Maud Magpie

Maud was a Cheyenne woman of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Four Northern Cheyenne men on horseback in winter, Agency office in background, Lame Deer, Montana - Digital Collection: Archival Photographs from the University of Montana
The Northern Cheyenne are related to the Southern Cheyenne, who are located in Oklahoma. Following the Black Hills War and earlier conflicts in Colorado (see Sand Creek Massacre and Washita Massacre), the Northern Cheyenne were forcibly moved to Oklahoma and restricted to lands of their southern relatives.

Unable to acclimate swiftly to the heat of western Oklahoma (Indian Territory at the time), having to grow their food instead of hunting or gathering as were their ways, and the brutal conditions in the barracks where they were held, the northerners quickly began dying. In desperation, a small band left the reservation and headed north in 1878, an odyssey that came to be known as the Northern Cheyenne Exodus (aka: also known as Dull Knife's Raid, the Cheyenne War, or the Cheyenne Campaign.)

It all ended with the battle of Fort Robinson, 61 were killed and many of the survivors were badly wounded, and 149 Cheyenne were imprisoned.

Cheyenne prisoners in Dodge City, Kansas
The seven Cheyenne sent back to Kansas in 1879 for murder, before all charges were dismissed. From left to right: Tangle Hair, Wild Hog, Strong Left Hand, George Reynolds (interpreter), Old Crow, Noisy Walker, Porcupine, and Blacksmith.

As a result of this exodus and after a series of battles with the US Army culminating with the Fort Robinson Massacre in Nebraska, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation was created at Black Hills Montana, and the Northern Cheyenne were never again forced to return to the south (Oklahoma). In 1994 the Northern Cheyenne reclaimed the remains of those killed and buried in Nebraska. They were reinterred on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, on a hill overlooking Busby, Montana.

In 1885, the first African American soldiers of the Ninth Cavalry arrived. At that time the U.S. Army was segregated, with two cavalry regiments composed of black soldiers. From 1887 to 1898 the post was the regimental headquarters for the Ninth Cavalry. From 1885 through 1907 the majority of the troops stationed at Fort Robinson were African American.
Source: “Brief History of Fort Robinson.” History Nebraska, history.nebraska.gov/fort-robinson-history-center/brief-history-of-fort-robinson/.

Biography:
Born c. 1879 on the Tounge River Reservation, married to Louis Magpie and had three children. Maud and Louis were divorced in 1919, the year Maud was admitted to the Canton Asylum.

Before her marriage to Louis, Maud went by her maiden name Mary Bufflao Coming in Sight (Coming or Comes). She was the daughter of Little Soldier and No-tag-ha-ig-til (Mrs. Little Soldier). Her Cheyenne Indian name was Hes-se-whog-ne-ma-ne. She is identified in the Tounge River Agency census reports as early as 1888.

Carla Joinson, in her book Vanished in Hiawatha, says that Maud was admitted on February 18, 1918, and diagnosed with epilepsy (Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterized by repeated seizures).

In the letter dated February 17, 1934, Dr. L.L. Culp to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Maud was admitted from Lamedeer, Montana, died on April 22, 1920, and was buried in the Canton Hiawatha Cemetery tier 6 plot 33.

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

Research Notes:
-Sons were living with father and 2nd wife Mira in 1919 after divorce and commitment to Canton
-Willie Hollowbreast is listed as a stepson living with the Magpie family beginning in 1904. Willie Hollowbreast is the son of Maud aka Mary Buffalo Comes in Sight, line 34 in the 1903 Tounge River census, and an unknown father. Louis Magpie age 18 line 389 is living with his mother Flora age 62, line 390.
-https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/5384380?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a225... Maud Magpie in the South Dakota, U.S., Death Index (died 22 Apr 1920)

Recommended Reading:
1) Sandoz, Mari. Cheyenne Autumn. University Of Nebraska Press, 2005.
2) Wikipedia contributors. "Northern Cheyenne Exodus." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 Oct. 2023. Web. 10 Mar. 2024.
3) Wikipedia contributors. "Battle of Turkey Springs." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 Mar. 2023. Web. 10 Mar. 2024.
4) Wikipedia contributors. "Battle of Punished Woman's Fork." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 May. 2023. Web. 10 Mar. 2024.
5) Wikipedia contributors. "Fort Robinson breakout." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Oct. 2023. Web. 10 Mar. 2024.
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Sources:

