Zo-mod-sie 'Meda' Ensign

Meda was an Eastern Shoshone woman from the Wind River Reservation

The Wind River Indian Reservation is home to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes. Fort Washakie is the oldest community on the reservation. Originally called Fort Brown, the name was changed in 1878 to honor Chief Washakie, who negotiated the treaty establishing the reservation. The legendary Buffalo Soldiers, the name given to U.S. Cavalrymen of African descent, were stationed at Fort Washakie in the late 1800s. One of the most famous women in American history, Sacajawea guided Lewis and Clark as they made their voyage across North America. She lies buried among her people at Sacajawea’s Cemetery on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fort Washakie.

Recommended Reading:
1) Blust, Jr., Dick. “Three Photos, a Murder and a Murky Outcome: Troubled Times on Wind River | WyoHistory.org.” Wyohistory.org, Wyoming Historical Society, 2022, www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/three-photos-murder-and-murky-outcome-troubled-times-wind-river. Accessed 14 Sept. 2024.
2) “Chief Washakie | Wyoming History Day.” Www.wyominghistoryday.org, www.wyominghistoryday.org/theme-topics/chief-washakie.
3) Wikipedia contributors. "Eastern Shoshone." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 8 Aug. 2024. Web. 14 Sep. 2024.

Biography:
Born January 8, 1889, as Zomodsie, aka Meda Ensign, daughter of Shoshone Indians Nonope Ensign (1879) and his wife Nosee (1855). Meda had two siblings, sisters Tishe and Tyron.

According to Carla Joinson in her book Vanished in Hiawatha, Meda Ensign was admitted to the Canton Asylum on March 22, 1913, and diagnosed with psychosis and idiocy (Psychosis is a mental disorder that can be distinguished from idiocy, which is a lack of mind. While idiocy and imbecility are not psychoses, people with these conditions can still develop transient psychotic episodes. Psychosis is a major personality disorder that involves a breakdown of the mind and can include symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, and incoherence. Idiocy is a lack of mind that can result from injury or disease during development. People with idiocy may have a history of living in poverty and misfortune (see the note regarding a potential tragedy in 1910).

In 1923 she contracted a case of trachoma, which is a bacterial infection that causes a range of eye problems, including pain, scarring, and blindness.

When the Canton Asylum was closed, Meda was transferred on December 22, 1933, to St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington D.C., where she died on October 14, 1935, due to complications with the disease Hemorrhagic pyelonephritis, a kidney infection that can be treated with antibiotics and often requires hospitalization. Records from St. Elizabeths show that she was buried in the East Campus Cemetery there.

Her profile is part of the https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Canton_Asylum.

Research Notes:
-Death date 10.14.1935 per census NOT 10.11.1935 in Table 2 of the preservation study.
-Something significant happened between 30 June 1907 and 30 June 1908, the family was entirely split up
-The surname Ensign was not found in censuses before 1900

__________
Sources:

1900 Jul - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n44/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 45/747, line 526 (age 11), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1901 Jul - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n63/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 64/747, line 65 (age 12), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1902 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n130/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 141/747, line 209 (age 13 as Mode), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1903 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n236/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 237/747, line 212 (age 14, father has disappeared), census of the Shoshone Tribe of Indians, Shoshone Agency

1904 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n307/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 308/747, line 217 (age 15), census of the Shoshoni Tribe, Shoshoni Agency, Wyoming (Curator Note: Tishe is crossed out, she may have died during the past year.)

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n378/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 379/747, line 219 (age 16), census of the Shoshoni Tribe, Shoshoni Agency, Wyoming

1906 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n416/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 417/747, line 219 (age 17 as Mode), census of the Shoshoni Tribe, Shoshoni Agency, Wyoming (Curator Note: sister Tyron is now struck through, she may have died)

1907 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n483/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 484/747, line 219 (age 18), census of the Shoshoni Tribe of Indians, Shoshoni Agency, Wyoming (Curator Note: Tishe (12) and Tyron (7) are back in the census...)

1908 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n590/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 591/747, line 225 (age 19, now as Head and NO family), census of the Shoshoni Tribe of Indians, Shoshoni Agency, Wyoming (Curator Note: Tyron (8) is shown as Head, no mother)

1909 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n651/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 652/747, line 232 (age 20, now as Head), census of the Shoshoni Tribe of Indians, Shoshoni Agency, Wyoming

1910 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll499unit/page/n701/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 702/747, line 236 (age 21), Shoshoni census...

