Harriet Lacroix1

Family
Marriage*1 June 1869She married, as is first wife, John Godfroy, son of James R. Godfroy and Archangel Richardville Oesew, on 1 June 1869 in Indiana.1 
Death* Harriet and John's marriage ended, we think probably by Harriet's death in her mid-20s. John married a second time in 1877 and his and Harriet's daughter, Esther, was enumerated with John and his second wife in 1880.2,3 

Family

 John Godfroy b. Oct 1848
Child 1.Esther Godfroy4 b. 1870

Citations

  1. [S1566] Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of John Godfrey and Harriet Lacroix on 1 June 1869 in Indiana, United States, citing page 473 and referencing FHL Film# 002111268. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001.
  2. [S2649] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 21 July 1877 in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, USA of John Godfrey and Mary Hartman. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012.
  3. [S23] 1880 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John and Mary "Godfrey", Year: 1880; Census Place: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 264; Page: 468a; Enumeration District: 117. Hereinafter cited as 1880 United States Federal Census.
  4. [S2701] Ball State University Digital Media Repository: Elizabeth Glenn Collection, online at https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/GlennElizaC/search, https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/GlennElizaC/id/3634. Hereinafter cited as Ball State University Digital Media Repository: Elizabeth Glenn Collection.

George Lacy1

Family
ChartsDescendants of Robert Heaton of Yorkshire, The Immigrant
Residence*George lived in Bethlehem, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.1 
Marriage*1758He married Elizabeth Heaton, daughter of John Heaton and Mary Bennings, in 1758, probably in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.1 

Family

 Elizabeth Heaton b. 10 Oct 1742

Citations

  1. [S1399] Heaton. A well-researched and partially documented work on the earliest Heaton immigrants to Pennsylvania, from Yorkshire, England, in 1682. Some of the information from the website is presented here in acknowledgement that not all of the early Heatons to America were "our" Heatons, and specifically to remind us of the reasons for the confusion expressed by our Heaton family researchers over the years as they tried to distinguish between the Lincolnshire John Heaton and the Yorkshire John Heaton, the two John Heatons of Loudon County, Virginia. Online at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~paxson/…, MJP Grundy (email: e-mail address); viewed on 7 July 2015.

Solon Ladd1

b. 1824, d. 1873
Family
ChartsDescendants of John Heaton of Lincolnshire, including the Immigrant Nathaniel
Birth*1824Solon Ladd was born in 1824.2 
Marriage*He married Miriam M. Heaton, daughter of King Cyrus Heaton and Abigail Page.1 
Death*1873He died in 18732 
Burial* and was buried with his wife's parents in the Heaton Family Plot in East Thetford Cemetery, East Thetford.1 

Family

 Miriam M. Heaton b. 1828, d. 1901

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, King Cyrus Heaton, Memorial# 79915137. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S1407] King Cyrus Heaton and Family, gravestone photo, used with appreciation, and permission from Sarah Heaton Concannon, email: e-mail address.

Ambrose Ladlow1,2

Family
Marriage*9 December 1798He married, as her second husband, Phebe (Cook) Heaton, daughter of Eldad Cook and Deborah Bowen, on 9 December 1798 in Cumberland County, New Jersey.1,3 

Family

 Phebe Cook b. 1748, d. 7 Oct 1822

Citations

  1. [S45] Dean Heaton, Heaton Families II, in two volumes, with indexes in Volume II. Warning: In this researcher's opinion, the information in these volumes often proves to be inaccurate. At the same time, the information presented has provided us with valuable clues for pursuing future research strategies in our attempt to establish a factual history of our Heaton family. (Tempe, Arizona: published for the author by Graphics of Tempe, 1999), Volume I, Chapter 4, page 120, reporting his surname as "Ladow". Hereinafter cited as Heaton Families II.
  2. [S1280] Dividing Creek Baptist Cemetery Interments, Dividing Creek, Cumberland County, New Jersey, online at http://www.interment.net/data/us/nj/cumberland/…, her surname recorded as "Ladlow". Hereinafter cited as Dividing Creek Baptist Cemetery Interments.
  3. [S1598] New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Records, 1670-1965, online at www.ancestry.com, Cumberland, 1795-1878, his surname transcribed by ancestry.com as "Laden" and the written record looks more like "Laidow", "Ladow" or possibly "Ladlow". Hereinafter cited as New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Records, 1670-1965.

James Beard Lafferty1

b. 27 November 1913, d. 26 November 1986
Family
Birth*27 November 1913James Beard Lafferty was born on 27 November 1913 in Idaho.1 
Marriage*1941He married Juanita McTee, daughter of James Arthur McTee and Clyde Denny Peel, in 1941.1,2 
Death*26 November 1986He died on 26 November 1986, one day before his 73rd birthday, in Burbank, Los Angeles County, California, at age 721 
Burial* and was buried in Sheltering Hills, Lot: 1672, Space: 3, of Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County.1 

Family

 Juanita McTee b. 5 Nov 1913, d. 9 May 1988

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, James Beard Lafferty, Memorial# 70198773. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Juanita (McTee) Lafferty, Memorial# 85903775.

Archangel LaFontaine1

b. 9 September 1844, d. 1 April 1925
Family
Father*Francis LaFontaine1 b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847
Mother*Catharine Richardville1 b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848
Birth*9 September 1844Archangel LaFontaine was born on 9 September 1844 in Huntington County, Indiana.1 
Name VariationHer Indian name was Tahkamwa.2 
(Daughter) Death13 April 1847She was 2 years old when her father died on 13 April 1847 at about age 37. He had spent the winter in Kansas with his people, and the following spring set out to return to his home in Indiana. On his journey home he was taken ill and died in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Although members of his family believed he had been poisoned, Lafontaine's weight and the rigors of travel are believed by most to have been more likely causes of his death.3,4 
(Daughter) Marriage26 September 1848The following year, on 26 September 1848, her mother married a second time to Francis D. Lasselle who had also been married before5,6,7 
(Daughter) Death19 December 1848 and then her mother died on 19 December 1848, less than two months after her second marriage, at about age 38. Archangel was 4 years old.7 
Marriage*26 May 1862She married Christian Engelman on 26 May 1862 in Huntington County, Indiana.8,9,1 
(Wife) Death30 May 1906Archangel became a widow when Christian Engelman died on 30 May 1906 at age 73.8 
BurialMarch 1907 In March 1907, Archangel had the bodies of her parents moved to Section H of Mount Calvary Cemetery, Huntington. They had first been buried in the Saints Peter and Paul's Catholic Cemetery in Huntington, then next their bodies were moved to the Old Catholic Cemetery when the Saints Peter and Paul's Cemetery grounds were needed to build a school hall. At their new resting place at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Chief LaFontaine's body was placed in the center of a family plot and other members of the family were reburied there at the same time.10 
Death*1 April 1925She died on 1 April 1925 in Huntington County, Indiana, at age 801 
Burial* and was buried with her husband in Section H, Lot 44, of Mount Calvary Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington County.1,9 
(American Indian) Indian Names Getting the Native American Indian names in our project "right" has been a struggle for us because we have often seen the same person's name spelled in several different ways. This was, at first, both frustrating and stressful to those of us who strive for accuracy in the presentation of our research. When we learned that the Miami Indians, who feature prominently in our project, had no written language before their associations with the French and English who kept records by writing them down, we began to understand. It’s all very human. Not every person speaks their words in the same way, and each listener may hear the same words differently. So, it’s not surprising that, phonetically, when names were spoken, they would be written down as each individual listener heard them.11,12,2,13,14,15,16 

Family

 Christian Engelman b. 14 Jan 1833, d. 30 May 1906

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Archangel (Lafontaine) Engelmann, Memorial# 42523600. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, recording his date of death as 15 April 1847 on the Memorial, and as 14 April 1847 and 13 April 1847 in added material relating to his life and death.
  4. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, in 2 volumes, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919), Volume I, Chapter III, Indian Chiefs and Treaties, pages 28-51. Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Francis D Lasselle, Memorial# 81727457.
  6. [S2672] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Catharine Lafontain and Francis Lassell on 26 September 1848 in Huntington County. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850.
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979.
  8. [S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 26 May 1862 in Huntington County, of Archangel Lafontain and Christian Engleman, referencing Works Progress Administration; Index to Marriage Records: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940; Series Title: Huntington County Indiana; marriage Records 1837 - 1883 Part I - Index of Grooms Part II - Index of Brides; Book: C; Page: 186. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
  9. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Christian Engelmann, Memorial# 42523531.
  10. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, recording his date of death as 15 April 1847 on the Memorial, and as 14 April 1847 in added material relating to his life and death.
  11. [S2698] Prepared by the United States Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs and dated 12 July 1990, "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.", in response to a petition submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Federal acknowledgment that this group exists as an Indian Tribe; downloaded record number MNI-V001-D004, (file name 066_pf-2.pdf) from the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs website (https://www.bia.gov) in October 2024. Hereinafter cited as "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc."
  12. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php; the website offers a Search capability and notes that the images were taken from microfilm, and that some years are out of order. The records include the following, although we've discovered they are more mixed up than we expected: Annuity Payroll, (reported to be the1854 cover only, although the handwritten pages that follow appear to us to be from 1854); Annuity Payroll, 1882; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889 (continued); Annuity Payroll, 1891; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Land Division, Francis Godfroy; and 1881 Census of Miami Indians in Indiana and Elsewhere. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  13. [S2690] S. P. Kaler and R. H. Maring, History of Whitley County, Indiana, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Place of publication not identified: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1907). Hereinafter cited as History of Whitley County, Indiana.
  14. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  15. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935). Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  16. [S2662] T. B. Helm, History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, military records portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc., downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Chicago, Illinois: John Morris, Printer, 1884). Hereinafter cited as History of Wabash County, Indiana.

Esther LaFontaine1

b. 25 July 1831
Family
Father*Francis LaFontaine1 b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847
Mother*Catharine Richardville1 b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848
Birth*25 July 1831Esther LaFontaine was born on 25 July 1831 in Indiana.1 
Name VariationHer full English name was Marie Esther LaFontaine1 
Name Variation and her Indian name was Siipiihkwa2 
Name Variation which we also found transcribed as Che-Pe-Quay and Ca-Pe-Qua.3,4 
Christening25 September 1832She was christened on 25 September 1832 in Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana.1 
(Daughter of Youngest) Will9 April 1841Her maternal grandfather, Chief John B. Richardville, prepared his will dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, naming his three daughters, Catees, Susan and La Blonde, one son-in-law, Francis LaFontaine, his surviving son, Mia-que-ah, and his two deceased sons, John B. Richardville and Joseph Richardville. His will named a niece, Margaret Lafalia, and nineteen grandchildren which included three granddaughters, Che-Pe-Quay, Che-me-qua and Alin-Ben-Che-Quay, and three grandsons, Wa-pa-se-pah, Wa-ka-shin-qua and John B. LaFontaine, from his daughter, Catees; one grandson, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua from his daughter, Susan; two grandsons, Ca-the-mun-qua and Shap-pen-do-u-ah, and two granddaughters, Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and Wa-ka-com-me qua, from his deceased son John B. Richardville; one granddaughter, Mon-go-se-quah, and two grandsons, Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, from his daughter, La Blonde; one grandson, Alin-na-ben-she-shau, from his deceased son Joseph Richardville, and four grandchildren from his son, Mia-que-ah, whose names he was unable to recollect. His heirs also included two great grandchildren. The first was identified as the granddaughter of his daughter, Susan, from her son, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua, and was described as the "Daughter Child" by his former wife, Ke she co quah, who was a daughter of Pichiwa; his second great grandchild was identified as Thomas F. Richardville, son of his deceased grandson, Crescent, who was the son of his deceased son Joseph Richardville. Our transcription of his will follows:

In the name of God. Amen!

I, John B. Richardville of the County of Allen, Indiana, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, being of sound mind and memory, knowing the uncertainty of life and desirous to dispose of my affairs while in a sound state of mind, doth make, publish and declare this instrument of writing my last will and testament in manner following, to wit:

First. I commit my soul to that God who gave it, my burial to be under the direction of my executor hereinafter named.

Item First. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Catees (alias Catherine), wife of LaFontaine, her heirs and assigns forever, the three following sections of land, to wit: One section of the same situate in the County of Huntington at the forks of the Wabash to be laid out for her by my executor so as to include my houses and improvements there. The other two sections of land to commence at the confluence of the Mississinewa and Wabash rivers running down the Wabash to the lower line of the two sections and back for quantity.

Item 2. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter La Blonde (alias Maria Louisa) and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land on the St. Marys river in the County of Allen, known as my residence on that river.

Item 3. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Susan and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land as follows. One of said sections lying in the County of Huntington nearly opposite Vermilya's Mill and the other two commencing at the confluence of the Salamonie River and the Wabash, to run so far down as a line run to the back line will embrace two sections of land, being the upper two sections of my reserve on the Wabash River below and adjoining the Salamonie.

Item 4. I devise, will and bequeath to my son Mi-aw-que-ah (alias Blind Eyed Richardville) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situate on the Mississinewa river at what is called the Osage Village.

Item 5. I give, will and bequeath to my granddaughter Mon-go-se-quah, the daughter of La Blonde, her heirs and assigns forever, one section of land on the Wabash adjoining the Salamonie river, the residue of said reserve being devised to my daughter Susan.

Item 6. I devise, will and bequeath to my grandson Wa-pa-se-pah (alias Louis La Fontaine) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situated in Miami County, lying on the Wabash River opposite the mouth of the Mississinewa river.

Item 7. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my niece Margaret Lafalia, her heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land commencing at a point on the Wabash and Erie Canal where Clear Creek intersects the same in Huntington County, thence up the canal until it strikes the lots laid out for the town of Richardville and back for quantity.

