James Black Bull

James was an Oglala Sioux man

Biography
James was born c. 1886 on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, South Dakota, son of Tatanka Sapa " Chief Thomas" Black Bull and Sun Face 'Susie' Black Bull (Weasle Eagle).

He was admitted to the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians on July 23, 1923. There is no record of a diagnosis for James, although there is this statement from James McGregor, superintendent of the Rosebud Agency; "I can safely say that he is insane for it is easy for it is plain for anyone to see just looking at him that he is not sane." Hummer accepted this as fact and immediately admitted James.

James died in the Canton Asylum on February 26, 1906, at age 40 and was buried in the asylum cemetery in tier 2 plot 57.

His profile is part of the The Canton Asylum One Place Study.

Research Notes
-received an allotment in 1898
-23 in 1910 census
-the 1910 census has two James Black Bull listings, one 23, the other one 8 is not this James
-the 1900 federal census indicates James is a stepson of Thomas and Susie, the 1930 federal census indicates James is now the son of Thomas and Susie, indicating a change in status from foster to adoptive. However, the Canton Asylum reported his death on February 6, 1926! How is he alive in 1930? The adopted James is 45 in 1930 indicating a birth in 1885. The 1900 census indicated James was 19 and born in 1880.
-In the 1898 census identified as the stepson of Thomas and Mary
-numerous census reports identify a James Black Bull who are different men, do NOT conclude the following are the same person: James W. Black Bull spouse Irene Black Bull; James Black Bull with parents William and Alice; James Black Bull (possible brother Thomas) with spouse Emma; According to the 1930 federal census for Township 38 Range 42 Shannon County, South Dakota for lines 62-66, James Black Bull was head of family with wife Emma and children Katherine 16, Emily 12 and Matthew 8.

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Sources

1894 Jul 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGY8-K2F5 : Wed Oct 04 15:10:32 UTC 2023), Entry for Tatanka Sapa, from 1890 to 1899, pg. 168/517, line 3908-3910 (son James is 14), census of the Sioux and Cheyenne, Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota

1898 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66PD-V3K7 : Fri Oct 06 00:36:58 UTC 2023), Entry for James Black Bull, 1898, pg. 453/659, line 4006-4008, stepson of Thomas and Susie, 1898 census of the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians of the Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota (James is 18 shown as S. son)

1900 Jun 22 - "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MST6-C5B : Fri Oct 06 03:08:15 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas Black Bull and Susie Black Bull, 1900, pg. 225/649, line 9, census of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota (Note: James is entered at "St Son" (stepson) and was 19 which correlates with the birth in 1880 and death in 1926 at age 40)

1910 - "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPXT-JYN : Wed Oct 04 13:53:33 UTC 2023), Entry for Silas Chasing His Horse and Hattie Chasing His Horse, 1910, pg. 511/1005, line 15, age 23, hired man of Silas Cahsing his Horse, apparently living with Silas chasing His Hourse family, census of the Rosebud Reservation, Mellette County, South Dakota.

1919 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7XR3-JT2M : Wed Oct 04 23:08:21 UTC 2023), Entry for James Black Bull, 1919, pg. 346/698, line 4343, census of the Oglala Sioux Indians, Pine Ridge Agency, S.D.

1920 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPMH-BDYF : Tue Oct 03 16:40:19 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas Black Bull, 1920, pg 574/698, line 3221-3222, census of the Oglala Sioux, Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota

1921 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG27-SZDC : Thu Oct 05 17:23:24 UTC 2023), Entry for James Black Bull, 1921, pg. 25/738, lines 3151-3154, census of the Oglala Sioux, Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota

1924 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:688Q-XGVT : Fri Oct 06 08:37:17 UTC 2023), Entry for James Black Bull, 1924, pg. 515/522, line 2, Canton Asylum, 1924 male census,

1925 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=116

1926 Feb 6 - "South Dakota, Grave Registration Records, 1940-1941", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CYRJ-SGMM : Tue Oct 03 20:58:31 UTC 2023), Entry for James Black Bull. Image not available online

1926 Feb 6 - "United States, Native American Birth and Death Records, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLFT-PDWN : Tue Oct 03 12:26:16 UTC 2023), Entry for James Black Bull, 6 February 1926, pg. 579/622, line 13, jurisdiction of the Rosebud Agency, South Dakota, Deaths occurring between the dates of July 1, 1924 and June 30, 1925, of Indians enrolled at Jurisdiction?

1926 Feb 6 - "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKF-B9TM : 16 August 2023), James Black Bull, ; Burial, Okreek, Todd, South Dakota, United States of America, Calvary Cemetery; citing record ID 43454703, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43454703/james-black_bull: accessed 03 December 2023), memorial page for James Black Bull (1886–6 Jan 1926), Find a Grave Memorial ID 43454703, citing Calvary Cemetery, Okreek, Todd County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by j.lynn (contributor 47147578).
Curator Note: This FaG memorial says that Jeames was buried at the Calvary Cemetery, Okreek, Todd County, South Dakota, however, the contributor is no longer accepting messages so she can't be asked to confirm her data. It is therefore concluded that this data is incorrect and that James was buried in the asylum cemetery as otherwise documented.

1926 Feb 6 - Culp, L.L. L.L. Culp to Commissioner of Indian Affairs, February 17, 1934, RG 75, CCF 1907-1939, box 4, folder 7448-150 Part 2, Canton Asylum, NARA-DC for burial location
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The two following census reports seem to show the correct family connections in 1930, but how does this jive with the fact that both James and his father Thomas died before these dates?
1930 April 8 - "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQVL-Z6G : Thu Oct 05 00:25:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas Black Bull and Susie Black Bull, 1930, pg. 593/1230, line 42-47, Pine Ridge Agency, Washington County, South Dakota

1930 Apr 10 - "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQVV-DZ3 : Fri Oct 06 03:23:53 UTC 2023), Entry for James Black Bull and Emma Black Bull, 1930, pg. 644/1041, line 62-66, Pine Ridge Agency, Shannon County, South Dakota.

Hilton, M. (Ed.). (2023, July 10). Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians Historical Marker. Historical Marker. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=183486 Photo by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 10, 2023, courtesy of HMdb.org

Tom Floodwood 9-29-23 · James Black Bull 2-9-26 · Benito Juan 3-24-26