Josephine Wells

Josephine is a Chippewa woman of the Red Lake band of Chippewa (Ojibwe)

The Red Lake Reservation is rare because the tribal nation owns all its land.
Listen to the audio podcast on the NPR website:
Source: Steinberg, Anya, and Sequoia Carrillo. Red Lake Reservation Is Rare Because the Tribal Nation Owns All of Its Land. 23 Nov. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/11/23/1214978527/red-lake-reservation-is-rare-because-the-tribal-nation-owns-all-of-its-land. Accessed 18 May 2024.

The Silent City - photo by David Thorstad (see the Recommendedd Reading below)

Ojibwe family, c.1860. public domain, Minnesota Historical Society
Source: Stone, Andrew B. “Treaty of Washington, 1855 | MNopedia.” Www.mnopedia.org, 6 Apr. 2015, www.mnopedia.org/event/treaty-washington-1855.

Biography:
Born c. 1882 as Mary Josephine Wells to an unknown father and a Chippewa woman named She bah cum ig oke aka Mary Wells, Josephine was the oldest of seven (7) siblings born between 1882 and 1895. Josephine is shown in the Red Lake Chippewa census for all years 1891 through her death in 1921 (Curator Note: before 1891 she may be shown with an Indian name which is unknown).

According to Carla Joinson in her book Vanished in Hiawatha, Josephine was admitted to the Canton Asylum on January 10, 1905, and diagnosed then with Chronic epileptic dementia (Epilepsy has been associated with cognitive impairment and potentially dementia in older individuals, which does not explain the condition in Josephine), but revised in 1910 to epileptic psychosis, deteriorating (Epileptic psychosis can occur during or after seizures, or during seizure freedom. It can cause a mental state to deteriorate after a cluster of seizures. Psychotic symptoms include: confusion, emotional disturbances, delusions, hallucinations, and abnormal thinking patterns.)

In the letter dated February 17, 1934, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Dr. L.L. Culp advises that Josephine arrived from Red Lake, Minnesota, and died at the Canton Asylum on June 27, 1921 (date confirmed by Carla Joinson), and then was buried in the Canton Hiawatha Cemetery tier 6 plot 36. (Curator Note: Note that this date of death conflicts with that shown on the South Dakota Grave Registration which says she died June 29, 1921.)

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

Research Notes:
-There is a discrepancy in her death date: Dr. Culp from Canton paperwork says she died June 27, 1921, but a South Dakota Grave Registration search says she died June 29, 1921:

(Curator Note: based on the June 30, 1921, census the date of death is annotated hand-written as June 27, 1921.) It is concluded therefore that the date of death is June 27, 1921, and the date of burial is June 29, 1921.
-In the 1912 census she is age 30, so at death, she would have been 39, and birth would have been 1882.
-The 1902 census identifies Mary J and her siblings, listed as orphans
-While the Red Lake Chippewa are included in the White Earth Agency census as far back as 1885, Josephine does not appear earlier than 1891 unless by Indian Name which I find nowhere cross-referenced to the English Name

Recommended Reading:
1. Thorstad, David. “The Sad Legacy of Moose Dung and Red Robe - Part 1.” Red Lake Nation News, 14 Nov. 2012, www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2012/11/14/features/the-sad-legacy-of-moose-dung-and-red-robe/6513.html. Accessed 18 May 2024.
2. ---. “The Sad Legacy of Moose Dung and Red Robe - Part 2.” Red Lake Nation News, 15 Nov. 2012, www.redlakenationnews.com/story/2012/11/15/features/the-sad-legacy-of-moose-dung-and-red-robe-part-2/6551.html. Accessed 18 May 2024.
__________
Sources:

1891 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll650unit/page/n305/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 306/819, line 1177 (Josephine Welsh age 7 siblings Annie, Rose, William orphans, mother She bah cum ig oke not shown), census of the Red Lake Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1892 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll650unit/page/n756/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 757/819, line 1186 (Josephine Welsh age 9), census of the Red Lake Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1893 - No census indicated

1894 Jun - Not found with English name, possibly included with Indian names

1895 Jun 29 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll651unit/page/n529/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 530/567, line 596 (age 11), census of the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1896 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll652unit/page/n39/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 40/735, line 604 (age 12), census of the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1897 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll652unit/page/n430/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 431/735, line 646 (age 14), census of the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1898 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll653unit/page/n145/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 146/727, line 638 (age 15 with siblings and mother), census of the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1899 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll243unit/page/n40/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 41/608, line 635 (age 17 with siblings and mother), census of the Red Lake Chippewa Indians, Leech Lake Agency, Minnesota

