Digging Up Your Family

William Connor and Jackson Barnett

This was originally posted on January 18, 2015. 

Again, I was going to start a post about Winnie Connor, William Hendrix Yernipcut’s grandmother, but I somehow fell into more information about her father, William Connor, and his family.

If you remember in this post, I mentioned that I had found a Tripod page mentioning William’s father, Tusekia Micco.  This correlates with the information found on William’s Seminole enrollment card.  Somehow, while researching information pertaining to Winnie enrolling into the Carlisle Indian School as a member of Creek Nation, I came across information that definitely names William Connor as Creek, as well as being the uncle of Jackson Barnett, aka “The World’s Richest Indian”.  Since I am not writing a post about Jackson Barnett, I will do something I rarely do and link his Wikipedia page here, so you can get an idea about him: Jackson Barnett on Wikipedia.

While I am finding conflicting information several times over (sometimes on the same pages, and in the same books), what I did find seems pretty solid.  Well, provided that these are from the court records, which I can’t be ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE unless I order them and view them myself.  However, according to this page:

The court finds that the father of Jackson Barnett was Siah Barnett, a full-blood Creek Indian, who died in the year 1897. The enrollment records of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes show that Siah Barnett was the father of Jackson Barnett, and there is no clear, cogent or convincing evidence to the contrary. Also, the credible evidence extrinsic of the enrollment records show that Siah Barnett was the father of Jackson Barnett.

The court finds that Jackson Barnett's mother was a full-blood Creek Indian Woman named Thlesothle, who died about the close of the Civil War and long before the time of the final enrollment and allotment of the members of the Creek Tribe of Indians in the Indian Territory. The enrollment records of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes name Thlesothle as the mother of Jackson Barnett, and there is no clear, cogent or convincing evidence to the contrary. Also, the credible evidence extrinsic of the enrollment records show that Thlesothle was Jackson Barnett's mother.

…The court finds that Siah Barnett was survived by a second wife Mary Barnett, enrolled as a full-blood Creek Indian, Roll No. 4506, who died in the year 1916, and who was not the mother of Jackson Barnett, and also that he was survived by the following children:

(a) A son, Jackson Barnett, enrolled as a full-blood Creek Indian, Roll No. 4524, the decedent herein.

…The court finds that Tusekiah Micco, also known as Neddie and as Old Man Conner, was a Creek Indian who died long before the time of enrollment and allotment of the members of the Creek Tribe of Indians in Indian Territory, and that he was survived by no wife, and was survived by the following children, to-wit:

(g) A son, William Conner, enrolled as a full-blood Seminole Indian, Roll No. 215 [should be 213, as his daughter Roseanna appears at 215], who died intestate in 1900, predeceasingJackson Barnett.

(h) A daughter, Thlesothle, a full-blood Creek Indian, who was the mother of Jackson Barnett, and who died long before the time of the enrollment and allotment of the members of the Creek Tribe of Indians in Indian Territory.

…The said (g) William Conner left surviving him no wife [the Seminole enrollment card is contrary to this], and left surviving the following children, to-wit:

(g) 1 A daughter, Susie Conner, enrolled as a full-blood Seminole Indian, Roll No. 216, now living.

(g) 2 A daughter, Emma Conner now Burgess, enrolled as a full-blood Seminole Indian, Roll No. 217, now living.

(g) 3 A daughter, May (or Hannah) Conner, enrolled as a full-blood Seminole Indian, Roll No. 219, now living.

(g) 4 A daughter, Wynie Conner Hendrix, enrolled as a full-blood Seminole Indian, Roll No. 223, now affiliated with the Caddo or Wichita Tribe of Indians, now living.

Again, here is a copy of William Connor’s enrollment card. (click photo for a better view)

I think I may end up ordering these court documents in order to get a better look at everything involved!

William Connor

This was originally posted on November 2, 2014.

After waiting for a while, I finally received the file I had ordered from the National Archives, only to discover that the records answered a question (which I will definitely get into in another post soon), but more questions were raised (which I will address in this post!).  There is just a lot of conflicting information.

I was originally going to start a post about Winnie Connor, William Hendrix Yernipcut’s grandmother.  However, I am going to step back one more generation and write about his great-grandfather, William Connor.  Or Conner, Conners, Connors.  Whichever one it may be…

On the 1900 US Federal Census, William appears with his wife and five daughters.1900 US Federal Census, District 72, Township 5, Seminole Nation, Indian Territory

William Connor: head of household, Indian, male, unknown birthdate, 55 years of age, married 11 years, born in Indian Territory, both parents born in Florida, farmer; can read, can write, cannot speak English [I’m pretty sure this is wrong]

Liddy Connor: wife, Indian, female, unknown birthdate, 34 years of age, married 11 years, seven children total, five still living, born in Indian Territory, parents’ birthplaces unknown; cannot read, write, or speak English

Josie Connor: daughter, Indian, female, born April 1889, 11 years of age, single, born in Indian Territory, both parents born in Indian Territory; can read, write, and speak English

Lusanna Connor: daughter, Indian, female, born April 1888, 12 years of age, single, born in Indian Territory, both parents born in Indian Territory; can read, write, and speak English

Emma Connor: daughter, Indian, female, born February 1893, 7 years of age, single, born in Indian Territory, both parents born in Indian Territory

Jennie Connor: daughter, Indian, female, born March 1895, 5 years of age, single, born in Indian Territory, both parents born in Indian Territory

Hannah Connor: daughter, Indian, female, born February 1893, 2 years of age, single, born in Indian Territory, both parents born in Indian Territory; can read and write, cannot speak English [well, isn’t that impressive?]

