Honoring Native Ancestors: Howard Kischassey

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Howard Kischassey

"In 1921, Howard J. Kischassey, a full-blooded Chippewa tribal member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, transferred from the Navy to start and enlisted career in the Coast Guard. By 1938, Kischassey, had become a Chief Radioman, served as Officer-in-Charge of the Coast Guard Station at Dam Neck, Virginia, and oversay a crew of six radiomen, three surfmen and a cook. In March 1942, Chief Hischassey, promoted to Warrant Radio Electrician, He was the Coast Guard's second Native American Chief Petty Officer and its first Native American Warrant Officer. In 1943, he was promoted to Lieutenant junior grade (temporary) and Lieutenant in 1944. In March 1947, Kischassey retired with the permanet rank of Lieutenant. He was the first Native American to serve as a Warrant Officer, Lieutenant junior grade and Lieutenant." (mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/3960619/native-americans-in-the-coast-guard)

Howard Joseph Kischassey was born 25 Mar 1903 in Manistique City, Schoolcraft, Michigan to Enos Kischassey and Jane Jones.

Enos Wawgijig, age 24, son of Francis (Wawgijig) and Christine, had married Janes Jones, age 20, parents unknown on 3 Feb 1897 in Cross Village.

1900 Federal Census found Enos and Jane living in Hiawatha township, Schoolcraft county, Michigan

Wasigigig, Enos, head, Indian, amel, born Jul 1867, age 32, married 3 years, born Michigan, father born Canada, mother born Michigan, laborer at saw mill, number of months not employed was 0, can read, can write, can speak English, rents house, tribe Ottawa, parents' tribe Ottawa, 1/4 white, not living in ploygamy, taxed, not citizen by allotment, lives in fixed housing.

Jane, wife, Indian, female, born Dec 1876, age 23, married 3 years, no children born, no children living, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan, can read, can write, can speak English, tribe Ottawa, parents's tribe Ottawa, 1/8 white, not living in polygamy, lives in fixed housing.

Sister Mable E. Wassigijig had been born 29 Apr 1901 in Schoolcraft county, the daughter of Eanes Wassigijig and Janes Johnes. Sadly she died 20 Nov 1901 from pneumonia.

Enos started using the surname Kischassey between Mable's death in 1901 and Howard's birth in 1903. Gizhii'ase, pronounced Ki-zhee-ah-say, means "he walks fast".

By 1907 the family had moved to Petoskey, Emmet county, Michigan.

1908 Durant Roll Field Notes

line 12 page 20

Francis Waw-say-ke-zhick, dead; wife dead

Child 1) Francis, dead, wife Madeline (now married to Pete Manitou), Beaver Island; children: George 24, Enos, 20, William, 16, James, 12

Child 2) Catharine Starr, age 50, Cross Village, husband Howard Starr, white, dead; daughter Mary Starr, 19

Child 3) Mitchell, age 40, Petoskey, single

Child 4) Enos Waw-say-ke-zhick #1, age 38, Petoskey

wife Jane, 33, see 72-21, 24-20

Howard Wawsaykezhick, age 5, Petoskey

Christine Wawsaykezhick, age 2, Petoskey

Dan Wassigijig, 13, see #42 p.21

Child 5) Elizabeth Mick-saw-by, see 21-20

Child 6) Philamon Moses, 38, Cutler, Ontario, Canada; husband Moses or Alex Moses, Canadian Indians; children Alex Jr., 17, Rose, 15, George, 12, Mary Jane, 10, Frank, 8, Cecelia, 6, Edmund, 4

line 72, page 21

Aw-pow-too, dead, spouse not given

daughter dead, husband not given, their child - Jane Waw-sa-ke-zhick, age 33, Petoskey, see 12-20

line 24 page 20

Naw-osis-nay-be, dead, wife dead, child dead, grandchild - Jane Waw-say-ke-zhick, 38, Petoskey, husband Enos Waw-say-ke-zhick, see #12-20

line 42 page 21

Joseph Me-ge-se-mong, now Mixmong, 66, Cross Village, wife Philomena, 59, Their child, Sophia Wilmet, has son Dan Wassigijig (Wah-sa-ke-zhick), age 13, see #12 p. 20

Sister Marie was born on 20 Aug 1909 in Petoskey. Parents were given as Enos Keshassey and Jane Jones. Both are listed as white. Enos was a laborer. Marie was the 6th child born to Jane, the 3rd now living.

1910 Federal Census - Petoskey, Emmet, Michigan - Sheridan St.

Kischassey, Eons, head, male, Indian, 42, married once, married 13 years, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, speaks English, carpenter - house, was not out of work on 15 Apr 1910, number of weeks out of work in 1909 was 0, can read, can write, owns free (no mortgage) house, tribe Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood, not taxed, civilized housing

Jane, wife, female, Indian, 33, married once, married 13 years, three children born, three children living, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, speaks English, can read, can write, tribe Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood, not taxed, civilized housing

Howard, son, male, Indian, 7, single, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, was in school in 1909, tribe Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood, not taxed, civilized housing

Christina, daughter, female, Indian, 3, single, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, tribe Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood, not taxed, civilized housing

Marie, daughter, female, Indian, 4/12, single, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, tribe Ottawa, parents Ottawa, full blood, not taxed, civilized housing

Sister Marie died 29 Dec 1910 in Petoskey, Emmet, Michigan. Parents were listed as Enos Kescha and Jane Jones. Cause of death was convulsions.

