Joseph “Joe Big Bear” Taylor

Joseph aka Joe Big Bear was a Chippewa man of the Removable Mille Lacs Band at the White Earth Reservation

(The Removable Mille Lacs Band is a group of Mille Lacs Indians who moved to the White Earth Indian Reservation in 1902. The Non-removable Mille Lacs Band remained on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation.) The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe had firmly established themselves by the mid-1700s in what is now east-central Minnesota around Mille Lacs Lake.

Source: “History :: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.” Mille-Lacs-Band-of-Ojibwe.webnode.page, 14 Mar. 2020, mille-lacs-band-of-ojibwe.webnode.page/history/.
Before 1902, all Mille Lac Chippewa were included in one census, after 1902 there were two separate censuses.

Minnesota established the third hospital for the insane, the Fergus Falls State Hospital as it was then known, opened in 1890. Fergus Falls State Hospital was given a legislative mandate to incorporate the principles of homeopathic medicine into its program, making it the first state mental institution in Minnesota to formally adopt a therapeutic approach to the treatment of mental illness.
Source: Davey, Katie Jean. “LibGuides: State Hospitals: Historical Patient Records: Overview.” Libguides.mnhs.org, libguides.mnhs.org/sh.

Biography:
Mah je ke wis (aka Joseph 'Joe Big Bear' Taylor) was born c. 1886 to Ke che no din 'Big wind' (b. 1839) and O zhe ne nee quay. He had 3-4 siblings depending on the source.

Joe Big Bear was admitted to the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians from the Minnesota State Hospital for the Insane, Fergus Falls, Minnesota on April 20, 1910, and diagnosed in 1912 with congenital imbecility (Congenital imbecility is a type of mental enfeeblement, which is a scientific term for a general weakening of mental power. It can include a lack of reasoning capacity, Diminished feeling, and Lessened volitional and inhibitory.) Joe Big Bear had been treated at the state hospital in Minnesota for an indefinite period since approximately 1907 when he was admitted to the state hospital on an unknown date. approximately 1906.

According to Carla Joinson in her book Vanished in Hiawatha, Joseph was admitted to the Canton Asylum on April 20, 1910, a date that is confirmed by his medical file posted here: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000205106254838. Joseph died of pulmonary and intestinal tuberculosis on September 18, 1913, at the age of 24. He reportedly weighed only 90 pounds at his death, down from 133 pounds at admission.

In the letter dated February 17, 1934, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Dr. L.L. Culp indicated that Joseph Taylor died at the Canton ASylum and was buried in the Canton Hiawatha Cemetery in tier 4 plot 25.

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

Research Notes:
-age 24 on June 30, 1910 Indian census
-Joseph is shown in the 1914 census although he died on September 18, 1913, the 1915 census makes this correction by including his date of death
-The age shown in the various census reports is inconsistent for Mah je ke wis, where the year of birth is shown it is 1886
-Mah je ke wis was not found in the 1887 census
-Dates of birth based on 1895 Minnesota state census
-“Joseph Taylor.” Familysearch.org, 2024, www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GP81-8TQ. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
__________
Sources:

1890 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll650unit/page/n155/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 156/819, line 645 (age 3), census of the Mississippi Chippewa (Mille Lac band), White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1891 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll650unit/page/n409/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 410/819, line 168 (age 5), census of the Mille Lacs Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency

1892 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll650unit/page/n541/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 542/819, line 166 (age 8), census of the Mille Lacs band of Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1893 no census avaialbe

1894 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll651unit/page/n85/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 86/567, line 164 (age 8), census of the Mille Lacs Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1895 Jun 29 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll651unit/page/n410/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg 411/567, line 157 (age 9! b=1886), census of the Mille Lacs Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1895 Jul 30 - "Minnesota State Census, 1895", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ6C-91C : Fri Mar 08 10:07:37 UTC 2024), Entry for Je Ke Wis Mah, 1895, pg. 234/243, line 30, White Earth Reservation, Becker, Minnesota

1896 Jun 20 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll652unit/page/n135/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 136/735, line 57 (age 6), census of the Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

Chippewa names, spelling very uncertain
53 O zow ah Kosnce - Mother
54 Mah je aush e quay - Daughter
55 Mah je ah se do - Son ?
56 Ke we tah cum ig o quay - Daughter
57 Mah je ke wis - Son (Joseph)
58 Mo kah cum ig - Son (Fred)?