Further down the page, Liddy and her children are listed as Seminole, which makes sense considering that the census was enumerated in Seminole Nation.

Information pulled from Winnie’s Dawes application (Winnie, of course, being William’s daughter) (found on Fold3.com, Dawes Applications, Wynie Conner):

“…and her English maiden name Winnie Conners, and that she left the Seminole Nation in 1892 with her father and went to the Wichita reservation, where her father was a missionary until his death in August, 1900.

…the said Wynie Conner was listed for enrollment…in July, 1898, as a citizen by blood of the Seminole Nation, upon the application of her father, William Conner, whose name appears upon the Seminole roll as 213, and who at that time was the Band Chief of William Conner Band of the Seminole Nation…that as William Conner was a prominent official of the Seminole Nation prior to and during the period in which the Seminole roll was prepared it is quite improbable that he resided on the Wichita reservation for any great length of time between 1892 and 1900.”

Fold3 username Alfreda_Doonkeen wrote a “spotlight” concerning William, describing him as a “non-Indian”.

I sent a message to this user asking if she has any further information concerning the William Connor Band of Seminole Indians, and I am awaiting her response.

The problem I have with the spotlight describing him as a non-Indian is his Seminole Enrollment Census Card.If you click on the photo above, you will notice that William is listed as full blood.  His father is noted as Tusekia Meko (band unknown) and his mother is listed as unknown, but of the William Connor band (possibly the information was given by his wife).  Each of his children are listed as full blood; as well his daughter Winnie appeared on the Seminole rolls at number 223 as a full blood Seminole.  This tells me that William could not have been a non-Indian, unless he, his wife, and his daughter all lied.  However, in keeping an open mind, I look forward to learning more!

Something interesting that I had found concerning William comes from a personal family page (I honestly didn’t realize Tripod pages still existed).  According to The Baker Family’s Genealogy Pages:

“Tusekia Micco, also known as "Neddie" and "Old Man Conner", was a Creek Indian.  He took a Seminole wife, name unknown, and they had a son called William Conner, enrolled as a full-blood Seminole Indian,Roll #213.”

I am completely unsure about this information concerning Tusekia.  I will do research because I would love to find the Baker family’s sources.  The website goes on to say that Tusekia later married a Creek Indian.

The information concerning Creek Indian is interesting, and will be talked about in the post about Winnie.

On Saturday, May 8, 1897, in the Cherokee Advocate (Tahlequah, Oklahoma), p. 1:

SEMINOLES WILL TREAT

WITH DAWES COMMISSION LOOKING TO ALLOTMENT OF LANDS

To the general council of the Seminole Nation, Present:

The undersigned, your committee, to whom was referred the entire question for report, whether advisable now, to appoint a commission of its members to be in readiness to meet the United States commission, known as the Dawes commission, beg leave to report: that they have given the subject careful thought, and in their judgment believe the time is at hand for such immediate action.  Therefore, they deem it wise to recommend the appointment, as they now do, of six or more members, to meet with the said Dawes commission at Wewoka in the Seminole Nation, with full and complete authority, which is hereby given, to carry out the wishes of the General Council in an agreement to be made and concluded between the above mentioned commissions, on the part of the United States and the Seminole Nation, the same, however, being subject to ratification by the powers represented by its commissions, respectively.

Signed: John F. Brown, William Cully, William Connor, Thomas Little, Thomas West and T.S. McGeisey, secretary…

Although Winnie’s Dawes application states her father died in August of 1900, according to his Seminole Enrollment Census Card, William Connor died July 27, 1900.

I hope I am able to find out more about William Connor and the William Connor Band of Seminole.  I’m still finding conflicting information concerning whether or not William was born in Florida or Oklahoma.

Herbert Yernipcut: Part Five

This was originally posted on July 2, 2014.

I hated to write this post because I didn’t want to bring Herbert’s life to an end so soon.  However, I know there is more information concerning him that I just haven’t found yet.  I guess it never really ends, right?

As mentioned in a previous post, Herbert and Carrie had their last (known) child, Ramona, in 1930.  However, she was not born until after the initial enumeration of both the US Indian Rolls or the US Federal Census (as opposed to the date they were completed and marked) of the same year.

1930 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 5400-5405

Yernipcut (Herbert Nahperche), male, 38 years of age, Comanche

Hendrix, Carrie, female, 36 years of age, Wichita

Yernipcut, Philip, male, 10 years of age, Comanche

Yernipcut, William H., male, 8 years of age, Comanche

Yernipcut, Winifred, female, 6 years of age, Comanche

Yernipcut, Frances Elizabeth, female, 3 years of age, Comanche

1930 US Federal Census, East McKinley Township, Caddo County, Oklahoma

Yernipcut, Herbert, head of household, male, 36 years of age, full-blood, laborer at Kiowa Agency

Yernipcut, Roderick, son, male, 9 years of age, full-blood

Yernipcut, William, son, male, 7 years of age, full-blood

Yernipcut, Winifred, daughter, female, 6 years of age, full-blood

Yernipcut, Elizabeth, daughter, female, 2 11/12 years of age, full-blood

1931 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 4215-4220

Yernipcut (Herbert Nahperche), male, 39 years of age, Comanche (not to side reads “married to #427 on Wichita Roll)

