The Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Cultural Heritage Center provides resources to keep the Tribe’s history safe and accessible for generations to come. One key way the Nation does this is through the CHC’s archives and video interviews. To highlight some of the archive’s holdings, the Hownikan is featuring photographs and family history of every founding Citizen Potawatomi family. If interested in assisting preservation efforts by providing copies of Citizen Potawatomi family photographs, documents and more, and to schedule family interviews, please contact the CHC at 405-878-5830.
Family beginnings
Members of the Pambogo family were among the Potawatomi leaders who insisted the U.S. government recognize the rights of Potawatomi women to control their land holdings. This action would help create a foundation for future generations of Potawatomi.
Louis Pambogo, born in 1823, married Ojequa, who was born in 1833. They had a son, John Baptiste, and a daughter, Josette.
John Baptiste Pambogo married Po-to-go-qua. They had two children, but sadly, both children died young. Po-to-go-qua died in 1891. John Baptiste then married Caroline Peltier in 1892. Sadly, their twins, a boy and a girl, died. They later had George, Alexander B., Josephine Alice, John B., Jr., Ahs-latt, Johnie and Alice.
Louis and Ojequa’s daughter, Josette, was married to John Wapskinney (John White). They had two children, but the couple separated before allotments. After he died, she married John (Wak-shuk) Megah (Me-ga) at the Sacred Heart Mission. Josette and John Megah had a son named Joseph. The couple had five other children, but they died at a young age.
Life in Indian Territory
As many people fled west to escape the U.S. Civil War, the Potawatomi entered into the Treaty of 1861 to allot their Kansas lands and become U.S. citizens. Prior to this, the Potawatomi had held land in common. The U.S. government pressured the Potawatomi to accept allotments so their land could be sold to settlers and railroad companies. Dozens of Potawatomi families would make the dangerous journey to Indian Territory to claim their individual allotments.
The journey had to be carefully timed. Winter storms could bring snow, ice and high winds. Spring rains could mean flooding rivers or mud-covered roads, making travel in a wagon extremely difficult.
A map in the CHC archives shows that several Pambogo allotments were located in the southeastern part of what would eventually become Pottawatomie County. They were: Baptiste CP675, 160 acres, section 31, and 160 acres, section 33; Mary CP 676, 80 acres, section 28; Mina CP677, 80 acres, section 28; Margaret CP683, 160 acres, section 33; and Josette CP684, 160 acres, section 28.
John B. Pambogo was placed on the Potawatomi business committee in 1894. Joining him that year were Stephen Negahnquet, Alexander B. Peltier, John Anderson, Davis Hardin, Charles Rhodd and Joseph Moose.
A marriage record kept within Sacred Heart Mission lists J.B. Pambogo as the groom at a March 15, 1886, wedding to Mary Psho.
Younger generations
While most Pambogo descendants would later thrive in Indian Territory by marrying and starting families, there is some startling and sad information within the CHC archives.
George Pambogo was born in 1895. He died on Sept. 19, 1916. He never married or had children. Records in the CHC archives reveal that he was murdered. A newspaper account said on the way to his wedding, George had stopped to help “a vagabond,” when he was robbed and killed. His body was later found in the Arkansas River. The suspect was caught and tried. Other sources believed George was killed because the suspect was jealous of George’s relationship with his fiancée.
Within Indian Territory, people often became victims of crime as outlaws moved into the area, which had limited law enforcement capabilities. However, most members of the Pambogo family went on to lead peaceful lives.
Alexander was born in 1896. He married Mary Jewel. They had Gary Dale Pambogo. Gary and his wife, Karlene, were the parents of Brian Alex, Karla Michelle, Leah and Renee.
Josephine was born in 1900. She first married to an unknown man. Later she married Benjamin K. Ward. Josephine’s daughters were Wanda E., Jo Avalon and Lavinia Agnes. Wanda was the mother of Genevieve.
John B. never married.
A July 14, 1900, census document lists John Pambogo as the head of his family, along with his wife, Caroline, and children Johnie, George, Alexandria and Alice. The document also lists other names the family members were known by. John listed “Potise,” Johnie also listed the name “Potise,” while George listed “Sinyah” as his alternate name. Alexandria was known as “Chamwago” and Alice listed “Tebequa.”
Josette’s husband, John Megah (Wak-shuk), died in 1937, at the age of 65. In her probate testimony, she revealed that the couple lived on her allotment near Asher, Oklahoma. They were married for more than 40 years until John’s death. His mother’s name was Sah-yah-mo-quah.
John Baptiste’s wife, Caroline, died in 1901. John Baptiste died on April 17, 1935, at age 75. At the time of his death, his son John was living in Oklahoma City, his son George had died young, about 20 years prior to his father’s death, his son Alex was living in Arkansas City, Kansas, and his daughter Alice Josephine Pambogo Ward was living in Britton, Oklahoma, with her husband.
Probate documents within the CHC archives reveal a statement from April 8, 1936, given by Josette Pambogo. She was 78 years old, living near Asher, Oklahoma. Her brother had died about a year prior to her statement. She shared that her brother was living west of Shawnee with Josette’s son, when he became ill. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
The Pambogo family worked with Potawatomi leadership to ensure that Potawatomi women would have the ability to control their own land holdings and make decisions for the benefit of their families and descendants. Those early Pambogo leaders created a solid foundation for their descendants, as well as other members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, to thrive.
If interested in assisting preservation efforts by providing copies of Citizen Potawatomi family photographs, documents and more, and to schedule family interviews, please contact the CHC at 405-878-5830. Schedule interviews online at portal.potawatomi.org. Learn more about the Family Reunion Festival at cpn.news/festival, and find research resources online at potawatomiheritage.com.