Person Record

Metadata

Name

Chief Oshkosh

Notes

Oshkosh was the grandson of the Old King, who was for many years the head-chief of the Menominee tribe. He was born in 1795 at Chakauchokama's Village. He married three times, and had three sons and a daughter.

During the War of 1812 the Menominee tribe fought for the British Army. A seventeen-year-old warrior named Oshkosh was among those warriors. He was present at the capture of Fort Mackinaw, Michigan and the attack against Fort Sandusky, Ohio.

About 1825, the head-chief of the Menominee died without leaving a male heir. At the treaty meeting at Little Butte des Morts on August 6 - 11, 1827, United States officials selected Oshkosh as the great Menominee Chief.

Later in 1827, a company of 120 Menominee and New York Indian Volunteers fought for the United States during the Winnebago War. On the rolls of these volunteers appears the name "O'skash, 1st Chief, the Fingernail (Claw)".

On June 14, 1830 Chief Oshkosh, and two others were indicted for felony murder and put on trial in the log courthouse presided over by Territorial Judge James Duane Doty. A Jury found Oshkosh guilty and then referred the final decision to Judge Doty, who then acquitted Chief Oshkosh.

During the Black Hawk War, the Menominee again fought for the United States. Chief Oshkosh fought in a skirmish along the Mississippi River against the Sauk Indians.

Chief Oshkosh traveled to Washington D. C. on September 4, 1850 in an attempt to keep the Menominee tribe in their native Wisconsin. He spoke to President Millard Fillmore and the tribe was allowed to remain temporarily. In 1854 a treaty officially granted the Menominee this land.

On August 31, 1858 Oshkosh died at the age of sixty-three. He was injured severely in a drunken fight with two of his sons and died later from the effects (Akwinemi). From most accounts Chief Oshkosh liked to drink. However, he was also keenly aware of the adverse effect that alcohol had on his people. He spoke against whiskey on several occasions and attempted to keep it away from the tribe.

Oshkosh has been criticized for having signed many treaties that gave up the majority of Menominee land. In reality, Oshkosh did not sign every treaty and only reluctantly signed others. He and the other chiefs were lied to, threatened and intimidated in several situations.

Oshkosh was a stalwart advocate of his people and did all that was possible for them. He proved himself as a warrior, but he would prove himself an even better politician. He did what he thought was best for the welfare of the Menominee tribe. Whatever Oshkosh's faults were, he led his people capably during a difficult period of their history and kept the tribe in their native Wisconsin.