Yernipcut, Philip, male, 11 years of age, Comanche

Yernipcut, William H., male, 9 years of age, Comanche

Yernipcut, Winifred, female, 7 years of age, Comanche

Yernipcut, Elizabeth Frances, female, 4 years of age, Comanche

Yernipcut, Ramona Marie, female, 1 year of age, Comanche

1932 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 4292-4297

Yernipcut (Herbert Nahperche), Herbert, male, 40 years of age (1892), Comanche

Yernipcut, Philip, male, 12 years of age (1920), Comanche

Yernipcut, William H., male, 10 years of age (1922), Comanche

Yernipcut, Winifred, female, 8 years of age (1924), Comanche

Yernipcut, Elizabeth Frances, female, 5 years of age (1927), Comanche

Yernipcut, Ramona Marie, female 2 years of age (4/2/30), Comanche

1933 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 4388-4393

Yernipcut (Nahperche Herbert), Herbert, male, 41 years of age (1892), Comanche

Yernipcut, Philip, male, 13 years of age (1920), Comanche

Yernipcut, William H., male, 11 years of age (1922), Comanche

Yernipcut, Winifred, female, 9 years of age (1924), Comanche

Yernipcut, Elizabeth Frances, female, 6 years of age (1927), Comanche

Yernipcut, Ramona Marie, female, 3 years of age (4/2/30), Comanche

In addition to the land patent granted in 1926, Herbert had two land patents issued in 1933, both found in Comanche County, Oklahoma.

The last census that Herbert appears on is the 1934 US Indian Roll, with notation concerning his death.

1934 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 4491-4496

Yernipcut (Nahperche Herbert), Herbert, male, 42 years of age (1892), Comanche (notation “Died December 31, 1935”)

Yernipcut, Philip, male, 14 years of age (1920), Comanche

Yernipcut, William H., male, 12 years of age (1922), Comanche

Yernipcut, Winifred, female, 10 years of age (1924), Comanche

Yernipcut, Elizabeth Frances, female, 7 years of age (1927), Comanche

Yernipcut, Ramona Marie, female, 4 years of age (4/2/30), Comanche

1934-36 Deaths Occurring, Kiowa, Comanche & Apache Reservation, Oklahoma

Yernipcut, Herbert, died December 31, 1935, 43 years of age, cause of death pneumonia

Appearing in the Daily American-Democrat on Tuesday, December 31, 1935 (as well as the following day in The Anadarko Tribune):

Veteran Indian Service Man Dies

Herbert Yernipcut, Mail Messenger, Is Victim of Pneumonia.

Herbert Yernipcut, 43, mail messenger for the Kiowa Indian Agency for several years, ended a long record of Indian service when he died at 2 o’clock Tuesday morning in the Kiowa hospital at Lawton, where he was taken Saturday night.  Death was attributed to pneumonia.

Yernipcut, Comanche Indian, entered the Indian service at Fort Sill about 20 years ago, and 11 years ago was transferred to the agency here.

He was born in Cotton county, and attended a government Indian school in Pheonix (sic), Ariz.

Surviving him are his wife and five children all  of the home address.  The are Winifred, Elizibeth (sic), Ramona, William, and Roderick.

Funeral Services are planned for 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon at the first Baptist church, with interment following in the Wichita cemetery.  Rev. William Cornel, Holdenville missionary, will be assisted in the services by Rev. James C. Gray, pastor.  The Anadarko Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  The body was returned home Tuesday mornuing (sic) and will lie in state at the funeral home until time for the services.

Herbert Yernipcut is interred at Rock Spring Cemetery, Gracemont, Caddo County, Oklahoma.

It is obvious to me that he was much-respected and very well liked, considering how often throughout his life he was mentioned in the newspapers, as well as an obituary appearing within hours after his death.

Herbert Yernipcut: Part Four

This was originally posted on April 29, 2014.

I am still hunting down information on Herbert Yernipcut, and I keep coming up surprised.

Herbert and his wife Carrie welcomed their first daughter on September 6, 1917, most likely in Caddo County, Oklahoma.  They named her Veronica Myrtle Yernipcut.

On June 21, 1918 Herbert Yernipcut met with John Peabody Harrington, an incredible linguist and ethnographer.  Six pages of random Comanche words/phrases were produced and I was lucky enough to find them.  I was hoping to transcribe the pages, but I have not yet received permission from the Smithsonian Institute to do so, but I hope to hear from them soon regarding the matter.  At the top of the page, however, is listed Herbert’s name, the date, and “Comanche voc.”

Nine days after meeting with Harrington, Herbert and Veronica were recorded on the Comanche Indian rolls; however, Carrie was not recorded with them since she was Wichita, and, therefore, enumerated with her tribe.

1918 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 360-361

(Herbert Wahperche) Yernipcut, head, born 1892, male

Veronica Myrtle Yernipcut, daughter, born 1917, female

Sadly, little Veronica died on April 3, 1919 at 1 year, 6 months, 28 days.  She is buried at She is buried at Rock Springs Cemetery, Gracemont, Caddo County, Oklahoma, Find A Grave Memorial# 56087335.

