Luke Green (1867 - 1941)

Born Aug 1867 in Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Anna (Smoke) Green — married about 1910 (to 1912) in Wisconsin, United States

Husband of Grace W. (Payer) Green — married 1920 in Wisconsin, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Oct 1941 at age 74 in Tomah Indian Hospital, Tomah, Monroe, Wisconsin, United States

Luke was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Birth

According to the 1900 Federal census, Luke was born in August 1867. He is the son of George and Sarah Green.

Name

The censuses record his clan name as MonMonChaNaGeKaRaWaKah. The end of the name, Kah, represents -ga, a definite article suffix used in personal names. The front part of the name is mąmąče, "a ball-headed warclub, connected with the Thunderbirds." The next syllable, -na, may be the definite article. GeKaRa may be for jikere, "to start, to begin." If Wa represents we, "to go around, travel," the name would mean, "He Begins to Go About with the Ballheaded Warclub." If, however, Wa stands for wą̄, "to shout, to whoop, to call, to call for someone", the name would mean, "He Calls to Begin Going About with the Ballheaded Warclub." This looks like a Thunderbird Clan name, but clearly the Green family belongs to the lower moiety, so it is more likely that it recalls the idea that their ancestor Black Otter was supposed to be a reincarnated Thunderbird.

Marriages

Luke Green was first married to Anna Smoke, whose Hocąk name was Ną́jijewįga, "She Who Alights on a Tree". (1912 census) She died in 1912. (Obit)

Luke, around 1920, then married Grace W., otherwise known as "Minnie Payer" (b. 1880). (1927 census)

Residence

Luke "lived practically all his life in the Dells Dam community". (Obit)

Death

"Burial services for Mr. Green were held at the John Mike home at Dells Dam, the Indian ceremonial being performed." (Obit) The Luke Green buried in Neillsville is the same as this Luke Green, despite the fact that his date of birth is given as 1859 rather than 1867. There is a well known penchant in this culture as well as the white pioneer culture, for old people to exaggerate their age. (Find a Grave)

Sources

• 1900 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Brockway, Jackson, Wisconsin; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0058; FHL microfilm: 1241792. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
• 1910 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Brockway, Jackson, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1713; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0074; FHL microfilm: 1375726. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• 1912 Indian census; Roll: M595_570; Line: 14; Agency: Tomah Indian School. Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M595, 692 rolls); Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• 1919 Indian census; Roll: M595_168; Page: 24; Line: 15; Agency: Grand Rapids. Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M595, 692 rolls); Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• 1927 Indian census; Roll: M595_570; Page: 23; Line: 17; Agency: Tomah. Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M595, 692 rolls); Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• 1930 Federal Census; Census Place: Levis, Clark, Wisconsin; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0021; FHL microfilm: 2342298. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.
• Obit — "Cemeteries with Indian burials", sub nom., "Green, Luke".
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 20 June 2020), memorial page for Luke Green (1859–18 Oct 1941), Find a Grave Memorial no. 121742022, citing Dewey Mike Cemetery, Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin, USA ; Maintained by Bob Ottinger (contributor 47263661) .