Honoring Native Ancestors: Joseph Mastaw 1854-1931

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Joseph Mastaw 1854-1931

Joseph Florimont Masta/Maishtaw was born 29 Mar 1854, the son of Marie Bennett-Beaubin and Louis Maishtaw.

Joseph's mother, Marie was the daughter of Louis Bennett-Baubin and Christine Outapitakewinam. She was born 22 Mar 1821 on Mackinac Island. She possibly married Louis Maishtaw/Masta on 4 Feb 1841 by Isaac Handorn, Justice of the Peace. [Source: The Founding Mothers of Mackinac Island The Agatha Biddle Band of 1870 by Theresa L. Weller]

Older Siblings were:

Louis, born 15 Nov 1841

Charles born 5 Feb 1845

Marie Amabilis, born 11 Jun 1846

Christina, born, 18 Mar 1848

Jean Baptiste Napoleon, born 13 Jun 1850

Jean Baptiste, born 11 Apr 1852

Maria Matilda, born 11 Apr 1852

Sister Julie was born about Feb 1856

Brother Antoine was born about Jun 1858

1859 Annuity Roll - Mawchepawgoquay, Chief

#12 Mrs Louis Mastaw, no men, one woman, three children, received $19.88 [Louis was alive, but not counted as he was not a member of the band]

1860 Federal Census - Inverness, Cheboygan, Michigan

Louis Mastaw, 44, fisherman, value of real estate $50; value of personal estate $15; born Canada

Mary, 38, born Michigan

Charles, 15, laborer, born Michigan

Christeen, 12, born Michigan

John, 7 -twin, born Michigan

Julia, 7 - twin, born Michigan

Joseph, 5, born Michigan

Peter, 3, born Michigan

Antoine, 1

Sister Margaret was born about Aug 1860

1861 Annuity Roll - Mawchepawgoquay, Chief

#12 Mrs. Louis Mashtaw, no men, one woman, four children, received $23.10 [Louis was alive, but not counted as he was not a member of the band]

Father, Louis Mastaw, 40, registered for the Civil War Draft on 27 Aug 1863 in Cross Village.

Brother Ruben was born 15 Jun 1865

1865 Annuity Roll - Agatha Biddle, Chief

#2 Mrs. Louis Maishtaw, no men, one woman, five children, received $24. [Louis was alive, but not counted as he was not a member of the band]

1866 Annuity Roll - Agatha Biddle, Chief

#1 Mrs. Louis Maish taw, no men, one woman, five children, received $22.44. [Louis was alive, but not counted as he was not a member of the band]

1867 Annuity Roll - Mrs. Agatha Biddle, Chief

#1 Mrs. Louis Maishtaw, no men, one woman, five children, received $21.42. [Louis was alive, but not counted as he was not a member of the band]

1868 Annuity Roll - Mrs. Agatha Biddle chief

#1 Mrs. Louis Maish taw, no men, one woman, six children, received $110.95 [Louis was alive, but not counted as he was not a member of the band]

1870 Annuity Roll - Mrs. Agatha Biddle, Chief

#2 Mrs. Louis Maishtann, no men, one woman, seven children, received $122.40 [Louis was alive, but not counted as he was not a member of the band]

1870 Federal Census - Iverness, Cheboygan, Michigan

Mastas, Louis, 58, laborer, value of real estate $100, born Michigan, parents of foreign birth, male citizen age 21 or over

Marie, 49, keeping house, born Michigan, cannot read or write

Marie, 18, domestic servant, born Michigan, cannot read or write

Jean, 18, fisherman, born Michigan, cannot read or write

Joseph, 15, fisherman, born Michigan, cannot read or write

Julia M. 13, at home, born Michigan, cannot read or write

Antoine, 11, at home, born Michigan, cannot read or write

Margaret 9, born Michigan

Therese, 7, born Michigan

Rhueben, 5, born Michigan

Rastoule, Marie, 4, born Michigan

Mother Marie was said to have died in Apr 1879, in Readmond, Emmet, Michigan

1880 Federal Census - Cross Village, Emmet, Michigan

Nadowegwessa, Isaac, 38, farmer

Joset, 35, wife, keeping house

Jane, 3, daughter

Mary 1/12, daughter

Mastaw, Joseph, 28, fisherman, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