Item 8. I give, devise, will and bequeath to each of my grand and great grandchildren, and to their heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land each, to wit: to the following five children of my daughter Catees, Che-pe-quay, Che-me-qua, Alin-ben-che-quay, her three daughters; to Wa-ka-shin-qua and to John B. Lafontaine (alias Old Man), her two sons, these are the five children of Catees to whom I give ½ section of land each. To Ma-ca-the-mun-qua (alias John), son of Susan and to his daughter child by his former wife, the daughter of Push-ne, each one-half section of land. To Ca-the-mun-qua and to Shap-pen-do-u-ah, sons of my deceased son John B. Richardville Junior, to Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and to Wa-ka-com-me-qua, daughters of said deceased son John B. Richardville, each of the four one-half section of land. To Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-com-me-ka, sons of my daughter La Blonde, each one-half section of land. To Alin-na-ben-she-shau, son of my deceased son Joseph Richardville, one-half section of land; to my great grandson, the son of Crescent, who was the son of Joseph Richardville one-half section of land. To my four grandchildren, the children of my son Mi-aw-que ah, whose names I do not recollect, each one-half section of land.

It is my further will and I hereby direct that my executors cause to be surveyed and set apart to each of the devisees to whom one-half section of land is devised by this my last will and testament, the separate tract to each individual out of any lands I may possess at the time of my death not expressly devised to any individual by this will and file a record of such division with the name of the person to which each tract belongs, in the county where the land lies, a certificate of which shall be evidence of title to such devisee. Setting apart to the children of Catees the section I bought from Black Loon in Huntington County and the section and a half at my mill on the Wabash at Rock Creek. Should I own them at the time of my death being to the children of Catees, ½ section each. Should I dispose of the same in my life time, then they've to be selected as the others.

Item Ninth. All the property both real and personal or mixed, lands or tenements, credits, moneys and effects which I may possess at the time of my death not devised to any devisee in this my last will and testament and all my cattle and household furniture I devise, will and bequeath to my three daughters, La Blonde, Susan and Catees, their heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly, I constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton and the Reverend Julian Benoit as executors of this my last will and testament, and in the case of death, refusal to serve or removal of either beyond the limits of this state, it is my will that the Probate Court appoint and executor in place of the one removed, refusing to serve or deceased, so that there shall be at all times two executors to this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, I John B. Richardville have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred forty-one.

Signing as his witnesses were John P. Hedges and John E. Hill.3 
(Daughter) Death13 April 1847She was 15 years old when her father died on 13 April 1847 at about age 37. He had spent the winter in Kansas with his people, and the following spring set out to return to his home in Indiana. On his journey home he was taken ill and died in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Although members of his family believed he had been poisoned, Lafontaine's weight and the rigors of travel are believed by most to have been more likely causes of his death.5,6 
(Daughter) Marriage26 September 1848The following year, on 26 September 1848, her mother married a second time to Francis D. Lasselle who had also been married before7,8,9 
(Daughter) Death19 December 1848 and then her mother died on 19 December 1848, less than two months after her second marriage, at about age 38. Esther was 17 years old.9 
Marriage*12 April 1850She married first John Zahn on 12 April 1850 in Huntington County, Indiana.1 
Census US 1850*3 September 1850Esther and John Zahn were enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 3 September 1850 in Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana. John was 21 years of age and worked as a shoemaker of all footwear except rubber, and Esther was 19 years old. They had been married within the year. Esther's younger brother, John LaFontaine, was enumerated with the couple in 1850. He was 15 years old and had attended school within the census year. One other individual was enumerated in the Zahn household in 1850. Her name was transcribed as "Janah Fister" by Ancestry, and we don't know who she was or her relationship to any other member of the household. She was 33 years of age and born in Germany, as was John Zahn.10 
(American Indian) Indian Names Getting the Native American Indian names in our project "right" has been a struggle for us because we have often seen the same person's name spelled in several different ways. This was, at first, both frustrating and stressful to those of us who strive for accuracy in the presentation of our research. When we learned that the Miami Indians, who feature prominently in our project, had no written language before their associations with the French and English who kept records by writing them down, we began to understand. It’s all very human. Not every person speaks their words in the same way, and each listener may hear the same words differently. So, it’s not surprising that, phonetically, when names were spoken, they would be written down as each individual listener heard them.11,12,2,13,14,15,16 

Family

 John Zahn b. 1829

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Esther Zahn (Lafontaine) Washington, Memorial# 261445081. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  3. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of John B. Richardville, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 35-38, Ancestry online images 40-42 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  4. [S2691] Richardville Family Tree, from the Elizabeth Glenn Collection, "Richardville, LaFontaine, Langlois, Cass, and Little Turtle genealogical tree", RG-04-01-40-B06-F25-052_Page-10, Ball State University, Digital Media Repository, a project of the university's libraries,, online at https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/GlennElizaC/id/3447/. Hereinafter cited as Richardville Family Tree.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, recording his date of death as 15 April 1847 on the Memorial, and as 14 April 1847 and 13 April 1847 in added material relating to his life and death.
  6. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, in 2 volumes, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919), Volume I, Chapter III, Indian Chiefs and Treaties, pages 28-51. Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Francis D Lasselle, Memorial# 81727457.
  8. [S2672] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Catharine Lafontain and Francis Lassell on 26 September 1848 in Huntington County. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850.
  9. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979.
  10. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John and Esther Zahn, The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Huntington, Huntington, Indiana; Roll: 152; Page: 37b. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
  11. [S2698] Prepared by the United States Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs and dated 12 July 1990, "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.", in response to a petition submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Federal acknowledgment that this group exists as an Indian Tribe; downloaded record number MNI-V001-D004, (file name 066_pf-2.pdf) from the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs website (https://www.bia.gov) in October 2024. Hereinafter cited as "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc."
  12. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php; the website offers a Search capability and notes that the images were taken from microfilm, and that some years are out of order. The records include the following, although we've discovered they are more mixed up than we expected: Annuity Payroll, (reported to be the1854 cover only, although the handwritten pages that follow appear to us to be from 1854); Annuity Payroll, 1882; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889 (continued); Annuity Payroll, 1891; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Land Division, Francis Godfroy; and 1881 Census of Miami Indians in Indiana and Elsewhere. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  13. [S2690] S. P. Kaler and R. H. Maring, History of Whitley County, Indiana, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Place of publication not identified: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1907). Hereinafter cited as History of Whitley County, Indiana.
  14. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  15. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935). Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  16. [S2662] T. B. Helm, History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, military records portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc., downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Chicago, Illinois: John Morris, Printer, 1884). Hereinafter cited as History of Wabash County, Indiana.

Francis LaFontaine1

b. 1810, d. 13 April 1847
Family
Francis LaFontaine
Father*Francis LaFontaine Sr.2
Mother*White Racoon2
Birth*1810Francis LaFontaine was likely born about 1810 in Allen County, Indiana. His grandfather was Peter LaFontaine, and his grandmother a daughter, or descendant, of White Racoon.3,4,2 
Name VariationHis Indian name was Toohpia, which we also found spelled "Toopia", and "Topeah", and means "frost on leaves."5,6 
Marriage1828Toohpia LaFontaine, whose English name was Francis LaFontaine, married Pocongoquah, whose English name was Catherine Richardville, daughter of John B. Richardville and Not-to-ma-quah, in an Indian ceremony in 1828.7,6 
Occupation*1828That same year of 1828, at age 18, Francis LaFontaine was elected Chief of his Miami village.6,8 
(Miami Chief) Indian Removal Act Copied in part, with minor changes, from the "Myaamia, A Living History: Myaamia Removal:

"Following the arrival of Europeans, the Miami were disrupted by waves of disease, war, and relocation. Beginning in 1795, the Miami were forced to sign treaties giving up ever-increasing amounts of their precious homeland to the government of the United States. By the 1830s, the Miami had only about 500,000 acres, which was surrounded by land controlled by the State of Indiana. Land speculators and settlers wanted this land too.

"In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. The goal of this act was to force all tribes to move west of the Mississippi. Throughout the 1830s, many tribes suffered their own version of the “Trail of Tears” most commonly associated with the Cherokee Nation’s forced removal in 1838. Throughout this period, the Miami resisted giving up their reservation in Indiana."9 
(Exemption Request-1845) Miami RemovalIn the Miami treaty of 1838, the Miami National Council had agreed, for the first time, to consider the possibility of a future Indian Removal, and also contained, for the family of Chief John B. Richardville, the first Exemption from Removal. The Miami treaty of 1840 provided for two additional families, those of Chief Francis Godfroy and Chief Meshingomesia, to continue to receive their share of the annuities at Fort Wayne, Indiana, essentially exempting those families also from Removal. The family of Frances Slocum was exempted in March of 1845. Chief Francis LaFontaine requested an exemption in November 1845 for members of his extended family who were not already exempted as members of Chief Richardville's family, and even after the tribe's forced removal had begun in October of 1846, additional exemptions were made.10,11,12 
(Son-in-Law) Will9 April 1841LaFontaine's father-in-law, Chief John B. Richardville, prepared his will dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, naming his three daughters, Catees, Susan and La Blonde, one son-in-law, Francis LaFontaine, his surviving son, Mia-que-ah, and his two deceased sons, John B. Richardville and Joseph Richardville. His will named a niece, Margaret Lafalia, and nineteen grandchildren which included three granddaughters, Che-Pe-Quay, Che-me-qua and Alin-Ben-Che-Quay, and three grandsons, Wa-pa-se-pah, Wa-ka-shin-qua and John B. LaFontaine, from his daughter, Catees; one grandson, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua from his daughter, Susan; two grandsons, Ca-the-mun-qua and Shap-pen-do-u-ah, and two granddaughters, Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and Wa-ka-com-me qua, from his deceased son John B. Richardville; one granddaughter, Mon-go-se-quah, and two grandsons, Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, from his daughter, La Blonde; one grandson, Alin-na-ben-she-shau, from his deceased son Joseph Richardville, and four grandchildren from his son, Mia-que-ah, whose names he was unable to recollect. His heirs also included two great grandchildren. The first was identified as the granddaughter of his daughter, Susan, from her son, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua, and was described as the "Daughter Child" by his former wife, Ke she co quah, who was a daughter of Pichiwa; his second great grandchild was identified as Thomas F. Richardville, son of his deceased grandson, Crescent, who was the son of his deceased son Joseph Richardville.13 
Occupation13 August 1841After the death of his father-in-law, Chief John B. Richardville, who died on 13 August 1841, Francis LaFontaine was unanimously selected to succeed him as Principal Chief. After Richardville's death, Francis operated Richardville's store at the Forks of the Wabash, west of present day Huntington, Indiana. LaFontaine's election as principal chief made him the major spokesman for the tribe, as well as the guardian of their finances. The village subchiefs were responsible for the peaceful settlement of any claims for damages committed by Indians. Matters of land ownership and transfer occupied most of LaFontaine's time. They were also the main problems that blocked the Miami's emigration to the Kansas territory described in treaties with the U. S. Government.2,14 
Marriage*3 May 1843 Fifteen years after their Indian marriage ceremony, Francis and Catharine received a Huntington County marriage license and made their vows in a Catholic ceremony. Francis LaFontaine married Catharine Richardville, daughter of John B. Richardville and Not-to-ma-quah, on 3 May 1843.1,15 
Description* As a youth, Lafontaine was described as "tall, spare and athletic" and was noted for his fitness of foot. In his later years, however, he was described as a "tall portly man", and weighed about 350 pounds.2,14 
Miami RemovalAs the son-in-law of Chief John B. Richardville, Francis LaFontaine was exempt from Removal, as was his wife, Catharine, Chief Richardville's daughter, and their children. His maternal relatives from the Waapeehsipana’s White Raccoon band, including relatives he would have seen as his siblings, however, were not exempt. On November 29, 1845 the Chief, using his Indian name, Toohpia, wrote to Indian Agent Joseph Sinclair to request an exemption for the rest of his family. “…you would confer on me a great favor, if you would earnestly request the President of the United States to permit that my relations should be allowed to stay with me and not to go to the country set apart for our Tribe west of the Mississippi.” Unfortunately, Toohpia’s request was either ignored or rejected, and many of his relatives were forced to remove.10,11,12 
Miami Removalbetween 1838 and 1845 By 1845, most Miami National Council leaders who owned reservation land but were not exempted, also sought legal remedy to avoid Removal and protect their homes. They wrote to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, petitioned Congress, and hired Dr. Graham Fitch to lobby for them in Congress.

Using his Indian name, Toohpia, Principal Chief Francis Toohpia LaFontaine and other Miami leaders went to Washington themselves to discuss exemptions. Their letter following the visit showed them taking a new tactic to avoid Removal for Miami landowners, reflecting the reasons for the exemption of the Godfroy family and citing Indiana state law as the impediment to their Removal.

“Certain individuals of our nation, who are not permitted by treaty or by law of Congress to remain in Indiana and draw their annuities there, hold individual reservations of land by treaty, which they have improved, and upon which they are now living, and have paid taxes. A law of the State of Indiana forbids them making private sale of these lands, declaring all contracts with our people null and void. If such of our people emigrate, their farms will be ruined or sold for taxes, and their personal property, stock, etc., sacrificed. Will not our great father permit such of our people to remain upon their lands, and draw their annuities in Indiana, in the same manner as is specified in a similar permission, by treaty and by law of Congress, to a few other of our people? Such permission to be extended to those land owners (not now having it) until the legal inability to sell their lands is removed, or the U.S. buys them….”

They pointed out the hypocrisy that the federal government could force them from their homes on lands they owned as private property, a most sacred American tradition, while at the same time, the state of Indiana refused to allow them to legally sell their property. If they were removed, Miami leaders and their families would likely be swindled out of their lands, if their property was not outright stolen from them.

