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Sen-Noge-Wone
Potawatomi War Chief
Grandfather of Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk (Captain John Buckshot) and Wah-qua-bosh-kuk (Roily Water)
Above: Potawatomi War Dance Club, National Museum of the American Indian
Sen-noge-wone was war chief of the Potawatomis for a great many years and was superseded in 1814 by Chief Wa-ban-see (Wabaunsee), but Wa-ban-see having taken part with the whites against Black Hawk in 1832, was pushed aside and superseded by Ogh-och-pees, eldest son of Sen-noge-wone, who died soon after and was superseded by another son Wabsai who died in 1869 and was superseded by Pam-muck-muck, his grandson. After his death in 1874, Shaugh-nes-see was elected chief and in 1880 when this information was taken by the Potawatomi agency still held that position.
Children of Potawatomi war Chief Sen-noge-wone were Ogh-Och-Pees, Wabsai, and Shaumquesteh (Shaum-num-teh) who was the father of Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk (also known as Captain John Buckshot) and Wah-quah-bosh-kuk (Roily Water).
Below you will see Potawatomi agency notes in the year 1880 on historic and present leadership within the Potawatomi Nation.
The Sauks and the Black Hawk War:
With Biographical Sketches, etc
By Perry A. Armstrong
UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE,
POTTAWATTAMIE AGENCY, December 13th, 1880.
HON. P.A. ARMSTRONG, Morris, Illinois
Sir - It is not likely that I can give you any information in reference to the personal history of Shab-e-nay that you are not already possessed of. I learn from Eli G. Nadeau, a distant relative of the chief, whose mother he always visited when in this country, that he was always self-possessed, well clothed, reasonable in his views of men and their affairs, and zealous in advancing peaceful relations between whites and Indians. His son, Matwas, now resides on the Pottawattamie Reserve, in this agency, but has never participated in controlling the tribe or been invested by it with any authority. Of his daughters residing here, Ce-be-qua, wife of Yah-bee, lately deceased, was a good kind of woman. Moquska and Matwawieska are still living and are widows, and both very poor. All of his family are recognized as honest, inclined to industrial pursuits, and at least ordinarily industrious. The head chief of the Pottawattamies at this time is Shaugh-nes-see, a distant relative of Sen-oge-wone, the war-chief of the Pottawattamies at the date of the massacre at Chicago in 1812, which was, to a great extent, if not fully, due to his influence. The Prairie Band, now constituting the Pottawatamies, were the band that were led by Sen-oge-wone and his associates in the massacre. Shaugh-nes-see has as speaker his brother, Pis-she-dam. Mas-quas, a speaker of the tribe, represents the party of the late head chief, Pam-muck-muck, nephew of Wab-sai,* who was the son of Sen-oge-wone. The remaining councilmen of the tribe are Pam-o-zo, Man-ah-wuck, Kack-kack and Mat-sep-do, all braves.
"The tribe now numbers 451 persons present on the reserve, 280 in Wisconsin and about thirty in the Indian Territory. Their reserve contains 77,357 57-100ths acres of land, of this 2,035 have been put in a state of cultivation during the past seven years and 400 acres were broken last year. All of the cultivated land is enclosed by the most substantial fencing in the boundaries of the State of Kansas. The Indians have 1,150 head of horses and are rapidly gaining stock of all kinds. One hundred and two persons or heads of families are engaged in agricultural pursuits, who occupy 106 log and frame houses, generally well built and comfortable. The average attendance at their boarding school during the month of November, 1880, was 29 scholars. They do not express any desire to change their relations with the governmant and, in fact, are resolutely opposed to becoming citizens under any modified conditions. Their mutual dislike to any change has been intensified by the present unfortunate condition of 1,600 of their bretheren who became citizens by the provisions of the Pottawattamie treaty of Nov. 15, 1861. Their money was rapidly squandered, their lands sold, and they are now generally demoralized, worthless, and paupers. The class who became citizens were known as 'Mission' and 'Wood' Indians, both controlled by sons of Topenibe, the great peace chief of the Pottawattamies during the war of 1812.
"I would be glad could I forward you information regarding Shab-e-nay that would be useful, but these Indians know but very little of him, and I believe do not like him any too well. The financial condition of the Pottawattamies of the reserve is as follows:
Principal of Annuity.......................................................................$392,800.00
School Fund. Principal.....................................................................$86,000.00
Smiths and Assistants. Princippal........................................................$20,000.00
Improvement Fund. Principal...........................................................$179,000.00
Proceeds of Sale of Surplus Land. Principal..........................................93,000.00
Accrued Interest on Last Above...........................................................24,000.00
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Total.................................................................................................$794.800
In 1860 there were 2,180 Pottawattamie Indians on the reservation. Under the civilization act before referred to 1,400 of them became citizens in 1861, and about 200 more in 1862. When they became citizens with all the rights and privileges thereto attached including the right of suffrage, and to hold office, they were dropped as Indians. Hence the tribe was reduced to about 580 sould in 1862. In 1880 we find from the statement of Mr. James, 451 on reservation, 280 in Wisconsin and 30 in the Indian Territory, showing a total of 761, or an increase of 181 in about twenty years, which does not indicate their decadence and ultimate extinctin, as is true, as a rule, with the other Indian nations.
Sen-noge-wone, or, Rock in the Water - which means that he was so much firmer than other Indians that he was a rock around which other Indians rippled like water - was the war chief of the Pottawattamies for very many years, and was superseded, in 1814, by Wa-ban-see.
Mas-quas, whose wife is the grand-daughter of Sen-noge-wone, says that during the war between the United States and Great Britain of 1812-14, Ke-me, or Nas-wah, a younger brother of Sennogewone "traveled towards the French where he remained until the close of the war, then returning to his tribe, he informed Sennogewnoe that the greater numerical force of the white people prevented the possibility of any success in war against them. Sennogewone soon surrendered and thereafter was not recognized as chief." But Wabansee, having taken part with the whites against Black Hawk in 1832, was pushed aside and superseded by Ogha-och-pees, eldest son of Sennogewone, who died soon after and was succeded by Wabsai, who died in 1869, and was succeeded by Pam-muck-muck, his grandson. At his death, in 1874, Shaugh-nes-see was elected chief, and now holds that position. The treasonable conduct of Shaubenee and Waubansee, from the Indians' standpoint, in taking up arms against their race and relatives, the Sauks, killed their influence and ruined their standing among their nation and people. They were really looked upon by these Indians with that kind of loathing that we do upon the name and deeds of Benedict Arnold. Hence there was little show for the sons of either of them to gain or maintain any standing in their tribe.