John A. Moną̄k’amonįga Brown (abt. 1870)

Born about 1870 in Wisconsin, United States

Husband of Sarah B. Homįnągᵋpįk’ųga (Prepares a Seat) Brown — married about 1894 in Wisconsin, United States

Descendants

John was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Birth

John was born about 1870.

Name

His Hocąk name is given as MoNoConMoNeeKah (1910 census), which is for Moną̄k’amonįga, from mą, mo, "earth, dirt, ground, land"; ną̄k’á, "to scratch with the foot" (cf. nągą́, ną̄ǧą́, "to scratch as a chicken does"); honį́, "to hunt for, to look for"; and -ga, a definite article suffix used in personal names. Monįga, "Hunts the Earth", is a freestanding name in the Bear Clan. So this name means, "Hunts the Earth to Dig up the Ground", a reference to how bears carefully select a den site and dig it out.

Children

John had the following children with Sarah (1905, 1910, 1934, 1940 censuses):

Steve (?) (b. 1893)

Ethel (b. 1895)

Pet (b. 1896)

James (b. 1898)

Clara (b. 1899)

Effie (b.1902)

Estella (b. 1904)

John (b. 1906)

Jane A. (b. 1909)

Josephine (b. 26 December 1911)

Daniel (b. 6 June 1914)

Pet is not found in any census after 1905, and Ethel is not recorded in the 1905 census, so it may be, even though their Hocąk names differ, that they are the same person. In 1940, John A. and Sarah Brown are living with or next to Steve Brown. James Brown has the birth order name of Henaga, "Second Son", which means there is a missing First Son (Kųnųga). Given Steve's birthdate, it is likely that he is this son.

Death

Both John A. Brown and Sarah Brown are shown in the 1940 census, and therefore must have died some time after this date.

Sources

• 1905 Indian census; Roll: M595_671; Line: 6. 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.
• 1910 Indian census; Roll: M595_671; Line: 6; Agency: Wittenberg. 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.
• 1934 Indian census; Roll: M595_572; Page: 11; Line: 1; 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.
• 1940 Federal Census for Freeman, Crawford, Wisconsin; Roll: m-t0627-04467; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 12-9, Description: FREEMAN TOWN OUTSIDE DE SOTO AND FERRYVILLE VILLAGES. 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.