A month and a half later, on May 17, 1919, Herbert and Carrie welcomed their second daughter, Phillis Yernipcut.  Unfotunately, Phillis passed at ten-days old.  She, too, is buried at Rock Springs Cemetery, Gracemont, Caddo County, Oklahoma, Find A Grave Memorial# 56087290.

1919 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Number 366

Yernipcut (Herbert Wahperche), head, born 1892, male

On May 10, 1920, Herbert and Carrie had a son and named him Phillip Roderick Yernipcut.  He appears on the 1920 Indian roll with Herbert.

1920 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 371-371 1/2

Yer-nip-cut (Herbert Wahperche(, head, born 1892, male

Phillip Yern-ip-cut, son, born 1920, male

After Phillip was born Herbert and Carrie had five more children:

William Hendrix Yernipcut (June 5, 1922)

Winifred Portia Yernipcut (March 28, 1924)

Frances Elizabeth Yernipcut (ca. 1927..have been unable to locate)

Ramona Marie Yernipcut (April 2, 1930)

On December 7, 1926 a land patent was issued, in part, to Herbert.

                                    Click on photo to visit this record

1929 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 3958-3962

Yernipcut (Herbert Nahperche), male, born 1892, full-blood, married, head

Phillip Yernipcut, male, born 1920, full-blood, single, son

William H Yernipcut, male, born 1922, full-blood, single, son

Winifred Yernipcut, female, born 1924, full-blood, single, daughter

Frances Elizabeeth Yernipcut, female, born 1927, full-blood, single, daughter

To be continued…

Herbert Yernipcut: Part Three

This was originally published on March 7, 2014.

I have not yet located Herbert on the Indian Rolls through the 1910s, however I believe he was at the Phoenix Indian School in Arizona at this time, both as a student and an employee.  In several articles published in November of 1915 in the El Paso Herald (El Paso, Texas) Herbert is listed as a school delegate present at a Y.M.C.A. convention.

“Mexican Y.M.C.A. for Mexicans’ Work Beyond American Leaders.” El Paso Herald(El Paso, Texas). November 13, 1915.

On December 1, 1916 Herbert Yernipcut married Carrie Hendrix in Anadarko, Caddo County, Oklahoma.

The Phoenix Indian School’s newspaper, The Native American, of which Herbert was an employee, published a marriage announcement on December 9, 1916:

Miss Carrie Hendrix has resigned as assistant at the Kiowa hospital, Lawton, Oklahoma.  Carrie graduated from Phoenix School in the class of 1916 and was very active in the religious work at this school, being particularly interested in our Junior society.  It is reported that she has become the wife of Herbert Yernipcut, one of our old standbys in the NATIVE AMERICAN print shop.  We extend our congratulations to this most worthy young couple and hope we will have the pleasure of a visit from them among their many friends at the Phoenix School.

A photograph also appeared in The Native American of the print shop employees (I apologize for the blurriness):

THE NATIVE AMERICAN PRINTERS

Standing, left to right – Mr. Lawrence, instructor; Herbert Yernipcut, Comanche; Isaac Porter, Pima; Gee Gage, Pima; Dan King, Pima; John Lee Black, Yuma; Henry Jackson, Otoe and Stewart Lewis, Pima (foreman).

Sitting, left to right – Emerson Eutekawa, Hopi; David Kewanyousiema, Hopi; Dale Laidlow, Pima; Bennett Chowanyla, Hopi; Vincent Thomas, Pima; Walter McKinley, Osage and Peter Blaine, Papago.

Herbert Yernipcut, The Native American, 1916.

To be continued…

Herbert Yernipcut: Part Two

This post was originally published on January 23, 2014.

Beginning in 1901 Herbert finally appears on the US Indian Rolls with his English name.

1901 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 354-5

Wah-per-che, female, mother, 24 years of age

Yer-nip-cut, Herbert Wah-per-che (English name), male, son, 9 years of age

In 1902 the family changed a bit.  It’s confusing.

1902 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 354-6

Wah-per-che, female, mother, 25 years of age

Yer-nip-cut, Herbert Wah-per-che (English name), male, son, 10 years of age

Enoch (English name), male, son, 3 months of age

So, it doesn’t seem as though Wah-Per-Che has remarried, yet she has a new child.

1903 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 345-7

Wah-per-che, female, mother, 26 years of age

Yer-nip-cut, Herbert Wahperche (English name), male, son, 11 years of age

Enoch, male, son, 1 year of age

Interestingly enough, they didn’t put Enoch’s name in the English name row.  This leaves the idea open that perhaps his Indian name sounded like Enoch, but was not actually Enoch.  Or perhaps the enumerator just didn’t care that much.

1904 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 342-4

Wah-per-che, female, mother, 27 years of age (it had said 28, but then a 7 was typed over the 8)

Yer-nip-cut, Herbert Wah-per-che (English name), male, son, 12 years of age

Enoch (once again under English name), male, son, 2 years of age

Again in 1905 the family changes.

1905 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 344-8

Ni-yah, male, husband, 26 years of age

Wah-per-che, female, wife, 28 years of age

Yernipcut, Herbert Wah-per-che (English name), male, son, 13 years of age

Enoch (English name), male, son, 3 years of age

Flora Ni-yah (English name), female, daughter, 1 year of age

It seems as though sometime between the 1904 enumeration and the 1905 enumeration Ni-Yah and Wah-Per-Che married.  This also leave us to wonder who Enoch’s father was, even though this lists both Herbert and Enoch as the sons of Ni-yah.  The 1906 roll, however, leads us to believe that Ni-Yah is Enoch’s father.

