Melinda O. Richards1,2

b. 10 March 1863, d. 7 May 1909
Family
Birth*10 March 1863Melinda O. Richards was born on 10 March 1863.3 
Name VariationShe was called Linda.4 
Marriage*26 January 1882She married George N. Green on 26 January 1882 in Whiteside County, Illinois.1,2,5,3 
Census US 1900*13 June 1900Linda and George Green were enumerated on the 1900 census taken on 13 June 1900 in Decatur, Burt County, Nebraska. George was 42 years of age and a farmer, and Linda was 37 years of age. They owned their farm free of mortgage, had been married for 18 years, and Linda had given birth to five children, four of whom were living. Their four children were enumerated with them in 1900. Walter, Ada and Harry who were ages 14, 11 and 8 years, respectively, were at school, and had all attended school for 8 months of the census year. The couple's youngest, Dewey, was one year old.4 
Death*7 May 1909She died on 7 May 1909 at age 463 
Burial* and was buried in Block 80, Lot 3, of Sunset Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Boone County, Nebraska.3 

Family

 George N. Green b. 21 Feb 1858, d. 18 Oct 1923
Children 1.Walter G. Green6,3 b. May 1886
 2.Ada Mae Green7,3 b. 23 Feb 1889
 3.Harry D. Green+1,2,3 b. 15 Aug 1891, d. 27 Jul 1947
 4.Franklin Dewey Green8,3 b. 27 Dec 1898, d. 19 May 1934

Citations

  1. [S1700] Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1949, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Harry D Green of Omaha, Nebraska, age 33 on next birthday, contractor, his second marriage, born about 1891 in Magnolia Iowa, son of George N Green and "Elizabeth" Richards, married La Verne (Ostrom) Gaston of 1723 Davenport Street, age 27 on next birthday, her second marriage, born about 1897 in Nashville, Tennessee, daughter of Harry J. Ostrom and Sarah Hamilton, married on 24 August 1924 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, USA, referencing Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa, Series Title: Iowa Marriage Records, 1923–1937. Hereinafter cited as Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1949.
  2. [S1681] Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of George N Green and Melinda O Richards on 26 January 1882 in Whiteside County, Illinois, USA. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920.
  3. [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, Melinda O. (Richards) Green, Memorial# 60141949. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  4. [S34] 1900 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of George and Linda Green, Year: 1900; Census Place: Decatur, Burt, Nebraska; Roll: 918; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0026; FHL microfilm: 1240918. Hereinafter cited as 1900 United States Federal Census.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, George Nelson Green, Memorial# 60141950.
  6. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Walter G. Green, Memorial# 85288743.
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Ada Mae (Green) Lohn, Memorial# 85256656.
  8. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Franklin Dewey Green, Memorial# 170935533.

William Richards1

Family
Marriage*He married Grace Shaw.1 

Family

 Grace Shaw
Child 1.Joseph Richards+1

Citations

  1. [S1135] Mrs. John E. Barclay, "The Ancestry of Experience, Wife of Cornelius Washburn of Bridgewater, Mass.", New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 119, pages 22-25, (January 1965). Hereinafter cited as "Experience, Wife of Cornelius Washburn."

Alice M. Richardson1

b. 26 November 1895
Family
Father*Roy Ward Richardson2,1 b. 18 Sep 1872
Mother*Ethel May Miter3,1 b. 1874
Birth*26 November 1895Alice M. Richardson was born on 26 November 1895, likely in Fertile, Worth County, Iowa.4,5 
Marriage*3 March 1916She married first, as his first wife, Harry Phillips, son of Fred A. Phillips and Anna Marshall, on 3 March 1916 in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.6,7 
Divorce*Alice and Harry were divorced. They were enumerated together on the 1930 census, taken on April 3, with their 10-year-old son, Otis Leroy, and both remarried in 1938. Alice married Joseph M. Eggers in January, and Harry married Cassie Ann (Welliver) Tollenaar in October.8,9,10 
Marriage*5 January 1938She married second, as his second wife, Joseph Moses Eggers, son of Jesse L. Eggers and Margaret Allice Tatum, on 5 January 1938 in Northwood, Worth County, Iowa.1,11,9 
Census US 1940*4 April 1940Alice and Joseph Eggers were enumerated on the 1940 census taken on 4 April 1940 at 603 N. Adams Avenue, Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Joseph was 58 years of age, had completed his education through the second year of college, worked as the proprietor and owner of a roof repairing company and had income from other sources. Alice was 44 years of age, had completed her education through the first year of college, and worked doing her home housework. They rented their house, which was not on a farm, for $35 per month and had both lived in Iowa on April 1, 1935, Joseph in Rockford, and Alice in Clear Lake.12 
(Daughter-in-Law) Death1 October 1943Her mother-in-law, Margaret Alice (Tatum) Eggers Bracken, died at their home in Mason City on 1 October 1943 at age 88.13,14,15 

Family 1

 Harry Phillips b. 18 Nov 1897

Family 2

 Joseph Moses Eggers b. 26 Sep 1881

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, Alice Mae (Richardson) Eggers, Memorial# 123734962. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Roy Ward Richardson, Memorial# 96482815.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Ethel May (Miter) Richardson, Memorial# 96482800.
  4. [S2955] U.S., Family History Books, online at www.ancestry.com, The History of Judge John Pence and Descendants, Born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, January 15, 1775, page 83. Hereinafter cited as U.S., Family History Books.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Alice Mae (Richardson) Eggers, Memorial# 123734962, reporting her place of birth as Fertile Township, Montrail County, North Dakota, which is unlikely because her parents were born in Iowa, married in Fertile, Worth County, Iowa, and continued to live in Iowa.
  6. [S1700] Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1949, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Alice Richardson, age 21, born in Worth County, Iowa, daughter of Ray Richardson and Ethel Miter, married Harry Phillips, age 19, born in Clear Lake, Iowa., son of Fred A Phillips and Anna Marshall, married on 3 March 1916 in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, USA, referencing Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa, Volume 462, (Adair - Emmet). Hereinafter cited as Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1949.
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Harrie Belding Phillips, Memorial# 67631608.
  8. [S91] 1930 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Harrie B. and Alice M. Phillips, Year: 1930; Census Place: Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo, Iowa; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0003; FHL microfilm: 2340382. Hereinafter cited as 1930 United States Federal Census.
  9. [S1700] Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1949, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Joseph M. Eggers, age 54, his second marriage, born about 1884 in Nora Springs, Iowa, son of Jesse L. and Margaret Eggers, married Alice M. Phillips, age 43, her second marriage, born about 1895 in Fertile, Iowa, daughter of Roy and Ethel Richardson, married on 5 January 1938 in Northwood, Iowa, USA, referencing Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa, Reference# M-38-7, Volume 7, (Winneshiek County Thru Wright County).
  10. [S1700] Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1949, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Cassie "Tolenar" of Rock Island, Illinois, maiden name Cassie Welliver, age 42, her second marriage, born in Superior, Nebraska, daughter of Jacob Welliver and Sarah Lynn, married Harry Phillips of Mason City, Iowa, age 41, his second marriage, farmer, born in Clear Lake, Iowa, son of Fred Phillips and Anna Marshall, married on 5 October 1938 in Boone, Boone County, Iowa, USA, referencing Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa, Reference# M-38-1, Volume 1, (Adair County thru Chickasaw County).
  11. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Joseph Moses Eggers, Memorial# 29414609.
  12. [S1441] 1940 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph and Alice Eggers, Year: 1940; Census Place: Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa; Roll: m-t0627-01146; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 17-25. Hereinafter cited as 1940 United States Federal Census.
  13. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Margaret Alice (Tatum) Eggers, Memorial# 29414607.
  14. [S2963] Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1880-1968, online at www.ancestry.com, death of "Margret" Alice Bracken of 603 North Washington, Mason City, on 1 October 1943 in Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa, USA, age 88, housewife, widow of Michael Bracken, born on 21 August 1855 in Floyd County, Iowa, daughter of Moses Tatum, born in Canton, Illinois, and Ruth Morphew, born in Putnam County, Indiana, informant her son J.M. Eggers, 603 N. Adams, Mason City, burial in Spring Grove Cemetery, Nora Springs, Iowa referencing State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, IA, USA, Iowa Death Records, 1921-1940. Hereinafter cited as Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1880-1968.
  15. [S2096] U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, online at www.ancestry.com, Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Saturday, October 02, 1943, under the heading, "Mrs. Bracken, 88, Succumbs" and "Funeral Rites to be in Nora Springs", reporting that Mrs. Margaret Alice Bracken died the day before at the home of her son, J. M. Eggers, 603 Adams Avenue northwest, following an illness; that she had resided in and around Nora Springs throughout her life; was born at Floyd on 21 August 1855; was twice married and was preceded in death by both husbands, J.L. Eggers and Mike Bracken, and also a son W.W. Egers; survived by son, J.M. Eggers of Mason City, sister Ruth Ellen Ayres, Rockford, and brother, Fred Tatum, Nora Springs; burial at Spring Grove Cemetery, north of Nora Springs. Hereinafter cited as U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current.

