Moses W. Payer (abt. 1920 - 1973)

Born about Oct 1920 in Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Died 1973 at about age 52 in Nebraska, United States

Moses was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Birth

Moses was born in Oct. 1920. (1933 census) However, the date of his birth varies in sources from 1919 to 1921.

Appearance

His height was 5' 9", and he weighed 156 lbs. (Enlistment record)

Education

He had remained in school up to the 6th grade of grammar school. (1940 census, Enlistment record)

Occupation

His enlistment record states that he was a "semiskilled painter, construction and maintenance" worker. (Enlistment record)

Marital Status

As of 1942, he was single, without dependents. (Enlistment record)

Ambush and Jailbreak

“Neillsville, Wis., Mar. 1 — Circuit Judge Emery W. Crosby today sentenced Henry Payer, 22 year-old Black River Falls Indian, to serve one to 20 years in Waupun state prison on a charge of armed assault with intent to rob and commit murder. Payer pleaded guilty to the ambush shooting of Mrs. Evelyn Jonas, wife of a game warden, two weeks ago. Moses Payer, 18, brother of Henry, pleaded guilty to a similar charge and received a sentence of one to seven years in Green Bay reformatory. Judge Crosby sentenced Harry Wolf, 28, also of Black River Falls, to serve two to four years in Waupun for abetting an attempted jailbreak. Sheriff George Dettinger was beaten in the attempted break of Payer and Wolf yesterday.” (Wisc. Rapids Daily Tribune)

Moses was still in prison in 1940. (1940 census)

Military Service

Moses W. Payer enlisted in the Army at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, on 4 Mar 1942. (Enlistment record)

Land Grant

In 1968, Moses received a share of an allotment of land in Dixon County, Nebraska, formerly belonging to Green Cloud. The land was 72 acres and was granted in various parcels to Samuel Thunderchief, jr., Agnes Payer, Minnie Payer, Joseph Payer, Moses Payer, Harry Mason Blackhawk, Susie Smith, Stacy Payer, Wilbert Backdeer, Benjamin Walker, Vincent Walker, LeRoy Walker and Elizabeth Jean Walker. Its location was in the SW ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 32, Lot 5, in Township 27 N, Range 6 E (42.273222 -96.753448). (Land Patent, 26-69-0002)

Death

He died in 1973 and was buried at the Winnebago Cemetery, Winnebago, Thurston County, Nebraska, USA. (Find a Grave)

Sources

• 1922 Indian census; Roll: M595_168; Page: 17; Line: 17; 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 Indian census; Roll: M595_571; Page: 63; 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.
• 1933 Indian census; Roll: M595_571; Page: 67; 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 Allouez, Brown, Wisconsin; Roll: m-t0627-04459; Page: 1B; numeration District: 5-3; Description: ALLOUEZ TOWN, WISCONSIN STATE REFORMATORY AND HOSPITAL. 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.
• “Indians Given Prison Terms,” Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, March 1, 1938, p. 1, col. 5.
• National Archives and Records Administration. Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; ARC: 1263923. World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park. College Park, Maryland, U.S.A.
• United States. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records. Automated Records Project; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/. Springfield, Virginia: Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States, 2007. Accession Nr: 26-69-0002.
• Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 07 February 2020), memorial page for Moses W. Payer (1921–1973), Find A Grave Memorial no. 132383161, citing Winnebago Cemetery, Winnebago, Thurston County, Nebraska, USA ; Maintained by David Goltry (contributor 47177571) .