3 years.

Mrs. Chingguam, age 65, widow, died 9 Nov 1907. Her father's name was given as Daniels. Cause of death was heart disease, burial in Freesoil. It is possible she was John's paternal grandmother.

1908 Mt. Pleasant boarding school register - Chingwang, John, Ottawa, son of Geo. Chingwang of Lattin, full blood, age 8, admitted 27 Aug 1907 for 3 years.

Durant Roll Field Notes - 1908

#6 page 50

Ching-gwon - dead; wife dead

child 1 - Helen Louis, 70, wife of Domick Louis, resides Lattin, see #1 page 49 for children

child 2 - dead, his/her child Gerti Wah-bin-dwetto, wife of Hank Wah-bin-dwetto, 11/58a, see 7/52

child 3 George Ching-qwon or Chingwon, 48, resides Lattin; wife Mary Ching-won, 41(?) daughter of Seth Wright;

their children:

1) Thresa Chingwon, 23, Lattin, no married

2) Chas. Chingwon, 21, Lattin, wife Emma Ne-dah-koo, 17 child see 11/50

3) Peter Chingwon, 16

4) John Chingwon, 9

5) Anthony, 6

George Chingwon draw with Potts. his family did not.

#7 page 61 [George's wife, her mother and 1/2 brother]

Aw-be-me-quaw, Elizabeth, 69, P.O. Lattin

1st husband dead

2nd husband Seth Wright dead

children:

1 Mary Ching-gwon, 41, see #2 6/p50; husband Geo. Ching won, see #2 p.50 3/52

2 John Williams #2 36, P.O. Lattin; wife Nancy (Pontiac) Williams 7/65; their children:

1) Pontiac, 13

2) Wm, 11

3) Joe, 6

4) Hank or Henry, 4

5) Pocto go quay or Cecelia, 1

#3 page 52 [George's wife, her mother and grandmother]

Paw-ge-to-go-quay - dead

1st husb - dead

children:

1 Ne-zette Compaux dead; husband Pay me-saw-aw or Pete Compeau #5 p 58 chief 11; their child: Nancy Pontiac of Freesoil - now wife of Mitchell Ninise

2 Elizabeth Williams, 68 of Lattin, husband dead; children: Mary Chinwwon, 41, 7/61 see children #6 p50; John Williams, 36, Lattin, for wilfe and child see #2 p61

3 James Norton or Newton, 60 Upper Peninsula, no children

4 Richard Albert, of Freesoild, wife and children see 37/52

5. Wm Norton see 25/55 of Honor/Northport, wife, children (same as Wm Newton)

2nd husb over

Sister Sholyep was born 16 Jul 1909 in Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan. Sadly she died 18 Nov 1909 in Elbridge. Cause of death was marasmus, burial in the Catholic cemetery.

1910 Mt. Pleasant boarding school register - Chingwang, John, Ottawa, son of Geo. Chingwang of Lattin, full blood, age 9, admitted 27 Aug 1907 for 3 years.

1910 Federal Census - Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan

Chingwon, George, 50, married once, married 28 years, farmer on general farm, owned farm

Mary, wife, 44, married once, married 28 years, 5 children born, 5 children living

Peter, son, 18, farm laborer on home farm

Anthony, son, 7

Nephew Paul Cogswell, son of sister Tressa and Louis Cogswell, was born 5 Jan 1910 in Elbridge.

Sadly baby Paul on lived six hours. Cause of death was foctal atetectasis, burial at Sayler Cemetery.

1910 Federal Census - Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan - taken 10th and 11th May.

Cogswell, Louie, 49, married twice, married one year, farmer on general farm

Tressa, wife, 23, married once, married one year, one child born, one child living

Benjamin, son, 7

Delia, daughter, 2/12

[How is Delia two months old? Their son Paul was born in January, a single birth, dying on the same day]

Niece Anna, daughter of sister Tressa and Louis Cogswell, was born 7 Sep 1911. Sadly she died 11 Mar 1912 in Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan. Cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis, burial in the Catholic Cemetery.