Clyde Richardson1

Family
ChartsDescendants of John Heaton of Lincolnshire, including the Immigrant Nathaniel
Marriage*He married Edna J. Heaton, daughter of Samuel H. Heaton and Catherine Webster.1 

Family

 Edna J. Heaton b. 11 Nov 1893

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 5, page 157. Hereinafter cited as Heaton Families II.

Elizabeth Richardson1

Family
RelationshipGranddaughter of John Heaton
ChartsDescendants of John Heaton of Lincolnshire, including the Immigrant Nathaniel
Father*Richard Richardson1
Mother*Elizabeth Heaton1 b. s 1524, d. b 15 May 1591
Birth*Elizabeth Richardson was born in Lincolnshire, England.1 

Citations

  1. [S46] Dean Crawford Smith C.G. and Douglas Richardson, "English Ancestry of Nathaniel Heaton of Boston, Mass., and his Nephew, James Heaton of New Haven, Conn.", New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 152, pages 430-452, (October 1998): page 434. Hereinafter cited as "Heaton, Nathaniel and James Ancestry."

John Richardson1

Family
RelationshipGrandson of John Heaton
ChartsDescendants of John Heaton of Lincolnshire, including the Immigrant Nathaniel
Father*Richard Richardson1
Mother*Elizabeth Heaton1 b. s 1524, d. b 15 May 1591
Birth*John Richardson was born in Lincolnshire, England.1 

Citations

  1. [S46] Dean Crawford Smith C.G. and Douglas Richardson, "English Ancestry of Nathaniel Heaton of Boston, Mass., and his Nephew, James Heaton of New Haven, Conn.", New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 152, pages 430-452, (October 1998): page 434. Hereinafter cited as "Heaton, Nathaniel and James Ancestry."

Louisa Richardson1

Family
Birth*Louisa Richardson was born in New York.1 
Marriage*She married Francis Lumbard.1 

Family

 Francis Lumbard
Child 1.Frances Marian Lumbard+1 b. 11 May 1872, d. 7 Feb 1904

Citations

  1. [S2129] Michigan, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995, online at www.ancestry.com, death of "Francis" M. De Wolf on 7 February 1904 in Northfield, Washtenaw, Michigan, age 31, married, housekeeper, born about 1873 in Whitmore Lake, Michigan, daughter of Francis Lumbard and Louisa Richardson, citing FHL Film# 1019063. Hereinafter cited as Michigan, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995.

Nancy Richardson1

d. before 18 June 1809
Family
ChartsDescendants of Robert Heaton of Yorkshire, The Immigrant
Father*Samuel Richardson1
Marriage*She married, as his first wife, William Heaton, son of Jeremiah Heaton and Elizabeth Carter.1 
Death*before 18 June 1809She died before 18 June 1809, the date her husband married again.1 

Family

 William Heaton b. 1764, d. bt 1842 - 1843
Children 1.John Heaton1 b. 1792, d. 2 Sep 1867
 2.Mary Heaton1
 3.William Heaton1 b. 1800
 4.Ann Heaton1

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 II, Chapter 20, pages 768-769. Hereinafter cited as Heaton Families II.

Rebecca J. Richardson1

b. 1843, d. 1905
Family
Birth*1843Rebecca J. Richardson was born about 1843 in Missouri.1 
Marriage*She married John N. Dunn.1,2 
(Bride's Mother) Marriage27 December 1894Rebecca and John's daughter Susan, and James W. Chapman, were married by a Justice of the Peace on 27 December 1894 at the Dunn home in Gentry County, Missouri.3 
Death*1905She died in 1905 at about age 621 
Burial* and was buried in NE Original, 335-1, of Hillcrest Cemetery, Mountain Grove, Wright County, Missouri.1 

Family

 John N. Dunn b. 2 Apr 1837, d. 5 Oct 1913
Child 1.Susan E. Dunn+1,4 b. 1 Jul 1871, d. 8 Oct 1940

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, Rebecca J (Richardson) Dunn, Memorial# 33610616. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John N Dunn, Memorial# 33610677.
  3. [S1732] Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 27 December 1894 at the home of John Dunn in Gentry County, Missouri, USA, of James W Chapman, over the age of 21 years, and Susan E Dunn, over the age of 18 years, both of the county of Gentry, referencing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, MO, USA, Missouri Marriage Records [Microfilm]. Hereinafter cited as Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002.
  4. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Susan Ella (Dunn) Nelson, Memorial# 179089319.

Richard Richardson1

Family
ChartsDescendants of John Heaton of Lincolnshire, including the Immigrant Nathaniel
Marriage*say 1553He married, as her second husband, Elizabeth Heaton, daughter of John Heaton and Alice __?__, say 1553 in Lincolnshire, England.1 

Family

 Elizabeth Heaton b. s 1524, d. b 15 May 1591
Children 1.Elizabeth Richardson1
 2.Robert Richardson1
 3.John Richardson1

Citations

  1. [S46] Dean Crawford Smith C.G. and Douglas Richardson, "English Ancestry of Nathaniel Heaton of Boston, Mass., and his Nephew, James Heaton of New Haven, Conn.", New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 152, pages 430-452, (October 1998): page 434. Hereinafter cited as "Heaton, Nathaniel and James Ancestry."

Robert Richardson1

Family
RelationshipGrandson of John Heaton
ChartsDescendants of John Heaton of Lincolnshire, including the Immigrant Nathaniel
Father*Richard Richardson1
Mother*Elizabeth Heaton1 b. s 1524, d. b 15 May 1591
Birth*Robert Richardson was born in Lincolnshire, England.1 

Citations

  1. [S46] Dean Crawford Smith C.G. and Douglas Richardson, "English Ancestry of Nathaniel Heaton of Boston, Mass., and his Nephew, James Heaton of New Haven, Conn.", New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 152, pages 430-452, (October 1998): page 434. Hereinafter cited as "Heaton, Nathaniel and James Ancestry."

Roy Ward Richardson1

b. 18 September 1872
Family
Birth*18 September 1872Roy Ward Richardson was born on 18 September 1872 in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.1,2 
Marriage*7 February 1895He married Ethel May Miter on 7 February 1895 in Fertile Township, Worth County, Iowa.3,1,4 

Family

 Ethel May Miter b. 1874
Child 1.Alice M. Richardson1,5 b. 26 Nov 1895

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, Roy Ward Richardson, Memorial# 96482815. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S2955] U.S., Family History Books, online at www.ancestry.com, The History of Judge John Pence and Descendants, Born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, January 15, 1775, page 83. Hereinafter cited as U.S., Family History Books.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Ethel May (Miter) Richardson, Memorial# 96482800.
  4. [S1508] Iowa, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of R. W. Richardson, son of B. G. Richardson and Eliza Peirce, married Ethel M. Miter, age 21, born about 1874 in Iowa, daughter of William Miter and May Colby, on 7 February 1895 in Fertile, Iowa, citing FHL Film# 1481034, Reference ID: 2:3WBLPDK. Hereinafter cited as Iowa, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Alice Mae (Richardson) Eggers, Memorial# 123734962.

Samuel Richardson1

Family

Family
Child 1.Nancy Richardson+1 d. b 18 Jun 1809

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 II, Chapter 20, pages 768-769. Hereinafter cited as Heaton Families II.

Sarah Priscilla Richardson1

b. 28 June 1833, d. 22 September 1873
Family
Birth*28 June 1833Sarah Priscilla Richardson was born on 28 June 1833 in Johnstown, Fulton County, New York.1 
Marriage*24 November 1852She married, as his first wife, William C. Jenks on 24 November 1852 in Roscoe, Winnebago County, Illinois.1,2 
Death*22 September 1873She died on 22 September 1873 in Weeping Water, Cass County, Nebraska, at age 401 
Burial* and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Weeping Water, Cass County, Nebraska.1 

Family

 William C. Jenks b. 1 Feb 1829, d. 13 Oct 1877

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, Sarah Priscilla (Richardson) Jenks, Memorial# 147419776. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, William C. Jenks, Memorial# 63481043.