1912 June 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll500unit/page/n67/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 68/720, line 228 (age 23), census of the Shoshoni Indians, Shoshoni Agency, Wyo.

1913 June 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll500unit/page/n167/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 168/720, line 220 (age 24), census of the Shoshoni Indians, Shoshoni Agency, Wyo.

1914 June 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll500unit/page/n269/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 270/720, line 211 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1915 June 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll500unit/page/n374/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 375/720, line 210 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyoming

1916 June 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll500unit/page/n479/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 480/720, line 212 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyoming

1917 June 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll500unit/page/n580/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 581/720, line 217 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyoming

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=776, line 54, census of the Asylum for Insane Indians School

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=879, line 47, Canton Asylum female census

1919 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll501unit/page/n68/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 69/795, line 223 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1919 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=887, line 9, Canton Asylum female census

1920 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll501unit/page/n179/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 180/795, line 215 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1920 Jan 30 - "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6J7-FND : Wed Jul 24 22:20:07 UTC 2024), Entry for Meda Ensign, 1920, pg. 652/1130, line 75 (age 27 b=1893?), census of the Asylum for Indians, Canton Township, Lincoln County, South Dakota

1920 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=899, line 11, Canton Asylum female census

1921 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll501unit/page/n305/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 306/795, line 224 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1921 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68Z4-CZQB : Sat Mar 09 21:31:13 UTC 2024), Entry for Meda Ensign, 1921, pg. 509/522, line 13, Canton Asylum female census

1922 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll501unit/page/n414/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 415/795, line 239 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1922 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=1042, line 13, Canton Asylum female census

1923 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll501unit/page/n473/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 474/795, line 245 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1923 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=32, line 13, Canton Asylum female census

1924 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll501unit/page/n585/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 586/795, line 241 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1924 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68Z4-F7BP : Wed Jul 10 17:34:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Meda Ensign, 1924, pg. 516/522, line 15, Canton Asylum female census

1925 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll501unit/page/n698/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 699/795, line 245 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyo.

1925 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=117, line 14, Canton Asylum female census

1926 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll502unit/page/n18/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 19/528, line 244 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Agency, Wyoming

1926 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=168, line 15, Canton Asylum female census

1927 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll502unit/page/n132/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 133/528, line 249 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Indian Agency, Wyoming

1927 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=186, line 15, Canton Asylum female census

1928 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll502unit/page/n249/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 250/528, line 253 (b=1889), census of the Shoshone Indians, Shoshone Indian Agency, Wyoming

1928 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=211, line 14, Canton Asylum female census

1929 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll502unit/page/n463/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 464/528, line 253 (b=1.8.1889), census of the Shoshone Tribe, Wind River Indian Reservation, Shoshone Indian Agency, Wyoming

1929 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=329, line 14, Canton Asylum female census

1930 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll503unit/page/n25/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 26/623, line 257 (age 41), census of the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone jurisdiction

1930 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=351, line 15, Canton Asylum female census

1931 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll503unit/page/n197/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 198/623, line 257 (age 42 @ Canton town, Lincoln, So. Dak.), census of the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone jurisdiction

1931 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=371, line 14, Canton Asylum female census

1932 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll503unit/page/n197/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 380/623, line 273 (age 43 @ Canton town, Lincoln, So. Dak.), census of the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone jurisdiction

1932 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=391, line 13, Canton Asylum female census

1933 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll504unit/page/n31/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 32/738, line 50 (age 44 @ Canton town, Lincoln, So. Dak.), census of the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone jurisdiction

1933 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=428, line 14, Canton Asylum female census

1934 Apr 1 -1933 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll504unit/page/n31/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 32/733, line 50 (age 44 @ Canton Town, Lincoln, So. Dak.), census of the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone jurisdiction

1934 Dec 31 to 1936 Jan 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll504unit/page/n503/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 504/733, line 262 (age 46 confirmation of death 10.14.1935), supplemental census of the Wind River Reservation, Shoshone jurisdiction