Mary Pierre

Mary was a Flathead woman

Traditional Flathead Lands

The Flathead Indian Reservation is home to three tribes, the Bitterroot Salish, Upper Pend d’Oreille, and the Kootenai. The territories of these three tribes covered all of western Montana and extended into parts of Idaho, British Columbia, and Wyoming. The Hellgate Treaty of 1855 established the Flathead Reservation, but over half a million acres passed out of Tribal ownership during land allotment that began in 1904.

Biography:
Mary was born c. 1851 probably on the Flathead Reservation and married to, what some sources say, was a man of a single name, Pierre. From that, Mary took a surname and called herself Mary Pierre. But Pierre was also known as Pierre Big Hawk, and his descent was established, as well as having an Indian name Co-teel-tah which was known to the Indian agent. Mary and her children Jerome and Louis are often referred to by the surname Bighawk.

Also confusing is the census mentions that a "mother-in-law" lived with the family. Since the census refers to mother-in-law it is assumed that the reference is in the context of the family head, in this case then the mother-in-law of Pierre. However, Louise is given the name Louise Big Hawk, indicating that she is the mother of Pierre, so the mother-in-law of Mary? In any event, the error is likely with the agent who enumerated the census.

According to FamilySearch, which for this instance does NOT have sourcing, Mary's parents were Chief Steit-Tish-Lutse-So Moses (Moiese) and Louisa Enos, her father a Flathead, and her mother a Pend d'Oreille (aka the Kalispel).

According to her book Vanished in Hiawatha, Carla Joinson says that Mary was admitted in January 1917, without a diagnosis.

According to the letter dated February 17, 1934, from Dr. L.L. Culp to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Mary died at the Canton Asylum on May 16, 1917, and was buried in the Canton Hiawatha Cemetery, tier 6, plot 27.

However, while Canton Asylum records show Mary as dying on May 16, 1917, she is shown in both Indian census and Federal census reports for 1918-1920, which indicate she died on May 2, 1923, the 1920 Federal census shows her living in the household of her eldest son Jerome and his wife Isabel!

Mary Pierre died either May 16, 1917, or may 2, 1923 (depending on source and is a work in progress)

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

Research Notes:
-Mary's surname appears misspelled in several documents, Peirre for Pierre!
-Ages between 1900 and 1910 censuses are inconsistent, this may be two different Mary Pierres
-calculation, if Mary died at age 76 in 1917 per Carla Joinson, then in 1900 = 59, in 1910 = 69. Age 76 could be an error, Mary may have been born c. 1850-1857. But per the Indian Census of 1912, she was 61, so b = 1851, and died in 1917 at age 66.
-I don't see Pierre and Mary in a census before 1900.
-1907 Sep 1 - Bellew, Samuel. “1907 Indian Reservation Census in Flathead County MT.” Genealogytrails.com, 1 Sept. 1907, genealogytrails.com/mon/flathead/1907Indcensuspg1.html. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.
-“1907 Flathead Reservation Census in Lake County MT.” Genealogytrails.com, 1907, genealogytrails.com/mon/lake/1907Indcensuspg1.html. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.
__________
Sources:

1900 Jun 12 - "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSTZ-1CD : Tue Mar 05 15:30:42 UTC 2024), Entry for Pierre and Mary Pierre, 1900, pg. 699/892, line 12 (Mary age 40), census of the Flathead Reservation, Missoula County, Montana

1900 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll108unit/page/n218/mode/1up? view=theater. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 219/504, line 172, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1901 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll108unit/page/n297/mode/1up? view=theater. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 298/504, line 1181, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1902 Sep 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll108unit/page/n329/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 332/504, line 484, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1903 Jul 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll108unit/page/n399/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 400/504, line 1135, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1904 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll108unit/page/n415/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 416/504, line 30, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll108unit/page/n470/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 471/504, line 29, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1906 Jul 15 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll109unit/page/n6/mode/1u.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 7/743, line 28, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

(Curator Note: 1. the family surname is Big Hawk, 2. Louise is now a 16-year-old son, instead of a mother-in-law?)

1907 Sep 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll109unit/page/n72/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 73/743, line 28, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

(Curator Note: Mother-in-law is named Moiese, line 30)

1909 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll109unit/page/n107/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 107/743, line 31, census of the Flathead and Confederated tribes of Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1910 May 18 - "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLCZ-4NF : Mon Mar 11 01:24:46 UTC 2024), Entry for Mary Tillea Pierre, 1910, pg. 1279/1291, line 40 (age 59), census of the Flathead Indian Reservation, Missoula County, Montana (shown as Head with NO children, next page does NOT continue children, she is BHS)

1910 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll109unit/page/n206/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 207/743, line 28, census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1911 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll109unit/page/n336/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, 337/743, line 27, census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1912 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll109unit/page/n481/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 482/743, line 192 (age 61), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1913 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll109unit/page/n621/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 622/743, line 204 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1914 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll110unit/page/n17/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 18/703, line 209 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1915 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll110unit/page/n152/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 153/703, line 206 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1916 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll110unit/page/n289/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 290/703, line 201 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1917 May 16 - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14491741/mary-peirre: accessed March 27, 2024), memorial page for Mary Peirre (unknown–16 May 1917), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14491741, citing Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery, Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by Graveaddiction (contributor 46528400). (Curator Note: Surname appears to be misspelled, Peirre for Pierre)

1917 May 16 - 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

Lizzie Vipont 4-17-17 · Mary Peirre 5-16-17 · Nancy Chewie 2-7-18
(Curator Note: Surname appears to be misspelled, Peirre for Pierre)

1917 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll110unit/page/n429/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 430/703, line 199 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1918 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll110unit/page/n429/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 575/703, line 208 (b. = 1851, Pierre disappears), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1919 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll111unit/page/n15/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 16/784, line 204 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1920 Jan 31 - "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M831-D23 : Sat Mar 09 17:09:06 UTC 2024), Entry for Jerome Bighawk and Isabel Bighawk, 1920, pg. 1024/1139, line 40 (age 68) (per census, Mary is living with son Jerome and his wife Isabel), census of Arlee Town, Precinct 35, Missoula County, Montana

1920 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll111unit/page/n163/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 164/784, line 215 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1921 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll111unit/page/n321/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 322/784, line 226 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1922 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll111unit/page/n479/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 480/784, line 217 (b. = 1851), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana

1923 May 2 - "Montana Death Index, 1860-2007," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHCL-G4H : 9 December 2014), Mary Bighawk, 02 May 1923; from "Montana Death Index, 1868-2011," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2009); citing State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Statistics, Helena. no image)

1923 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll111unit/page/n638/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 639/784, line 217 (DIED May 2, 1923), census of the Flathead Indians, Flathead Agency, Montana