Catharine Richardville1

b. 1810, d. 19 December 1848
Family
Father*John B. Richardville1,2,3,4 b. 1761, d. 13 Aug 1841
Mother*Not-to-ma-quah4,2,1,3
Birth*1810Catharine Richardville was born about 1810 in Indiana.4 
Name VariationHer name was also found in our research as Catherine.4 
Name VariationShe was first called Catees by her affectionate father to his youngest baby daughter, which translated meant "born to role of Chief's wife". The name stayed with her into womanhood, and was also found in records as "Catees."4 
Name VariationHer Indian name was Pocongoquah.4 
Marriage1828Pocongoquah, whose English name was Catherine, married Toohpia, whose English name was Francis LaFontaine, son of Francis LaFontaine Sr. and his wife, a White Racoon, in an Indian ceremony in 1828.4,5 
Occupation*1828That same year of 1828, at age 18, Catees's husband, Francis LaFontaine, was elected Chief of his Miami village.5,6 
(Miami Chief's Wife) 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."7 
(Wife) 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.8,9,10 
(Youngest Daughter) Will9 April 1841Her father 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 
Occupation13 August 1841After the death of her father, Chief John B. Richardville, who died on 13 August 1841, Catharine's husband 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.11,12 
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. Catharine Richardville married Francis LaFontaine, son of Francis LaFontaine Sr. and White Racoon, on 3 May 1843.13,14 
Description* As a youth, Catharine's husband, 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.11,12 
Miami RemovalCatharine's husband, as the son-in-law of Chief John B. Richardville, was exempt from Removal, as was his wife, Catharine, Chief Richardville's daughter, and their children. His maternal relatives from Waapeehsipana’s White Raccoon band, including relatives he would have seen as his siblings, however, were not exempt. On November 29, 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.8,9,10 
Miami Removal*between 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.8,9,10 
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.8,9,10,7 
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.8,9,10 
(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."7,12,11 
(Wife) Death13 April 1847Catharine became a widow when Francis LaFontaine 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.15,12 
Children* Francis and Catherine had seven children together: their daughters, Esther, Frances, and Archangel, married John Zahn, George Gawn, and Chris Engleman, respectively, and their sons were Louis, John, Joe, and Tom.5 
Marriage*26 September 1848She married second, as his second wife, Francis D. Lasselle on 26 September 184816,17,4 
Death*19 December 1848 and died on 19 December 1848, less than two months after her second marriage, in Allen County, Indiana, at about age 38.4 
Burial*She was buried in with her first husband in Section H of Mount Calvary Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana. |She was first buried beside him in the Saints Peter and Paul's Catholic Cemetery in Huntington, then 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. 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.4,18 
(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.19,20,21,22,23,24,25 

Family 1

 Francis LaFontaine b. 1810, d. 13 Apr 1847
Children 1.Louis Francis LaFontaine26,4 b. 1830, d. Jan 1861
 2.Esther LaFontaine27 b. 25 Jul 1831
 3.Thomas LaFontaine21,2
 4.John Baptiste LaFontaine+28 b. 1835, d. 8 Oct 1859
 5.Mary Francis LaFontaine29,4 b. 27 Feb 1840
 6.Lenipinšiihkwa LaFontaine21
 7.Archangel LaFontaine30 b. 9 Sep 1844, d. 1 Apr 1925

Family 2

 Francis D. Lasselle b. 9 Jun 1807, d. 4 Feb 1864

Citations

  1. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of La Blonde Richardville dated 23 May 1846 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 118-121, Ancestry online images 82-83 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  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.
  3. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935), John B. Richardville, pages 13-15. Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  4. [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, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  5. [S225] Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, Francis LaFontaine, online at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_La_Fontaine. Hereinafter cited as Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
  6. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, Francis LaFontaine, pages 15-16.
  7. [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.
  8. [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.
  9. [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.
  10. [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.
  11. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, which includes historical information contributed by various sources and authors.
  12. [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.
  13. [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.
  14. [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.
  15. [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.
  16. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Francis D Lasselle, Memorial# 81727457.
  17. [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.
  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 in added material relating to his life and death.
  19. [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."
  20. [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.
  21. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  22. [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.
  23. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  24. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis.
  25. [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.
  26. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Louis Francis "Wah-pah-si-pan-ah" LaFontaine, Memorial# 237909828.
  27. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Esther Zahn (Lafontaine) Washington, Memorial# 261445081.
  28. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John Baptiste Lafontaine, Memorial# 42525084.
  29. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Francis (Lafontaine) Gawne, Memorial# 14917288.
  30. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Archangel (Lafontaine) Engelmann, Memorial# 42523600.

Crescent Richardville1

d. before 31 December 1839
Family
Father*Joseph Richardville1,2,3
Name VariationHis Indian name was Pimicinwa.1 
Death*before 31 December 1839He died before 31 December 1839 in Indiana.4 
(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.5,6,7,8,9,10,11 

Family
Child 1.Thomas F. Richardville1,4,3 b. 23 Apr 1830

Citations

  1. [S2674] Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land, online at https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/, https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/people/2399. Hereinafter cited as Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land.
  2. [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.
  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. [S2706] Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci, A Land of Stories, Digital Collection, online at https://digital.lib.miamioh.edu/digital/collection/…, Letter regarding the heir to Black Loon's land, 12 April 1852, downloaded on 7 December 2024 from https://digital.lib.miamioh.edu/digital/collection/… thru 94. Hereinafter cited as Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci, A Land of Stories, Digital Collection.
  5. [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."
  6. [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.
  7. [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.
  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.

Daughter Child Richardville1

Family
Father*John Richardville1
Mother*Ke she co quah1
(Granddaughter-Daughter) Will9 April 1841Her paternal great 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.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.2,3,4,5,6,7,8 

Citations

  1. [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.
  2. [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."
  3. [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.
  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. [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.
  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). Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  7. [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.
  8. [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.

Jane Richardville1

b. 1820
Family
Father*Louis Richardville2 b. 1790
Mother*Sho pe quah2 b. 1786
Birth*1820Jane Richardville was born about 1820 in Indiana.1 
Name VariationHer Indian name was Kiilhsohkwa Richardville, which was also spelled Kil-so-quah.2,3 
Marriage*She married _____ Price.1 
(Daughter) Miami Annuity List1854Kil-so-quah was listed with her parents and other family members on the Miami Annuity Pay-Roll List for 1854 near Huntington, Indian Country, Indiana. She was 30 years of age, and her two children were with her. Her son Mun go sah quah, and daughter Kat tah ke mun qua, were ages 8 and 2 years, respectively. Eight additional members of her father's family were listed also and included three more daughters, two sons-in-law, and three more grandchildren.4 
Census US 1870*26 July 1870Jane Price, her surname recorded as "Prico" by the census taker, was enumerated as the head of her household on the 1870 census taken on 26 July 1870 in Waltz, Wabash County, Indiana. Two daughters, Louisa and Susan, ages 18 and 16 years, respectively, were enumerated with her. No one in the family was able to read or write.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.5,6,7,8,9,10,11 

Family 1
Children 1.Mun-go-sah-quah4 b. 1846
 2.Kat-tah-ke-mun-qua4 b. 1850
 3.Louisa Price1 b. 1852
 4.Susan Price+1 b. bt 1854 - 1856, d. 1889

Family 2

 _____ Price

Citations

  1. [S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jane Price, her surname name recorded by the census taker as "Prico", Year: 1870; Census Place: Waltz, Wabash, Indiana; Roll: M593_367; Page: 266B. Hereinafter cited as 1870 United States Federal Census.
  2. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet, from the family of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville, whose Indian name was Pinšiwa, Maayaahkwia, English name Louis "Blind Eye" Richardville, Son; Sho-pe-quah (correct spelling uncertain), married name Richardville, Maayaahkwia's wife; Kiilhsohkwa, English name Jane, married names Peconga and Price, Sho-pe-quah's daughter. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  3. [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; Annuity Pay-Roll, Miami Indians of Indiana, 1854, which includes a list of Miami Indians who signed the treaty of 5 June 1854 and were to draw annuities in Indiana, page 3, the family of Mi ah gue ah, his eldest daughter's name spelled Kil so quah. Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  4. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php, Annuity Pay-Roll, Miami Indians of Indiana, 1854, which includes a list of Miami Indians who signed the treaty of 5 June 1854 and were to draw annuities in Indiana, page 3, the family of Mi ah gue ah.
  5. [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."
  6. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php
  7. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  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.

