Isaac Willis

Isaac Willis was born 10 Dec 1897 in Hayes township, Charlevoix county. His parents were Lazarus Willis and Lucy Scott.

Isaac first attended the government school in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, 1901-1902, cause of discharge being "too small." He was 5 years old. He next attended the government school in Genoa, Nebraska, 1903-1906, leaving at the end of his term. Third school was in Tomah, Wisconsin, again leaving because his term there ended. Isaac then enrolled at Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, attending from 10 Oct 1913 until he left 6 Jun 1917 to join the Navy.

Isaac served on the U.S.S. Kentucky




Records:

Isaac Willis student file at Carlisle.

Documents concerning Isaac Willis

Letter to leave Navy

Lazarus Willis student file at Carlisle

Copyright (c) 2017 Vicki Wilson

Link to facebook group Michigan Native American Ancestors

Hayward

Photo from Wisconsin State Historical Society

Hayward Indian School in Wisconsin was built in 1901 and closed in 1934.

The Durant Roll lists two children as students at the Hayward School in Wisconsin in 1908.

Cartwright, Antoine age 21 #1158

Cartwright, Sophia age 7 #1159

They are the children of Louis Cartwright who resides in Odanah, Wisconsin. All three are enrolled with the L’Anse Chippewas.

The 1910 federal census lists all the students as being born in Wisconsin, including Sophia above.

Drawing of the School

The Hayward Indian School: Realities of an Off-Reservation Boarding School

Records at the National Archives in Chicago

Genoa Indian School

Undated student photo from the Nebraska State Historical Society. No names or home states given.

The Indian Industrial School at Genoa, Nebraska was complete in 1884 and operated until 1934.

The 1900 Federal Census shows no students born in Michigan.

The Durant Roll lists the following children as being at Genoa, NE, 1908

Name, Age, Durant Roll #

Allen, Issac age 17 #282

Black, Peter age 14 #800

Blacksmith, Pickett age 19 #1005

Blacksmith, Scott age 10 #1008

Chippewa, Louis age 25 #1493

Chippeway, Sophia age 17 #1374

Cogswell, Henry age 21 #1574

Hamlin, Agnes age 18 #2571

Jacobs, Alice, age 18  #2838

Jacko, Sophia age 17 #2815

Jackson, James age 22 #2925

Kiogima, Jermiah/Jerome age 24 #3048

Maishaw, John age 21 #4473

Mark, Albert age 12 #4342

Mark, Robert age 10 #4340

Marshall, Annie age 24 #3750

Marshall, Clinton age 21 #3751

Marshall, Edgar age 16 #3752

Marshall, Martha age 26 #3749

Mitchell, Julia age 14 #4187

Mosher, Andrew age 19 #4459

Nodin, William age 19 #4823

Odeimin, Sam age 18 #4919

O’Malley, Bessie age 20 #4867

O’Malley, Tora age 17 #4868

Pabo, Isaac age 21 #5374

Paul, Louis age 22 #5414

Payshawbay, Joe age 24 #5358

Redbird, Simon age 42 #5699

Shaywawdayse, Jonah 28 #6130

Shoshoguay, Alex age 18 #6575

Teeple, Myrthe age 17 #6680

Wahbuscum, Mitchel age 34 #7237

Waishkey, Mamie age 16 #6902

Wakefield, Joseph age 30 #7346

The 1910 Federal Census  - students has at least one Michigan student per page (except the last page of students)