LaCroix, Catharine, 80

Joseph, white and Indian, resides Middle Village, age 27, born in Sault Ste. Marie, occupation fisherman, was married on 8 Jun 1880 in Petoskey, Emmet, Michigan to Rose Kosekawd, Indian, resides Middle Village, age 26, born in Middle Village. The Ceremony was performed by Philip S. Zorn, Catholic Priest. Witnesses were Stanislaus Ashkibogash and Sara Noganoske of Middle Village.

Joseph was on the 1880 tax rolls for Readmond township.

Personal Estate - section 25, township 37 north, range 7 west, value of personal estate $50, total value $50, school district #4, state tax 12 cents, county tax $1.80, township tax $1.20, school tax $1.40, poor tax 28 cents, total $4.80 all paid

Son Mitchell was born 12 Mar 1882 in Readmond township. Mother's name was given as Lucy.

Grand Traverse Herald - 5 Apr 1888

Father Louis was said to have died 3 May 1896 in Mackinac City, Cheboygan, Michigan.

Grand Traverse Herald - 18 Nov 1897

News from Ogdensburg tells of Joe Masteau giving John Swaney vapor baths for rheumatism.

1900 Federal Census [Not yet found]

Son Mitchell, 21, married Mary King, 18, daughter of Joseph King and Lucy Pomgowist(?) on 30 Dec 1901 in Harbor Springs. Ceremony was performed by Norbert Wilhelm, priest. Witnesses were Joe William of Canada and Wm. Mc___bee(?) of Middle Village.

Wife Lucy died 30 Dec 1902 of consumption. She was married, had one child who was living. Her age was given as 36, names of parents unknown. Informant was M. Maslaw [son Mitchell Mastau?]

Granddaughter Amelia was born 4 Jul 1904, the daughter of Mitchell Mastaw and Mary King.

Grandson Edward was born 28 Aug 1906, the son of Mitchell Mastaw and Mary King. [From his obit]

1908 Durant Roll Field Notes

#2 page 13

Mrs. Louis Maish taw, dead

children:

1. Christian St. Peter, see #43 p28, age 70, PO Harbor Springs

2. Mary Laquea, 52, PO Mackinaw City; husband Amab Laquea, white; children 1. George Laquea, single, 34, U.S. Army in Calif.; 2. Ida Parker, 32, husb white Lyrm Parker, PO Grand Rapids c/o GR&I Ry, (their children Peha, 7, Rena, 5, Earl, 3, infant born Jun 1908); 3. Fred Laquea, single, 30, PO Ionia, Mich; 4. Amab Laquea, single, 28, PO Mackinaw City; 5. Barney Laques, 26, PO Mackinaw City, wife Ruth, 26, see #2/20; (their child Ruth born May 1908); 6. Joseph Laquea, 24, single, PO Mackinaw City; 7. Ruben Laquea, 22, PO Mackinaw City; 8. William, 20, PO Mackinaw City; Chester, 17, PO Mackinaw City

3. John Mastaw, 52, PO Mackinaw City, wife dead; their children 1. Christine Peterson, 36 PO Detroit, husband white (their children Louis Peterson, 4, name not given 3) 2. Louis Mastaw, 22 single, PO Harbor Springs

4. Joseph Mastaw, 50, PO Mackinaw City, see #30 p 28

5. Tillie Kintcel Sr., 48, PO Mackinaw City; husb Alfred/Alford Kintcel - white; their children 1. Fred Kintcel, 24; Henry, 22; Tillie Jr. 20

6. Margaret Terrient; husb Chas Terrient, see #54/14, 15/13

#30 page 28

Benedict Ko-se-quot, 57 Goodheart, wife dead, "The child enrolled with him in 1870 was his younger sister"

1. dead. Husband Joe Mastaw, 50, PO Mackinaw City, see 2/13; their child Mitchell Mastaw, 27, see #52 p. 29

#52 page 29

Joseph O-taw-gaw-mae-ke, known as Joseph King, 67, PO Goodheart

children:

1. Thomas King, 35, PO Goodheart, wife Eliza nee Kenoshemeig, 29, see #25 p. 28; their children 1. Agnes, 13; Louisa, 9; Isabella, 5, Lucy 1 1/2 born Aug 6, 1907

2. Charles King, 32, PO Goodheart 40/28; wife dead, children 1. Leander King, 8 PO Goodheart; Martin King, 6, PO Goodheart

3. Mary Mastaw, 25, PO Goodheart; husband Mitchell Mastaw, 29, see #30 p 28; their children 1. Amelia Mastaw, 5; 2. Edmund, 2;

4. Benj King, single, 21, PO Goodheart

Granddaughter Viola was born 12 Dec 1908. [from her obit]

Petoskey News Review - 3 Mar 1965 shared photo taken in 1909 of men at the Moose Jaw Lumbering Camp in Center township. Son Mitchell was in the photo.

1910 Federal Census - Mackinaw Village, Mackinaw township, Cheboygan, Michigan

Mastaw, Joseph, head, 52, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, speaks English, fisherman of lake, tribe Chippewa, father ~~french~~ white mother Chippewa, 1/2 Indian, 1/2 white, taxed, civilized house.

Granddaughter Gertrude was born 4 Sep 1912 in Readmond, the daughter of Mitchell Mastau and Mary King.

1920 Federal Census - Mackinaw Village, Mackinaw township, Cheboygan, Michigan

Mastaw, Joseph, head, 63, single, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, fisherman

Granddaughters Viola and Gertrude attended the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School for the 1922-1923 school year.

Granddaughter Amelia, 20, daughter of Mitchell Mastaw and Mary King, married William L. Gilbert, 30, son of Mitchell Gilbert and Teresa Wenoby, on 4 Jul 1923. Ceremony was performed by Joseph W. (?) Lanty, pastor. Witnesses were Michael Nagle and Mary Nolan of Bay City.

Great-granddaughter, Velma Mary Mastaw Kaltz, died 9 May 1926. She was born 26 Apr 1926, the daughter of Arthur Kaltz and Gertrude Mastaw. Cause of death was Pyloric Stenosic, contributory/secondary - congenital. Burial was in Good Hart.

Granddaughter Gertrude died 15 May 1926. She was born 4 Sep 1912 in Readmond, the daughter of Mitchell Mastau and Mary King. Cause of death was puerperal septicemia, contributory/secondary - childbirth. Burial was in Goodhart Cemetery.

Granddaughter Viola, 18, was married 23 May 1927 to Samuel Keway, 21, son of Simon Keway and Harriet Kosequot. Ceremony was performed by Rev. Arnold Schwarz, Indian Catholic Missionary. Witnesses were Harold Nonqueskwa of Brutus and Sisie V. Kiogima of Harbor Springs.

Grandson Edward F., 23, was married to Anna Shenoskey, 19, daughter of James Shenoskey and Rose Shaginady on 19 Mar 1930 in Petoskey. Ceremony was performed by Wm. H. Harris, Justice of the Peace. Witnesses were Dacy J. Carpenter and A. T. Washburne of Petoskey.

1930 Federal Census - Mackinaw City Village, Cheboygan, Michigan, taken 8 Apr

Mastow, Joseph, head, owns home valued at $500, Indian, age 84, widowed, 1st married at 25, did not attend school last year, not able to read and write, born Michigan, half Indian, Chippewa, able to speak English, occupation - none.

Joseph died 11 July 1931. His date of birth was given as 15 Nov 1861, age as 67 years, 6 months, 26 days, place of birth as Goodheart, occupation as fisherman. Name of wife and parents were unknown. Cause of death was chronic interstitial nephritis. Burial was in Goodheart. Informant was Mitchell Mastaw [Joseph's son]

Joseph was buried at St. Ignatius in Middle Village

St. Ignatius Church and Cemetery

Descendants:

Daughter-in-law Mary Jane died 29 Jul 1947 in Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan. Her birth was given as 20 Mar 1883 in Bay Shore, daughter of Joseph King and Lucy. She was buried in Middle Village.