John Richardville1

Family
Father-Probable*Moohswa3
Mother*Susan Richardville2,3,4
Biographical Info Mahkateemaankwa, which was also spelled Mac-keh-teh-maug-guaw, was a Miami leader recorded in historical documents as the son of Susan Richardville and grandson of Primary Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville. In English, he was known as Black Loon. He is explicitly named in the treaty with the Miami of 1834, where the United States granted him one section of land along the Wabash River, and which became known as Black Loon's Village or Mahkateemaankwa's Reserve. His designated land and village site were located along the Wabash River near present-day Andrews, Indiana. During the lead-up to the Treaty of the Forks of the Wabash in 1840, the Miami National Council faced intense U.S. pressure, mounting debts, and political shifts. Mahkateemaankwa passed away shortly after the controversial removal treaty was finalized, and before the eventual forced removal of the Miami from Indiana to Kansas began in 1846. In 1850, the U. S. Congress granted an official exemption from Removal to the family members and descendants of Mahkateemaankwa, permitting them to legally return to or remain in their traditional Indiana homeland.5 
Birth*John Richardville was born in Indiana.1 
Name VariationHis Indian name was Mahkateemaankwa3,6,5 
Name Variation and we also found it as Mac-keh-teh-maug-guaw5 
Name Variation and Ma-ca-the-mun-qua.2,4 
Name VariationIn English, his Indian name translated to Black Loon.5 
(Miami Leader) 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."7 
Relationship Note*John Richardville was a grandson of Chief John B. Richardville, and John and Thomas Francis Richardville, who was a great-grandson of Chief John B. Richardville, were 1st cousins 1 time removed.3,4 
Marriage*He married Ke she co quah, daughter of Pichiwa.2,4 
(Son of 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.4 
(Miami Leader) Miami Removalbetween 1838 and 1845 In 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. And, on 3 March 1845, the family of Frances Slocum was exempted from Removal by a joint resolution of Congress. 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.5,8,9 
(Miami Leader) 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."7,10,11 
Miami Removal* Following the 1846 forced Miami Removal to Kansas, several Miami families quietly made their way back to their homelands in Indiana.5,8,9 
(Exempted in 1850) Miami Removal1850 In 1850, the U.S. Congress granted official removal exemptions to the additional members of the family of Miami Chief John B. Richardville, whose name was recorded as Pinšiwa ‘Wild Cat', and also the families of Waapimaankwa 'White Loon', Šowaapinamwa 'Antoine Revarre', Mihtekwahkia 'Coesse', Misihkwa, Oonseentia 'John Osandiah', Mahkateehsipana 'Cotesipin', Amehkoonsa 'Seek', Mahkateemaankwa, Amehkoonsihkwa 'wife of Benjamin', Kinooseensa 'Peter Langlois' and Elizabeth Langlois, identifying them as specific Miami tribal leaders, community members, individuals, families, and their descendants who had returned to Indiana after the forced removals. With this action, Congress formally legalized their returns, allowing them to remain in Indiana permanently.

The names of Sha-co-mo, Chief Majenica and Meesancihkwa, or Chief Little Turtle, whose family members had also requested exemptions from Removal, were not included, nor was any mention of their heirs.5,8,9 
(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.12,13,14,15,16,17,18 

Family

 Ke she co quah
Child 1.Daughter Child Richardville4

Citations

  1. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of James R. and "Elquah" Godfroy, (their surname transcribed as "Godfrory" by Ancestry), 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 137a, image# 114 of 125. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
  2. [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.
  3. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet, from the family of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville, whose Indian name was Pinšiwa, Aahsansamhkwa, English name Susan Richardville, Daughter; Moohswa, Aahsansamhkwa's husband; Mahkateemaankwa, English name John Richardville, Aahsansamhkwa's son; Kiišikohkwa, English name Josephine Wildcat, married names Richardville and Osandiah, Mahkateemaankwa's wife; Waahseehkamohkwa, English name Mary Richardville, Mahkateemaankwa and Kiišikohkwa's daughter. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  4. [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.
  5. [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.
  6. [S2674] Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land, online at https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/, John Richardville, Black Loon, Myaamia Name: Mahkateemaankwa, alias Mac-keh-teh-maug-guaw, son of Susan Richardville, grandson of Jean B Richardville. Marries Kiišikohkwa, dies about 1847? viewed on 4 August 2026 at https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/people/685. Hereinafter cited as Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land.
  7. [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.
  8. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  9. [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.
  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), 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.
  11. [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.
  12. [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."
  13. [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.
  14. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  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.

John Richardville1

b. 1831
Family
Father*Joseph Richardville1
Birth*1831John Richardville was born about 1831.1 
Name VariationHer Indian name was Alin-na-ben-she-shau.2 
(Son of Eldest Son) 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 
(Cousin) Census US 185013 September 1850John Richardville was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 13 September 1850 in the household of his cousin and her husband, Archangel and James R. Godfroy, in Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. John was 19 years old, had no occupation, owned no real estate and was the son of Archangel's deceased brother, Joseph Richardville.1,3,4,5,6 
(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.7,8,9,10,11,12,13 

Citations

  1. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of James R. and "Elquah" Godfroy, (their surname transcribed as "Godfrory" by Ancestry), 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 137a, image# 114 of 125. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
  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. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Susan Beck, 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 137a, image# 114 of 125.
  4. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Richard and Sarah Beck, 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 137b, image# 115 of 125.
  5. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John and Sarah Sites, 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 138a, image# 116 of 125.
  6. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Julia Mason, 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 138a, image# 116 of 125.
  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. [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.
  10. [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.
  11. [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.
  12. [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.
  13. [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.