1888 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll574unit/page/n14/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 15/621, line 127 (as Buffalo Coming in Sight), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1889 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll574unit/page/n34/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 35/621, line 124 (as Buffalo Coming in Sight), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1890 July 20 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll574unit/page/n66/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 67/621, line 123 (as Buffalo Coming in Sight), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1890 Jul 29 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll574unit/page/n617/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 67/621, line 123 (as Buffalo Coming in Sight), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1900 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll574unit/page/n617/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 618/621, line 1350 (as Mary Buffalo Comes in Sight, single, age 22, son Willie age 1/2), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1901 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll575unit/page/n9/mode/1u.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 10/386, line 146 (as Mary Buffalo Comes in Sight, single, age 22, son Willie age 1, future husband Louis 16 and mother Flora 60 line 1067), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1902 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll575unit/page/n73/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 74/386, line 312 (as Mary Buffalo Comes in Sight, single, age 24, son Willie age 2, future husband Louis and mother Flora line 140), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1903 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll575unit/page/n123/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 124/386, line 34 (as Mary Buffalo Comes in Sight, single, age 24), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1904 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll575unit/page/n205/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 220/386, line 661 (as Mary to husband Lewis), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll575unit/page/n248/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 249/386, line 657 (as Mary to husband Lewis), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1906 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll575unit/page/n292/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 293/386, line 702 (as Mary to husband Lewis), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1907 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll575unit/page/n329/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 330/386, line 702 (as Mary to husband Lewis), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1908 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll575unit/page/n364/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 365/386, line 632 (as Mary to husband Lewis), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Indian Agency, Lamedeer, Montana

1910 - "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLC8-42W : Sat Mar 09 13:07:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Louis Magpie and Maud Magpie, 1910, pg. 659/1046, line 39, Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, School District #4, Rosebud County, Montana

1911 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4FTS-BZ3Z : Fri Oct 06 16:54:36 UTC 2023), Entry for Maud Magpie, 1916, 115/598, line 627 (age 32), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency

1912 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4FY6-9G6Z : Thu Oct 05 23:21:31 UTC 2023), Entry for Maude Magpie, 1916, pg. 157/598, line 633, census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1914 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4VXG-7P6Z : Sat Mar 09 16:00:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Maude Magpie, 1916, pg. 257/598, line 652, census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Montana

1915 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG5Z-9PL2 : Fri Oct 06 16:07:08 UTC 2023), Entry for Maude Magpie, 1915, pg. 309/598, line 650, census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency

1916 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4N9D-443Z : Thu Mar 07 12:21:19 UTC 2024), Entry for Maude Magpie, 1916, pg. 358/598, line 664, census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Mont.

1917 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4VN2-XZMM : Sat Mar 09 01:01:46 UTC 2024), Entry for Maude Magpie, 1916, pg. 403/598, line 679, census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency

1918 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4FGW-79ZM : Sat Mar 09 14:37:27 UTC 2024), Entry for At Canton Maud Magpie, 1916, pg. 448/598, line 692 (at Canton), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency, Mont.

1919 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGR5-8VBD : Fri Oct 06 16:23:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Maud Magpie, 1919, pg. 502/598, line 654 (at Canton-divorced), census of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, Tounge River Agency

1920 Jan 30 - "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6J7-FNK : Fri Dec 22 22:02:43 UTC 2023), Entry for Maud Magpie, 1920, pg. 652/1130, line 82 (age 41), census of the Asylum for Insane Indians, Canton Township, Lincoln County, South Dakota

(Curator Note: this census shows her as married, I believe she was divorced in 1919)

1920 Apr 24 - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14493691/maud-magpie: accessed March 10, 2024), memorial page for Maud Magpie (unknown–24 Apr 1920), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14493691, citing Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery, Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by Graveaddiction (contributor 46528400).

1920 Apr 24 - 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

Cecile Comes-At-Night 8-12-19 · Maud Magpie 4-24-20 · Poke-Ah-Dah-Ab 12-26-20