The 1910 census listed sister Tressa as married, but she didn't actually get married until 25 Dec 1911. Louis Cogswell, 53, son of James Cogswell, married twice before and Tressa Chingman, 26, daughter of Geo. Chingman, first marriage. Ceremony was performed by Rev. Donulus Eress ___ Catholic priest, in Lattin, Michigan.

Brother Charles, 27, married Elizabeth Battice, 20, daughter of John Battice, on 24 May 1915 in Hart, Michigan.

Father George died 15 Aug 1916 in Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan. His age was given as 52, parents as Mike Chingman and unknown. Cause of death was endocarditis, burial in Sayles Catholic cemetery.

Nephew Louis Peter Chingman, son of brother Charles and his wife Elizabeth was born 25 Nov 1916. [After the deaths of Charles and Elizabeth in the next two years, baby Louis was adopted by William Koon and his wife Martha.]

Sister-in-law Elizabeth, wife of brother Charles, died 26 Jun 1917 in Muskegon Heights, Muskegon, Michigan. Her age was given as about 22, parents as John Battise and Mary Smith. Cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis, buried in Hart, Michigan.

Brother Charles died 25 Mar 1918. His age was given as 29, widower of Elizabeth Battice. Cause of death was tuberculosis, pulmonalis, burial was at Sayler Cemetery in Elbridge.

John registered for the draft on 12 Sep 1918. He gave his birth as 16 Mar 1898. Occupation as woodsman at Hart Cedar Co. in Elbridge. John was described at medium height and build, black hair and eyes.

Mother Mary died 22 Oct 1918 in Elbridge, Oceana, Michigan. Her age was given as 70, parents unknown. Cause of death was chronic endocarditis, burial at Sayles Cemetery in Elbridge.

John applied for a license to marry Marian (Mary) Morsaw, daughter of Alexander Morsaw and Angeline Lewis on 8 Sep 1919 in Muskegon, Michigan. There was no marriage information returned.

Daughter Florence was said to be born c1919

1920 Federal Census - Muskegon Heights, Muskegon, Michigan

Chingman, Peter, boarder, 28, single, born Michigan, chipper at foundry

John, boarder, 22, single, born Michigan, moulder at foundry

The Muskegon Chronicle 14 May 1921

The Muskegon Chronicle 10 Jun 1921

Daughter Lucille was born c1921

Brother Anthony, 21, was married to Clara Blackbird, 21, daughter of Fred Blackbird and Catherine Wasson, on 6 Mar 1923 in Muskegon. Ceremony was performed by Jerome E. Turner, Justice of the Peace. [The license date was written as 7 Mar 1923, so either the license date or the marriage date was incorrect]

Daughter Josie was born 10 Mar 1924 [Muskegon County Births book 11 page 139]

Muskegon Chronicle 17 Mar 1924

Daughter Agnes was born 3 Feb 1926

Muskegon Chronicle 18 Feb 1926

John's mother-in-law, Angeline Lewis Morsaw, died 14 Mar 1926 in Muskegon. Her birth was given as 15 Jun 1865 in Hart, Michigan. Her father as Lou Lewis, mother unknown. Cause of death was apoplexy, burial at St. Marys cemetery.

Muskegon Chronicle 15 Mar 1926

Daughter Virgina Amelia was born in 27 Jun 1926 [Muskegon County Births book 11 page 366]

Muskegon Chronicle - 7 Jul 1926

Son John Jr. was born 9 Mar 1930 in Muskegon Heights, Muskegon, Michigan [Muskegon County Births book 12 page 1]

Muskegon Chronicle 13 Mar 1930

1930 Federal Census - Muskegon Heights, Muskegon, Michigan

1628 Jefferson

Chingman, John, owns home valued at $1,200, 30 married at 22, laborer at tannery shop

Marian A., wife, 28, married at 21

Florence M., daughter, 12

Lucille M., daughter, 9

Josie, daughter, 6

Agnes D., daughter, 4 1/12

Virginia M., daughter, 2 10/12

John J., son, 1/12

John was elected trustee of the First National Spiritualist Church for 1931

Muskegon Chronicle - 10 Jan 1931

Muskegon Chronicle 15 Jun 1931

Son John died 24 Aug 1931 in Muskegon Heights, Muskegon, Michigan, Cause of death was some undetermined brain lesion.