Leander Allard, 11

Maxime Allard, 13

Robert Bellow, 12

Peter Black, 16

Frank Boucher, 10

Cletus Ford, 16

Maurice Ford, 8

Moses Frances, 14

Alex Gardner, 14

Charles Gardner, 10

William General 19

William Gibson, 14

William Gilbert, 21

Adam Jackson, 19

James Jackson, 21

Otto Krull, 8

Clarence LaLonde, 8

Herald LaLonde, 9

John LaLonde, 6

Austin Mandoka, 10

Grover Mandoka, 12

Albert Mark, 13

Robert Mark, 9

David Marshall, 21

Azarie Menard, 12

Louis Menard, 11

Andrew Mosier, 19

Sam Odemin, 19

John Paul, 21

Alex Shashagway, 19

Walter Smith, 18

Thomas Stafford, 19

Geroge Sturgeon, 9

Wellington Sturgeon, 13

Stanley Tebo, 11

James Wamagance, 15

Paul Wamagance, 13

Dan Wayshe, 19

Lovina Allard, 15

Violet Allard, 17

Thresa Bebo, 13

Louise Bebo, 8

Frances ooker, 10

Christine Boucher, 12

Margaret Boucher, 14

Julia Ermatinger, 13

Helen Ford, 10

Leonore Ford, 12

Magdelena Francis, 18

Mary D. Gardner, 18

Agnes Hamlin, 20

Nancy Larose, 18

Louise Larose, 13

Martha Marshall, 21

Madeline Menomenie, 18

Susan Menomenie, 17

Julia Mitchell, 16

Sophia Mitchell, 17

Hazel Parish, 16

Hattie Payment, 19

Bessie Piquette, 15

Blanche Reid, 19

Jennie Shawan, 15

Matilda Tallion, 16

Clara Tebo, 10

Thersa Tebo, 6

Myrtle Teeple, 20

Marmie Waishkey, 17

Nora Weston, 9

Gabriel Cadreau, 18

Charles Stafford, 16

1910 Federal Census - staff has several members from Michigan.

Redbird, Simeon, head, 40, married once 7 years, born Michigan, carpenter at US School; graduated from Haskell

Bertha A., wife, 29, 1 child born, 1 child living, born Indian Territory; graduated from Chilocco

Kermit, son, 2/12, born Nebraska

Shawndosa, Jonas L., 28, born Michigan, engineer at US Indian School; graduated from Genoa.

The 1920 Federal Census only lists staff - none from Michigan

1930 Federal Census finds one Native staff member born in Michigan - Bernard Topash, 29, is a junior clerk.

Traverse City Evening Record - 23 Aug 1904

Tells of Simeon Redbird taking children to Genoa by train.

Jerry Paul

James Paul

John Paul

Jessie Jackson

Mary Ann Antoine

Isaac Pabo

George Peter

Charles Peter

Anna Waukazoo

Alice Waukazoo

Mitchel Wayshe

George Nandokay

Wallace James

Johnson James

Isabelle Daniels

Julius Blacksmith

John Blacksmith

Lazarus O-ke-ma-ke-ke-to

William O-ke-ma-ke-ke-to

Genoa Indian School History

Genoa Indian School Digital Reconciliation Project

Chilocco Indian School

"Chilocco Indian School opened in 1884 with 100 students. It was built on land donated by the Cherokee Nation in 1866. The school closed in 1980. At its height, it had over 100 buildings, including a printing press, golf course, gas station, fire station, a lumber shed, granary, garages, tennis courts, swimming pool, a water tower, and several dorms. Over 18,000 students attended Chilocco between 1884 and 1980, representing 126 tribes. 5,542 received a high school diploma from Chilocco, nearly half of which came from four tribes – Cherokee, Choctaw, Navajo, and Creek."
From Family Search

Education Report 1899-1900

The Indian Leader, Lawrence, Kansas, 18 Oct 1907, mentions the death of student Frank Waugon in February.

The 1900 Federal Census lists 3 students born in  Michigan.

Charles LaCroix, 22, born Dec 1877, listed as 15/16 Sioux

Theodore Edwards, 10, born Apr 1890, listed as 7/8 Chippewa
Antoine Caisse, 19, born Apr 1880, listed as 7/8 Chippewa

Durant Roll – Chilocco School, OK – 1908

Name, age, Durant roll #

Allen, Bennet age 13 #284

Ettawegshik, Louisa age 17 #1923

James, Peter age 14 #2914

Mark, Francis age 12 #4329

Mark, Rosie age 9 #4330

Miller, George Lyman age 13 #4304

Waishkey, Aroma age 7 #6904

Waishkey, Mary Jane age 9 #6903

Willis, Levi age 22 #7031

1910 Federal census only lists staff, two born in Michigan.
Mary Dodge, 33, married 12 years, teacher, father Chippewa, mother Ottawa, graduate of Carlisle.
Rosa B. La Fla...., 37, married 4 years, assistant clerk, Chippewa, graduate of Carlisle.

Online records from the National Archives includes Gradebooks for various years, issues of the Indian School Journal, list of students who served in World War I, and more.

Student names can be search at the Oklahoma Historical Society. Below are the students who appeared in the 1900 census and Durant Roll field notes.

Antoine Caisse

Bennett Allen

Charles LaCroix

Francis Mark

 George Ira  Miller

 Levi Reuben Willis

Mary Jane Waishkey

 Peter James

 Rosa Mark

 Theodore Edwards

They Called It Prairie Light: The Story of Chilocco Indian School.

Available from the University of Nebraska Press, Amazon, and other booksellers.