John B. Richardville1

b. 1761, d. 13 August 1841
Family
Johb B. Richardville
Father*Antoine-Joseph Drouet de Richerville3
Mother*Tah-cum-wah2 b. 1720
Birth*1761He was born about 1761 in the Miami village of Kekionga, near the famous old apple tree that stood on the west side of the St. Joseph river. The village of Kekionga is now Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.3,4 
Name VariationHis name at birth was Jean Baptiste de Richardville.3 
Name VariationHis Indian name was Pinšiwa, which we also found spelled, in some documents, as Peshewa, and in English meant Wildcat or Lynx.3 
Name VariationHis name was recorded as Pinšiwa 'Wild Cat' when members of his extended family, who were not already included in the Miami Removal Exemption issued to John B. Richardville and his family in 1838, petitioned the U.S. government for their own Removal Exemptions.5,6,7 
Historical Note He was half French and half Miami, the son of Tah-cum-wah, an influential Miami chieftess and the sister of both the great Miami chief, Little Turtle, and Chief Pacanne. Richardville's father, Antoine-Joseph Drouet de Richerville, which was pronounced "Roosheville", was a noted French fur trader and a descendant of a noble family of France. Historian Donald Chaput described the Drouets as "one of the most significant families of officers-traders in the western Great Lakes region." Young Richardville spent part of his childhood with his father in Quebec, where he received a few years of formal education before returning to Kekionga in the late 1770s to live among the Miamis with his mother. During his youth, Richardville learned to speak fluent Miami, as well as French and English. By the late 1780s, his father had permanently settled at Trois-Rivières in Quebec Province, Canada Through his mother's family, Jean Baptiste de Richardville was also the nephew of two Miami chiefs, Little Turtle and Pacanne. His mother, Tah-cum-wah, though an Indian squaw, was a very keen business woman. She operated a trading post out on Eel River, the Kenapocomoco, near the Turtle village where she and Little Turtle were born. She also had almost a monopoly of the trade by the way of the portage to Little River and down to the Forks of the Wabash. Young Richardville was the close associate of his mother in these business ventures. He was also closely associated with his uncle, the great chief Little Turtle.4,8,3,2,9,10 
(Son) Divorce1774He was about 13 years old in 1774 when his mother divorced his father after his father sided with Alexander and Francis Maisonville for control of the Long Portage, an 8-mile strip of land between the Maumee and Wabash Rivers that was controlled by John's uncle Chief Pacanne.2 
(Son) Court Action18 September 1774In addition to leading to his parents' divorce, their argument over his mother Tah-cum-wah's property rights ended up in court. The case was centered around the marriage of Tacumwah and Richardville, the larger effort being to "maintain control of a large amount of capital in the form of slaves, cattle, corn and wampum, and of control of a pivotal portage that Tacumwah had inherited by virtue of her Miami lineage." For Tacumwah, the fact that she had been raised by a mother brought up in a matrilineal tradition which could have bearing in how Tacumwah carried herself. Pacanne alluded to this when he referred to his sister's possessions as belonging to her and not her husband since they had been inherited from her mother. This confirmed that Tacumwah's mother had gained valuable belongings in her own right, and her right to pass these onto her daughter was indisputable. It was decided that Pacanne would keep control of the portage, and Tacumwah would keep all her property.2 
Marriage*He married Not-to-ma-quah, daughter of White Racoon.11 
Historical Note1815 In 1815 an election was held by the Miami chiefs for the selection of a general chief to succeed Little Turtle, who had died in July of 1812. John B. Richardville, Little Turtle's nephew, was chosen their new chief. The source speculated that the election was delayed because of the confusion resulting from the War of 1812 and the defeat of the Miami who, with other Indian tribes, had joined with the British in the conflict. The two most prominent Miami chiefs following the death of Little Turtle were Pacanne and Le Gris. Pacanne was chief of the village on the east side of the St. Joseph river at Kekionga while Le Gris was chief of the village on the west side. Both of these chiefs were closely associated with Little Turtle. Pacanne, who generally represented the Miamis in dealing with the Americans during that period, had died in 1814.12 
(Principal Chief) Historical Note During the earlier years, with Chief Little Turtle, the functions of Civil Ruler, or Principal Chief, and War Chief were combined. After Little Turtle's death, when John B. Richardville became the Principal Chief, the responsibility of the War Chief was granted to She-po-con-ah, who was later known as Deaf Man, and was the husband of Frances Slocum. Shepoconah was a large, heavy set man and a great warrior until his hearing became affected. His headquarters were at the Osage village.13,8 
Biographical Info*A story about Richardville's youthful heroism was repeated often and was even suggested to have given him such prominence that it had much to do with his election to the chieftaincy later: At that time the torture grounds of the Miamis were at the junction of the St. Joseph and the Maumee rivers. The Miamis persisted in burning many of their prisoners. The Turtle family did not approve of it. A white man was to be burned at the stake. Tacumwah and her son were present. They planned a bold action. At the mother's advice young Richardville had his hunting knife ready. At the mother's signal, just before the flames reached the prisoner, the youth rushed forward, cut the prisoner's bands and released him. Though the Indians were chagrined at the loss of their prey, they recognized the brave act and gave up the torture. It gave young Richardville such prominence that it may have had much to do with his election to the chieftaincy later. Richardville was much associated with Little Turtle as long as the great chief lived. He was present at most of the battles where Little Turtle fought the Americans. He was present at the Treaty of Greenville. He was with Little Turtle at most of the treaties that were signed before the War of 1812. His relations to his famous uncle gave him wide recognition. His own good sense and wise conduct won for him confidence. He was chief of his people from 1815 until his death in 1841. By his own business ability and by large grants from the United States government, Richardville became very wealthy. While perhaps he did all he could for his own people there is no doubt that he looked after his own interests in dealing with U. S. agents. Evidently these agents thought it was good policy to see that this influential chief was satisfied. He received thousands of acres of land and thousands of dollars from the government. He had land and trading posts from Fort Wayne to Kokomo. The United States built for him a brick house on his large estates south of Fort Wayne on the St. Mary's River. At different times we hear of his residence being at the Forks of the Wabash near Huntington and at the Osage Village near Peru. His relationship to the early history of Kokomo must have been considerable for when the county government was formed in 1844, the present Howard County was called Richardville County for three years. Though pioneer influence changed the name to Howard, the name of the Indian chief remains in the town of Russiaville, the French pronunciation of Richardville. Chief Richardville lived to be eighty years old. He took part in all of the treaties that had to do with the disposal of the Indians and the Indian lands. Many of the Indians were bitter against him because of the treaty arrangements. For the most part he was highly thought of by the Americans. He was quiet and dignified at all times. At the time of his death he was said to be the richest Indian in the United States and one of the richest men in Indiana.4 
(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."14 
Description* The following description of him was written by Judge Horace P. Biddle, who was personally acquainted with the chief for several years before his death:

"In stature Richardville was about five feet ten inches, with broad shoulders, and weighed about 180 pounds. His personal appearance was attractive and he was graceful in carriage and manner. Exempt from any expression of levity, he is said to have preserved his dignity under all circumstances. His nose was Roman, his eyes were of a lightish blue and slightly protruding, his upper lip pressed firmly upon his teeth, and the under one slightly projecting. That he was an Indian half-breed there can be no doubt. His own statements and unvarying traditions conclusively prove that he inherited his position through his mother, by the laws of Indian descent, and contradict the theory that he was a Frenchman, who obtained the chieftainship by trickery or purchase. In appearance he was remarkable, in that his skin was neither red nor white, but both colors combined in his skin, which was mottled or spotted red and white."13,8 
Miami Removal* In 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.

Regarding Chief John B. Richardville, the treaty of 1838 provided that if Removal occurred, 77-year-old Principal Chief Pinšiwa ‘John B. Richardville’ and his family would continue to receive their share of the annuities at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Article XIV of that treaty reads:

“And whereas John B. Richardville, the principal chief of said tribe, is very old and infirm, and not well able to endure the fatigue of a long journey, it is agreed that the United States will pay to him and his family the proportion of the annuity of said tribe which their number shall indicate to be due to them, at Fort Wayne whenever the said tribe shall emigrate to the country to be assigned them west, as a future residence.” At the time of the Removal in 1846, 43 members of Chief Richardville's family were exempted.5,6,7 
Will*9 April 1841He 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.15 
Death*13 August 1841He died at his home on the St. Marys River near Fort Wayne, Indiana, on 13 August 1841 at age 801,13 
Burial* and, according to his Find a Grave memorial page, was buried in Section B, Lots #55-56, of the Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. He was a member of the Catholic church and was given a Christian burial. His memorial page told us that his original burial site was at the corner of the current Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, and that sources do not agree whether his body was left in place during the construction of the cathedral or whether it was moved. Other burials in the original Catholic cemetery, which was next to the cathedral site, were moved during the construction to the second Catholic Cemetery. And then, in the 1870s, that cemetery was closed and burials were moved to the current Catholic Cemetery. A marble monument was erected to his memory by his daughters, La Blonde, Susan and Catharine.4,16,13 
(Exempted in 1838) Miami Removal1850In 1850, the U.S. Congress granted official Removal Exemptions to additional members of the family of Chief John B. Richardville, Represented by Chief Richardville's eldest son, Mia-que-ah, who although personally exempted, had traveled with the displaced Miami people on Removal to Kansas. The 1850 Exemptions from Removal were issued to family members and their descendants who had returned to Indiana after the forced removals. With this action, Congress formally legalized their returns, allowing them to remain in Indiana permanently.5,6,7 
(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.17,18,19,20,21,22,23 

Family

 Not-to-ma-quah
Children 1.Joseph Richardville+24,25,15
 2.Louis Richardville+25,26,27 b. 1790
 3.La Blonde Richardville+4,15 d. b 1 Jun 1847
 4.Susan Richardville+25
 5.John Baptiste Richardville+28
 6.Catharine Richardville+28,15,4,11 b. 1810, d. 19 Dec 1848

Citations

  1. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935), John B. Richardville, page 15. Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  2. [S225] Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacumwah. Hereinafter cited as Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
  3. [S225] Wikipedia Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baptiste_Richardville
  4. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, John B. Richardville, pages 13-15.
  5. [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.
  6. [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.
  7. [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.
  8. [S2673] Genealogy Trails, online at https://www.genealogytrails.com/, a site dedicated to transcribing historical and genealogical information helpful to researchers, Miami County, Indiana: Indian Chiefs and Treaties, online at https://www.genealogytrails.com/ind/miami/…. Hereinafter cited as Genealogy Trails.
  9. [S225] Wikipedia Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Turtle
  10. [S225] Wikipedia Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacanne
  11. [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, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  12. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, John B. Richardville, page 13.
  13. [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.
  14. [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.
  15. [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.
  16. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Jean Babtiste “Pinšiwa” Richardville, Memorial# 64533551.
  17. [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."
  18. [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.
  19. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  20. [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.
  21. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  22. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis.
  23. [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.
  24. [S2674] Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land, online at https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/, https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/people/2399. Hereinafter cited as Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land.
  25. [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.
  26. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, from the family of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville, whose Indian name was Pinšiwa, Maayaahkwia, English name Louis "Blind Eye" Richardville, Son; Sho-pe-quah (correct spelling uncertain), married name Richardville, Maayaahkwia's wife; Kiilhsohkwa, English name Jane, married names Peconga and Price, Sho-pe-quah's daughter.
  27. [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, the Indian name of his son, "Blind-Eyed" Richardville, spelled "Mi-aw-que-ah."
  28. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of La Blonde Richardville dated 23 May 1846 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 118-121, Ancestry online images 82-83 of 815.