Muskegon Chronicle - 25 Aug 1931

Daughter Florence was admitted to Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School on 10 Sep 1931

John's father-in-law Alexander Morsaw died 4 Jun 1932 in Muskegon. His age was given as 72 years 6 months 28 days, parents as Joe Morsaw of Montreal Canada and Agnes. He was widowed from Angeline. Cause of death was arteriosclerosis and cardiac hypertrophy. Burial was at Mona View Cemetery.

Muskegon Chronicle - 4 Jun 1932

Muskegon Chronicle - 6 Jun 1932

Son Alexander was born 14 Feb 1933 in Muskegon, Michigan [Muskegon County Births book 12 page 224]

Daughter Shirley Ann was born 16 Feb 1935 [Muskegon County Births book 12 page 350]

Muskegon Chronicle - 15 Jan 1937

Son Raymond George was born 9 Jan 1937 [Muskegon County Births book 12 page 487] [Click here for blog post about Raymond]

Daughter Loretta was born 22 Nov 1937 [[Muskegon County Births book 12 page 487]

Daughter Betty Lou was born 24 Nov 1938 [Muskegon County Births book 12 page 564]

Muskegon Chronicle 24 Dec 1938

The Grand Rapids Press 18 Jul 1938 - John elected treasurer of Ottawa Grand River band.

Muskegon Chronicle - 25 Aug 1938

John was elected secretary-treasurer

Daughter Luella June was born 22 Nov 1939 [Muskegon County Births book 13 page 44]

1940 Federal Census - Muskegon Heights, Muskegon, Michigan

1628 Jefferson St.

Chingman, John, head, 41, born Michigan, same house, laborer at foundry

Marian, (gave the information), wife, 38, born Michigan, same house

Lucile M., daughter, 19, born Michigan, same house, laborer at WPA sewer

Josie, M., daughter, 16, born Michigan, same house

Agnes, A., daughter, 14, born Michigan, same house

Virginia A., daughter, 16, born Michigan, same house

Alexander J., son, 7, born Michigan, same house

Shriley A., daughter, 5, born Michigan, same house

Raymond G., son, 3, born Michigan

Loretta J., daughter, 2, born Michigan

Betty L., daughter, 1, born Michigan

Louella J., daughter, 4/12, born Michigan

Patsy Ann, granddaughter, 1, , born Michigan

Shagonaby, Theresa, sister-in-law, 45, widowed, , born Michigan, residence on 1 Apr 1935 - Sydney, Richald, Montana

Daughter Louella died 6 Sep 1940 in Muskegon Heights, Muskegon, Michigan. Cause of death was convulsions accompaning dysentery with broncho pneumonia as other contributory cause. Burial was at Mona View Cemetery.

Muskegon Chronicle - 6 Sep 1940

Muskegon Chronicle - 9 Sep 1940

Daughter Joan Lee was born 7 Mar 1941 in Muskegon [Muskegon County Births book 13 page 198]

John registered for the draft 16 Feb 1942. He gave his birth as 6 Mar 1899. Employer as Centrifugal Fusing Co. of Lansing. John was described as having brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion, with scars on back of hands.

Son Peter James was born 8 Aug 1943 [Muskegon County Births book 13 page 459]

Sadly Peter died 14 Nov 1943. Cause of death was avitaminosis and pertussis. Burial was in Mona View Cemetery.

Muskegon Chronicle - 15 Nov 1943

Muskegon Chronicle - 4 Nov 1944

Daughter Virginia, 19, married George L. Trevan, 20, son of Louis Trevan and Sarah Davis, on 9 Nov 1946 in Muskegon. Ceremony was performed by Rev. James Sabin, witnesses were Darrell E. Carney and Mrs. Lucille Carney.