Mount Pleasant Boarding School

The Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School opened 3 Jan 1893 with 17 students. The school closed 6 Jun 1934. In between those years many students attended.

Mt. Pleasant Indian School, Register of Pupils: (original records plus index by Larry Wyckoff from Academia.edu) -

Part 1 - 1894-1899

Part 2 - 1900-1904

Part 3 - 1905-1906

Part 4 - 1907-1908

Part 5 - 1910-1911

Part 6 - 1912-1914

Part 7 - 1914-1918

Part 8 - 1918-1922

Part 9 - 1922-1928

Part 10 - 1928-1932

Original is also at the National Archives

History of Mt. Pleasant boarding school at the National Archives. "This serise consists of a single journal kept by the Superintendent of the Mount Pleasant School to occasionally record daily events which occurred at the Mount Pleasant Indian School. Entries created include the first day of class, new buildings opening, graduation ceremony notes, agricultural events, and entries for when the school closed."

List of names from the Mt. Pleasant Indian School and Agency Student Case Files 1893-1946 at the National Archives branch in Chicago.

Link to student names from the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.


Not everyone was happy to be at school.

Daily Telegram  (Adrian, Michigan) - 15 Jun 1899

Isabella County Enterprise 16 Jun 1899

From the Bay City Times - 3 Jul 1899.

Isabella County Enterprise - 7 Jul 1899

Grand Rapids Herald of 19 Aug 1899 tells of four girls who ran away.

Ranee and George Teeple c1900

In the 1900 Federal Census 184 students are named.

Charles Stafford, age 9 and Thomas Stafford, age 13 entered Mt. Pleasant school on 17 Apr 1900 for a term of three years. They were sent home 30 Jun 1903. The Muskegon Chronicle of 18 Jul 1903 mentions the children, who re-entered the Mt. Pleasant school in July of 1903.

Football team - 1906 (Simon Otto Collection)

The pictures below are from "Faces and Places Familiar Mt.Pleasant, Mich. 1906"
School

Farm

Boys' dorm

Cooking class

Sewing class

 Inside girls' dorm

Outside girls' dorm

Hospital

Inside laundry

Thirty-six piece band

Isabella County Enterprise 7 Jan 1907 tells of a girls chorus from the Mt. Pleasant school consisting of Agnes Dutton, Kate Cross, Minnie Clement, Ida Pashener and Sarah Sebastien.

Clarence Mishekey of Harbor Springs who attended school with his sister Hattie ran away at least twice. From the Evening News [Sault Ste. Marie] 30 Nov 1907.

Postcard from Ebay

The Durant Roll lists the following as students at Mt. Pleasant school # is Durant Roll number

Aken, Delia #318

Aken, Mary, #317

Allen, Rose #283

Andrews, Clara #831

Axen, John #36

Bemos, Amos #1068

Bird, Clara #831

Chingwaw, Louis Jr. #1407

Clement, Nellie #1178

Ettawegejig, Lacy #1930

Fish, Mary #1982

Gilbault, Clarence #2355

Gruett, Mrs. Sarah #2217

Johnson, Angeline #2855

Kaogoma, Annie age 13, #3078

Kewaykendo, David age 15 #3109

Kezhick, Joseph Jr age 11 #3178

Leeo, Sampson age 15 #3610

Louis, Sylvester age 28 #3696

Mashaqueto, Mary age 15 #4105

Mawby, Mitchell age 18 #4483

McClure, Jennie age 16 #4528

Meckety, Betsey age 19 #4444

Mendoka, Guy age 19 #4445

Mendowash, Delia age 16 # 4110

Menominee, Jonah age 15 #3831

Mitchell, Samuel age 12 #4183

Moses, Mabrose age 28 #3766

Moses, George age 17 #3769

Moses, Jacob age 19 #3767

Nahquam, Agnes age 23 #4657

Naskaw, Joe age 14 #4786

Neyome, Mary age 15 #4836

Neyome, Mike age 10 #4837

O’Connor, David age 18 #4945

Paul, Ed Jr. age 19 #5342

Pequongay, Pete age 16 #7042

Perault, Lizzie age 16 #5032

Petoskey, Howard age 17 #5258

Romer, Adolph age 20 #5719

Saboo, Eliza age 20 #5874

Saboo, John age 23 #5870

Sansway, Alice age 14 #6518

Shaggonaby, Nancy age 16 #6442

Shaw, Lizzie age 16 #6438

Shawkoo, Alice age 10 #6320

Shawkoo, Martha age 12 #6319

Shawwawnonquot, Levi age 21 #6217

Shomin, William age 21 #6171

Solomon, Agnes age 13 #6608

Theodore, Ellen age 11 #6796

Wahboose, Pete age 16 #7042

Waishkey, Cecelia age 18 #6907

Waukazoo, George age 10 #7095

Wawmegoose, Ray age 14 #7331

White, Joseph age 14 #7252

Williams, Marian age 13 #7207

Wongezhick, William age 20 #7210

Tailor class - 1909 (Simon Otto Collection)