Dr. Graham Fitch, as a lobbyist for the National Council, sent a list to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, of the Miami who owned reservation land and wished to stay in Indiana. The list of petitioners included additional members of the family of Chief John B. Richardville, whose name was recorded as Pinšiwa ‘Wild Cat', and also the families of Misihkwa, Mahkateehsipana 'Cotesipin', Mihtekwahkia 'Coesse', Amehkoonsa 'Seek', Meehkwaahkonanka 'Benjamin', Meesancihkwa, Šowaapinamwa 'Antoine Revarre' and Waapimaankwa 'White Loon', and the heirs of Sha-co-mo and Chief Majenica. The men on this list were all prominent Miami leaders.10,11,12 
Miami Removal None of the 1845 petitioners were granted exemptions before the Miami's forced emigration to Kansas began, so tragically, they and their families were also "on Removal" and had to leave their homes and lands in Indiana with all of the other displaced members of the Miami tribe. They had resisted removal for six years and, with each passing year, more families were officially exempted from removal. They believed that everyone would be able to stay on individual family allotments that had been created for decades prior to 1840. All hope of resistance to removal ended, though, when private contractors and the U.S. Army were ordered to forcibly remove those that had not been exempted. U.S. Removal Agent Joseph Sinclair, however, did allow some of the petitioner's family members to temporarily stay behind to harvest the fall crops and sell their reservation land on the assumption that the state of Indiana would lift that ban on them.10,11,12,9 
Miami Removal Although Chief LaFontaine, his wife, Catharine. and their children, were exempt from the Miami Removal, many of his people, including LaFontaine's other relatives, had not been granted exemptions. He decided to travel to Kansas with the "on Removal" group of his displaced Miami people to offer his support while on the journey, and help them settle when they arrived at their new location.10,11,12 
(Exempted from Removal) Miami Removal6 October 1846The Miami's forced emigration to the Kansas Territory began on 6 October 1846 and, among those with Miami Indian blood, the only individuals who were permitted to remain in the Wabash country and not be removed to Kansas, were those who were specifically Exempted from Removal: the Meshingomesia Band, plus descendants of Chief Richardville and Francis Godfroy, the Slocum Family and Chief LaFontaine, his wife and their children. Everyone else was "on Removal". It would be winter before their grueling one-month journey brought them to their destination. In order to share their experiences as best we know how, we've copied, without changes, the description of their journey from the "Myaamia, A Living History: Myaamia Removal" source:

"On October 6th, 1846, hundreds of Myaamia were loaded onto three canal boats in Peru, Indiana – a place they called Iihkipihsinonki. Iihkipihsinonki translates to “straight place”. It was named because of the straight course of the Wabash River in that spot. From Iihkipihsinonki the canal boats were pulled along the Wabash-Erie Canal and followed the Wabash north to Ft. Wayne.

"The forced exodus began in earnest the next day, when more Myaamia were forcibly loaded onto canal boats in Ft. Wayne, known to the Myaamia as Kiihkayonki. Kiihkayonki was the original site of their largest village and was called “that Glorious Gate” by the Myaamia leader Mihšihkinaahkwa. That day the forced exodus began.

"On October 7th, Kiihkayonki became the gateway of the removal from Myaamionki. From Kiihkayonki, the five canal boats were pulled to the Miami-Erie canal and began a four-day journey south to Cincinnati, OH. On their way south the Myaamia passed numerous sites of great historical and cultural importance. They passed the site of Fort Defiance, the military bastion from which Anthony Wayne launched his final invasion into Myaamionki in 1794. They also passed Pinkwaawilenionki (Pickawillany) a prominent Myaamia village site in the mid-eighteenth century. Much of the Miami-Erie canal followed the course of the Ahsenisiipi (the Great Miami River); a river that originally was a major route of travel to their hunting grounds along the Ohio River and to their relatives who also called that beautiful place home.

"On October 11th, they reached the growing metropolis of Cincinnati, Ohio. In Cincinnati, the Myaamia were moved to the steamship Colorado, and on October 12th the ship began its journey west on the Kaanseenseepiiwi (Ohio River). While on route to the Mississippi River an infant passed away. After eight days of travel on the Colorado, they arrived in St. Louis, Missouri. The Myaamia were unloaded at Bloody Island, which lay in the middle of the Mississippi River. This location placed the group near the traditional village sites of their Inoka (Illinois) relatives and as such it was a place they knew well. However it was also at the western edge of Myaamionki. To the west lay the traditional homelands of groups that had formerly been their enemies; to their parents’ generation those western lands had been a dangerous place. Yet, the Americans told them these lands in the west were to be their new homes. Upon arriving at Bloody Island an elderly member of the group passed away. The elder and the infant that had passed earlier in the journey were buried on or near the Island according to Myaamia tribal traditions.

"On October 23rd, the Myaamia were loaded onto the steamship Clermont No. 2 and were taken north on the Mississippi River to its confluence with the Missouri River. From this point, they followed the Missouri River west to Kanza Landing, which today lies on the Missouri side of Kansas City. For the first time in their journey, these forced migrants were outside their traditional homelands. After a month of journeying, these Myaamia had moved from the forested bottomlands of the Wabash River Valley to the edge of the great American prairielands of the west. It was a very different landscape, and winter had set in.

"On November 1st, three hundred and twenty five Myaamia were unloaded at Kanza Landing. The next day they traveled the final fifty miles of their journey to Osage River sub-agency in the Unorganized Territory (Kansas). They arrived at Sugar Creek on Nov. 5th, of 1846. It was winter on the plains and the people were forced to sleep in government issued tents and eat government rations until they could build more permanent structures.

"After only just arriving in Kansas the Myaamia were told they had to move again. Kansas was becoming a state and hoped to move American Indians south to Oklahoma to open up land for settlers. In 1873, a small group of Myaamia traveled 150 miles south to what is today Miami, Oklahoma completing the final leg of a journey that began back in Indiana twenty-seven years earlier."9,14,2 
Miami Removal*Spring 1847 Following the 1846 forced Miami Removal to Kansas, several Miami families quietly made their way back to their homelands in Indiana. In the Spring of 1847, among those who, traveling together, returned to Indiana were the families of Principal Chief Francis Toohpia LaFontaine, White Loon, Mia-que-ah, Antoine Revarre and Coesse. They had spent the winter in Kansas and, on the journey home, Chief LaFontaine became ill.10,11,12,16,17 
Death*13 April 1847 Sadly, Chief LaFontaine didn't make it all the way home. He died on 13 April 1847 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, at about age 37. Although members of his family believed he had been poisoned, Lafontaine's weight and the rigors of travel are believed by most to have been more likely causes of his death.18,14 
Burial*He is now buried in Section H of Mount Calvary Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana. He was first buried in the Saints Peter and Paul's Catholic Cemetery in Huntington, then his body was moved to the Old Catholic Cemetery when the Saints Peter and Paul's Cemetery grounds were needed to build a school hall. In March of 1907, Archangel LaFontaine had the bodies of her parents moved, and at their new resting place at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Chief LaFontaine's body was placed in the center of a family plot and other members of the family were reburied there at the same time.19 
(American Indian) Indian Names Getting the Native American Indian names in our project "right" has been a struggle for us because we have often seen the same person's name spelled in several different ways. This was, at first, both frustrating and stressful to those of us who strive for accuracy in the presentation of our research. When we learned that the Miami Indians, who feature prominently in our project, had no written language before their associations with the French and English who kept records by writing them down, we began to understand. It’s all very human. Not every person speaks their words in the same way, and each listener may hear the same words differently. So, it’s not surprising that, phonetically, when names were spoken, they would be written down as each individual listener heard them.20,21,22,23,24,25,26 

Family

 Catharine Richardville b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848
Children 1.Louis Francis LaFontaine27,5 b. 1830, d. Jan 1861
 2.Esther LaFontaine28 b. 25 Jul 1831
 3.Thomas LaFontaine22,13
 4.John Baptiste LaFontaine+29 b. 1835, d. 8 Oct 1859
 5.Mary Francis LaFontaine30,5 b. 27 Feb 1840
 6.Lenipinšiihkwa LaFontaine22
 7.Archangel LaFontaine31 b. 9 Sep 1844, d. 1 Apr 1925

Citations

  1. [S1566] Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Catharine Richardville and Francois Lafountain on 3 May 1843 in Indiana, United States, referencing FHL Film# 002320965. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, which includes historical information contributed by various sources and authors. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, reporting his year of birth as about 1789.
  4. [S225] Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, Francis LaFontaine, online at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_La_Fontaine, reporting his year of birth as about 1810. Hereinafter cited as Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370.
  6. [S225] Wikipedia Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, Francis LaFontaine, online at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_La_Fontaine
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979.
  8. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935), Francis LaFontaine, pages 15-16. Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  9. [S2788] Telling Our Story: A Living History of the Myaamia, online at https://teachmyaamiahistory.org/, Myaamia Removal, https://teachmyaamiahistory.org/contents/section5/readings/…. Hereinafter cited as Telling Our Story: A Living History of the Myaamia.
  10. [S3054] Aacimohtaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/07/02/…, article published by Diane Hunter on July 2, 2021, https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/07/02/…. Hereinafter cited as Aacimohtaatiiyankwi- Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  11. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet, https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  12. [S3056] Aacimohtaatiiyankwi, a blog serving as a space for Myaamia ‘Miami’ people to connect, reflect, and share. Our primary goal is to provide a platform for conversations about our community, places, ecological observations, and shared pasts. It also serves as a resource for educational opportunities that support a deeper understanding of Myaamia culture, language, and identity. Aacimohtatiiyaankwi is collaboratively authored by a dedicated team from the Myaamia Center at Miami University, the Cultural Resources Office of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and guests from the Myaamia community. Through regular posts, we share insights, stories, research, and observations that reflect the ongoing efforts to support Myaamia knowledge; online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org. Hereinafter cited as Aacimohtaatiiyankwi.
  13. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of John B. Richardville, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 35-38, Ancestry online images 40-42 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  14. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, in 2 volumes, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919), Volume I, Chapter III, Indian Chiefs and Treaties, pages 28-51. Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  15. [S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 3 May 1843 in Huntington County, of Catharine Richardville and Francis Lafountain, referencing Family History Library; Salt Lake City, Utah; Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
  16. [S2953] Larry M. Wyckoff, Miami Indian Reservations in Indiana and Ohio, published 2022, online at https://www.academia.edu/84623627/…, page 47, #107, "To White Loon one section of land, at the crossing of Longlois's creek, on the Ten mile reserve, to run up said creek." White Loon’s reservation was located in Jackson Township, Huntington County and Lafayette Township, Allen County; Township 29 North, of Ranges 10 and 11 East, Survey# 43; referencing Maps 49, 59 and 60. Hereinafter cited as Miami Indian Reservations in Indiana and Ohio.
  17. [S225] Wikipedia Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Loon
  18. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, recording his date of death as 15 April 1847 on the Memorial, and as 14 April 1847 and 13 April 1847 in added material relating to his life and death.
  19. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, recording his date of death as 15 April 1847 on the Memorial, and as 14 April 1847 in added material relating to his life and death.
  20. [S2698] Prepared by the United States Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs and dated 12 July 1990, "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.", in response to a petition submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Federal acknowledgment that this group exists as an Indian Tribe; downloaded record number MNI-V001-D004, (file name 066_pf-2.pdf) from the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs website (https://www.bia.gov) in October 2024. Hereinafter cited as "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc."
  21. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php; the website offers a Search capability and notes that the images were taken from microfilm, and that some years are out of order. The records include the following, although we've discovered they are more mixed up than we expected: Annuity Payroll, (reported to be the1854 cover only, although the handwritten pages that follow appear to us to be from 1854); Annuity Payroll, 1882; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889 (continued); Annuity Payroll, 1891; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Land Division, Francis Godfroy; and 1881 Census of Miami Indians in Indiana and Elsewhere. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  22. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  23. [S2690] S. P. Kaler and R. H. Maring, History of Whitley County, Indiana, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Place of publication not identified: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1907). Hereinafter cited as History of Whitley County, Indiana.
  24. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  25. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis.
  26. [S2662] T. B. Helm, History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, military records portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc., downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Chicago, Illinois: John Morris, Printer, 1884). Hereinafter cited as History of Wabash County, Indiana.
  27. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Louis Francis "Wah-pah-si-pan-ah" LaFontaine, Memorial# 237909828.
  28. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Esther Zahn (Lafontaine) Washington, Memorial# 261445081.
  29. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John Baptiste Lafontaine, Memorial# 42525084.
  30. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Francis (Lafontaine) Gawne, Memorial# 14917288.
  31. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Archangel (Lafontaine) Engelmann, Memorial# 42523600.

Francis LaFontaine Sr.1

Family
Marriage*He married White Racoon, a Miami woman.1 

Family

 White Racoon
Child 1.Francis LaFontaine+1 b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, which includes historical information contributed by various sources and authors. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.

John LaFontaine1

b. 1856, d. 2 December 1889
Family
Father*John Baptiste LaFontaine1 b. 1835, d. 8 Oct 1859
Birth*1856John LaFontaine was born about 18561 
Death*2 December 1889 and died on 2 December 1889 in Huntington County, Indiana, at about age 33.1 
Burial*He was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington County.1 

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, John LaFontaine, Memorial# 270351020. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.

John Baptiste LaFontaine1

b. 1835, d. 8 October 1859
Family
Father*Francis LaFontaine1 b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847
Mother*Catharine Richardville1 b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848
Birth*1835John Baptiste LaFontaine was probably born about 1835 in Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana. He was enumerated on the 1850 census in the household of his older sister, Esther (LaFontaine) Zahn, whose age was recorded as 19 years, and her year of birth estimated as 1831. Her brother, John, was recorded as age 15 years, and his year of birth estimated as 1835. We find the information for John's year of birth on the 1850 census to be much more reasonable than the year of 1820 recorded on his Find a Grave memorial page.2,3 
Name VariationHis Indian name was Kiyošia.4 
Name VariationHe was also known as Old Man LaFontaine.5,6 
(Son-Youngest Daughter) Will9 April 1841His maternal grandfather, Chief John B. Richardville, prepared his will dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, naming his three daughters, Catees, Susan and La Blonde, one son-in-law, Francis LaFontaine, his surviving son, Mia-que-ah, and his two deceased sons, John B. Richardville and Joseph Richardville. His will named a niece, Margaret Lafalia, and nineteen grandchildren which included three granddaughters, Che-Pe-Quay, Che-me-qua and Alin-Ben-Che-Quay, and three grandsons, Wa-pa-se-pah, Wa-ka-shin-qua and John B. LaFontaine, from his daughter, Catees; one grandson, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua from his daughter, Susan; two grandsons, Ca-the-mun-qua and Shap-pen-do-u-ah, and two granddaughters, Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and Wa-ka-com-me qua, from his deceased son John B. Richardville; one granddaughter, Mon-go-se-quah, and two grandsons, Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, from his daughter, La Blonde; one grandson, Alin-na-ben-she-shau, from his deceased son Joseph Richardville, and four grandchildren from his son, Mia-que-ah, whose names he was unable to recollect. His heirs also included two great grandchildren. The first was identified as the granddaughter of his daughter, Susan, from her son, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua, and was described as the "Daughter Child" by his former wife, Ke she co quah, who was a daughter of Pichiwa; his second great grandchild was identified as Thomas F. Richardville, son of his deceased grandson, Crescent, who was the son of his deceased son Joseph Richardville. Our transcription of his will follows:

In the name of God. Amen!

