Sarah Short Woman

Sarah was a Cheyenne woman of the Cheyenne River (Lakota) Sioux Tribe

The blue represents the thunder clouds above the world where live the thunderbirds who control the four winds. The rainbow is for the Cheyenne River Sioux people who are keepers of the most Sacred Calf Pipe, a gift from the White Buffalo Calf Maiden. The eagle feathers at the edges at the rim of the world represent the spotted eagle who is the protector of all Lakota. The two pipes fused together are for unity. One pipe is for the Lakota, the other for all the other Indian Nations. The Yellow hoops represent the Sacred Hoop, which shall not be broken. The Sacred Calf Pipe bundle in red represents Wakan Tanka – The Great Mystery. All the colors of the Lakota are visible. The red, yellow, black, and white represent the four major races. The blue is for heaven and the green for Mother Earth.
– Sydney Keith
Four of the seven Lakota bands (Minnicoujou, Itazipco, Siha Sapa, and Oohenumpa) are located on the land known as the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. The old main home camps of the Minnicoujou were in the towns of Cherry Creek, Bridger, and Red Scaffold in the western area of the reservation. Cherry Creek is believed to be the oldest permanent community in South Dakota. The home camps of the Oohenumpa went from Iron Lightning, Thunder Butte, Bear Creek, and White Horse along the Moreau (Owl) River. The Siha Sapa located around the Promise and Blackfoot areas in the northeast part of the reservation. Green Grass and On The Tree communities were home to the Itazipco. Green Grass is the home to the sacred Buffalo Calf Pipe.

When the Great Sioux Reservation was created, the US government established agencies where the Indian agents distributed annuities and monitored the various populations associated with these agencies. The Cheyenne River Agency was established on the Missouri, ten miles south of the Cheyenne River, to serve approximately 6,000 Minneconjou, Itazipco (Sans Arc), Sihasapa (Blackfeet) and Oohanunpa (Two Kettle) Lakota (Lawson 1973, p. 39). In 1889, Cheyenne River Reservation was established when the Great Sioux Reservation was broken up.

Source: "Western Sioux reservations after the 1889 cession", Ostler 2004, Map 4, p. 229

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Cheyenne River Indians are descendants of family members who participated in every major event in early Lakota history including the 1743, arrival of the French explorers La Verendrye Brothers Expedition and 1804, meeting of Lewis and Clark Expedition; 1854 Grattan Incident; 1851 and 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty conferences; 1862 Fool Soldier Band rescue of captives; Bozeman Trail Wars – (including the 1866 Fetterman Fight; 1867 Wagon Box Fight; 1867 Hayfield Fight); 1876 Battle of the Rosebud and Battle of the Little Bighorn; 1876 Slim Buttes Battle; 1876-1881 trek to Canada and surrenders from Canada; Feb. 1877 surrender/arrival at Cheyenne River of Spotted Elk (Si Tanka/Big Foot); April-May 1877 surrenders of band leaders Crazy Horse, Hump, Touch The Cloud, Lame Deer, and Dull Knife (Chief of Cheyenne Tribe); September 5, 1877 Crazy Horse killing at Camp Robinson; 1887 Dawes Allotment Act and beginning of Reservation era; 1889-90 Ghost Dance movement/Sitting Bull killing at Standing Rock and Wounded Knee Massacre of Spotted Elk (aka Si Tanka/Big Foot and his followers.

Additional Reading:
1. Govaerts, Lotte. “Oahe Dam Impacts: Cheyenne River Reservation.” Rogers Archaeology Lab , 6 Mar. 2024, nmnh.typepad.com/rogers_archaeology_lab/. Accessed 13 Aug. 2024.

Biography:
Born Short Woman to unknown parents sometime between 1847 and 1854, it appears from census reports that this woman spent most of her life alone. Census reports from 1886 do not show a husband, but they do show one daughter named Yellow Woman bc. 1874 who moved out or got married when of age approximately 17. After that, she is alone. Her age in the censuses is all over the place, and how old she is, is effectively not precisely known.

In her book Vanished in Hiawatha, Carla Joinson states that she died at 86 on February 21, 1936, which would make her year of birth 1850, effectively midway between source information, but the Washington Times newspaper of February 27 reporting her death suggests she was 89 or bc. 1847. Ms. Joinson also states that Sarah was committed from the Cheyenne Agency on February 17, 1933, only 10 months before the Canton Asylum was closed. She was diagnosed with senile psychosis (senile psychosis also known as senile dementia of the aged; which results from degeneration of the brain in the absence of cerebrovascular disease. Often referred to as a neurocognitive disorder, which includes Alzheimer's, and includes symptoms of memory lapses, a waning attention span, and a hard time communicating. A person with this disease is not 'crazy.' They are ill.)

Sarah was transferred to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Washington D.C. on December 22, 1933, and reports seem to indicate she died there on February 21, 1936.

Her profile is part of the The Canton Asylum One Place Study.

