Albert Ralph Yellow Thunder Jr. (1916 - 1957)

Born 15 Aug 1916 in Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Died 18 Feb 1957 at age 40 in Pittsville, Wood, Wisconsin, United States

Albert was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Birth

Albert was born on 15 Mar 1916 in Wisconsin, and was the son of Albert Yellow Thunder, Sr..

Education

In 1930, he and his brother Albert were students at the Tomah Indian School, La Grange Township, Monroe County, Wisconsin. (1930 census)

Occupation

On 24 Nov 1948, he was hired as a tracker by the Chicago and North Western Railroad. (Records)

Military Service

A veteran of WWII, with the rank of Tec-5 in the U.S. Army. (Internment.net)

Children

Albert had the following children:

Dester Ralph

Albert Ralph, III

Barbara

Sports

When he was 19, boxing as a featherweight (125 lbs.), he fought in the Wisconsin Golden Gloves tournament. (Tribune, 13 Feb 1935) Eight days later, he was knocked out:

“In the second championship novice fight for the featherweight

crown, Bill Sickles of Wisconsin Rapids, weighing 127 to 125 of

Albert Yellow Thunder of Wisconsin Dells, took a poorly received

fight from the Indian after clubbing him about with a few too many

wallops with his elbows on the shorter Indian’s neck. In all it was a

lively, aggressive fight for Sickles and his finish, although blood-wild,

was thoroughly effective and the Indian took the count in the second

for a kayo victory for Sickles.” (Tribune, 21 Feb 1935)

Death

Event

He died on 15 Feb 1957 in Pittsville, Wisconsin (Portage Daily Register), of a heart attack. (Sheboygan Press)

Burial

Albert is buried in Plot 43–06, Spring Grove Cemetery, Wisconsin Dells, Columbia County, Wisconsin, USA. (Find a Grave, Internment.net)

Sources

• 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.
• 1930 Federal 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.
• Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune] (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin), 13 Feb 1935, 21 Feb 1935.
• 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.
• Chicago and North Western Railroad Employee Records. Chicago & North Western Historical Society, Berwyn, Illinois.
• Portage Daily Register and Democrat; Publication Date: 18/ Feb/ 1957; Publication Place: Portage, Wisconsin, United States of America.
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 01 September 2020), memorial page for Albert Ralph Yellow Thunder Jr. (unknown–15 Feb 1957), Find a Grave Memorial no. 133169081, citing Spring Grove Cemetery, Wisconsin Dells, Columbia County, Wisconsin, USA ; Maintained by F Priam (contributor 47754883).
• Internment.net > United States > Wisconsin > Columbia County > Spring Grove Cemetery > Surnames U-Z, sub nom. "Yellow Thunder, Chief Albert."