I, John B. Richardville of the County of Allen, Indiana, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, being of sound mind and memory, knowing the uncertainty of life and desirous to dispose of my affairs while in a sound state of mind, doth make, publish and declare this instrument of writing my last will and testament in manner following, to wit:

First. I commit my soul to that God who gave it, my burial to be under the direction of my executor hereinafter named.

Item First. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Catees (alias Catherine), wife of LaFontaine, her heirs and assigns forever, the three following sections of land, to wit: One section of the same situate in the County of Huntington at the forks of the Wabash to be laid out for her by my executor so as to include my houses and improvements there. The other two sections of land to commence at the confluence of the Mississinewa and Wabash rivers running down the Wabash to the lower line of the two sections and back for quantity.

Item 2. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter La Blonde (alias Maria Louisa) and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land on the St. Marys river in the County of Allen, known as my residence on that river.

Item 3. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Susan and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land as follows. One of said sections lying in the County of Huntington nearly opposite Vermilya's Mill and the other two commencing at the confluence of the Salamonie River and the Wabash, to run so far down as a line run to the back line will embrace two sections of land, being the upper two sections of my reserve on the Wabash River below and adjoining the Salamonie.

Item 4. I devise, will and bequeath to my son Mi-aw-que-ah (alias Blind Eyed Richardville) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situate on the Mississinewa river at what is called the Osage Village.

Item 5. I give, will and bequeath to my granddaughter Mon-go-se-quah, the daughter of La Blonde, her heirs and assigns forever, one section of land on the Wabash adjoining the Salamonie river, the residue of said reserve being devised to my daughter Susan.

Item 6. I devise, will and bequeath to my grandson Wa-pa-se-pah (alias Louis La Fontaine) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situated in Miami County, lying on the Wabash River opposite the mouth of the Mississinewa river.

Item 7. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my niece Margaret Lafalia, her heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land commencing at a point on the Wabash and Erie Canal where Clear Creek intersects the same in Huntington County, thence up the canal until it strikes the lots laid out for the town of Richardville and back for quantity.

Item 8. I give, devise, will and bequeath to each of my grand and great grandchildren, and to their heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land each, to wit: to the following five children of my daughter Catees, Che-pe-quay, Che-me-qua, Alin-ben-che-quay, her three daughters; to Wa-ka-shin-qua and to John B. Lafontaine (alias Old Man), her two sons, these are the five children of Catees to whom I give ½ section of land each. To Ma-ca-the-mun-qua (alias John), son of Susan and to his daughter child by his former wife, the daughter of Push-ne, each one-half section of land. To Ca-the-mun-qua and to Shap-pen-do-u-ah, sons of my deceased son John B. Richardville Junior, to Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and to Wa-ka-com-me-qua, daughters of said deceased son John B. Richardville, each of the four one-half section of land. To Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-com-me-ka, sons of my daughter La Blonde, each one-half section of land. To Alin-na-ben-she-shau, son of my deceased son Joseph Richardville, one-half section of land; to my great grandson, the son of Crescent, who was the son of Joseph Richardville one-half section of land. To my four grandchildren, the children of my son Mi-aw-que ah, whose names I do not recollect, each one-half section of land.

It is my further will and I hereby direct that my executors cause to be surveyed and set apart to each of the devisees to whom one-half section of land is devised by this my last will and testament, the separate tract to each individual out of any lands I may possess at the time of my death not expressly devised to any individual by this will and file a record of such division with the name of the person to which each tract belongs, in the county where the land lies, a certificate of which shall be evidence of title to such devisee. Setting apart to the children of Catees the section I bought from Black Loon in Huntington County and the section and a half at my mill on the Wabash at Rock Creek. Should I own them at the time of my death being to the children of Catees, ½ section each. Should I dispose of the same in my life time, then they've to be selected as the others.

Item Ninth. All the property both real and personal or mixed, lands or tenements, credits, moneys and effects which I may possess at the time of my death not devised to any devisee in this my last will and testament and all my cattle and household furniture I devise, will and bequeath to my three daughters, La Blonde, Susan and Catees, their heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly, I constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton and the Reverend Julian Benoit as executors of this my last will and testament, and in the case of death, refusal to serve or removal of either beyond the limits of this state, it is my will that the Probate Court appoint and executor in place of the one removed, refusing to serve or deceased, so that there shall be at all times two executors to this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, I John B. Richardville have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred forty-one.

Signing as his witnesses were John P. Hedges and John E. Hill.6 
(Son) Death13 April 1847He was about 12 years old when his father died on 13 April 1847 at about age 37. He had spent the winter in Kansas with his people, and the following spring set out to return to his home in Indiana. On his journey home he was taken ill and died in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Although members of his family believed he had been poisoned, Lafontaine's weight and the rigors of travel are believed by most to have been more likely causes of his death.7,8 
(Son) Marriage26 September 1848The following year, on 26 September 1848, his mother married a second time to Francis D. Lasselle who had also been married before9,10,11 
(Son) Death19 December 1848 and then his mother died on 19 December 1848, less than two months after her second marriage, at about age 38. John was about 13 years old.11 
(Brother) Census US 18503 September 1850John was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 3 September 1850 in the household of his sister and brother-in-law, Esther and John Zahn, in Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana. John was 15 years old and had attended school within the census year.12 
Death*8 October 1859He died on 8 October 1859 or 1860 in Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana, at about age 242,3 
Burial* and was buried in Section H of Mount Calvary Cemetery, Huntington.1 
(American Indian) Indian Names Getting the Native American Indian names in our project "right" has been a struggle for us because we have often seen the same person's name spelled in several different ways. This was, at first, both frustrating and stressful to those of us who strive for accuracy in the presentation of our research. When we learned that the Miami Indians, who feature prominently in our project, had no written language before their associations with the French and English who kept records by writing them down, we began to understand. It’s all very human. Not every person speaks their words in the same way, and each listener may hear the same words differently. So, it’s not surprising that, phonetically, when names were spoken, they would be written down as each individual listener heard them.13,14,4,15,16,17,18 

Family
Child 1.John LaFontaine19 b. 1856, d. 2 Dec 1889

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, John Baptiste Lafontaine, Memorial# 42525084. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John and Esther Zahn, The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Huntington, Huntington, Indiana; Roll: 152; Page: 37b; Esther's brother, John LaFontaine, was enumerated with them in 1850. His age was recorded as 15 years and his year of birth estimated as 1835. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John Baptiste Lafontaine, Memorial# 42525084; his memorial reported his death on 8 October 1859 and his grave stone noted his death on October 8, 1860 at age 40, and we believe he was about age 24 or 25 when he died.
  4. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  5. [S2691] Richardville Family Tree, from the Elizabeth Glenn Collection, "Richardville, LaFontaine, Langlois, Cass, and Little Turtle genealogical tree", RG-04-01-40-B06-F25-052_Page-10, Ball State University, Digital Media Repository, a project of the university's libraries,, online at https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/GlennElizaC/id/3447/. Hereinafter cited as Richardville Family Tree.
  6. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of John B. Richardville, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 35-38, Ancestry online images 40-42 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, recording his date of death as 15 April 1847 on the Memorial, and as 14 April 1847 and 13 April 1847 in added material relating to his life and death.
  8. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, in 2 volumes, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919), Volume I, Chapter III, Indian Chiefs and Treaties, pages 28-51. Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  9. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Francis D Lasselle, Memorial# 81727457.
  10. [S2672] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Catharine Lafontain and Francis Lassell on 26 September 1848 in Huntington County. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850.
  11. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979.
  12. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John and Esther Zahn, The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Huntington, Huntington, Indiana; Roll: 152; Page: 37b.
  13. [S2698] Prepared by the United States Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs and dated 12 July 1990, "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.", in response to a petition submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Federal acknowledgment that this group exists as an Indian Tribe; downloaded record number MNI-V001-D004, (file name 066_pf-2.pdf) from the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs website (https://www.bia.gov) in October 2024. Hereinafter cited as "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc."
  14. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php; the website offers a Search capability and notes that the images were taken from microfilm, and that some years are out of order. The records include the following, although we've discovered they are more mixed up than we expected: Annuity Payroll, (reported to be the1854 cover only, although the handwritten pages that follow appear to us to be from 1854); Annuity Payroll, 1882; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889 (continued); Annuity Payroll, 1891; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Land Division, Francis Godfroy; and 1881 Census of Miami Indians in Indiana and Elsewhere. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  15. [S2690] S. P. Kaler and R. H. Maring, History of Whitley County, Indiana, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Place of publication not identified: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1907). Hereinafter cited as History of Whitley County, Indiana.
  16. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  17. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935). Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  18. [S2662] T. B. Helm, History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, military records portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc., downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Chicago, Illinois: John Morris, Printer, 1884). Hereinafter cited as History of Wabash County, Indiana.
  19. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John LaFontaine, Memorial# 270351020.

Lenipinšiihkwa LaFontaine1

Family
Father*Francis LaFontaine1 b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847
Mother*Catharine Richardville1 b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848
Name VariationWe also found her Indian name transcribed as Alin-Ben-Che-Quay and Alon len she quay.2,3 
(Daughter of Youngest) Will9 April 1841Her maternal grandfather, Chief John B. Richardville, prepared his will dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, naming his three daughters, Catees, Susan and La Blonde, one son-in-law, Francis LaFontaine, his surviving son, Mia-que-ah, and his two deceased sons, John B. Richardville and Joseph Richardville. His will named a niece, Margaret Lafalia, and nineteen grandchildren which included three granddaughters, Che-Pe-Quay, Che-me-qua and Alin-Ben-Che-Quay, and three grandsons, Wa-pa-se-pah, Wa-ka-shin-qua and John B. LaFontaine, from his daughter, Catees; one grandson, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua from his daughter, Susan; two grandsons, Ca-the-mun-qua and Shap-pen-do-u-ah, and two granddaughters, Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and Wa-ka-com-me qua, from his deceased son John B. Richardville; one granddaughter, Mon-go-se-quah, and two grandsons, Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, from his daughter, La Blonde; one grandson, Alin-na-ben-she-shau, from his deceased son Joseph Richardville, and four grandchildren from his son, Mia-que-ah, whose names he was unable to recollect. His heirs also included two great grandchildren. The first was identified as the granddaughter of his daughter, Susan, from her son, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua, and was described as the "Daughter Child" by his former wife, Ke she co quah, who was a daughter of Pichiwa; his second great grandchild was identified as Thomas F. Richardville, son of his deceased grandson, Crescent, who was the son of his deceased son Joseph Richardville. Our transcription of his will follows:

In the name of God. Amen!

I, John B. Richardville of the County of Allen, Indiana, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, being of sound mind and memory, knowing the uncertainty of life and desirous to dispose of my affairs while in a sound state of mind, doth make, publish and declare this instrument of writing my last will and testament in manner following, to wit:

First. I commit my soul to that God who gave it, my burial to be under the direction of my executor hereinafter named.

Item First. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Catees (alias Catherine), wife of LaFontaine, her heirs and assigns forever, the three following sections of land, to wit: One section of the same situate in the County of Huntington at the forks of the Wabash to be laid out for her by my executor so as to include my houses and improvements there. The other two sections of land to commence at the confluence of the Mississinewa and Wabash rivers running down the Wabash to the lower line of the two sections and back for quantity.

Item 2. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter La Blonde (alias Maria Louisa) and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land on the St. Marys river in the County of Allen, known as my residence on that river.

Item 3. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Susan and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land as follows. One of said sections lying in the County of Huntington nearly opposite Vermilya's Mill and the other two commencing at the confluence of the Salamonie River and the Wabash, to run so far down as a line run to the back line will embrace two sections of land, being the upper two sections of my reserve on the Wabash River below and adjoining the Salamonie.

Item 4. I devise, will and bequeath to my son Mi-aw-que-ah (alias Blind Eyed Richardville) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situate on the Mississinewa river at what is called the Osage Village.

Item 5. I give, will and bequeath to my granddaughter Mon-go-se-quah, the daughter of La Blonde, her heirs and assigns forever, one section of land on the Wabash adjoining the Salamonie river, the residue of said reserve being devised to my daughter Susan.

Item 6. I devise, will and bequeath to my grandson Wa-pa-se-pah (alias Louis La Fontaine) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situated in Miami County, lying on the Wabash River opposite the mouth of the Mississinewa river.

Item 7. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my niece Margaret Lafalia, her heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land commencing at a point on the Wabash and Erie Canal where Clear Creek intersects the same in Huntington County, thence up the canal until it strikes the lots laid out for the town of Richardville and back for quantity.