1900 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll243unit/page/n288/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 289/608, line 1280 (age 18, listed separately from the rest of siblings and mother, apparently BHS), census of the Red Lake Chippewa Indians, Leech Lake Agency, Minnesota

1901 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll243unit/page/n368/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 369/608, line 641 (age 19), census of the Red Lake Chippewa Indians, Leech Lake Agency, Minnesota

1902 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll243unit/page/n538/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 539/608, line xxxx (Mary J. Wells age 20), census of the Red Lake Chippewa Indians, Leech Lake Agency, Minnesota

1903 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll244unit/page/n32/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 33/458, line 648 (age 21), census of the Red Lake Chippewa Indians, Leech Lake Agency, Minnesota

1904 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll244unit/page/n274/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 275/458, line 651 (age 22), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa Indians, Leech Lake Agency, Minn.

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll244unit/page/n427/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 428/458, line 653 (age 23), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa Indians, Leech Lake Agency, Minn.

1906 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll418unit/page/n35/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 36/452, line 659 (age 25), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1907 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll418unit/page/n35/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 36/452, line 659 (age 25), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1908 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll418unit/page/n93/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 94/452, line 641 (age 26), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1909 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll418unit/page/n164/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 165/452, line 654 (age 27), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1910 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll418unit/page/n246/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 247/452, line 693 (age 28), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1910 Aug 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=674, line 35, Table 7 Form of mental disease of those admitted since opening of Asylum

1910 Aug 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=677, line 12, Table 8 Form of mental disease of those in Asylum, June 30, 1910, revised

1911 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll418unit/page/n362/mode/... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 363/452, line 1361 (age 29), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Chippewa Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1912 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll418unit/page/n446/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 447/452, line 1376 (age 30), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1913 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll419unit/page/n85/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 86/538, line 1388 (born 1883), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1914 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll419unit/page/n174/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 175/538, line 1418 (born 1883), census of the Red Lake and Pembina Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1915 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll419unit/page/n264/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 265/538, line 1477, census of the Red Lake and Pembina Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1916 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll419unit/page/n354/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 355/538, line 1496, census of the Red Lake and Pembina Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1917 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll419unit/page/n533/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 443/538, line 1484, census of the Red Lake and Pembina Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1917 Oct 1 - 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=778, line 78, Census of the Asylum for Insane Indian School

1918 - There does not seem to be a 1918 Red Lake census

1918 June 30 - 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=887, line 37, female census of the Canton Asylum

1919 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll419unit/page/n533/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 534/538, line 1489, census of the Red Lake and Pembina Indians, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1919 Jun 30 - 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=899, line 42, female census of the Canton Asylum

1920 Jan 30 - "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6J7-FPB : Sun Mar 10 08:42:21 UTC 2024), Entry for Josephine Wells, 1920, pg. 653/1130, line 7 (age 35), census of the Asylum for Indians, Canton Township, Lincoln County, South Dakota

1920 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll420unit/page/n96/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 97/542, line 1489 (birth=1882), census of the Chippewa, Red Lake Agency, Minn.

1921 Jun 29 - "South Dakota, Grave Registration Records, 1940-1941", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CY8C-3H6Z : Sun Mar 10 18:07:50 UTC 2024), Entry for Josephine Wells, no image
Name Josephine Wells
Sex Female
Age 36 years
Birth Year (Estimated) 1885
Death Date 29 June 1921
Event Type Burial
Event Place Presho, Lyman, South Dakota, United States
Cemetery Indian Asylum Cemetery

1921 Jun 29 - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14493701/josephine-wells: accessed May 17, 2024), memorial page for Josephine Wells (1883–29 Jun 1921), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14493701, citing Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery, Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by Graveaddiction (contributor 46528400). (Note: date of death appears incorrect)

1921 Jun 29 - 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

Sits-In-It 1-26-21 · Josephine Wells 6-29-21 · A. B. Blair 8-6-21 (Note: date of death appears incorrect)

1921 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll420unit/page/n193/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 194/542, line 1532 (annotated died June 27, 1921), census of the Chippewa, Red Lake Agency, Minn.