The Evening News [Sault Ste Marie] 30 Oct 1909 names Joseph and Francis Bennett, Joseph and Leo Laramie, Mabel Hanes, Joseph and Stephen Belonger, Pauline and Esther Jandron and Lizzie Boucher as being admitted to the Mt. Pleasant School.

Real person postcard - mailed 1909

The 1910 Federal Census only names staff.

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1910 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1911 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1912 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1913 - no students named

The Indian School Journal - Sep 1913 - page 201-203

The Indian School Journal Sep 1913 page 353 gives the following information about the school library. Number of books in library - text and reference 160, literature -143, fiction - 141, total 444; in circulation literature 15, fiction - 30, total - 45.

Pictures from The Indian School Journal - May 1914

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1914 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1915 - no students named

From the Isabella County Enterprise of 4 Jun 1915 - list of graduates: Nancy Battice, Mary Ann Cutler, Nellie Cutler, Edith Perry, Elizabeth Pego, Charlotte Smith, Lillian Williams, Stephen Animikwan, MMoses Bailey, John Coby, Cleveland Chingwash, Merns Herbert, Lewis Johnson, Grover Mandoka, William Tyosh, Alex Kagebitang.

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1916 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1917 - no students named

Annual Calendar - 1917-1918. Last page has names of former students who joined the Army and Navy.

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1918 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1919 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1920 - names students

The 1920 federal census only names staff.

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1921 - names students

From the Muskegon Chronicle 16 Aug 1921, four unnamed girls jump a train trying to go home.

The L'Anse Sentinel - 2 Sep 1921

John Loonsfoot

Julia Barbano

Clifford Madosh

Alex Atticons

Charles Lipskey

Theo Picard

James Loonsfoot

Susie Kipsoden

Hattie Spruce

David Tiosh

Albert Spruce

Frances Bedell

Harry Miller

Lucy Jane Hendricks

James Spruce

The four Picard boys of Lake Linden

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1922 - names students

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1923 - names students

The 1923 graduates from the Isabella County Enterprise, 8 Jun 1923.

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1924 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1925 - names students

Honor roll from the Isabella County Enterprise, 23 Apr 1926.

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1926 - no students named

Honor Roll from Isabella County Enterprise 15 Jan 1926

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1927 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1929 - no students named.

School Band 1929

The 1930 Federal Census names 72 students.

Mount Plesant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1930 - no students named

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1931 - no students named

Football 1931

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports - 1932 - no students named

Girls' Marching team - undated postcard [Leelanau Historical Museum]

Sports team - undated

Possibly Isabel Fisher and Esther - undated - Leelanau Historical Museum

Ella Fisher and unknown - undated - Leelanau Historical Museum

Moses Walter Smith

List of Leelanau County students at Mt. Pleasant 1915-1932

Find A Grave Virtual Cemetery

Thesis paper "To Run and Play: Resistance and Community at the Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial School 1892-1933" by Andrew R. Balabuch.

A Short History of the Mt. Pleasant School - The Indian School Journal


FILES

Links to Student Files from National Archives in Chicago that I have purchased (files range in size from 1 page to over 250 pages)

Anawiski (children of William and Lilly)

Ance (Cecelia, Raphael, Julius)

Anderson (children of Edward and Theresa)

Bailey (Viola, step-daughter of William P. Wilson)

Henessy (Susan, William)

Kanaan (Mildred)

King (children of Lilly Anawiski)

Mark (Stephen, Peter and Grace)

Nanebos aka Marks (Leonard)

Schwanke (children of Arthur and Celia)

Shaw (children of Lucille Anderson Shaw)

Smith (children of William Keywis and Mary)

Wabsis/Waboose (George, Martha)

Wesley (Susan, Elizabeth, Hazel)

Wilson (Angeline, Jim)

Wilson (children of William P.)

LINKS:

Article at Second Wave Media

CREDITS:

Mount Pleasant Superintendent Annual Reports from the Indigenous Digital Archive.

Video  "Survivors of Native American Boarding Schools Discuss Dark History."