Item 8. I give, devise, will and bequeath to each of my grand and great grandchildren, and to their heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land each, to wit: to the following five children of my daughter Catees, Che-pe-quay, Che-me-qua, Alin-ben-che-quay, her three daughters; to Wa-ka-shin-qua and to John B. Lafontaine (alias Old Man), her two sons, these are the five children of Catees to whom I give ½ section of land each. To Ma-ca-the-mun-qua (alias John), son of Susan and to his daughter child by his former wife, the daughter of Push-ne, each one-half section of land. To Ca-the-mun-qua and to Shap-pen-do-u-ah, sons of my deceased son John B. Richardville Junior, to Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and to Wa-ka-com-me-qua, daughters of said deceased son John B. Richardville, each of the four one-half section of land. To Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-com-me-ka, sons of my daughter La Blonde, each one-half section of land. To Alin-na-ben-she-shau, son of my deceased son Joseph Richardville, one-half section of land; to my great grandson, the son of Crescent, who was the son of Joseph Richardville one-half section of land. To my four grandchildren, the children of my son Mi-aw-que ah, whose names I do not recollect, each one-half section of land.

It is my further will and I hereby direct that my executors cause to be surveyed and set apart to each of the devisees to whom one-half section of land is devised by this my last will and testament, the separate tract to each individual out of any lands I may possess at the time of my death not expressly devised to any individual by this will and file a record of such division with the name of the person to which each tract belongs, in the county where the land lies, a certificate of which shall be evidence of title to such devisee. Setting apart to the children of Catees the section I bought from Black Loon in Huntington County and the section and a half at my mill on the Wabash at Rock Creek. Should I own them at the time of my death being to the children of Catees, ½ section each. Should I dispose of the same in my life time, then they've to be selected as the others.

Item Ninth. All the property both real and personal or mixed, lands or tenements, credits, moneys and effects which I may possess at the time of my death not devised to any devisee in this my last will and testament and all my cattle and household furniture I devise, will and bequeath to my three daughters, La Blonde, Susan and Catees, their heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly, I constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton and the Reverend Julian Benoit as executors of this my last will and testament, and in the case of death, refusal to serve or removal of either beyond the limits of this state, it is my will that the Probate Court appoint and executor in place of the one removed, refusing to serve or deceased, so that there shall be at all times two executors to this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, I John B. Richardville have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred forty-one.

Signing as his witnesses were John P. Hedges and John E. Hill.2 
(American Indian) Indian Names Getting the Native American Indian names in our project "right" has been a struggle for us because we have often seen the same person's name spelled in several different ways. This was, at first, both frustrating and stressful to those of us who strive for accuracy in the presentation of our research. When we learned that the Miami Indians, who feature prominently in our project, had no written language before their associations with the French and English who kept records by writing them down, we began to understand. It’s all very human. Not every person speaks their words in the same way, and each listener may hear the same words differently. So, it’s not surprising that, phonetically, when names were spoken, they would be written down as each individual listener heard them.4,5,1,6,7,8,9 

Citations

  1. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  2. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of John B. Richardville, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 35-38, Ancestry online images 40-42 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  3. [S2691] Richardville Family Tree, from the Elizabeth Glenn Collection, "Richardville, LaFontaine, Langlois, Cass, and Little Turtle genealogical tree", RG-04-01-40-B06-F25-052_Page-10, Ball State University, Digital Media Repository, a project of the university's libraries,, online at https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/GlennElizaC/id/3447/. Hereinafter cited as Richardville Family Tree.
  4. [S2698] Prepared by the United States Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs and dated 12 July 1990, "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.", in response to a petition submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Federal acknowledgment that this group exists as an Indian Tribe; downloaded record number MNI-V001-D004, (file name 066_pf-2.pdf) from the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs website (https://www.bia.gov) in October 2024. Hereinafter cited as "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc."
  5. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php; the website offers a Search capability and notes that the images were taken from microfilm, and that some years are out of order. The records include the following, although we've discovered they are more mixed up than we expected: Annuity Payroll, (reported to be the1854 cover only, although the handwritten pages that follow appear to us to be from 1854); Annuity Payroll, 1882; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889 (continued); Annuity Payroll, 1891; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Land Division, Francis Godfroy; and 1881 Census of Miami Indians in Indiana and Elsewhere. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  6. [S2690] S. P. Kaler and R. H. Maring, History of Whitley County, Indiana, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Place of publication not identified: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1907). Hereinafter cited as History of Whitley County, Indiana.
  7. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, in 2 volumes, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919). Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  8. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935). Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  9. [S2662] T. B. Helm, History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, military records portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc., downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Chicago, Illinois: John Morris, Printer, 1884). Hereinafter cited as History of Wabash County, Indiana.

Louis Francis LaFontaine1

b. 1830, d. January 1861
Family
Father*Francis LaFontaine1,3 b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847
Mother*Catharine Richardville1,2 b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848
Birth*1830Louis Francis LaFontaine was born in 1830 in Indiana.1 
Name VariationHis Indian name was Wa-pa-se-pah which we also found transcribed as Waapeehsipana, Wa pa see pah and Wah-pah-si-pan-ah.1,4,5,6 
(Son-Youngest Daughter) Will9 April 1841His maternal grandfather, Chief John B. Richardville, prepared his will dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, naming his three daughters, Catees, Susan and La Blonde, one son-in-law, Francis LaFontaine, his surviving son, Mia-que-ah, and his two deceased sons, John B. Richardville and Joseph Richardville. His will named a niece, Margaret Lafalia, and nineteen grandchildren which included three granddaughters, Che-Pe-Quay, Che-me-qua and Alin-Ben-Che-Quay, and three grandsons, Wa-pa-se-pah, Wa-ka-shin-qua and John B. LaFontaine, from his daughter, Catees; one grandson, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua from his daughter, Susan; two grandsons, Ca-the-mun-qua and Shap-pen-do-u-ah, and two granddaughters, Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and Wa-ka-com-me qua, from his deceased son John B. Richardville; one granddaughter, Mon-go-se-quah, and two grandsons, Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, from his daughter, La Blonde; one grandson, Alin-na-ben-she-shau, from his deceased son Joseph Richardville, and four grandchildren from his son, Mia-que-ah, whose names he was unable to recollect. His heirs also included two great grandchildren. The first was identified as the granddaughter of his daughter, Susan, from her son, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua, and was described as the "Daughter Child" by his former wife, Ke she co quah, who was a daughter of Pichiwa; his second great grandchild was identified as Thomas F. Richardville, son of his deceased grandson, Crescent, who was the son of his deceased son Joseph Richardville. Our transcription of his will follows:

In the name of God. Amen!

I, John B. Richardville of the County of Allen, Indiana, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, being of sound mind and memory, knowing the uncertainty of life and desirous to dispose of my affairs while in a sound state of mind, doth make, publish and declare this instrument of writing my last will and testament in manner following, to wit:

First. I commit my soul to that God who gave it, my burial to be under the direction of my executor hereinafter named.

Item First. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Catees (alias Catherine), wife of LaFontaine, her heirs and assigns forever, the three following sections of land, to wit: One section of the same situate in the County of Huntington at the forks of the Wabash to be laid out for her by my executor so as to include my houses and improvements there. The other two sections of land to commence at the confluence of the Mississinewa and Wabash rivers running down the Wabash to the lower line of the two sections and back for quantity.

Item 2. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter La Blonde (alias Maria Louisa) and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land on the St. Marys river in the County of Allen, known as my residence on that river.

Item 3. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Susan and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land as follows. One of said sections lying in the County of Huntington nearly opposite Vermilya's Mill and the other two commencing at the confluence of the Salamonie River and the Wabash, to run so far down as a line run to the back line will embrace two sections of land, being the upper two sections of my reserve on the Wabash River below and adjoining the Salamonie.

Item 4. I devise, will and bequeath to my son Mi-aw-que-ah (alias Blind Eyed Richardville) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situate on the Mississinewa river at what is called the Osage Village.

Item 5. I give, will and bequeath to my granddaughter Mon-go-se-quah, the daughter of La Blonde, her heirs and assigns forever, one section of land on the Wabash adjoining the Salamonie river, the residue of said reserve being devised to my daughter Susan.

Item 6. I devise, will and bequeath to my grandson Wa-pa-se-pah (alias Louis La Fontaine) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situated in Miami County, lying on the Wabash River opposite the mouth of the Mississinewa river.

Item 7. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my niece Margaret Lafalia, her heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land commencing at a point on the Wabash and Erie Canal where Clear Creek intersects the same in Huntington County, thence up the canal until it strikes the lots laid out for the town of Richardville and back for quantity.

Item 8. I give, devise, will and bequeath to each of my grand and great grandchildren, and to their heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land each, to wit: to the following five children of my daughter Catees, Che-pe-quay, Che-me-qua, Alin-ben-che-quay, her three daughters; to Wa-ka-shin-qua and to John B. Lafontaine (alias Old Man), her two sons, these are the five children of Catees to whom I give ½ section of land each. To Ma-ca-the-mun-qua (alias John), son of Susan and to his daughter child by his former wife, the daughter of Push-ne, each one-half section of land. To Ca-the-mun-qua and to Shap-pen-do-u-ah, sons of my deceased son John B. Richardville Junior, to Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and to Wa-ka-com-me-qua, daughters of said deceased son John B. Richardville, each of the four one-half section of land. To Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-com-me-ka, sons of my daughter La Blonde, each one-half section of land. To Alin-na-ben-she-shau, son of my deceased son Joseph Richardville, one-half section of land; to my great grandson, the son of Crescent, who was the son of Joseph Richardville one-half section of land. To my four grandchildren, the children of my son Mi-aw-que ah, whose names I do not recollect, each one-half section of land.

It is my further will and I hereby direct that my executors cause to be surveyed and set apart to each of the devisees to whom one-half section of land is devised by this my last will and testament, the separate tract to each individual out of any lands I may possess at the time of my death not expressly devised to any individual by this will and file a record of such division with the name of the person to which each tract belongs, in the county where the land lies, a certificate of which shall be evidence of title to such devisee. Setting apart to the children of Catees the section I bought from Black Loon in Huntington County and the section and a half at my mill on the Wabash at Rock Creek. Should I own them at the time of my death being to the children of Catees, ½ section each. Should I dispose of the same in my life time, then they've to be selected as the others.

Item Ninth. All the property both real and personal or mixed, lands or tenements, credits, moneys and effects which I may possess at the time of my death not devised to any devisee in this my last will and testament and all my cattle and household furniture I devise, will and bequeath to my three daughters, La Blonde, Susan and Catees, their heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly, I constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton and the Reverend Julian Benoit as executors of this my last will and testament, and in the case of death, refusal to serve or removal of either beyond the limits of this state, it is my will that the Probate Court appoint and executor in place of the one removed, refusing to serve or deceased, so that there shall be at all times two executors to this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, I John B. Richardville have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred forty-one.

Signing as his witnesses were John P. Hedges and John E. Hill.6 
Death*January 1861He died in January 1861 in Kansas.1 
(American Indian) Indian Names Getting the Native American Indian names in our project "right" has been a struggle for us because we have often seen the same person's name spelled in several different ways. This was, at first, both frustrating and stressful to those of us who strive for accuracy in the presentation of our research. When we learned that the Miami Indians, who feature prominently in our project, had no written language before their associations with the French and English who kept records by writing them down, we began to understand. It’s all very human. Not every person speaks their words in the same way, and each listener may hear the same words differently. So, it’s not surprising that, phonetically, when names were spoken, they would be written down as each individual listener heard them.7,8,4,9,10,11,12 

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Louis Francis "Wah-pah-si-pan-ah" LaFontaine, Memorial# 237909828. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370.
  4. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  5. [S2691] Richardville Family Tree, from the Elizabeth Glenn Collection, "Richardville, LaFontaine, Langlois, Cass, and Little Turtle genealogical tree", RG-04-01-40-B06-F25-052_Page-10, Ball State University, Digital Media Repository, a project of the university's libraries,, online at https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/GlennElizaC/id/3447/. Hereinafter cited as Richardville Family Tree.
  6. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of John B. Richardville, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 35-38, Ancestry online images 40-42 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  7. [S2698] Prepared by the United States Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs and dated 12 July 1990, "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.", in response to a petition submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Federal acknowledgment that this group exists as an Indian Tribe; downloaded record number MNI-V001-D004, (file name 066_pf-2.pdf) from the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs website (https://www.bia.gov) in October 2024. Hereinafter cited as "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc."
  8. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php; the website offers a Search capability and notes that the images were taken from microfilm, and that some years are out of order. The records include the following, although we've discovered they are more mixed up than we expected: Annuity Payroll, (reported to be the1854 cover only, although the handwritten pages that follow appear to us to be from 1854); Annuity Payroll, 1882; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889 (continued); Annuity Payroll, 1891; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Land Division, Francis Godfroy; and 1881 Census of Miami Indians in Indiana and Elsewhere. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  9. [S2690] S. P. Kaler and R. H. Maring, History of Whitley County, Indiana, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Place of publication not identified: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1907). Hereinafter cited as History of Whitley County, Indiana.
  10. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, in 2 volumes, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919). Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  11. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935). Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  12. [S2662] T. B. Helm, History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, military records portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc., downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Chicago, Illinois: John Morris, Printer, 1884). Hereinafter cited as History of Wabash County, Indiana.

Mary Francis LaFontaine1

b. 27 February 1840
Family
Father*Francis LaFontaine1,2 b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847
Mother*Catharine Richardville1,3 b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848
Birth*27 February 1840Mary Francis LaFontaine was born on 27 February 1840 in Huntington County, Indiana.1 
Name VariationHer Indian name was Kihcikamihkwa4 
Name Variation which we also found transcribed as Che-me-qua.5 
(Daughter of Youngest) Will9 April 1841Her maternal grandfather, Chief John B. Richardville, prepared his will dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, naming his three daughters, Catees, Susan and La Blonde, one son-in-law, Francis LaFontaine, his surviving son, Mia-que-ah, and his two deceased sons, John B. Richardville and Joseph Richardville. His will named a niece, Margaret Lafalia, and nineteen grandchildren which included three granddaughters, Che-Pe-Quay, Che-me-qua and Alin-Ben-Che-Quay, and three grandsons, Wa-pa-se-pah, Wa-ka-shin-qua and John B. LaFontaine, from his daughter, Catees; one grandson, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua from his daughter, Susan; two grandsons, Ca-the-mun-qua and Shap-pen-do-u-ah, and two granddaughters, Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and Wa-ka-com-me qua, from his deceased son John B. Richardville; one granddaughter, Mon-go-se-quah, and two grandsons, Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, from his daughter, La Blonde; one grandson, Alin-na-ben-she-shau, from his deceased son Joseph Richardville, and four grandchildren from his son, Mia-que-ah, whose names he was unable to recollect. His heirs also included two great grandchildren. The first was identified as the granddaughter of his daughter, Susan, from her son, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua, and was described as the "Daughter Child" by his former wife, Ke she co quah, who was a daughter of Pichiwa; his second great grandchild was identified as Thomas F. Richardville, son of his deceased grandson, Crescent, who was the son of his deceased son Joseph Richardville. Our transcription of his will follows:

In the name of God. Amen!

