Jacob Anderson

Ne gaw naw naw quot, also known as Jacob Anderson was born about 1848 in the Grand Haven area of Michigan. He was one of three children of Mesh-Was-Ha and Quis-Mo-Qua who lived into adulthood - the others being sister Lydia and brother Peter.

Annuities Rolls show he was considered an adult by 1868.

1868 annuity roll  - Ne gaw naw naw quot, 1 male, 0 female, 0 children, #15 Pay-quo-tusk’s band $15.85

1870 annuity roll - Ne gaw naw naw quot, line 14 page 58 - 1 male, 0 female, 0 children $15.30

There are three marriages records for Jacob. First is to Susan Tetowegazhick in 1870 in Crystal, Oceana County. Jacob is 21 and says he was born in Grand Rapids while Susan is 17 and born in Allegan County.

 

Second recorded marriage is to Sophia Beaver in 1882 in Leelanau Township, Leelanau County. Jacob is 29, born in Battle Point (Ottawa County). Sophia is 15, born in Northport. Both are residents of Northport at the time of their marriage.

Last marriage was to Stella Shegnajon in 1904 in Elk Rapids. However the field notes to the Durant Roll state Jacob has only one child, Edward, born about 1878 and that Edward's mother was Sarah Aikens. No marriage record to Sarah has been found.

Edward's World War I draft registration states he is 41, born 1877, that he went to orphans home at Lansing 1889 thru age 12 years. 

The 1880 Federal Census record finds Jacob in White River, Muskegon County, residing with niece Sarah Robinson and her family. No mention of first wife Susan, son Edward or Edward's mother Sarah. 

By the time of the 1900 Federal Census Jacob, wife Stella and son Edward are living in Elk Rapids. Jacob and Stella say they have been married for 14 years (about 1886) and that Stella had two children, both deceased.

Durant Field Notes #14 page 58
Ne gaw naw naw quot or Jacob Anderson, 60, resides Elk Rapids.
1st wife Sarah Aiken, dead
2nd wife line through
3rd wife Stella, 56, an Ind of the Cross Village Band, see 15/20

Child, by 1st wife, Edward Anderson, 1/2 GR, 1/2 GT, 32, resides Elk Rapids
wife Theresa (Roundsky) Anderson, 26, resides Elk Rapids, grand dau of #6 p 44
children of Edward and Theresa
Eddie, 8
Lucy, 6
Thomas, 5
Lizzie, 1

Jacob and Stella are still in Elk Rapids for the 1910 Federal Census and claim to have been married for 23 years (about 1887). Jacob is a laborer, logs.

  In the book "Noble Memories" Percy Noble gives us a look at Jacob and Stella's everyday life. On page 149 Noble writes “While I'm on the subject of Indians, I'd like to recall a fine Indian couple, Jake Anderson and his wife Stella. There was no more sober industrious couple in all our region, and I'm glad to remember them as friends.

For many years Jake worked at unloading the ore barge, dumping the big buckets as they came up out of the hold. As each bucket came up and was swung out over the car to be dumped, Jake, who by the way was not a big man, placed his knee against the bucket, lifted the link which held it upright, and gravity did the rest. It didn't look too hard, but when you remember that each bucket held probably a half ton or so of iron ore, it was no kid's job. Every day Stella came down with Jake's lunch on a tray, neatly covered, and after Jake had properly washed, he ate a fine meal.

Their house was the cleanest house in Elk Rapids, bar none. I've been in it many times. Stella was a prize basket weaver, making her own design and dying her own materials, after Jake had split the ashwood strips from which most of her baskets were woven. She also did beautiful porcupine quillwork."

The photo below from the Elk Rapids Historical Museum shows the iron ore buckets that Jacob would have unloaded.

Below is a postcard that Stella received from Philamena Odeimin in 1910.

By 1920 Jacob and Stella, Jacob's brother Peter, and Jacob's son Edward and his family are all residing in Brown township, Manistee County. Jacob and Edward are trappers while Peter is unemployed. Jacob and Peter own their homes free and clear while Edward's home has a mortgage.

Jacob died in a car accident in Grand Traverse county on June 17, 1928. At the time he was living in Bay Shore as a self-employed farmer.

From the Traverse City Record Eagle of June 18, 1928 page one, we learn of the accident that later takes Jacob's life.

In contrast to the Record Eagle which says Jacob's body was taken to Bay Shore, his obituary in the Elk Rapids Progress says his body was taken to his son Edward's home.

Elk Rapids Progress, Thursday, June 21, 1928:

"Aged Indian Dies From Auto Accident Friday

Jacob Anderson, age 78, of Bay Shore, who , with his wife, was injured Friday morning on US. 31, opposite Mr. Waldron's farm home, died Sunday noon at the Munson hospital in Traverse City.

Undertaker John Dockery conveyed the body to the home of his son, Mr. Ed Anderson, on the east side of this village on the same day and funeral was held at the Kewadin church on Wednesday afternoon.

Rev. J. C. Mathews, Elk Rapids conducting the services. Burial was made in the Indian cemetery."

 A burial permit was found at the Milton township clerk's office.

Stella has not been found in the 1930 census and died in 1931 in Charlevoix County. She is also buried in Kewadin, in an unmarked grave.

Copyright (c) 2016 Vicki Wilson