1906 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 340-4

Ni-yah, male, husband, 27 years of age

Wah-per-che, female, wife, 29 years of age

Yer-nip-cut, Berbert (sic) Wahperche (English name), son, 14 years of age

Enoch Ni-yah (English name), male, son, 4 years of age

Flora Ni-yah (English name), female, daughter, 2 years of age

This is the last record I can find for the family for the years 1901-1910, though I am still searching through records (due to transcription errors, etc.).

It is known that Ni-Yah’s English name was Emerson Niyah, and I found some great information about him and from him.  He seemed to be a very talkative person who shared a lot in the way of Comanche ethnography, so am excited to be able to share some of that information in the future!

In my last post about Herbert I mentioned that I was still trying to track down some rolls prior to 1895.  I was told that they are most likely in the National Archives in Texas.  So I will have to plan a trip!

To be continued…

Herbert Yernipcut: Part One

This was originally published on January 3, 2014.

The beginning of Herbert Yernipcut’s life is very confusing to me.  The US Indian Rolls between 1895 and 1900, along with the 1900 US Federal Census, are what make his life confusing.

Herbert Yernipcut was born in Indian Territory, in what is now Cotton County, Oklahoma.  He was born about 1892, as indicated by census records.  However, his headstone says he was born in 1893.  I’m not sure how accurate that birth year is, though, considering it also has his death date listed 21 days before he actually died (I have not been able to see a photograph of his headstone yet, so I can’t be certain that it might just be unreadable).

By all accounts he was born to a man who is listed by the name of Comanche and a woman by the name of Wah-Per-Che.  However, the Indian rolls for 1895, 1896, and 1897 do not have him listed by the names Herbert or Yer-Nip-Cut.  In fact, the rolls for 1895 and 1896 have him (I’m assuming it might possibly still be him?) listed as a girl. (names pertaining to Herbert are highlighted in blue, other discrepancies are highlighted in red)

1895 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 353-9

Comanche, male, father, 28 years of age

Wah per che, female, wife, 18 years of age

Maud, female, daughter, 3 years of age

To see, female, mother (of Comanche), 46 years of age

Tar sar er (?), female, daughter (of To see), 14 years of age (she appears on other rolls living by the family with a family of her own)

Que wooth take wan (?), male, son (of To see), 8 years of age

Wan que, male, (no relationship listed), 24 years of age

note:  on the page prior to this are the names Ten a ver ka and Pa ko chy.  These are also relatives and will be mentioned later in more detail.

1896 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 393-9

Ten-a-ver-kah, male, head of household, 41 years of age

Pa-ko-chy, female, wife, 36 years of age

Comanche, male, father, 29 years of age

Wah-per-che, female, wife, 19 years of age

Maud, female, daughter, 4 years of age

To-see, female, mother, 47 years of age

Mo-que, male, son, 9 years of age

1897 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 394-401

Ten a ver kah, male, 42 years of age

Pa ko chy, female, wife, 37 years of age

Comanche, male, 30 years of age

Wah per che, female, wife, 20 years of age

Maud, male, son, 5 years of age

McKinly, male, son, 9 months

To see, female, 48 years of age

Mo que, male, son, 10 years of age

1898 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 393-9

Ten-a-ver-kah, male, 43 years of age

Pa-ko-chy, female, wife, 38 years of age

Comanche, male, 31 years of age

Wah-per-che, female, wife, 21 years of age

Yer-nip-cut, male, son, 6 years of age

To-see, female, 49 years of age

Mo-que, male, grandson, 11 years of age

So far, Herbert doesn’t appear to show up on the census with his parents until the 1898 roll, although I do believe that he is Maud (I somehow doubt that the enumerator really cared that much whether he got the relationship or sex of family  members correct…they were still considered “heathens” at this point).  According to a July 6, 1933 interview with Herbert’s step-father, Emerson Niyah, “couples might…adopt native Comanche children with their parent’s consent.  In that case, a young child usually forgot its natural parents” (Comanche Ethnography: Field Notes of E. Adamson Hoebel, Waldo R. Wedel, Gustav G. Carlson, and Robert H. Lowie, Compiled and edited by Thomas W. Kavanagh, 2008, page 67).  And although it is completely possible that Yer-nip-cut was adopted, I doubt it.

I can’t help but wonder, though, about the name changes.  And why Mo-Que went from being To-see’s son to her grandson.  Again, most likely the enumerator didn’t really care one way or another.

The 1898 roll is the last one Comanche appears on.  I believe he died, as he doesn’t appear anywhere else on the rolls.

1899 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 374-9

Ten-a-ver-kah, male, husband, 44 years of age

Pa-ko-chy, female, wife, 39 years of age

Wah-per-che, female, mother, 22 years of age

Yer-nip-cut, male, son, 7 years of age

To-see, female, grandmother, 50 years of age

Mo-que, male, grandson, 12 years of age

1900 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Numbers 381-6

Ten-a-ver-kah, male, husband, 45 years of age

Pa-ko-chy, female, wife, 40 years of age

Wah-per-che, female, mother, 23 years of age

Yer-nip-cut, male, son, 8 years of age

To-see, female, grandmother, 51 years of age

Mo-que, male, grandson, 13 years of age

Until I am able to get to my local US National Archives, these are the only Comanche rolls I can see between 1881 and 1900.  I am able to see the 1900 US Federal Census, which provides some interesting information.

