Harold Fred Cāsépka Blackdeer Sr. (1893 - 1963)

Born 4 Jul 1893 in Wisconsin, United States

Husband of Nellie (Wallace) Blackdeer — married about 1912 (to about 10 Jul 1963) in Wisconsin, United States

Died 10 Jul 1963 at age 70 in Black River Falls, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States

Harold was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Birth

Harold said he was born on 4 July 1891 on his Draft Card. However, the 1930 census states that he was born in 1893 in Wisconsin, and that he was 19 years old when he married his wife, who was 18 at the time (1912). His wife Nellie's birth date was precisely 14 February 1894, which would confirm Harold's birth date as 1893. The 1900 Federal census, taken when he was 6 years old, gives his birth date as July 1893.

Names

The 1924 census gives his Hocąk name as WoShipKah, which is for Wošípka, "He Finishes Them", from wa-, a prefix meaning "them, those things" (wa-ho > wo); hošíp, "to finish", and -ka, a definite article suffix used in personal names.

The surname "Blackdeer", Cāsépka, was adopted from his father. The cā-sép is the moose. Cāsépka is a Deer Clan name.

He is often given "Fred" as a middle name. The sole Blackdeer family of the 1900 Federal census lists as children some of Harold's known siblings (from other sources). The last child in the list is the 6 year old Fred, whose July 1893 birth date coincides exactly with that of Harold Blackdeer. Thus Harold and Fred are the same person.

Appearance

He stood 5' 6", weighing 168 lbs, of dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair. (Draft Card)

Occupation

He owned and worked his own farm in Levis, Clark County, Wisconsin. (1930 census)

Education

He could speak English, and was literate. (1930 census)

Marriage

He married in 1912 to Nellie Wallace, who was 18 years old at the time. (1930 census)

Children

Harold and his wife Nellie Wallace had the following children (1930 census):

Earl Blackdeer (b. 1911)

Wilbur Blackdeer (b. 1914)

Ray Blackdeer (b. 1916)

Clifford Blackdeer (b. 1918)

Irvin Blackdeer (b. 1920)

William Blackdeer (b. 1922)

Eleanor Blackdeer (b. 1924)

Harold Blackdeer, Jr. (b. 27 March 1926)

Wallace Blackdeer (b. 1929)

Marjorie Blackdeer (b. 1930) (1940 census)

In addition, they had a nephew, Joseph Green (b. 1911) living with them.

Death

He died on 10 July 1963. (Wisc. Death Ind.)

Sources

• 1900 Federal Census for Brockway, Jackson, Wisconsin; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0058; Description: Brockway Town; 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.
• Wisconsin. Wisconsin State Census, 1905. Microfilm, 44 reels. Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin.
• 1924 Indian census; Roll: M595_168; Page: 4; Line: 6; 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.
• 1926 Indian census; Roll: M595_168; Page: 4; Line: 21; 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.
• 1930 Federal Census for Levis, Clark, Wisconsin; Page: 6A; District: 0021, LEVIS TOWN; FHL microfilm: 2342298. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.
• 1940 Federal Census for Levis, Clark, Wisconsin; Roll: m-t0627-04465; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 10-21; Description: LEVIS TOWN. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.
• Draft Card — United States, Selective Service System. Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Fourth Registration. Records of the Selective Service System, Record Group Number 147. National Archives and Records Administration. Serial #159.
• Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997. Wisconsin Vital Records Office, Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Wisconsin Department of Health. DC 021380, Blackdeer, Harold.

Acknowledgement

This profile was created by Richard L Dieterle on 12 Nov 2020.