John Baptiste Richardville1

Family
Father*John B. Richardville1 b. 1761, d. 13 Aug 1841
Mother*Not-to-ma-quah2
(Deceased Brother) Will23 May 1846 1. To her beloved son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, alias George Ossem, his heirs and assigns forever, the section of land where I now reside; brick house, orchard and barn; the lines between that and the section devised to daughter, Mon-go-rah-quah are to be run under the direction of Executor. Also to said son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, the chairs in the parlor being twelve in number, the fancy mantle clock in the parlor, one large bureau and one new armoire bureau. One shaving case, the same formerly owned by my late father, one dining table, two bedsteads, two beds and bedding, one large looking glass, and all other furniture that is usually kept in the two north rooms of my house where I now live, and also all my horses, cattle, sheep and stock of any kind, and all my farming utensils.

2. To her dearly beloved daughter, Mon-go-se-quah, wife of James R. Godfrey, her heirs and assigns forever, the section of land where William Beck now resides, the land between it and that bequeathed to my son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah to be run under the direction of my executors, the section thus bequeathed to my daughter, and the one to my son are to be run off under the direction of my executors so that each section shall contain six hundred and forty acres or thereabouts, as near as may be. Also to daughter, wife of James R. Godfrey, all by household and kitchen furniture, except that bequeathed to my son, George.

3. I will and bequeath to my grandson, the son of William Cass Richardville, deceased, and Angelie Revard, of the name of Me-che-ka-no-quah, one hundred dollars to be paid over to his mother by my executors, taking receipt therefor.

4. I give and bequeath to my niece Wa-sa-ca-suo-quah daughter of my late brother John Baptist Richardville, one hundred dollars to be paid to her at such time as my executors think best for her advantage.

5. To son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah and daughter Mon-go-se-quah, their heirs and assigns forever, the section of land remaining undisposed of near where I now reside to be divided equally between them under the direction of my executors.

6. To son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, three-fourths (3/4) of all the money I may possess at the time of my death to be paid over by my executors to him, his guardian or guardians.

7. To daughter Mon-go-se-quah, one-fourth (1/4) of all the money I may possess at the time of my death to be paid over by my executors to her.

8. Hereby direct my executors to sell and dispose of all the residue of my lands and tenements which I will die possessed of, except those devised by this my last will and testament, to be disposed of by such directions as they think best calculation to sell will and for such prices as they may deem a fair value and on such terms of payment as to them may seem rewardable, and for securing payment for such lands thus sold, to give the their purchaser or purchasers, deed or deeds for such tract or tract as he or they may purchase, hereby fully empowering my executors, hereafter named, to make such sales and give such deeds of conveyance as will dispose of all my lands, except those disposed of and bequeathed in this my last will and testament.

9. I devise, will and bequeath the proceeds of the sale of my lands, so directed to be sold by my executors, in this my last will and testament, so soon as the same is rendered to money as well as all the credits and effects of every kind which I will die possessed of and not heretofore bequeathed in this my last will and testament, be equally divided and paid over by my said executors to my son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, alias George Ossem, and my daughter Mon-go-se-quah, the wife of James Godfrey, share and share alike, making my said son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah and my daughter Man-go-se-quah legatees of all my property not heretofore bequeathed.

10. Devised and directed that after her death her body may be entered in such a manner and in such a place as her executors may direct.

11. Hereby constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton, Julian Benoit and Francis LaFontaine executors

Dated 23 May 1846; Signed and sealed La Blonde, alias Maria Louisa Richardville, with her X mark, and her witnesses were Francis Morrison and John Roch

Approved and opened for Probate on 1 June 1847.1 
(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.3,4,5,6,7,8,9 

Family
Children 1.Ca-the-mun-qua10
 2.Shap-pen-do-u-ah10
 3.Ca-the-mun-quah-quah10
 4.Wa-ka-com-me qua10
 5.Wa-sa-ca-suo-quah1

Citations

  1. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of La Blonde Richardville dated 23 May 1846 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 118-121, Ancestry online images 82-83 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  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, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  3. [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."
  4. [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.
  5. [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.
  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.
  10. [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.

Joseph Richardville1

Family
Father*John B. Richardville1,2,3 b. 1761, d. 13 Aug 1841
Mother*Not-to-ma-quah4
Name VariationHis Indian name was Kit-ah-mo-qua-ah.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.5,6,7,8,9,10,11 

Family
Children 1.Crescent Richardville+1,2,3 d. b 31 Dec 1839
 2.John Richardville12 b. 1831

Citations

  1. [S2674] Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land, online at https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/, https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/people/2399. Hereinafter cited as Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land.
  2. [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.
  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. [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, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  5. [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."
  6. [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.
  7. [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.
  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.
  12. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of James R. and "Elquah" Godfroy, (their surname transcribed as "Godfrory" by Ancestry), 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 137a, image# 114 of 125. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.

La Blonde Richardville1

d. before 1 June 1847
Family
Father*John B. Richardville1,2 b. 1761, d. 13 Aug 1841
Mother*Not-to-ma-quah3
Name VariationHer English name was Maria Louisa.2 
(Eldest Daughter) Will9 April 1841Her father 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 
Will*23 May 1846She prepared her will dated 23 May 1846 in Allen County, Indiana, naming her son, Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, and daughter, Mon-go-se-quah, as her primary beneficiaries. Her will also contained bequests to her grandson, Me-che-ka-no-quah, the son of her deceased son, William Cass Richardville and Angelique Revarre, and to her niece, Wa-sa-ca-suo-quah, the daughter of her late brother, John Baptiste Richardville. A transcribed summary of her will follows:

1. To her beloved son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, alias George Ossem, his heirs and assigns forever, the section of land where I now reside; brick house, orchard and barn; the lines between that and the section devised to daughter, Mon-go-rah-quah are to be run under the direction of Executor. Also to said son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, the chairs in the parlor being twelve in number, the fancy mantle clock in the parlor, one large bureau and one new armoire bureau. One shaving case, the same formerly owned by my late father, one dining table, two bedsteads, two beds and bedding, one large looking glass, and all other furniture that is usually kept in the two north rooms of my house where I now live, and also all my horses, cattle, sheep and stock of any kind, and all my farming utensils.

2. To her dearly beloved daughter, Mon-go-se-quah, wife of James R. Godfrey, her heirs and assigns forever, the section of land where William Beck now resides, the land between it and that bequeathed to my son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah to be run under the direction of my executors, the section thus bequeathed to my daughter, and the one to my son are to be run off under the direction of my executors so that each section shall contain six hundred and forty acres or thereabouts, as near as may be. Also to daughter, wife of James R. Godfrey, all by household and kitchen furniture, except that bequeathed to my son, George.

3. I will and bequeath to my grandson, the son of William Cass Richardville, deceased, and Angelie Revard, of the name of Me-che-ka-no-quah, one hundred dollars to be paid over to his mother by my executors, taking receipt therefor.

4. I give and bequeath to my niece Wa-sa-ca-suo-quah daughter of my late brother John Baptist Richardville, one hundred dollars to be paid to her at such time as my executors think best for her advantage.

5. To son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah and daughter Mon-go-se-quah, their heirs and assigns forever, the section of land remaining undisposed of near where I now reside to be divided equally between them under the direction of my executors.

6. To son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, three-fourths (3/4) of all the money I may possess at the time of my death to be paid over by my executors to him, his guardian or guardians.

7. To daughter Mon-go-se-quah, one-fourth (1/4) of all the money I may possess at the time of my death to be paid over by my executors to her.

8. Hereby direct my executors to sell and dispose of all the residue of my lands and tenements which I will die possessed of, except those devised by this my last will and testament, to be disposed of by such directions as they think best calculation to sell will and for such prices as they may deem a fair value and on such terms of payment as to them may seem rewardable, and for securing payment for such lands thus sold, to give the their purchaser or purchasers, deed or deeds for such tract or tract as he or they may purchase, hereby fully empowering my executors, hereafter named, to make such sales and give such deeds of conveyance as will dispose of all my lands, except those disposed of and bequeathed in this my last will and testament.

9. I devise, will and bequeath the proceeds of the sale of my lands, so directed to be sold by my executors, in this my last will and testament, so soon as the same is rendered to money as well as all the credits and effects of every kind which I will die possessed of and not heretofore bequeathed in this my last will and testament, be equally divided and paid over by my said executors to my son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, alias George Ossem, and my daughter Mon-go-se-quah, the wife of James Godfrey, share and share alike, making my said son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah and my daughter Man-go-se-quah legatees of all my property not heretofore bequeathed.

10. Devised and directed that after her death her body may be entered in such a manner and in such a place as her executors may direct.