1900 US Federal Census, Apache, Kiowa, and Comanche Reservation, Oklahoma Territory

Ten-a-ver-kah, male, Indian, head of household, born 1856,44 years of age, married, farmer, cannot speak English (I swear it looks like it says he has been married for 70 years, which can’t be right at all)

Pa-ko-chy, female, Indian, wife, born 1861, 39 years of age, married for 20 years, cannot speak English

To-see, female, Indian, mother (of Ten-a-ver-kah), born 1840,60 years of age, widowed, cannot speak English

Wah-per-che, female, Indian, daughter (supposedly of Ten-a-ver-kah), born 1878, 22 years of age, married for 3 years (I do not understand this), can speak English

There are a lot of discrepancies, huh?  I can’t explain it.  I also can’t explain why the names Herbert or Yer-nip-cut do not appear on the federal census, although he is on the Indian roll.  It is possible that he and Mo-que had already been shipped off to one of the Indian schools.  I know for a fact that Herbert attended the Phoenix Indian school, lathough I don’t have the dates he was there (at least as a student and not a representative of the school at a convention).  However, when I looked at the census for that school he is not listed, but I suppose it is possible he had a totally different name.

I want to point something out that I had to draw myself a diagram to understand:

As you can see in the Indian rolls and census record To-see is the mother of both Comanche and Ten-a-ver-kah.  Pa-ko-chy is the mother of Wah-per-che.

I know from Cavanaugh's book (page 14) that Ten-a-ver-kah (spelled Teneverka in the book) was the son of Ekakorohko and Tosee.  He married three times, but had no children of his own.  More information will be provided in a separate post for him.

About the name Yer-nip-cut:

The way it is pronounced in my family, whether it is how Herbert pronounced it himself or the Tennessee accent changed it, is exactly how it is spelled:  Yer nip cut.  The way it is pronounced at the Bureau of Indian Affairs office in Anadarko is more like: you nid uh cut.  I have found something that I think relates to the name Yer-nip-cut.  Kavanaugh’s book, page 235, mentions a man named Youniacut, which happens to be a name of a man who lived close to Herbert’s family.  The footnote provides, “1.  yuni ‘hair’, kutU‘possessor’, Has Hair, Hoebel (1940:145) gives this name as Yóniakat and translates it as Buffalo Robe.  Youniacut was a Yapainuu local band leader, 1879-92.”  How correct this is I cannot say right now.  I do know that according to the Comanche dictionary I purchased from The Comanche Language and Cultural Preservation Committee, the word for “buffalo hide robe” is numuwanahu (nuh-muh-wah-nah-h).  However, I am unable at this time to figure out if Yer-nip-cut and Youniacut are possibly the same thing (I’m still learning Comanche grammar!).

To be continued…

William “Bill” Hendrix Yernipcut: Part Two

This was originally published on December 14, 2013.

Records for Bill become fewer after his high school graduation.  One example being his military records.  Bill served in the United States Navy during World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam.  Unfortunately, the only enlistment date I can find for him is December 31, 1953.  His release date was October 7, 1957.  His rank is listed as DM3, which is Draftsman-Illustrator Third Class.  In fact, the US Navy cruise book for the USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47) for 1955, page 212 has this illustration of Bill:

I had also found another photograph of him in uniform a while back.  This is from the US Navy cruise book for the USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47) in 1954, page 149:

Apart from these few snippets of his life during his Navy career, I only have a handful of newspaper articles.

From The Dallas Morning News, May 6, 1948, page 5:

Wide Scope Marks Work Of Students

By Rual Askew

Representative student work from the Dallas Art Institute and the American School of Commercial Art are currently on display at the Telenews and Rush Company galleries under sponsorship of the Federation of Dallas Artists.

While a number of pieces bearing the Dallas Art Institute label are classifiable as fine art, the main emphasis of both exhibits is upon commercial art…

…Of the fifty works on display in the Telenews lounge, some of the best are among those submitted by the American School of Commercial Art.  John Blackburn’s figure design for a fashion layout is interesting for its simplicity and styled technique, while William Yernipcut’s ink illustrations of a moon-ridden old gnome with a broken wing has technical excellence and a fairy tale appeal…

From The Dallas Morning News, January 3, 1954, page 10:

-Dallas News Staff Photo

William Yernipcut, Indian artist, joined the Navy so he would have time to paint ocean scenes and warships.  Lt. Com. Dayton Smith is giving Yernipcut his orders.

SPEAKS RUSSIAN

Indian Artist Joins Navy to Paint Sea

Texas-born Lt. Comdr. Dayton A. Smith on New Year’s Eve ended a 30-year naval career, most of the time spent at sea, when he administered the oath to an Indian who speaks better Russian than he does his native Comanche, and paints good landscapes.

The Navy isn’t new to William H. Yernipcut, in whose veins are the blood of Quanah Parker and Peta Noconas.  He won a Letter of Commendation for meritorious service in Aleutian waters during World War II.

It was there that Yernipcut helped train Russian officers in gunnery.  He was with them almost a year and learned to speak their language.