Research Notes:
-The English name Sarah was introduced in the June 30, 1892 census of the Cheyenne River Tribe. Before and After 1892 she is only "Short Woman".
-Her age is unknown, she died on February 21, 1936

• The Washington Times obit states that she was 89 at her death, b=1847
• Carla Joinson in her book Vanished in Hiawatha states she was 86 at death, b=1850
• The later census reports indicate her birth was b=1854

-The 1935 supplemental roll has no changes for Short Woman
-Sarah Short Woman is NOT in the 1937 Indian census for the Cheyenne River Agency which confirms her death in 1936.
-While there are four bands of Lakota living on the Cheyenne River REservation, Indian census reports make no distinction of bands
-I have NOT researched daughters Yellow Woman and Fasten On.
___________
Sources:

1886 Dec 21 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll033unit/page/n10/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 11/497, line 48 Short Woman (age 39, daughter Yellow Woman age 12), census of the Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1887 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll033unit/page/n101/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 102/497, line 48 Short Woman (age 40, daughter Yellow Woman age 3), census of the Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1890 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll033unit/page/n214/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 215/497, line 48 Short Woman (age 43, daughter Yellow Woman age 11), census of the Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1891 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll033unit/page/n353/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 354/497, line 170 Short Woman (age 45, daughter Yellow Woman age 12), census of the Sioux of different Bands, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1892 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll034unit/page/n12/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 13/808, line 188 (as Short Woman, Sarah age 45 Widow, daughter Yellow Woman has disappeared), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1894 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll034unit/page/n140/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 141/808, line 188 (age 41, Widow), census of the Sioux, Forest City Agency, South Dakota

1895 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll034unit/page/n240/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 241/808, line 991 (age 42, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1896 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll034unit/page/n341/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 342/808, line 984 (age 43, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1897 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll034unit/page/n444/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 445/808, line 973 (age 44, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1898 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll034unit/page/n546/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 547/808, line 983 (age 45, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1899 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll034unit/page/n646/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 647/808, line 971 (age 46, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1900 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll034unit/page/n745/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 746/808, line 966 (age 46, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1901 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll035unit/page/n39/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 40/815, line 937 (age 47, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1902 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll035unit/page/n136/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 137/815, line 937 (age 48, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1903 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll035unit/page/n233/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 234/815, line 928 (age 49, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1904 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll035unit/page/n331/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 332/815, line 922 (age 50, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll035unit/page/n424/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 425/815, line 926-291 (age 51, Widow), census of the Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1906 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll035unit/page/n515/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 516/815, line 291 (age 52, Widow), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1907 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll035unit/page/n625/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 626/815, line 291 (as Short Man in error, age 53, Widow), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1909 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll035unit/page/n742/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 743/815, line 291 (age 55, Widow), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1910 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll036unit/page/n55/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 56/723, line 291 (age 56, Widow), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1911 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll036unit/page/n265/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 266/723, line 291 (age 57, Widow), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1912 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll036unit/page/n344/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 345/723, line 291 (age 58, Widow), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1913 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll036unit/page/n479/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 480/723, line 760 (b=1854), census of the Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, South Dakota

1914 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll036unit/page/n623/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 624/723, line 757 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1915 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll037unit/page/n46/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 47/935, line 746 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1916 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll037unit/page/n295/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 296/935, line 2315 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, So. Dak.

1917 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll037unit/page/n365/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 366/935, line 291 (age 62), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1918 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll037unit/page/n534/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 535/935, line TK291 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1919 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll037unit/page/n726/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 727/935, line TK291-657 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1920 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll037unit/page/n871/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 872/935, line 291-664 (b=1854), census of the Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1921 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n20/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 21/988, line 291-612 (b=1854), census of the Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1922 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n103/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 104/988, line 291-585 (b=1854), census of the Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1923 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n196/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 197/988, line 291-580 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1924 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n301/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 302/988, line 291-564 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1925 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n408/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 409/988, line 291-553 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1926 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n521/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 522/988, line 291-529 (b=1854), census of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1927 Jul 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n715/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 716/988, line 2552 (b=1854), census of the Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1928 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n827/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 828/988, line 2477 (b=1854), census of the Sioux Indians, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1929 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll038unit/page/n960/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 961/988, line 2518 (b=1854), census of the Sioux tribe, Cheyenne River Reservation, Cheyenne River Agency, S.D.

1930 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll039unit/page/n105/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 106/822, line 2678 (age 76), census of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, Cheyenne Agency jurisdiction, S.D.

1931 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll039unit/page/n345/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 346/822, line 2656 (age 77), census of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, Cheyenne Agency jurisdiction, S.D.

1932 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll039unit/page/n345/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 717/822, line 2568 (age 78), census of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, Cheyenne Agency jurisdiction, S.D.

1933 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll040unit/page/n224/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg.225/1076, line 2628 (age 79), census of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, Cheyenne Agency jurisdiction, S.D.

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 34, Canton Asylum female census

1933 Dec 22 - Joinson, Carla. Vanished in Hiawatha: The Story of the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians. University of Nebraska Press, 2016, pg. 346, Appendix C

1934 Apr 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll040unit/page/n513/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 514/1076, line 2658 (age 80), census of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, Cheyenne Agency jurisdiction, S.D.

1936 Feb 26 - Saint Elizabeths Hospital Cemetery Restoration Project, Trinkley, M., Hacker, D. Southerland, N., PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT OF  ST. ELIZABETHS EAST CAMPUS CEMETERY, WASHINGTON, DC 1–102 (2009). Columbia, SC; Chicora Foundation, Inc. https://chicora.org/pdfs/RC514.pdf

1936 Feb 27 - The Washington Times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]), 27 Feb. 1936. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1936-02-27/ed-1/...> The Washington Times. [volume], February 27, 1936, Page 26, Image 26

1937 Jan 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll040unit/page/n513/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 1003/1076, line 2658 (age 82 at death), Supplemental census of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, Cheyenne Agency jurisdiction, S.D. Record of deaths occurring between January 1, 1936, to December 31, 1936, of Indians enrolled at jurisdiction: date of death is recorded as 1936 Feb 12 cause of death "Insane"? Further, it reports Sarah at the juridiction! (Curator Note: this date differs from other recorded dates of 1936 Feb. 21, perhaps a transposition of numerals?)