11. Hereby constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton, Julian Benoit and Francis LaFontaine executors

Dated 23 May 1846; Signed and sealed La Blonde, alias Maria Louisa Richardville, with her X mark, and her witnesses were Francis Morrison and John Roch

Approved and opened for Probate on 1 June 1847.4 
Death*before 1 June 1847She died before 1 June 1847, the date her estate was opened for probate in Allen County, Indiana.1,4 
(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.5,6,7,8,9,10,11 

Family
Children 1.Archangel Richardville Oesew+1,4 b. 1822, d. 5 Mar 1885
 2.William Cass Richardville+4 d. b May 1846
 3.George Ossem4 b. 1831
 4.Mon-go-sau12,2

Citations

  1. [S2661] Otho Winger, The Last of The Miamis, downloaded from the Family History Library at www.familysearch.org. (Manchester, Indiana: Otho Winger, c1935), John B. Richardville, pages 13-15. Hereinafter cited as The Last of The Miamis.
  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. [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, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  4. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of La Blonde Richardville dated 23 May 1846 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 118-121, Ancestry online images 82-83 of 815.
  5. [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."
  6. [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.
  7. [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.
  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.
  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.
  12. [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.

Louis Richardville1

b. 1790
Family
Father*John B. Richardville2,1,3 b. 1761, d. 13 Aug 1841
Mother*Not-to-ma-quah4
Birth*1790Louis Richardville was born about 1790 in Indiana.1,5 
Name VariationIn various documents, we've found his Indian name spelled Mia-que-ah, Maayaahkwia, Mi ah que ah and Mi-aw-que-ah3,1,5,6 
Name Variation and also as Meaquah.7 
Marriage*He married Sho pe quah.1,2,8 
(Miami Leader) 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 
(Son) Will9 April 1841His father 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.10 
(Removal Petitioner) 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.11,12,13,9 
(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."9,14,15 
(Return to Indiana) Miami RemovalSpring 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.11,12,13,16,17 
(Miami Leader) Death13 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 
(Son) Miami Removal1850 In 1850, the U.S. Congress granted official removal exemptions to the additional members of the family of Miami Chief John B. Richardville, whose name was recorded as Pinšiwa ‘Wild Cat', and also the families of Waapimaankwa 'White Loon', Šowaapinamwa 'Antoine Revarre', Mihtekwahkia 'Coesse', Misihkwa, Oonseentia 'John Osandiah', Mahkateehsipana 'Cotesipin', Amehkoonsa 'Seek', Mahkateemaankwa, Amehkoonsihkwa 'wife of Benjamin', Kinooseensa 'Peter Langlois' and Elizabeth Langlois, identifying them as specific Miami tribal leaders, community members, individuals, families, and their descendants who had returned to Indiana after the forced removals. With this action, Congress formally legalized their returns, allowing them to remain in Indiana permanently.

The names of Sha-co-mo, Chief Majenica and Meesancihkwa, or Chief Little Turtle, whose family members had also requested exemptions from Removal, were not included, nor was any mention of their heirs. The additional family members of Chief Richardville, identified in the petition for exemption as Pinšiwa ‘Wild Cat', who had not been previously exempted, were represented by the Chief's eldest son, Mia-que-ah who, although personally exempted, had traveled with the group of displaced Miami people on Removal to Kansas in October 1846 before returning to Indiana in the Spring of 1847.11,12,13 
Miami Annuity List*1854Mia-que-ah was listed as the head of his family on the Miami Annuity Pay-Roll List for 1854 near Huntington, Indian Country, Indiana. He was 64 years of age, and his wife, Sho pe quah, was 68 years of age. Their daughter, Kil so quah, was 30 years of age, and Kil so quah's two children, her son Mun go sah quah, and daughter Kat tah ke mun qua, were ages 8 and 2 years, respectively. Eight additional members of Mia-que-ah's family were listed also and included three more daughters, two sons-in-law, and three more grandchildren.8 
Death*He died.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.19,20,21,22,23,24,25 

Family

 Sho pe quah b. 1786
Child 1.Jane Richardville+1 b. 1820

Citations

  1. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet, from the family of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville, whose Indian name was Pinšiwa, Maayaahkwia, English name Louis "Blind Eye" Richardville, Son; Sho-pe-quah (correct spelling uncertain), married name Richardville, Maayaahkwia's wife; Kiilhsohkwa, English name Jane, married names Peconga and Price, Sho-pe-quah's daughter. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  2. [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.
  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, the Indian name of his son, "Blind-Eyed" Richardville, spelled "Mi-aw-que-ah". Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  4. [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, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  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; Annuity Pay-Roll, Miami Indians of Indiana, 1854, which includes a list of Miami Indians who signed the treaty of 5 June 1854 and were to draw annuities in Indiana, page 3, his name spelled "Mi ah gue ah". Hereinafter cited as Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895.
  6. [S2691] Richardville Family Tree, online at https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/GlennElizaC/id/3447/, his Indian name spelled "Mia que ah."
  7. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370; noting that Lafontaine was elected civil chief at a tribal council meeting in Black Loon's Village, and that the tribe did not even consider Richardville's surviving son, Meaquah, or any of his grandsons for the post.
  8. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php, Annuity Pay-Roll, Miami Indians of Indiana, 1854, which includes a list of Miami Indians who signed the treaty of 5 June 1854 and were to draw annuities in Indiana, page 3, the family of Mi ah gue ah.
  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. [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.
  11. [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.
  12. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  13. [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.
  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. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Chief Francis Topeah Lafontaine, Memorial# 42524370, which includes historical information contributed by various sources and authors.
  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 Free Encyclopedia, online at www.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Loon. Hereinafter cited as Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
  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. [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."
  20. [S2695] Annuities and Census of the Miami Indians, 1854 - 1895, online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_miamiannuities.php
  21. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  22. [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.
  23. [S2675] Authur L. Bodurtha, History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  24. [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.
  25. [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.

Richard Cass Richardville1

Family
Father*William Cass Richardville1 d. b May 1846
Mother*Angelique Revarre2,1
Name VariationHis Indian name was Me-che-ka-no-quah.1 
(Grandson) Will23 May 1846His paternal grandmother, La Blonde Richardville, prepared her will dated 23 May 1846 in Allen County, Indiana, naming her son, Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, and daughter, Mon-go-se-quah, as her primary beneficiaries. Her will also contained bequests to her grandson, Me-che-ka-no-quah, the son of her deceased son, William Cass Richardville and Angelique Revarre, and to her niece, Wa-sa-ca-suo-quah, the daughter of her late brother, John Baptiste Richardville. A transcribed summary of her will follows:

1. To her beloved son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, alias George Ossem, his heirs and assigns forever, the section of land where I now reside; brick house, orchard and barn; the lines between that and the section devised to daughter, Mon-go-rah-quah are to be run under the direction of Executor. Also to said son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, the chairs in the parlor being twelve in number, the fancy mantle clock in the parlor, one large bureau and one new armoire bureau. One shaving case, the same formerly owned by my late father, one dining table, two bedsteads, two beds and bedding, one large looking glass, and all other furniture that is usually kept in the two north rooms of my house where I now live, and also all my horses, cattle, sheep and stock of any kind, and all my farming utensils.

2. To her dearly beloved daughter, Mon-go-se-quah, wife of James R. Godfrey, her heirs and assigns forever, the section of land where William Beck now resides, the land between it and that bequeathed to my son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah to be run under the direction of my executors, the section thus bequeathed to my daughter, and the one to my son are to be run off under the direction of my executors so that each section shall contain six hundred and forty acres or thereabouts, as near as may be. Also to daughter, wife of James R. Godfrey, all by household and kitchen furniture, except that bequeathed to my son, George.

3. I will and bequeath to my grandson, the son of William Cass Richardville, deceased, and Angelie Revard, of the name of Me-che-ka-no-quah, one hundred dollars to be paid over to his mother by my executors, taking receipt therefor.

4. I give and bequeath to my niece Wa-sa-ca-suo-quah daughter of my late brother John Baptist Richardville, one hundred dollars to be paid to her at such time as my executors think best for her advantage.

5. To son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah and daughter Mon-go-se-quah, their heirs and assigns forever, the section of land remaining undisposed of near where I now reside to be divided equally between them under the direction of my executors.

6. To son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, three-fourths (3/4) of all the money I may possess at the time of my death to be paid over by my executors to him, his guardian or guardians.

7. To daughter Mon-go-se-quah, one-fourth (1/4) of all the money I may possess at the time of my death to be paid over by my executors to her.