I, John B. Richardville of the County of Allen, Indiana, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, being of sound mind and memory, knowing the uncertainty of life and desirous to dispose of my affairs while in a sound state of mind, doth make, publish and declare this instrument of writing my last will and testament in manner following, to wit:

First. I commit my soul to that God who gave it, my burial to be under the direction of my executor hereinafter named.

Item First. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Catees (alias Catherine), wife of LaFontaine, her heirs and assigns forever, the three following sections of land, to wit: One section of the same situate in the County of Huntington at the forks of the Wabash to be laid out for her by my executor so as to include my houses and improvements there. The other two sections of land to commence at the confluence of the Mississinewa and Wabash rivers running down the Wabash to the lower line of the two sections and back for quantity.

Item 2. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter La Blonde (alias Maria Louisa) and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land on the St. Marys river in the County of Allen, known as my residence on that river.

Item 3. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Susan and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land as follows. One of said sections lying in the County of Huntington nearly opposite Vermilya's Mill and the other two commencing at the confluence of the Salamonie River and the Wabash, to run so far down as a line run to the back line will embrace two sections of land, being the upper two sections of my reserve on the Wabash River below and adjoining the Salamonie.

Item 4. I devise, will and bequeath to my son Mi-aw-que-ah (alias Blind Eyed Richardville) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situate on the Mississinewa river at what is called the Osage Village.

Item 5. I give, will and bequeath to my granddaughter Mon-go-se-quah, the daughter of La Blonde, her heirs and assigns forever, one section of land on the Wabash adjoining the Salamonie river, the residue of said reserve being devised to my daughter Susan.

Item 6. I devise, will and bequeath to my grandson Wa-pa-se-pah (alias Louis La Fontaine) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situated in Miami County, lying on the Wabash River opposite the mouth of the Mississinewa river.

Item 7. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my niece Margaret Lafalia, her heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land commencing at a point on the Wabash and Erie Canal where Clear Creek intersects the same in Huntington County, thence up the canal until it strikes the lots laid out for the town of Richardville and back for quantity.

Item 8. I give, devise, will and bequeath to each of my grand and great grandchildren, and to their heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land each, to wit: to the following five children of my daughter Catees, Che-pe-quay, Che-me-qua, Alin-ben-che-quay, her three daughters; to Wa-ka-shin-qua and to John B. Lafontaine (alias Old Man), her two sons, these are the five children of Catees to whom I give ½ section of land each. To Ma-ca-the-mun-qua (alias John), son of Susan and to his daughter child by his former wife, the daughter of Push-ne, each one-half section of land. To Ca-the-mun-qua and to Shap-pen-do-u-ah, sons of my deceased son John B. Richardville Junior, to Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and to Wa-ka-com-me-qua, daughters of said deceased son John B. Richardville, each of the four one-half section of land. To Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-com-me-ka, sons of my daughter La Blonde, each one-half section of land. To Alin-na-ben-she-shau, son of my deceased son Joseph Richardville, one-half section of land; to my great grandson, the son of Crescent, who was the son of Joseph Richardville one-half section of land. To my four grandchildren, the children of my son Mi-aw-que ah, whose names I do not recollect, each one-half section of land.

It is my further will and I hereby direct that my executors cause to be surveyed and set apart to each of the devisees to whom one-half section of land is devised by this my last will and testament, the separate tract to each individual out of any lands I may possess at the time of my death not expressly devised to any individual by this will and file a record of such division with the name of the person to which each tract belongs, in the county where the land lies, a certificate of which shall be evidence of title to such devisee. Setting apart to the children of Catees the section I bought from Black Loon in Huntington County and the section and a half at my mill on the Wabash at Rock Creek. Should I own them at the time of my death being to the children of Catees, ½ section each. Should I dispose of the same in my life time, then they've to be selected as the others.

Item Ninth. All the property both real and personal or mixed, lands or tenements, credits, moneys and effects which I may possess at the time of my death not devised to any devisee in this my last will and testament and all my cattle and household furniture I devise, will and bequeath to my three daughters, La Blonde, Susan and Catees, their heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly, I constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton and the Reverend Julian Benoit as executors of this my last will and testament, and in the case of death, refusal to serve or removal of either beyond the limits of this state, it is my will that the Probate Court appoint and executor in place of the one removed, refusing to serve or deceased, so that there shall be at all times two executors to this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, I John B. Richardville have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred forty-one.

Signing as his witnesses were John P. Hedges and John E. Hill.5 
(American Indian) Indian Names Getting the Native American Indian names in our project "right" has been a struggle for us because we have often seen the same person's name spelled in several different ways. This was, at first, both frustrating and stressful to those of us who strive for accuracy in the presentation of our research. When we learned that the Miami Indians, who feature prominently in our project, had no written language before their associations with the French and English who kept records by writing them down, we began to understand. It’s all very human. Not every person speaks their words in the same way, and each listener may hear the same words differently. So, it’s not surprising that, phonetically, when names were spoken, they would be written down as each individual listener heard them.6,7,4,8,9,10,11 

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Francis (Lafontaine) Gawne, Memorial# 14917288. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979.
  4. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  5. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of John B. Richardville, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 35-38, Ancestry online images 40-42 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  6. [S2698] Prepared by the United States Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs and dated 12 July 1990, "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.", in response to a petition submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Federal acknowledgment that this group exists as an Indian Tribe; downloaded record number MNI-V001-D004, (file name 066_pf-2.pdf) from the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs website (https://www.bia.gov) in October 2024. Hereinafter cited as "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc."
  7. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php; the website offers a Search capability and notes that the images were taken from microfilm, and that some years are out of order. The records include the following, although we've discovered they are more mixed up than we expected: Annuity Payroll, (reported to be the1854 cover only, although the handwritten pages that follow appear to us to be from 1854); Annuity Payroll, 1882; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889 (continued); Annuity Payroll, 1891; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Land Division, Francis Godfroy; and 1881 Census of Miami Indians in Indiana and Elsewhere. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  8. [S2690] S. P. Kaler and R. H. Maring, History of Whitley County, Indiana, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Place of publication not identified: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1907). Hereinafter cited as History of Whitley County, Indiana.
  9. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, in 2 volumes, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919). Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  10. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935). Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  11. [S2662] T. B. Helm, History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, military records portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc., downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Chicago, Illinois: John Morris, Printer, 1884). Hereinafter cited as History of Wabash County, Indiana.

Thomas LaFontaine1,2

Family
Father*Francis LaFontaine1,2 b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847
Mother*Catharine Richardville1,2 b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848
Name VariationHis Indian name was Waakihšinka1 
Name Variation which we also found transcribed as Wa-ka-shin-qua.2,3 
(Son-Youngest Daughter) Will9 April 1841His paternal grandfather, Chief John B. Richardville, prepared his will dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, naming his three daughters, Catees, Susan and La Blonde, one son-in-law, Francis LaFontaine, his surviving son, Mia-que-ah, and his two deceased sons, John B. Richardville and Joseph Richardville. His will named a niece, Margaret Lafalia, and nineteen grandchildren which included three granddaughters, Che-Pe-Quay, Che-me-qua and Alin-Ben-Che-Quay, and three grandsons, Wa-pa-se-pah, Wa-ka-shin-qua and John B. LaFontaine, from his daughter, Catees; one grandson, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua from his daughter, Susan; two grandsons, Ca-the-mun-qua and Shap-pen-do-u-ah, and two granddaughters, Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and Wa-ka-com-me qua, from his deceased son John B. Richardville; one granddaughter, Mon-go-se-quah, and two grandsons, Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, from his daughter, La Blonde; one grandson, Alin-na-ben-she-shau, from his deceased son Joseph Richardville, and four grandchildren from his son, Mia-que-ah, whose names he was unable to recollect. His heirs also included two great grandchildren. The first was identified as the granddaughter of his daughter, Susan, from her son, Ma-ca-the-mun-qua, and was described as the "Daughter Child" by his former wife, Ke she co quah, who was a daughter of Pichiwa; his second great grandchild was identified as Thomas F. Richardville, son of his deceased grandson, Crescent, who was the son of his deceased son Joseph Richardville. Our transcription of his will follows:

In the name of God. Amen!

I, John B. Richardville of the County of Allen, Indiana, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, being of sound mind and memory, knowing the uncertainty of life and desirous to dispose of my affairs while in a sound state of mind, doth make, publish and declare this instrument of writing my last will and testament in manner following, to wit:

First. I commit my soul to that God who gave it, my burial to be under the direction of my executor hereinafter named.

Item First. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Catees (alias Catherine), wife of LaFontaine, her heirs and assigns forever, the three following sections of land, to wit: One section of the same situate in the County of Huntington at the forks of the Wabash to be laid out for her by my executor so as to include my houses and improvements there. The other two sections of land to commence at the confluence of the Mississinewa and Wabash rivers running down the Wabash to the lower line of the two sections and back for quantity.

Item 2. I devise, will and bequeath to my daughter La Blonde (alias Maria Louisa) and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land on the St. Marys river in the County of Allen, known as my residence on that river.

Item 3. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my daughter Susan and her heirs and assigns forever, three sections of land as follows. One of said sections lying in the County of Huntington nearly opposite Vermilya's Mill and the other two commencing at the confluence of the Salamonie River and the Wabash, to run so far down as a line run to the back line will embrace two sections of land, being the upper two sections of my reserve on the Wabash River below and adjoining the Salamonie.

Item 4. I devise, will and bequeath to my son Mi-aw-que-ah (alias Blind Eyed Richardville) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situate on the Mississinewa river at what is called the Osage Village.

Item 5. I give, will and bequeath to my granddaughter Mon-go-se-quah, the daughter of La Blonde, her heirs and assigns forever, one section of land on the Wabash adjoining the Salamonie river, the residue of said reserve being devised to my daughter Susan.

Item 6. I devise, will and bequeath to my grandson Wa-pa-se-pah (alias Louis La Fontaine) and his heirs and assigns forever, one section of land situated in Miami County, lying on the Wabash River opposite the mouth of the Mississinewa river.

Item 7. I give, devise, will and bequeath to my niece Margaret Lafalia, her heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land commencing at a point on the Wabash and Erie Canal where Clear Creek intersects the same in Huntington County, thence up the canal until it strikes the lots laid out for the town of Richardville and back for quantity.

Item 8. I give, devise, will and bequeath to each of my grand and great grandchildren, and to their heirs and assigns forever, one-half section of land each, to wit: to the following five children of my daughter Catees, Che-pe-quay, Che-me-qua, Alin-ben-che-quay, her three daughters; to Wa-ka-shin-qua and to John B. Lafontaine (alias Old Man), her two sons, these are the five children of Catees to whom I give ½ section of land each. To Ma-ca-the-mun-qua (alias John), son of Susan and to his daughter child by his former wife, the daughter of Push-ne, each one-half section of land. To Ca-the-mun-qua and to Shap-pen-do-u-ah, sons of my deceased son John B. Richardville Junior, to Ca-the-mun-quah-quah and to Wa-ka-com-me-qua, daughters of said deceased son John B. Richardville, each of the four one-half section of land. To Mon-go-sau and Ke-la-com-me-ka, sons of my daughter La Blonde, each one-half section of land. To Alin-na-ben-she-shau, son of my deceased son Joseph Richardville, one-half section of land; to my great grandson, the son of Crescent, who was the son of Joseph Richardville one-half section of land. To my four grandchildren, the children of my son Mi-aw-que ah, whose names I do not recollect, each one-half section of land.

It is my further will and I hereby direct that my executors cause to be surveyed and set apart to each of the devisees to whom one-half section of land is devised by this my last will and testament, the separate tract to each individual out of any lands I may possess at the time of my death not expressly devised to any individual by this will and file a record of such division with the name of the person to which each tract belongs, in the county where the land lies, a certificate of which shall be evidence of title to such devisee. Setting apart to the children of Catees the section I bought from Black Loon in Huntington County and the section and a half at my mill on the Wabash at Rock Creek. Should I own them at the time of my death being to the children of Catees, ½ section each. Should I dispose of the same in my life time, then they've to be selected as the others.

Item Ninth. All the property both real and personal or mixed, lands or tenements, credits, moneys and effects which I may possess at the time of my death not devised to any devisee in this my last will and testament and all my cattle and household furniture I devise, will and bequeath to my three daughters, La Blonde, Susan and Catees, their heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly, I constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton and the Reverend Julian Benoit as executors of this my last will and testament, and in the case of death, refusal to serve or removal of either beyond the limits of this state, it is my will that the Probate Court appoint and executor in place of the one removed, refusing to serve or deceased, so that there shall be at all times two executors to this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof, I John B. Richardville have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred forty-one.

