Albert Yellow Thunder Sr (1882 - 1951)

Born 7 Jul 1882 in Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ella Hīnū́gā (White) Yellow Thunder — married 1900 (to 4 Oct 1951) in Wisconsin, United States [uncertain]

Died 4 Oct 1951 at age 69 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, United States

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Albert was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Birth

Born 7 July 1882 in Wisconsin.

Education

“Albert Thunder, a nephew of old War Club, had been brought up in a white family and attended the government Indian school in Kansas. He has studied several terms at Lawrence University." He was also a skilled musician, having been a member of the Bussyville Band. (Wisc. St. Journ.) He was also "a principal figure in the Dells Standing Rock Indian ceremonials each summer." (Obit)

Military Service

He was a veteran of the Spanish American War. Burial records say that he was a Colonel. (Internment.net) The Wisconsin State Journal reported, "He is a veteran of the Spanish-American war and later served in the Philippines. He now draws a pension of $6 a month for disabilities received in service."

Traditional Story Teller

Capt. Saunders quotes him as saying, "Today many of my people are Christians, or Peyote, but I am happy to say that it is still the custom of our tribal narrators to go from lodge to lodge, perpetuating the Winnebago culture with their marvelous tales of long ago and with no other reward than the obligation placed upon their host to prepare and serve the traditional story-teller's supper." (Moon, p. 42)

Hunting Skills

"He ... is an expert trapper and rifle shot. His companion was a cousin named Long Marsh. … During the winter and early spring they were successful in trapping and hunting and kept the camp supplied after Old War Club’s illness became severe.” (Wisc. St. Journ.)

Death

His obituary reads,

"Winnebago Chief Dies At The Dells

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. — (AP) — Albert Yellow Thunder revered chief of the Winnebago Indian tribe and a Spanish American war veteran died Thursday following a heart attack. The 73 year old tribe leader was well known throughout the middle west as a principal figure in the Dells Standing Rock Indian ceremonials each summer. He and Mrs. Yellow Thunder had been married 51 years. Other survivors are 10 children and three grandchildren.” (Sheboygan Press)

He is buried in Plot 43–6, Spring Grove Cemetery, Wisconsin Dells, Columbia County, Wisconsin, USA. (Internment.net)

Sources

• Harry Elsworth Cole photographic collection, 1905.
• Capt. Don Saunders, When the Moon is a Silver Canoe. Legends of the Wisconsin Dells (Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.: Don Saunders, 1947). See also, "Mighty Thunder," in Captain Don Saunders, Driftwood and Debris: Riverside Tales of the Dells of Old Wisconsin by the River Guides, 2d ed. (Wisconsin Dells: Wisconsin Dells Events, 1959) 52.
• 1937 Indian census; Roll: M595_573; Page: 95; 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.
• “Ten Descendants of Famous Chief Camp at Lake Koshkonong. Band of Jim War Club, Remnant of Once Powerful Winnebago Tribe, Definitely Establishes Old Location of White Crow’s Village,” Wisconsin State Journal, Sunday, May 9, 1920.
• Obit — Sheboygan Press. Sheboygan, WI, USA. Friday, 5 Oct 1951, p. 13.
• Obituary, Tampa Bay Times; Publication Date: 7/ Oct/ 1951; Publication Place: St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
• Internment.net > United States > Wisconsin > Columbia County > Spring Grove Cemetery > Surnames U-Z, sub nom. "Yellow Thunder, Chief Albert."
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 04 September 2020), memorial page for Albert Yellow Thunder Sr. (7 Jul 1882–4 Oct 1951), Find a Grave Memorial no. 215210223, citing Spring Grove Cemetery, Wisconsin Dells, Columbia County, Wisconsin, USA ; Maintained by Richard Dieterle (contributor 49554235) .

Acknowledgements

Thank you Richard Dieterle for the research into and creation of this profile.