1897 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll652unit/page/n463/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 464/735, line 59 (age 7), census of the Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1898 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll653unit/page/n199/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 200/727, line 39 (age 12), census of the Mille Lac Mississippi (White Earth Resident) Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1899 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll653unit/page/n434/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 435/727, line 39 (age 12), census of the Mille Lac Mississippi (White Earth Resident) Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1900 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll653unit/page/n714/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 715/727, line 40 (age 14), census of the Mille Lac Mississippi (White Earth Resident) Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1901 Sep 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll654unit/page/n111/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 112/725, line 41 (son age 15), Removal Mille Lac Miss Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1902 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll654unit/page/n351/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 352/725, line 40 (age 15, sister 17), Removal Mille Lac Miss Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1903 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll654unit/page/n429/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 430/725, line 40 (age 17, sister 19), Removal Mille Lac Miss Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1904 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll654unit/page/n635/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 363/725, line 41 (age 18), Removal Mille Lac Miss Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n78/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 78/869, line 40 (age 19), Removal Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Indian Agency, Minnesota

1906 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n234/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 235/869, line 39 (age 20), Removal Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Indian Agency, Minnesota

1907 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n395/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 396/869, line 41 (age 21), Removal Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Indian Agency, Minnesota

1908 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n544/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 545/869, line 40 (age 22), Removal Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Indian Agency, Minnesota

1909 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n730/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 731/869, line 38 (age 23), Removal Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Indian Agency, Minnesota

1910 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll656unit/page/n270/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 271/731, line 40 (age 24), census of the Removable Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minn

1910 Oct 12 - Camp Verde School: 1910-27; Canton Insane Asylum: 1910-22, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155854182?objectPage=676, line 119, Table 7 Form of mental disease of those admitted since opening of Asylum

1910 Oct 12 - Camp Verde School: 1910-27; Canton Insane Asylum: 1910-22, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155854182?objectPage=679, line 58, Table 8 Form of mental disease of those in Asylum, June 30, 1910, revised

1911 Jun 28 -

1911 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll656unit/page/n534/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 535/731, line 40 (age 25), census of the Removable Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minn

1912 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll657unit/page/n139/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 140/718, line 41 (age 26), census of the Removable Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minn

1913 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll657unit/page/n504/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 505/718, line 41 (b=1876), census of the Removable Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minn

1912 Sep 18 - "South Dakota, Grave Registration Records, 1940-1941", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CY8C-3HMM : Sun Mar 10 18:07:50 UTC 2024), Entry for Joseph Taylor.
Name Joseph Taylor
Sex Male
Age 24 years
Birth Year (Estimated) 1888
Death Date 18 September 1912
Event Type Burial
Event Place Presho, Lyman, South Dakota, United States
Cemetery Indian Asylum Cemetery
(Curator Note: DoD is 1 year earlier than all other sources?)

1913 Sep 18 - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14493876/joseph-taylor: accessed April 17, 2024), memorial page for Joseph “Joe Big Bear” Taylor (unknown–18 Sep 1913), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14493876, citing Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery, Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by Graveaddiction (contributor 46528400).
Name Joseph Taylor
Alias Joe Big Bear
Death Date 18 Sep 1913
Event Type Burial
Event Place Canton, Lincoln, South Dakota, United States of America
Cemetery Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery

1913 Sep 18 - 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

Frank Starr 4-28-13 · Joseph Taylor 9-20-13 · Amos Brown 5-1-21

1914 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll658unit/page/n172/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 173/.871, line 46 (b=1876), census of the Removable Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minn

(Curator Note: Joseph is in the 1914 census even though he died in 1913)

1915 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll658unit/page/n758/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 759/.871, line 46-00 (died Srpt 18, 1913), census of the Removable Mille Lac Mississippi Chippewa, White Earth Agency, Minn

(Curator Note: Joseph disappears from the 1915 census with a note indicating his death in 1913)