Signing as his witnesses were John P. Hedges and John E. Hill.2 
(American Indian) Indian Names Getting the Native American Indian names in our project "right" has been a struggle for us because we have often seen the same person's name spelled in several different ways. This was, at first, both frustrating and stressful to those of us who strive for accuracy in the presentation of our research. When we learned that the Miami Indians, who feature prominently in our project, had no written language before their associations with the French and English who kept records by writing them down, we began to understand. It’s all very human. Not every person speaks their words in the same way, and each listener may hear the same words differently. So, it’s not surprising that, phonetically, when names were spoken, they would be written down as each individual listener heard them.4,5,1,6,7,8,9 

Citations

  1. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  2. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of John B. Richardville, Principal Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians, dated 9 April 1841 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 35-38, Ancestry online images 40-42 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  3. [S2691] Richardville Family Tree, from the Elizabeth Glenn Collection, "Richardville, LaFontaine, Langlois, Cass, and Little Turtle genealogical tree", RG-04-01-40-B06-F25-052_Page-10, Ball State University, Digital Media Repository, a project of the university's libraries,, online at https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/GlennElizaC/id/3447/. Hereinafter cited as Richardville Family Tree.
  4. [S2698] Prepared by the United States Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs and dated 12 July 1990, "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc.", in response to a petition submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs for Federal acknowledgment that this group exists as an Indian Tribe; downloaded record number MNI-V001-D004, (file name 066_pf-2.pdf) from the Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs website (https://www.bia.gov) in October 2024. Hereinafter cited as "Summary Under the Criteria and Evidence for Proposed Finding Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana, Inc."
  5. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php; the website offers a Search capability and notes that the images were taken from microfilm, and that some years are out of order. The records include the following, although we've discovered they are more mixed up than we expected: Annuity Payroll, (reported to be the1854 cover only, although the handwritten pages that follow appear to us to be from 1854); Annuity Payroll, 1882; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Annuity Payroll, Eel River Tribe, 1889 (continued); Annuity Payroll, 1891; Annuity Payroll, 1895; Land Division, Francis Godfroy; and 1881 Census of Miami Indians in Indiana and Elsewhere. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  6. [S2690] S. P. Kaler and R. H. Maring, History of Whitley County, Indiana, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Place of publication not identified: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1907). Hereinafter cited as History of Whitley County, Indiana.
  7. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, in 2 volumes, downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919). Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  8. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935). Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  9. [S2662] T. B. Helm, History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, military records portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc., downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Chicago, Illinois: John Morris, Printer, 1884). Hereinafter cited as History of Wabash County, Indiana.

Peter LaFrance1

b. 1751
Family
Birth*1751Peter LaFrance was born about 1751 in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.1 
Marriage*1782He married Sarah Beach Davis about 1782.2,1 

Family

 Sarah Beach Davis b. 21 Oct 1751
Child 1.Phebe LaFrance1,3 b. 1783, d. 1832

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Peter LaFrance, Memorial# 137326332. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Sarah Beach (Davis) LaFrance, Memorial# 137326341.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Phebe (LaFrance) Slocum, Memorial# 245978061.

Phebe LaFrance1

b. 1783, d. 1832
Family
Father*Peter LaFrance2,1 b. 1751
Mother*Sarah Beach Davis3,1 b. 21 Oct 1751
Birth*1783Phebe LaFrance was born in 1783 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.1 
Marriage*She married Benjamin Slocum, son of Jonathan Slocum and Ruth Tripp, in Providence Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.1,4,5 
Death*1832She died in 1832 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, at about age 49.1 

Family

 Benjamin Slocum b. 7 Dec 1770, d. 5 Jul 1832

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Phebe (LaFrance) Slocum, Memorial# 245978061. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Peter LaFrance, Memorial# 137326332.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Sarah Beach (Davis) LaFrance, Memorial# 137326341.
  4. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Benjamin Slocum, Memorial# 73022949.
  5. [S2678] Charles Elihu Slocum, A short history of the Slocums, Slocumbs and Slocombs of America, genealogical and biographical, embracing eleven generations of the first-named family from 1637 to 1881 : with their alliances and the descendants in the female lines so far as ascertained. Also the etymology of those surnames, an account of some researches in England concerning their ancestors who bore the parent surname, Slocombe, Etc., downloaded from the Boston Public Library eBooks and Texts Archive at www.archive.org. (Syracuse, New York: Charles E. Slocum, 1882), #111, Jonathan Slocum, pages 122-124. Hereinafter cited as A short history of the Slocums.

Jane Laidlaw1

b. 1837
Family
Birth*1837Jane Laidlaw was born about 1837 in Scotland.1 
Marriage*27 September 1861She married Thomas Clark on 27 September 1861 in Grey County, Ontario Province, Canada.1,2 

Family

 Thomas Clark b. 1839
Child 1.Thomas Clark1,3 b. 1874

Citations

  1. [S1868] 1881 Canadian Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Thomas and Jane Clark, Year: 1881; Census Place: Bentinck, Grey South, Ontario; Roll: C_13260; Page: 15; Family No: 60. Hereinafter cited as 1881 Canadian Census.
  2. [S2580] Ontario, Canada, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 27 December 1861 in Grey County, of Thomas Clark of Bentinck Township, age 24, born in Scotland, son of John Clark and Isabella Clark, and Jane Laidlaw of Bentinck Township, age 26, born in Scotland, daughter of Robert Laidlaw and Isabella Laidlaw, referencing Grey County, Microfilm Roll# 1030056. Hereinafter cited as Ontario, Canada, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869.
  3. [S2122] Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1943, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Mary Pritchard of Southampton, age 30, spinster, Methodist, born about 1876 in Sullivan Township, daughter of William Pritchard and Margaret Craig, married Thomas Clark of Bentinck, age 32, farmer, bachelor, Presbyterian, born about 1874 in Bentinck Township, son of Thomas Clark and Jane Laidlaw, on 7 February 1906 in Bruce, Ontario, Canada, witnesses George Clark of Louise and Kate Pritchard of Southampton, referencing Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928, Reel# 121. Hereinafter cited as Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1943.

Robert Laidlaw1

b. 16 May 1872
Family
Father*Robert Laidlaw2,1 b. 26 Sep 1826, d. 24 Aug 1907
Mother*Jannet Watt Hastie3,1 b. 1 Sep 1842, d. 23 May 1900
Birth*16 May 1872Robert Laidlaw was born on 16 May 1872.1 
Marriage*1899He married Margaret Pritchard, daughter of William Pritchard and Margaret Craig, about 1899.1,4 
(Husband) Death2 March 1905Robert became a widower when Margaret (Pritchard) Laidlaw died on 2 March 1905 at age 26.4 

Family

 Margaret Pritchard b. 9 Aug 1878, d. 2 Mar 1905

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Robert Laidlaw, Memorial# 73189905. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Robert Laidlaw, Memorial# 251806771.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Jannet Watt (Hastie) Laidlaw, Memorial# 251807068.
  4. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Margaret (Pritchard) Laidlaw, Memorial# 251806592.

Robert Laidlaw1

b. 26 September 1826, d. 24 August 1907
Family
Birth*26 September 1826Robert Laidlaw was born on 26 September 1826 in Scotland.1 
Marriage*1860He married Jannet Watt Hastie about 1860.2,1 
(Husband) Death23 May 1900Robert became a widower when Jannet Watt (Hastie) Laidlaw died on 23 May 1900 at age 57.2 
Death*24 August 1907He died on 24 August 1907 in Elmwood, Bruce County, Ontario Province, Canada, at age 801 
Burial* and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Elmwood.1 

Family

 Jannet Watt Hastie b. 1 Sep 1842, d. 23 May 1900
Child 1.Robert Laidlaw1,3 b. 16 May 1872

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Robert Laidlaw, Memorial# 251806771. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Jannet Watt (Hastie) Laidlaw, Memorial# 251807068.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Robert Laidlaw, Memorial# 73189905.

Anna Lair1

b. 8 January 1820, d. 11 June 1892
Family
Birth*8 January 1820Anna Lair was born on 8 January 1820 in Virginia.1 
Marriage*11 December 1847She married, as his first wife, Joseph Wilcoxon on 11 December 1847 in Washington County, Tennessee.1,2,3 
Death*11 June 1892She died on 11 June 1892 in Tennessee at age 721 
Burial* and was buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Washington County, Tennessee.1 

Family

 Joseph Wilcox b. 2 Sep 1826, d. 3 Aug 1909
Children 1.Sarah C. W. Wilcox4 b. 1849
 2.Susan E. Wilcox4 b. 1850
 3.Elizabeth A. Wilcox4 b. 1852
 4.Mary J. Wilcox4 b. 1855
 5.Martha Wilcox4 b. 1856
 6.Frances M. Wilcox4 b. 1859

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Anna (Lair) Wilcox, Memorial# 53942986. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Joseph Wilcox, Memorial# 53942971.
  3. [S1704] Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780-2002, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 11 December 1847 in Washington County, Tennessee, USA, of Joseph Willcoxon and Anne Laire. Hereinafter cited as Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780-2002.
  4. [S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph and Anna Wilcox, Year: 1860; Census Place: Boones Creek, Washington, Tennessee; Page: 37. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.

Florence Laird1

b. 26 October 1908, d. 15 May 2005
Family
Father*Hiram Jackson Laird1 b. 18 Apr 1873, d. 19 Feb 1960
Mother*Elizabeth Isabell Craigmiles1 b. 1 Jan 1878, d. 1 Mar 1961
Birth*26 October 1908Florence Laird was born on 26 October 1908.1 
(Daughter) Census US 191022 April 1910Florence was enumerated on the 1910 census taken on 22 April 1910 in the household of her parents in Calumet, Pike County, Missouri. She was 18 months old.2 
Marriage*1940She married John O. Harvey in 1940.3,1 
(Wife) Death12 August 1978Florence became a widow when John O. Harvey died on 12 August 1978 at age 77.3 
Death*15 May 2005She died on 15 May 2005 in Missouri at age 961 
Burial* and was buried with her husband in Green Lawn Cemetery, Bowling Green, Pike County, Missouri.1,3 

Family

 John O. Harvey b. 13 Jul 1901, d. 12 Aug 1978

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Florence (Laird) Harvey, Memorial# 117543999. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Hiram and Elizabeth Laird, Calumet, Pike, Missouri; Roll: T624_805; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0121; FHL microfilm: 1374818. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John O. Harvey, Memorial# 117543968.

Hiram Jackson Laird1

b. 18 April 1873, d. 19 February 1960
Family
Birth*18 April 1873Hiram Jackson Laird was born on 18 April 1873 in Calhoun County, Illinois.1 
Marriage*8 December 1895He married Isabell Craigmiles on 8 December 1895 in Calhoun County.2 
Census US 1910*22 April 1910Elizabeth and Hiram Laird were enumerated on the 1910 census taken on 22 April 1910 in Calumet, Pike County, Missouri. Hiram was 37 years of age and farmed a general farm on his own account, and Elizabeth was 33 years of age. They rented their farm, had been married for 15 years, and Elizabeth had given birth to five children, all of whom were living and enumerated with their parents in 1910. Maudie was 12 years old; Liddle was 10; Opal was 8; Richard 6; and Florence was 18 months old. The four oldest had all attended school within the census year.3 
Death*19 February 1960He died on 19 February 1960 in Pike County, Missouri, at age 861 
Burial* and was buried in Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Bowling Green, Pike County.1 

Family

 Elizabeth Isabell Craigmiles b. 1 Jan 1878, d. 1 Mar 1961
Children 1.Maude L. Laird+4 b. 7 Mar 1897, d. 5 May 1977
 2.Lydia Jane Laird+5 b. 26 Sep 1898, d. 8 May 1973
 3.Opal Clara Laird6,1 b. 30 Jun 1902, d. 16 Mar 1976
 4.Richard L. Laird7 b. 20 Oct 1904, d. 17 May 1997
 5.Florence Laird8 b. 26 Oct 1908, d. 15 May 2005

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Hiram Jackson Laird, Memorial# 139149241. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S1681] Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Hiram Laird and Isabell Craigmiles on 8 December 1895 in Calhoun County. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920.
  3. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Hiram and Elizabeth Laird, Calumet, Pike, Missouri; Roll: T624_805; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0121; FHL microfilm: 1374818. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.
  4. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Maude L. (Laird) Inlow, Memorial# 117544209.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Lydia Jane (Laird) Clark, Memorial# 181805258.
  6. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Opal Clara (Laird) Luckett, Memorial# 117544720.
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Richard L. Laird, Memorial# 117544377.
  8. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Florence (Laird) Harvey, Memorial# 117543999.

John L. Laird1

b. 1887
Family
Father*Lanson K. Laird1 b. 1845
Mother*Elva R. Wood1 b. 1862
Birth*1887John L. Laird was born about 1887 in Illinois.1 
(Son) Census US 191018 April 1910John L. was enumerated on the 1910 census taken on 18 April 1910 in the household of his parents in Rome, Jefferson County, Illinois. He was 23 years of age and worked for wages as a laborer on the family's farm.1 

Citations

  1. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Lanson K. and Elva R. Laird, Rome, Jefferson, Illinois; Roll: T624_294; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0110; FHL microfilm: 1374307. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.

L. Opal Laird1

b. 4 September 1902, d. 4 March 1995
Family
Father*Lanson K. Laird2 b. 1845
Mother*Elva R. Wood2 b. 1862
Birth*4 September 1902L. Opal Laird was born on 4 September 1902 in Marion County, Illinois.2,1 
Name VariationHer full name was Laura Opal Laird.2 
Research Notes Information has been confused between these two Opal Lairds on the memorial pages of the Find a Grave website. Both Opals were born in 1902 in Illinois. L. Opal (Laird) Kissner was Laura Opal Laird, born on 4 September 1902 in Marion County, Illinois, a daughter of Lanson K. Laird and Elva R. Wood, who by 1910 were residents of Jefferson County, Illinois. The other Opal was Opal Clara (Laird) Luckett, born on 30 June 1902 in Calhoun County, Illinois, a daughter of Hiram Jackson Laird and Elizabeth Isabell Craigmiles, who by 1910 were residents of Pike County, Missouri.1,3 
(Daughter) Census US 191018 April 1910Laura O. was enumerated on the 1910 census taken on 18 April 1910 in the household of her parents in Rome, Jefferson County, Illinois. She was 7 years old and had attended school within the census year.2 
Marriage*4 September 1920She married William Wesley Kissner, son of Richard David Kissner and Lucy Randall Miller, on 4 September 1920 in Marion County.4 
(Wife) Death30 May 1982Opal became a widow when William Wesley Kissner died on 30 May 1982 at age 85.5 
Death*4 March 1995She died on 4 March 1995 in Wayne City, Marion County, at age 921 
Burial* and was buried in Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City.1 

Family

 William Wesley Kissner b. 1 Jun 1896, d. 30 May 1982

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, L. Opal (Laird) Kissner, Memorial# 136119552. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Lanson K. and Elva R. Laird, Rome, Jefferson, Illinois; Roll: T624_294; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0110; FHL microfilm: 1374307. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Opal Clara (Laird) Luckett, Memorial# 117544720.
  4. [S1701] Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of William Kissner and Opal Laird on 4 September 1920 in Marion County, citing FHL Film Number: 001010516. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, William Wesley "Bill" Kissner, Memorial# 136119452.

