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About Es-Tah-Sop-Py 'Willie' McCarthy
Willie was an Osage man (Black Dog Band) from the Osage & Kaw Nation, Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Map of Osages Migration from Missouri and Northeast Oklahoma
The Osage's ancestral homelands were part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. They lived in semipermanent villages along the Osage River and roamed the land between the Missouri, Mississippi, and Arkansas rivers. The Osage traveled the Trail of Tears and settled in southeast Kansas on the Cherokee Strip. They sold their Kansas lands in 1870 and relocated to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. They purchased the land from the Cherokee Nation and relocated to the reservation in 1871 and 1872.
Map of Osage County, Oklahoma (1920) showing locations of the villages of Pa-çiú-gthin, Çon-dse-ú-gthin, and the Wa-xá-ga-u-gthin in the present Osage reservation.
Murder. Greed. Conspiracy. What really happened in Osage County?
At least 60 wealthy, full-blood Osage persons were reported killed from 1918 to 1931. Newer investigations indicate that other suspicious deaths during this time could have been misreported or covered-up murders, including those of individuals who were heirs to future fortunes. Further research has shown that the death toll may have been in the hundreds.
The tribe had retained mineral rights to its reservation. Each tribal member had what were known as headrights to the mineral rights on communal land. When valuable oil was found on their land and leases were sold for oil production, each member with headrights was paid a share of the lucrative annual royalties for leases by oil companies. In 1906 and subsequent years, United States Congress passed a series of laws, ostensibly intended to help the Osage retain wealth, that created a system of guardianship for "minors and incompetents", as determined by and under the jurisdiction of Oklahoma's local county probate courts. The Oklahoma courts routinely found American Indians to be incompetent without considering mental capacity.
Source: Wikipedia contributors. "Osage Indian murders." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Sep. 2024. Web. 29 Sep. 2024.
Biography:
Born between July 1880 and c. 1881, Willie McCarthy was born Es-Tah-Sop-Py to Osage parents Wa Po Sho Sha and Mary Wa Po Sho Sha, both born in Kansas. Willie was one of five siblings, he never married.
According to Vanished in Hiawatha, author Carla Jinson states that Willie was admitted to the Canton Asylum on November 30, 1906, and diagnosed with hemiplegia with epilepsy, revised to epileptic psychosis in 1910. (Hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia-epilepsy (HHE) syndrome is a rare pediatric epilepsy syndrome characterized by prolonged focal febrile convulsive status epilepticus with unilateral hemispheric cerebral edema, followed by the subsequent development of hemiplegia, global atrophy of the affected hemisphere, and epilepsy. Epileptic psychosis is a severe mental disorder that can occur in people with epilepsy and is closely linked to seizures.) The revised diagnosis seems to indicate that mental technicians did not know or understand what was happening with Willie.
It appears that Willie died in the Canton Asylum sometime before June 30, 1920, based on asylum census reports. A letter from 1924 (per Joinson) indicates that he had died. He does NOT appear on lists of those buried in the Canton Hiawatha Cemetery, so it is presumed that his body was returned to the Osage Nation for burial, but I've found no records.
His profile is part of the https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Canton_Asylum.
Research Notes:
The following five entries are listed separately because they come from three different sources/location
-Willie McCarthy is NOT in the Canton Asylum June 30, 1920, male census
-Willie McCarthy is NOT in the Canton Asylum June 30, 1921, male census
-Willie McCarthy is NOT in the Canton Asylum June 30, 1922, male census
-Willie McCarthy is NOT in the Canton Asylum June 30, 1923, male census
-Willie McCarthy is NOT in the Canton Asylum June 30, 1924, male census
-In 1895 the family appears in the Big Chief Band
-The 1887 census shows this family:
- Wah pah sho sha (40)
- Wlu ah to me aka One Eagle (36)
- Me ah gah hah aka Lets HIm LIve (13, son)
- Mon gah kah aka Beats the Arrow (8, son)
- E.stat shup py aka Shinned Eyes (6, son)
- Che he him kah (1, son)
-In the June 30, 1919 census Willie is not listed but line 349 is noted as "Died". Line 349 was the line occupied by Willie in the 1918 census. This suggests that Willie died between June 30, 1918, and June 30, 1919. Given that Willie is indicated in the Canton Asylum male census on June 30, 1919, consider the following: Indian census reports were dated, in this case, June 30, 1919. but they are frequently not submitted until October. In the case of the 1919 census, BOTH the first page and the wrapper are missing so it is impossible to determine the date of submission. Indian census reports were frequently more current than the date of the census so it is possible that Willie died after June 30, 1919, but before c. October 30, 1919, but there is no evidence.
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Sources:
1887 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n31/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 32777, line 258 (age 6 as Skinned Eyes), census of Full-Blood Osage
1888 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n137/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 138/777, line 37 (age 7), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Indian Territory
1890 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n233/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 234/777, line xx (age 9), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Indian Territory
1891 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n328/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 329/777, line 35 (age 10), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Oklahoma Territory
1892 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n401/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 402777, line 35 (age 11), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Ok. Ter.