Yernipcut always wanted to be an artist and after the war came to Dallas to enter the Dallas Art Institute.  He later studied in Chicago.

Yernipcut’s father was a Comanche of the Antelope subtribe and his mother was Wichita, Creek and Seminole.  He was born and reared near Lawton, Okla.  One of his ancestors was Quanah Parker, Comanche chief who was the son of Cynthia Ann Parker and Peta Noconas.

Yernipcut can not speak Comanche and explains this by saying: “My father of Comanche and my mother had the blood of the Seminole, Creek and Wichita in her –they couldn’t understand each other, so they spoke English.”

Commander Smith came up from the ranks as an apprentice seaman to the grade of lieutenant commander.  He spent twenty-three years at sea, most of the time on naval repair ships.  He was born at Weatherford, Parker County.  he plans to make Dallas his home.  He has been assistant officer in charge of the Dallas Naval Recruiting office for three years.

While I am still researching the validity of the Quanah Parker line to Bill, I do find it interesting that Dayton Smith was born in Parker County, which was named for Isaac Parker, the uncle of Cynthia Ann Parker (interesting tidbit found at the Texas State Historical Association).

On December 14, 1976 a newspaper article came out concerning Bill’s death.

From The Anadarko Daily News, December 14, 1976, (I am unsure of the page number):

Fire confined to room

CITY MAN DIES IN MOTEL ROOM BLAZE

William (Bill) Yernipcut, 54, of Anadarko died early today in a fire at his room at the Bon Ton Motel, 302 E. Central.

Police and firemen were called to the motel about 2:20 a.m. after the fire was reported to the motel manager…

(Bill’s) body was found after the fire was controlled.

…Fire Chief Bob Wilkerson said the damage was confined to one room.

Wilkerson said he investigated the scene of the fire and is “fairly sure it was accidental.”  However, he still has not determined the cause of the fire, saying “I haven’t put my finger on it yet.”

…Graveside services were to be held for Yernipcut at 4 p.m. today at Rock Springs Cemetery.  Smith Funeral Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.

Yernipcut, who was born June 5, 1922, at Lawton, is survived by brother Phillip of Lawton…

I am unsure why his other living siblings weren’t mentioned.  I was able to speak to a member of the Anadarko Fire Department, but unfortunately he was unable to find anything further on the investigation.  I would like to know what really happened.

William “Bill” Hendrix Yernipcut is buried in Rock Springs Indian Cemetery, Gracemont, Caddo County, Oklahoma.

Photo courtesy of Cokeman2 at FindAGrave.com

WILLIAM H.

YERNIPCUT

DM3 US NAVY

WORLD WAR II

KOREA

VIETNAM

1922

1976

My granddaddy James Paul Stalls, Jr greatly respected Bill.  They met in the Aleutian Islands during World War II.  Maybe it was their shared love of art that made them such good friends.

William “Bill” Hendrix Yernipcut: Part One

Over the past few months I have been pondering whether or not I should merge Beyond the Indian Rolls into Digging Up Your Family, and I finally decided it was the best decision.  Over the next few weeks I will be relocating previously published posts about William Hendrix Yernipcut and his family, before finally closing out BIR for good.  No worries, though!  I still have plenty of new finding on the family for future posts!

This post was originally published on December 1, 2013:

William “Bill” Hendrix Yernipcut was born on June 5, 1922 in Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma, the fourth child of parents Herbert Yernipcut and Carrie Hendrix (the first two children, daughters, had passed prior to 1920).  Bill’s father Herbert was an enrolled full-blood Comanche and his mother Carrie was enrolled in the Wichita Tribe, though she was Wichita, Seminole, and, possibly, Creek.

The first census Bill appears on is the 1922 Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Wichita, and Caddo Indians, and Apache Prisoners of War, or Fort Sill Apache Roll.  The household, according to the Comanche roll, include:

1922 US Indian Roll, Comanche, Family Number 145 1/2

Yernipcut (Herbert) (Nah per che), head of household, male, born in 1892.

Phillip Yernipcut, son, male, born in 1920.

(handwritten) William Hendrix Yernipcut, son, male, born in 1922, born on June 5, 1922.

Also written off to the side is a note stating: married to 29 1/2 Wich., denoting Carrie’s family number on the Wichita roll.

From 1922 until 1928 Bill is found on the Indian Census rolls with his father, however in 1929 the Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Wichita, and Caddo Indians, and Apache Prisoners of War, or Fort Sill Apache Roll offers more information (AAIN: Allotment, Annuity, Identification Number):

1929 US Indian Roll, Kiowa Reservation

Yernipcut (Herbert Nahperche), AAIN Y-19, male, born 1892, full-blood, married, head of household.

Yernipcut, Phillip, AAIN P-264, male, born 1920, full-blood, single, son.

Yernipcut, William H., AAIN W-414, male, born 1922, full-blood, single, son.

Yernipcut, Winifred, AAIN W-415, female, born 1924, full-blood, single, daughter.

Yernipcut, Frances Elizabeth, (no AAIN), female, born 1927, full-blood, single, daughter.