Lanson K. Laird1

b. 1845
Family
Birth*1845Lanson K. Laird was born about 1845 in Ohio.1 
Marriage*18 July 1885He married Elva R. Wood on 18 July 1885 in Jefferson County, Illinois.1,2 
Census US 1910*18 April 1910Elva R. and Lanson K. Laird were enumerated on the 1910 census taken on 18 April 1910 in Rome, Jefferson County, Illinois. Lanson was 65 years of age and a farmer on his own general farm, and Elva was 48 years of age and worked at home as a dressmaker on her own account. Theirs was Lanson's second marriage and Elva's first. They owned their farm free of mortgage, had been married for 25 years, and Elva had given birth to three children, all of whom were living and enumerated with their parents in 1910. John L. was 23 years of age and worked as a laborer on the farm for wages; Myrtle B., who was enumerated as "Mertie", was 14 years old and had attended school within the census year; and Laura O. was 7 years old and had also attended school within the year.1 

Family

 Elva R. Wood b. 1862
Children 1.John L. Laird1 b. 1887
 2.Myrtle B. Laird1 b. 1896
 3.L. Opal Laird1 b. 4 Sep 1902, d. 4 Mar 1995

Citations

  1. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Lanson K. and Elva R. Laird, Rome, Jefferson, Illinois; Roll: T624_294; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0110; FHL microfilm: 1374307. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.
  2. [S1681] Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of "Lawson" K Laird and Elva R Wood on 18 July 1885 in Jefferson, Illinois, USA. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920.

Lydia Jane Laird1

b. 26 September 1898, d. 8 May 1973
Family
Father*Hiram Jackson Laird1 b. 18 Apr 1873, d. 19 Feb 1960
Mother*Elizabeth Isabell Craigmiles1,2 b. 1 Jan 1878, d. 1 Mar 1961
Birth*26 September 1898Lydia Jane Laird was born on 26 September 1898 in Calhoun County, Illinois.1 
(Daughter) Census US 191022 April 1910She was enumerated as "Liddie" on the 1910 census taken on 22 April 1910 in the household of her parents in Calumet, Pike County, Missouri. She was 10 years old and had attended school within the census year.3 
Marriage*17 September 1913She married first, as his first wife, John L. Inlow, son of John S. Inlow and Annie Sinklear, on 17 September 1913 in Eolia, Pike County, Missouri. John was over the age of 21 years and Lydia was under the age of 18 years. Her mother, Isabell Laird gave her consent in writing for the marriage.4,5,1 
Census US 1920*12 January 1920Lydia and Leslie J. Inlow were enumerated on the 1920 census taken on 12 January 1920 in Prairieville, Pike County, Missouri. Leslie was 29 years of age, could neither read nor write, and was a general farmer on his own account, and Lydia was 22 years of age. They rented their farm, and had one child, Roy, who was 5 years old and not yet attending school. Additionally, Leslie's uncle, Lee Inlow, age 38 and widowed, was also enumerated with the family in 1920. He worked as a laborer on the farm.6 
Divorce*before 1 April 1930Lydia and Leslie were divorced before 1 April 1930, the effective date of the 1930 census when Lydia reported her marital status as divorced.7 
Census US 1930*21 April 1930Lydia Inlow was enumerated on the 1930 census taken on 21 April 1930 in Union Township, Lincoln County, Missouri. Her surname had been spelled "Enlaw" by the census taker. Lydia was 31 years of age, divorced, and worked as a general farmer on her own account. She rented her farm and her son, Ray, resided with his mother in 1930. He was 15 years old, worked as a laborer on the farm, and had attended school within the census year.7 
Marriage*3 December 1930She married second, as his third wife, Henry N. Clark, son of Oscar Clark and Sarah Overstreet, on 3 December 1930.8,9,10 
Census US 1940*2 April 1940Lydia J. and Henry N. Clark were enumerated on the 1940 census taken on 2 April 1940 in Exeter, Scott County, Illinois. Henry was 48 years of age and a jeweler, and Lydia was 41 years of age. They each had completed the 8th grade of elementary school and had lived in rural Pike County, Missouri on farms in 1935. They owned their house in Exeter, Illinois, which was valued at $200 and was not a farm.9 
Death*8 May 1973She died on 8 May 1973 in Norris hospital, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, at age 741,10 
Burial* and was buried with her parents in Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Bowling Green, Pike County.1 

Family 1

 John Leslie Inlow b. 11 Feb 1890, d. Oct 1969
Child 1.Ray Inlow6 b. 31 Jan 1915, d. 25 Aug 2002

Family 2

 Henry N. Clark b. 1892, d. 27 Aug 1977

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Lydia Jane (Laird) Clark, Memorial# 181805258. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Isabell (Craigmiles) Laird, Memorial# 117544434.
  3. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Hiram and Elizabeth Laird, Calumet, Pike, Missouri; Roll: T624_805; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0121; FHL microfilm: 1374818. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.
  4. [S1732] Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 17 September 1913 in Eolia, Pike, Missouri, USA, of John L Inlow and Lydia J Laird, referencing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, MO, USA, Missouri Marriage Records on microfilm. Hereinafter cited as Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John Leslie “Less” Inlow, Memorial# 127559753.
  6. [S73] 1920 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Leslie and Lydia Inlow, Prairieville, Pike, Missouri; Roll: T625_941; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 146. Hereinafter cited as 1920 United States Federal Census.
  7. [S91] 1930 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Lydia Inlow, (her surname spelled "Enlaw" by the census taker), Union, Lincoln, Missouri; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0023; FHL microfilm: 2340944. Hereinafter cited as 1930 United States Federal Census.
  8. [S2161] U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Henry N. Clark of Exeter, jeweler, and Lydia Betty Jane Inlow of Eolia, on 2 December 1930, groom employed at Bowling Green, Missouri, where couple will make their home, citing The Jacksonville Daily Journal, Jacksonville, Illinois, published on Wednesday, 3 December 1930, page 3. Hereinafter cited as U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current.
  9. [S1441] 1940 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Henry N. and Lydia J. Clark, Exeter, Scott, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00889; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 86-6. Hereinafter cited as 1940 United States Federal Census.
  10. [S2096] U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, online at www.ancestry.com, obituary for Lydia Clark of Exeter, age 74, born 26 December 1898 to Hiram and Isabelle Craigmiles Laird in Calhoun County, married to Henry Clark who survives her, died 8 May 1973 in Norris Hospital, survivors include son Ray Inlow of Bowling Green, Missouri; three sisters: Mrs. Maude Inlow of Bowling Green, Missouri, Mrs. Opal Luckett of Eolia, Missouri, and Mrs. Florence Harvey of Moberly, Missouri; a brother Richard Laird of Eolia, Missouri; burial in Memorial Gardens, Bowling Green, Missouri, citing The Jacksonville Daily Journal, Jacksonville, Illinois, published on Thursday, 10 May 1973, page 30. Hereinafter cited as U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current.

Maude L. Laird1

b. 7 March 1897, d. 5 May 1977
Family
Father*Hiram Jackson Laird1 b. 18 Apr 1873, d. 19 Feb 1960
Mother*Elizabeth Isabell Craigmiles1,2 b. 1 Jan 1878, d. 1 Mar 1961
Birth*7 March 1897Maude L. Laird was born on 7 March 1897 in Calhoun County, Illinois.1 
(Daughter) Census US 191022 April 1910She was enumerated as "Maudie" on the 1910 census taken on 22 April 1910 in the household of her parents in Calumet, Pike County, Missouri. She was 12 years old and had attended school within the census year.3 
Marriage*16 April 1913She married David Reuben Inlow, son of John S. Inlow and Annie Sinklear, on 16 April 1913 in Eolia, Pike County, Missouri. David was over the age of 21 years and Maude was under the age of 18 years. Her mother, Isabell Laird, gave her consent in writing for the marriage.4,5,1 
(Wife) Death19 September 1950Maude became a widow when David Reuben Inlow died on 19 September 1950 at age 58.5,6 
Death*5 May 1977She died on 5 May 1977 in Missouri at age 801 
Burial* and was buried with her husband in Eolia Baptist, Eolia, Pike County, Missouri.1,5 

Family

 David Reuben Inlow b. 19 Jan 1892, d. 19 Sep 1950
Child 1.Harry Reuben Inlow7 b. 14 Sep 1914, d. 26 Jan 1916

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Maude L. (Laird) Inlow, Memorial# 117544209. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Isabell (Craigmiles) Laird, Memorial# 117544434.
  3. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Hiram and Elizabeth Laird, Calumet, Pike, Missouri; Roll: T624_805; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0121; FHL microfilm: 1374818. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.
  4. [S1732] Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 16 April 1913 in Eolia, Pike, Missouri, USA, of David R Inlow and Maud L Laird, referencing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, MO, USA, Missouri Marriage Records on Microfilm. Hereinafter cited as Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, David Ruben Inlow, Memorial# 37847867.
  6. [S1766] Web: Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910-1962, online at www.ancestry.com, death of David Reuben Inlow, Certificate# 31319, of Eolia, Pike County, farmer, married to Maude Inlow, age 58, born on 19 January 1892 in Briscoe, Missouri, died on 19 September 1950 in Pike County Hospital, Louisiana, Pike County, parents John Inlow and Annie Sinklear, informant Mrs. Maude Inlow, Eolia, Missouri, burial on 20 September 1950 in Eolia Baptist. Hereinafter cited as Web: Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910-1962.
  7. [S1766] Web: Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910-1962, online at www.ancestry.com, death of Harry Reuben Inlow, Certificate# 2871, born 14 September 1914 in Pike County, died of bronchial pneumonia on 26 January 1916 in Prairieville, Pike County, age 1 year, 4 months, 12 days, son of Reuben and Maudie Indow, both born in Calhoun County, Illinois, burial in Baptist Cemetery, Eolia.

Myrtle B. Laird1

b. 1896
Family
Father*Lanson K. Laird1 b. 1845
Mother*Elva R. Wood1 b. 1862
Birth*1896Myrtle B. Laird was born about 1896 in Illinois.1 
Name VariationShe was called Mertie.1 
(Daughter) Census US 191018 April 1910Mertie B. was enumerated on the 1910 census taken on 18 April 1910 in the household of her parents in Rome, Jefferson County, Illinois. She was 14 years old and had attended school within the census year.1 

Citations

  1. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Lanson K. and Elva R. Laird, Rome, Jefferson, Illinois; Roll: T624_294; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0110; FHL microfilm: 1374307. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.

Opal Clara Laird1

b. 30 June 1902, d. 16 March 1976
Family
Father*Hiram Jackson Laird1,2 b. 18 Apr 1873, d. 19 Feb 1960
Mother*Elizabeth Isabell Craigmiles1,3 b. 1 Jan 1878, d. 1 Mar 1961
Birth*30 June 1902Opal Clara Laird was born on 30 June 1902 in Hamburg, Calhoun County, Illinois.1 
Research Notes* Information has been confused between these two Opal Lairds on the memorial pages of the Find a Grave website. Both Opals were born in 1902 in Illinois. Opal Clara (Laird) Luckett was born on 30 June 1902 in Calhoun County, Illinois, a daughter of Hiram Jackson Laird and Elizabeth Isabell Craigmiles, who by 1910 were residents of Pike County, Missouri. The other Opal was Laura Opal (Laird) Kissner, born on 4 September 1902 in Marion County, Illinois, a daughter of Lanson K. Laird and Elva R. Wood, who by 1910 were residents of Jefferson County, Illinois.4,1 
(Daughter) Census US 191022 April 1910Opal was enumerated on the 1910 census taken on 22 April 1910 in the household of her parents in Calumet, Pike County, Missouri. She was 8 years old and had attended school within the census year.5 
Marriage License26 July 1916A marriage license was issued to Opal Clara Laird and Roll Francis Luckett in Palmyra, Marion County, Missouri, and the event published in the Palmyra newspaper on 26 July 1916.6 
Marriage*July 1916She married Roll Francis Luckett, son of David Scott Luckett and Isabelle J. Inlow, probably in July 1916 in Marion County, Missouri.6,7,1 
(Wife) Death1966Opal became a widow when Roll Francis Luckett died in 1966 at about age 76.7 
Death*16 March 1976She died on 16 March 1976 in Louisiana, Pike County, Missouri, at age 731 
Burial* and was buried with her husband in Green Lawn Cemetery, Bowling Green, Pike County.1,7 

Family

 Roll Francis Luckett b. 27 Oct 1890, d. 1966

Citations

  1. [S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Opal Clara (Laird) Luckett, Memorial# 117544720. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Hiram Jackson Laird, Memorial# 139149241.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Isabell (Craigmiles) Laird, Memorial# 117544434.
  4. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, L. Opal (Laird) Kissner, Memorial# 136119552.
  5. [S40] 1910 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Hiram and Elizabeth Laird, Calumet, Pike, Missouri; Roll: T624_805; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0121; FHL microfilm: 1374818. Hereinafter cited as 1910 United States Federal Census.
  6. [S2161] U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current, online at www.ancestry.com, The Palmyra Spectator, Palmyra, Missouri, 26 July 1916, page 1, marriage license for Roll Luckett and Opal Laird. Hereinafter cited as U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current.
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Roll Francis Luckett, Memorial# 117544698.