8. Hereby direct my executors to sell and dispose of all the residue of my lands and tenements which I will die possessed of, except those devised by this my last will and testament, to be disposed of by such directions as they think best calculation to sell will and for such prices as they may deem a fair value and on such terms of payment as to them may seem rewardable, and for securing payment for such lands thus sold, to give the their purchaser or purchasers, deed or deeds for such tract or tract as he or they may purchase, hereby fully empowering my executors, hereafter named, to make such sales and give such deeds of conveyance as will dispose of all my lands, except those disposed of and bequeathed in this my last will and testament.

9. I devise, will and bequeath the proceeds of the sale of my lands, so directed to be sold by my executors, in this my last will and testament, so soon as the same is rendered to money as well as all the credits and effects of every kind which I will die possessed of and not heretofore bequeathed in this my last will and testament, be equally divided and paid over by my said executors to my son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah, alias George Ossem, and my daughter Mon-go-se-quah, the wife of James Godfrey, share and share alike, making my said son Ke-la-ke-mo-ke-ah and my daughter Man-go-se-quah legatees of all my property not heretofore bequeathed.

10. Devised and directed that after her death her body may be entered in such a manner and in such a place as her executors may direct.

11. Hereby constitute and appoint Allen Hamilton, Julian Benoit and Francis LaFontaine executors

Dated 23 May 1846; Signed and sealed La Blonde, alias Maria Louisa Richardville, with her X mark, and her witnesses were Francis Morrison and John Roch

Approved and opened for Probate on 1 June 1847.1 
(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.3,4,2,5,6,7,8 

Citations

  1. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of La Blonde Richardville dated 23 May 1846 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 118-121, Ancestry online images 82-83 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  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. [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."
  4. [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.
  5. [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.
  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). Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  7. [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.
  8. [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.

Susan Richardville1

Family
Father*John B. Richardville1 b. 1761, d. 13 Aug 1841
Mother*Not-to-ma-quah2
Name VariationHer Indian name was Aahsansamhkwa.3 
Marriage*She married Moohswa.3 
(Daughter) Will9 April 1841Her father 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.4 
(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.5,6,7,8,9,10,11 

Family

 Moohswa
Child 1.John Richardville+1,3,4

Citations

  1. [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.
  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, Catherine Pocongoquah “Cates” (Richardville) Lafontaine Laselle, Memorial# 42524979. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  3. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet, from the family of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville, whose Indian name was Pinšiwa, Aahsansamhkwa, English name Susan Richardville, Daughter; Moohswa, Aahsansamhkwa's husband; Mahkateemaankwa, English name John Richardville, Aahsansamhkwa's son; Kiišikohkwa, English name Josephine Wildcat, married names Richardville and Osandiah, Mahkateemaankwa's wife; Waahseehkamohkwa, English name Mary Richardville, Mahkateemaankwa and Kiišikohkwa's daughter. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  4. [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.
  5. [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."
  6. [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.
  7. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  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 F. Richardville1,2

b. 23 April 1830
Family
Father*Crescent Richardville2,3,4 d. b 31 Dec 1839
Birth*23 April 1830Thomas F. Richardville was born on 23 April 1830 in Indiana.1 
Relationship Note*Thomas Francis Richardville, son of Crescent, who was the son of Joseph, was a great-grandson of Chief John B. Richardville, and Thomas and John Richardville were 1st cousins 1 time removed.5,4 
Name VariationHis Indian name was Waapimaankwa2 
Name Variation which was also spelled Wa-pe-mon-qwa2 
Name Variation and his full English name was Thomas Francis Richardville.2 
(Grandson of Eldest Son) Will9 April 1841His paternal great 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.4 
Relationship Note*Thomas F. Richardville and Elizabeth Revarre were 3rd cousins 1 time removed. 
(Cousin) Census US 185013 September 1850Thomas Richardville was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 13 September 1850 in the household of his cousin and her husband, Archangel and James R. Godfroy, in Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Thomas was 21 years of age, had no occupation, owned real estate valued at $2,400, and was Archangel's 1st cousin 1 time removed. He was the grandson of her uncle, Joseph Richardville, and the son of her cousin, Crescent Richardville, both of whom were deceased.1,6,7,8,9 
Religion*1865He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1865.10 
(Minister) Marriage17 June 1866The Reverend Thomas Richardville performed the marriage ceremony of his cousin, Elizabeth Revarre, and John R. Froman on 17 June 1866 at the house of John Bigley in Miami County, Kansas.11,12 
(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.13,14,15,16,17,18,19 

Citations

  1. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of James R. and "Elquah" Godfroy, (their surname transcribed as "Godfrory" by Ancestry), 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 137a, image# 114 of 125. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
  2. [S2674] Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land, online at https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/, https://mc.miamioh.edu/aacimwahkionkonci/people/2399. Hereinafter cited as Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci; Stories from the Land.
  3. [S2706] Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci, A Land of Stories, Digital Collection, online at https://digital.lib.miamioh.edu/digital/collection/…, Letter regarding the heir to Black Loon's land, 12 April 1852, downloaded on 7 December 2024 from https://digital.lib.miamioh.edu/digital/collection/… thru 94. Hereinafter cited as Miami (Indian) University: Aacimwahkionkonci, A Land of Stories, Digital Collection.
  4. [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.
  5. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…, with additional information from a linked Google Spreadsheet, from the family of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville, whose Indian name was Pinšiwa, Waapimaankwa, whose English name was Thomas Francis Richardville, a great grandson. Hereinafter cited as Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal.
  6. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Susan Beck, 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 137a, image# 114 of 125.
  7. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Richard and Sarah Beck, 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 137b, image# 115 of 125.
  8. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John and Sarah Sites, 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 138a, image# 116 of 125.
  9. [S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Julia Mason, 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: Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 135; Page: 138a, image# 116 of 125.
  10. [S2785] Manuscript Collection: Thomas Richardville, online at https://collections.gilcrease.org/finding-aid/…. Hereinafter cited as Manuscript Collection: Thomas Richardville.
  11. [S2784] Kansas, U.S., Vital Record Abstracts, 1854-2009, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Elizabeth "Revoer??" and John R "Foreman" on 17 June 1866 in Miami County, Kansas, United States; married at the house of John Bigley by the Reverend Thomas Richardville. Hereinafter cited as Kansas, U.S., Vital Record Abstracts, 1854-2009.
  12. [S2173] Kansas, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1811-1911, online at www.newspapers.com, marriage on 17 June 1866 in Miami County, Kansas, USA of Elizabeth "Revoen" and John R "Foreman", citing Film# 001521943; married at the residence of John Bigley by Thomas Richardville, Minister of the Gospel. Hereinafter cited as Kansas, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1811-1911.
  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. [S2694] Aacimotaatiiyankwi - Myaamia Exempt From Removal, online at https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/10/28/…
  16. [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.
  17. [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.
  18. [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.
  19. [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.

William Cass Richardville1

d. before May 1846
Family
Mother*La Blonde Richardville1 d. b 1 Jun 1847
Marriage*He married Angelique Revarre.2 
Death*before May 1846He died before May 1846.1 
(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.3,4,2,5,6,7,8 

Family

 Angelique Revarre
Child 1.Richard Cass Richardville1

Citations

  1. [S2621] Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999, online at www.ancestry.com, will of La Blonde Richardville dated 23 May 1846 in Allen County, Indiana, Probate Will Record, Volumes 1-2a, 1831-1875, pages 118-121, Ancestry online images 82-83 of 815. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999.
  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. [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."
  4. [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.
  5. [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.
  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). Hereinafter cited as History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests.
  7. [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.
  8. [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.

Osman A. Richey1

b. October 1852
Family
Birth*October 1852Osman A. Richey was born in October 1852 in Missouri.1,2 
Marriage*31 March 1872He married, as his first wife, Ida Ballinger about 31 March 1872 in Caldwell County, Missouri.3,1,2,4 

Family

 Ida Ballinger b. 22 Oct 1854
Child 1.William C. Richey1,5,2 b. 29 Mar 1895

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, Osman A. Richey, Memorial# 16402141. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
  2. [S34] 1900 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Osman and Ida Richey, (his name transcribed as "Asenon" by Ancestry), Year: 1900; Census Place: Newcastle, Weston, Wyoming; Roll: 1827; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 0066. Hereinafter cited as 1900 United States Federal Census.
  3. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Ida (Ballinger) Richey, Memorial# 11920662.
  4. [S1732] Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 31 March 1872 in Caldwell County, Missouri, USA, of Osman A Rickey and Ida Bollinger, referencing Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, MO, USA, Missouri Marriage Records [Microfilm]. Hereinafter cited as Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002.
  5. [S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, William Charles Richey, Memorial# 39227563.