Mother Jane Kesherne died 8 Apr 1911 in Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan. She was married, age unknown, born in Michigan. Her parents were given as Antoine Jonas of Germany and unknown. Cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis.

On 1 Sep 1913, Howard, age 10, and sister Christina, age 8, were admitted to the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan for a period of 5 years. They were listed as Chippewa, full blood, from Cross Village, guardian Kate Stahl. [Kate was their aunt, sister of their father Enos.]

1914-1915 School year. Howard was 11, Christina was 9.

The 1915 Petoskey City Directory listed Enos as a laborer, residing at 310 Madison.

On 30 Jul 1915 in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, Enos Kischessey, 38, Indian, born Cross Village, carpenter, son of Francis Kischessey and Christine Anse, married once before. was married to Margaret Davey Coffer, 30, white, born Allegheny, PA, daughter of Amos Coffer and ___ McGoff, married once before.

1915-1916 school year. Howard was 12, Christina was 10

1916 Grand Rapids City Directory

Kischessay, Enos W, carp, h 934 Ionia av NW

1916-1917 school year. Howard was 13, Christine was 11

1917 Grand Rapids City Directory

Kischessay Enos W., carp, h 822 Ionia av NW

1917-1918 school year. Howard was still listed as 13, withdrawn from school 30 Jun 1917. Christina was still listed as 11, withdrawn from school 1 Jun 1918.

1920 Federal Census - District 3, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan - 152 Bagley Avenue, family 13

Kischessay, Enos, head, rents, male, Indian, 53, widowed, can read, can write, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, can speak English, carpenter - house, wage worker

Howard, son, male, Indian, 16, single, can read, can write, born Michigan, parents born Michiga, can speak English, laborer at printing house, wage worker

Christine, daughter, female, Indian, 13, single, attended school since September 1919, can read, can write, born Michigan, parents born Michgian, can speak English.

The Indian Leader - 11 Juna 1924

Howard enlisted 16 Jul 1925 (from the Department of Veterans Affairs death file)

Howard, 24, was married on 27 Aug 1972 in Brooklyn, New York, to Helen M. Holohan, 21.

Daughter Helen Josephine was born 28 Dec 1928 in England.

1929 finds Howard and family living in Connecticut.

1929 Groton City Directory

Kischassey Howard J (Helen M) in US Coast Guard, r 60 Allen

Howard was discharged from service on 5 Jul 1929, and re-enlisted 27 Sep 1929 (from the Department of Veterans Affairs death file)

1930 Groton Directory

Kischassey Howard J (Helen M) rem (removed) to Brooklyn NY

Catherine Stahl, the aunt who was the guardian who sent Howard and Christine to Mt. Pleasant Indian Boarding School, died 11 May 1933 in Cross Village, Emmet, Michigan. Her birth was given as Dec. 1855 in Cross Village, parents as Francis Wasagejig and Christine Ance. Catherine was the widow of Howard Stahl. Cause of death was Mitral Insufficiency. Burial was in Cross Village.

1930 Federal Census - Norfolk, Virginia (U.S. S. Mascoutin C.G.)

Kischassey, Howard J., male, Indian, 27, married, age at first marriage 24, not in school, can read and write, born Michigan, Mixed Blood, Ottawa, can speak English, enlisted.

1930 Federal Census - Norfolk City, Norfolk, Virginia

Kischassey, Helen M., Head, rents - $22, does not own a radio, does not live on a farm, female, white, age 24, first married at 21, did not attend school since 1 Sep 1929, can read and write, born in New Jersey, father born in Ireland-North, mother born in Pennsylvania, speaks English, no occupation.

Helen J., daughter, female, white, 1 3/12, single, did not attend school since 1 Sep 1929, born England, father born Michigan, mother born New Jersey.

"The Mascoutin was a 869-ton steam-powered tug that was acquired by the Coast Gurad in 1921. She was commissioned on 17 December of that year and was based out of Norfolk, Virginia. She remained in service until 1936." (https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browes-by-Topic/Assets/Water/All/Article/2503343/mascoutin-1921/)

The New London Evening Day - 31 Jul 1931

The New London Evening Day - 29 Aug 1931

Ledger-Star, Norfolk, VA - 23 Jan 1937

Paragraph 2 - "The trail will carry eight Coast Guard self-bailing life boats and three portable radio sets with operators under Chief Radio Man Kischassey of the Norfolk division."

Suffolk News Herald, Suffolk, Virginia - 23 Jan 1937

1940 Federal Census - Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia

Line was crossed out - Kischassey, Howard J., did not live on a farm, head, male, Indian, 36, married, not in school, highest grad - H3, born Michigan, Ch. Radioman, U.S. Coast Guard

Daughter Helen, 26, was married to Harry Everett Hays on 21 Apr 1955 in Trumbull County, Ohio. She had been previously married to Chester Derwood Pinney and had 4 children.

The 1964 San Diego County Directory lists Helen as the widow of Howard J., living at 464 Edwards in El Cajon, however he was very much alive at the time.