1893 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n487/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 488/777, line 35 (age 12), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Ok. Ter.
1894 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n554/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 555/777, line 37 (age 13), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Oklahoma
1895 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n636/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 637/777, line 36 (age 14), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Oklahoma
1896 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll317unit/page/n699/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 700/777, line 27 (age 15), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Oklahoma
1900 Jul 3 - "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSRV-B85 : Tue Sep 03 15:34:59 UTC 2024), Entry for Wa Po Sho Sha and Mary Wa Po Sho Sha, 1900, pg. 414/515, line 3 (b=7.1880), census of the Osage & Kaw Nations, Osage, Osage County, Oklahoma
1901 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7V5F-RN3Z : Fri Mar 08 08:51:18 UTC 2024), Entry for Es-Tah-Sop-Py, 1901, pg. 410/742, line 420 (age 20), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Pawhuska, Osage, Oklahoma
1902 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3K-KSSN : Sun Mar 10 06:51:53 UTC 2024), Entry for Willie McCarthy, pg. 466/742, line 420 (age 21), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Oklahoma
1903 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3Y-MZF9 : Mon Mar 11 01:11:35 UTC 2024), Entry for Es-Tah-Sop-Py, pg. 554/742, line 408 (agge 22), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Oklahoma
1906 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQW-ST6T : Fri Mar 08 20:01:55 UTC 2024), Entry for Willie McCarthy, pg. 16/724, line 394 (age 24 Incompetent), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Oklahoma
1910 May 14 - "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPXP-W68 : Sat Mar 09 15:10:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Emily Waite and Mrs, Mrs Womack, 1910, pg. 80/108/2, line 58 (age 28, Note parents from Oklahoma), census of the United States Indian Insane Asylum, Canton Township, Lincoln County, South Dakota
1910 Aug 12 - Camp Verde School: 1910-27; Canton Insane Asylum: 1910-22, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155854182?objectPage=675, line 81, Table 7 Form of mental disease of those admitted since opening of Asylum
1910 Aug 12 - Camp Verde School: 1910-27; Canton Insane Asylum: 1910-22, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155854182?objectPage=677, line 35, Table 8 Form of mental disease of those in Asylum, June 30, 1910, revised
1912 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGKH-GYCN : Fri Mar 08 06:21:32 UTC 2024), Entry for Willie McCarthy, pg. 500/724, line 355 (age 31 Incompt), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Okla.
1913 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGY9-QJVP : Sat Mar 09 05:19:47 UTC 2024), Entry for Willie McCarthy, pg. 622/724, line 348 (age 32 Incomp), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Okla.
1914 Jun 30 "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQB-7HJZ : Sun Mar 10 19:48:57 UTC 2024), Entry for Willie McCarthy, pg. 29/675, line 373 (b=1881), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Okla.
1915 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3R-VM54 : Sat Mar 09 04:24:21 UTC 2024), Entry for Willie McCarthy, pg. 163/675, line 360 (b=1881), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Okla.
1916 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTH-SV3P : Mon Mar 11 01:10:00 UTC 2024), Entry for Willie McCarthy, pg. 293/675, line 347 (b=1881), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Okla.
1917 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll320unit/page/n422/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 423/672, line 339 (b=1881), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Okla.
1917 Oct 1 - Camp Verde School: 1910-27; Canton Insane Asylum: 1910-22, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155854182?objectPage=774, Line 22, Asylum for Insane Indians School census
1918 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll320unit/page/n557/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 558/672, line 349 (b=1881), census of the Osage Indians, Osage Agency, Okla.
1918 Jun 30 - Camp Verde School: 1910-27; Canton Insane Asylum: 1910-22, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155854182?objectPage=886, line 23, Canton Asylum male census
Additional Reading:
1) Herrera, Allison. ““Killers of the Flower Moon” Puts Osage Reign of Terror in Spotlight, but There’s More to the Story.” KOSU, 11 Oct. 2023, www.kosu.org/history/2023-10-11/killers-of-the-flower-moon-puts-osage-reign-of-terror-in-spotlight-but-theres-more-to-the-story.
2) Schilling, Vincent. “How Marriage and Murder Were Used to Steal Osage Oil Riches.” HISTORY, 23 Oct. 2023, www.history.com/news/osage-murders-reign-terror-husbands-guardians.
3) Blakemore, Erin. “The True Story of the Osage Murders—and Why so Many Remain Unsolved.” History, 15 Sept. 2023, www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/osage-murders-killers-of-the-flower-moon.
4) Wikipedia contributors. "Osage Indian murders." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Sep. 2024. Web. 29 Sep. 2024.
5) Burns, Louis F. “Osage (Tribe) | the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.” Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS, www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=OS001.
Es-Tah-Sop-Py 'Willie' McCarthy's Timeline
1880 |
July 1880
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Osage Reservation, Indian Territory, United States
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1918 |
June 30, 1918
Age 37
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Canton, Lincoln County, SD, United States
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