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Post by bichons on Feb 2, 2014 10:58:20 GMT -6
Looking for a Louis Wood in the Portage, Wood, Marathon area of Wisconsin born Quebec/Canada West 1832 (no records found just death, the place he is from changes on the census) married in Wisconsin 1863 or so. I found his name in the WI Historical Site for a biography and the Wood family listed in the Wisconsin Creoles by Jeanne & Lester Rentmeester but I don't have the book and don't know if this is my past relative a gr grandparent. I would love anyone's help.
Bichons
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Post by Rivergal on Feb 6, 2014 22:47:49 GMT -6
I'm not sure what you mean. How can we help you to know if a Louis Wood is your relative? What other information would confirm this in your own mind?
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Post by Bichons on Feb 10, 2014 18:23:30 GMT -6
Hi,
Thanks for your response:
I went to the library and I found this book The Wisconsin Creoles. The book indicates a Frenchman named Louis Wood and a full Native American See A Kau, Winnebago had a son b. 1836 named Louis Wood. This was in Wisconsin, the mom and child lived for awhile in the Prairie Du Chein area with the St. Cyr family. The history from my father is his childhood doctor told my dad his great grandpa was a Frenchman and his wife an Indian. This matches the story in the family.
I am confused as Louis Wood does not show up in any state report until the 1863 reported to be in the Civil War, then 1870 state census which he reports he and parents are born in Canada and he arrived 1862. His mom's first name on his death certificate is Sara, her name was See A Kau, so I can see how See A maybe americanized to Sara. But on his wedding certificate he lists his parents as Augustus and Eliza -Augustus was another person living in the area with other children not Louis. I know there was animosty between the white settlers and those of creole descent so perhaps he was hiding as a white person. Some of his descendents are listed as white or black making things even more confusing.
Does anyone know if this was a practise in the time by mixed people to try to be white? Does this sound to anyone like I have the right person?
Sue
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Post by Rivergal on Feb 13, 2014 11:13:09 GMT -6
I don't think that in "The Wisconsin Creoles" the authors meant black people but persons of French and Indian ancestry. I know that there were people named "Wood" in Prairie du Chien because some girls by that surname married into the Valley family. The Valleys were French from Canada. I suppose you have your reasons for believing Louis was black or part black. Let me see if I can find him on a census.
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Post by Rivergal on Feb 13, 2014 11:18:59 GMT -6
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Post by Bichonss on Mar 29, 2014 8:48:33 GMT -6
Thanks so much for the lead. I did find Louis Wood (his name goes back and forth Lewis or Louis) in these books which lead me to find the original information. Now I have yet to determine this is the same man.
He was born in the same time frame, my ancestor Louis was always listed as white in the census listing his birth, his parents births French Canada in the census. His death certificate indicates white although there are other discrepancy on the death certificate regarding his data. Could he, as a person who is 1/2 Native American, pass as a white person his life from about 1862 to his death. Is it possible this may be the Louis Wood of Prairie du Chein. I lost him from Prairie du Chein in 1839 to when he re appears in 1867 getting married in Bergen are of Marathon County, WI area.
I would appreciate your thoughts.
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Post by Rivergal on Mar 29, 2014 21:22:38 GMT -6
Certainly, a mixed-blood person could pass as white. In fact, some of them, described in writing, did not have an Indian appearance at all--were even blonds. Regardless of how they appeared, the people of mixed ancestry were not prevented from living as non-Indians. Those who preferred to live with the tribes of their mothers were able to do that, too. Being the child of a white father and a native mother was quite common in the Midwest in the 19th Century.
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Post by Rivergal on Mar 30, 2014 8:35:53 GMT -6
He was still in Marathon County in 1873. Here is his property description: www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/neighbors/marathon/land/26N_4E_Day.htmI found him still in Bergen in the 1875 Wisconsin State Census, as well: Name: Lewis Woods Event Place: Bergen Town, Marathon, Wisconsin Number of White Males: 4 Number of White Females: 1 Number of Black Males: Number of Black Females: Line Number: 17 GS Film number: 1032692 Digital Folder Number: 4245043 Image Number: 00420 Did he die in Marathon County and do you know where he is buried? |
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