Reader comments that prompted Tuesday’s blog and those that came afterward contained some interesting information regarding Pawnee customs. Not being Indian, I know nothing about the customs of the various tribes and nations other than what I happen to read about them. Some customs are relatively standard for a geographic area whereas others are unique to certain peoples. It appears that the Pawnee have many customs that are their own and differ from their historic neighbors.
I first learned a bit about Pawnee customs while researching Stacy Matlock. After his first wife died, he returned to Carlisle where he worked at the Indian school for a year. During that time he may have courted Blanche Bill, younger sister of his late wife, because they soon married and returned to Oklahoma. His student file found in the National Archives included this handwritten note: “Married Blanche Bill who was next in relative line when his wife died.” Stacy’s granddaughter, who was unaware of his first marriage, wrote a volunteer at the Pawnee County Historical Society that it was a Pawnee custom for a sister or brother to marry the widow or widower.
Frances Kotal, granddaughter of Rush Roberts, Jr., commented about another Pawnee custom—adoption of children by childless family members. Her grandfather’s daughter, Wynema, with his first wife, Sally, was adopted by his sister, Vivian and her husband, Walter Archambault, after Sally’s death. Alexandra Kay, one of Rush Jr.’s five children with his second wife, Gertrude, was adopted at an early age by Harold and Emma CurleyChief. Frances’s mother, Richenda Irene, remained with her parents and three other siblings.
These customs were very practical and helped solve problems that arose when parents died when their children were still young. One wonders if they are still practiced.
Tags: Blanche Bill, Frances Kotal, Pawnee customs, Rush Roberts
Tom Benjey's Weblog 
February 26, 2010 at 5:11 pm |
WOW! This is interesting stuff. Could Rose have been an adopted sister rather than a full sibling?
February 26, 2010 at 4:57 pm |
Just found Rush Roberts Obituary in the Lawton Constitution, Lawton, OK, 3/11/1958 which included the following:
“Roberts was first married in 1882 to an Indian girl whose name translated into English as Captive Princess. She died a year later. POLYGAMY WAS THEN CUSTOMARY IN THE TRIBE and he next married three daughters of Kaheeka, principal chief of the Skedee band of Shawnees.”
Rush traveled 1884-85 with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show & shortly after his return took Lou Howell as his wife. She shows up in 1888-1896 annual indian census’ as his wife. These same census’ have Lou’s younger sister Rose listed as “Living by Herself” next after Rush & Lou. Rose then shows up in the annual census’ as Rush’s wife from 1888 until her death in 1928.