Note that Carrie still does not appear in the household, due to having been enumerated on the Wichita rolls.  Interestingly enough, Carrie also doesn’t appear as living in the household on the 1930 US Federal Census.  I can’t imagine why they would have enumerated her on a separate Federal Census, unless they were trying to keep tribes separate as on the Indian Rolls (please note each states that the children are full-blood Comanche, though they were not.  This is due to claiming the tribe they were enrolled in, not their actual full blood lineage):

1930 US Federal Census, East McKinley Township, Caddo County, Oklahoma

Yernipcut, Herbert, head of household, rents home for $12 per month, male, Indian, 36 years of age, married for 23 years, can read and write, born in Oklahoma, full-blood Comanche, acts as a laborer for the Kiowa Agency (more information about Herbert will be provided in a separate post)

Yernipcut, Roderick (this is Phillip), son, male, Indian, 9 years of age, single, attends school, born in Oklahoma, full-blood Comanche

Yernipcut, William, son, male, Indian, 7 years of age, single, attends school, born in Oklahoma, full-blood Comanche

Yernipcut, Winifred, daughter, female, Indian, 6 years of age, single, does not attend school, born in Oklahoma, full-blood Comanche

Yernipcut, Elizabeth, daughter, female, Indian, 2 11/12 years of age, single, does not attend school, born in Oklahoma, full-blood Comanche

However, the Indian Roll enumerated just a couple of months prior to the Federal Census the same year does list Bill’s mother:

1930 US Indian Roll, Kiowa Reservation

Yernipcut (Herbert Nahperche), male, 38 years of age, Comanche, degree of blood listed as  “m” though I think they meant “f” for full-blood, married, head of household

Hendrix, Carrie, female, 36 years of age, Wichita, full-blood, married, wife

Yernipcut, Phillip, male, 10 years of age, Comanche, single, son

Yernipcut, William H, male, 8 years of age, Comanche, single, son

Yernipcut, Winifred, female, 6 years of age, Comanche, single, daughter

Yernipcut, Frances Elizabeth, female, 3 years of age, Comanche, single, daughter

Through the 1930s I am able to find Bill on the rolls for ‘31, ‘32, ‘33, ‘34, and ‘37.  I believe that no further rolls were taken for the Yernipcut family after 1937.

On December 31, 1935 Bill’s father Herbert died of pneumonia.  His mother Carrie remarried on April 4, 1936 to Curtis Joseph Ryan in Anadarko.

The 1940 US Census lists the Ryan household with Bill in it:

1940 US Federal Census, 318 West Kansas Ave, McKinley Township, Anadarko, Caddo County, Oklahoma (address is now an empty lot across from Grace Christian Fellowship Church)

Ryan, Curtis J, head of household, male, White, 25 years of age, farmer

Ryan, Carrie, wife, female, Indian, 43 years of age

Yernipcut, Phillip R, step-son, male, Indian, 19 years of age

Yernipcut, William H, step-son, male, Indian, 17 years of age

Yernipcut, Winifred P, step-daughter, female, Indian, 15 years of age

Yernipcut, Francis E, step-daughter, female, Indian, 11 years of age

Yernipcut, Ramona M, step-daughter, female, Indian, 10 years of age

Hendrix, Winnie, mother-in-law, female, Indian, 70 years of age (this is Carrie’s mother)

In a book titled “Anadarko: Days of Glory” compiled by N. Dale Talkington and Pauletta Hart Wilson (1999) (link to book herefor full article), Bill’s name, as well as his brother Phillip’s is found on page 54 from a newspaper clipping.  According to the authors of the book, the article came from The Anadarko Daily News, published on May 12, 1940:

ANNUAL JUNIOR-SENIOR BANQUET HELD IN HAWAIIAN SETTING

American Legion Building Is Scene Of Lovely And Colorful Affair Friday Evening When Juniors Are Host To Seniors

One of the loveliest and most colorful affairs of the season was that Friday evening when the junior class of the Anadarko high school entertained seniors, faculty members, members of the school board and additional guests at the annual junior-senior banquet at the American Legion building…

Juniors included…Howard Thompson, Gerald Walker, Oscar Webb, Harold Witten, Maurice Wood, Bob Wyant, Leon Yarnell, William Yernipcut, Marcella Abshere, Rosemary Brooks, Evelyn Brown, Dorothy Carruth…

Bill graduated from Anadarko High School in 1941.  Found on Rootsweb (link) is a list of graduates that was published in the May 15, 1941 issue of The Anadarko Tribune:

Marcella Abshere, Virgil Bates, Billy Bell, Rosemary Brooks, Evelyn Brown, Dorothy Carruth, Eloda Chambers, Rodney Cherry, Jessie Coffman, Bob Colbath, Irwin Cox, Martha Cummings, O'Neal Delk, Carl Ellison, Verda Fletcher, Irene Gaddis, John Garcia, Manuel Garcia, Bennie Lee Gaylor, Margie Greer, Patricia Hamley, Billy Harry, Lois Hunnicutt, Helga Kaiser, Rosemary King, Irene Koch, Dean Letterman, Virgil McBride, Eugene Morgan, Johnny Parrish, Ward Penturf, Martha Phillips, Margaret Powell, June Ray, Ranora Rosser, Lois Smith, Mayme Taylor, Esther Thacker, Howard Thompson, Marylyn Thompson, Cleo Tracy, Mabel Wagner, Fern Weaver, Martha Weiss, Vivian Ann Williams, Harold Witten, Iona Wolf, Hazel Yarnell, William Yernipcut

to be continued…