I don't have any information on how the Indians were treated back in the old days, but I can speak for our current times. My ex-Mother-in-law, who is 65, is half Indian (either Cherokee or Choctaw) from NM and does not admit to being of Indian decent and will not discuss it. She thinks that people look down on Indians, and maybe they did while she was growing up. Where she grew up at in NM, I guess it was common for people of Indian decent to learn spanish and pass themselves off as Mexicans, which was apparently more acceptable than being Indian. I only found out this little bit of info when I shared a bottle of wine with her one evening! I do know that a lot of people her age and older are still "old school" as far as being prejudiced. My own father and grandfather are of that old school and I can't tell you how many disagreements that I've had with my dad on the subject. I'm proud that my 16 year old daughter has that Indian heritage, but I just wish we had more information on that branch of the family tree. I also have a Cherokee gg grandmother on my moms side of the family from Missouri, but because something like that was so hush-hush back then, the elders in the family won't even discuss the situation or share any information. It's such a horrible shame that Indians felt like they had to deny their wonderful heritage. Their family stories, knowledge, and traditions should have been written down or somehow shared with future generations to come. Joyce

Hi, I have a strange genealogy story that includes and Indian element. Would a person list themselves (or a census taker) as an Indian if they weren't?? My gr. gr. gr. grandfather married a much much younger woman after his first wife died and I have never seen anything about her being Indian until 1880. My gr. gr. gr. grandfather, David W. Sheldon married Mary S. or E. King on 20 DEC 1875 in Lowell, Seneca Co., Ohio. They had one son, Issac Truman SHELDON born about 1876. David W. was age 71 when they married. He died 12 JUNE 1877 in New London twp., Huron Co., Ohio. He was buried in Fitchville. Mary, his 2nd wife sued some of his children for his estate and won. Family stories say she jumped up and down on his bed when he ill so he would change his will because of her new baby. Then before the will was settled, Mary married again to Henry GRIFFIN on 13 JULY 1878 in Sandusky Co., Ohio. She had a daughter named Dollie/Dolly Griffin with Henry about 1879.Then I think Henry GRIFFIN died/divorced but I do not know where might even be Lorain county, OH for all I know. THEN I found her in the 1880 census: >Census Place: Tolono, Champaign, Illinois >Source: FHL Film 1254180 National Archives Film >T9-0180 Page 402A > Rel. Race Age Birthplace >Oscar DAVIS Self W 25 IN Occ: Laborer > Fa: IN Mo: >IN >Pet E. DAVIS Wife I 26 OH Occ: Keep. House Fa: -- Mo: >PA >Isaac T. SHELDON SSon I 3 OH > Fa: RI Mo: OH >Dollie GRIFFIN SDau I 1 OH Fa: OH Mo: OH She had moved to IL and married again but then later Oscar DAVIS citing abuse. By this time she was going by Pet which is a nick name, I saw somewhere. Anyway, in the above census whe is listed as Indian as are her son and daughter. But I have found no other record that she was an Indian. Is it possible that a census taker would list a person as an Indian if they were not Indian??? (Newest lead is I think she may possibly have married again but not sure in champaign Co., IL which may or may not be her: CONNELL, GEORGE W. married Mrs. Pet E. Griffin in CHAMPAIGN 08/31/1886 004/0179 but haven't been able to track that one yet.) If I ever track it and found out is she is actually an Indian, I would love it! I would love to have Indian heritage that I could prove even by a gr. gr. gr. step-grandmother. thanks, bonnie __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced search. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250

My daughter in law is 100% native American Indian. She and her entire family are extremely protective of their background and their family "secrets". Getting her to just give me a pedigree chart was a major undertaking. Once I had it, asking questions of the older generation usually got you nothing but inconsistencies, as they really don't want to talk about their "elders". What I've learned I've gotten from lots of hard work and determination. Their home is full of Indian "art" and memento's but getting them to talk is almost impossible. Most of them (dau in laws family) have moved into the UP (upper Pen) of Michigan now to live on the reservation - in their words - "to have peace". It is a challenge to research the Indian heritage but it can be done. Karen -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 4:38 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [OHLORAIN] Re: Indian Lineage I don't have any information on how the Indians were treated back in the old days, but I can speak for our current times. My ex-Mother-in-law, who is 65, is half Indian (either Cherokee or Choctaw) from NM and does not admit to being of Indian decent and will not discuss it. She thinks that people look down on Indians, and maybe they did while she was growing up. Where she grew up at in NM, I guess it was common for people of Indian decent to learn spanish and pass themselves off as Mexicans, which was apparently more acceptable than being Indian. I only found out this little bit of info when I shared a bottle of wine with her one evening! I do know that a lot of people her age and older are still "old school" as far as being prejudiced. My own father and grandfather are of that old school and I can't tell you how many disagreements that I've had with my dad on the subject. I'm proud that my 16 year old daughter has that Indian heritage, but I just wish we had more information on that branch of the family tree. I also have a Cherokee gg grandmother on my moms side of the family from Missouri, but because something like that was so hush-hush back then, the elders in the family won't even discuss the situation or share any information. It's such a horrible shame that Indians felt like they had to deny their wonderful heritage. Their family stories, knowledge, and traditions should have been written down or somehow shared with future generations to come. Joyce ==== OHLORAIN Mailing List ==== Search the Archive of Messages for OHLORAIN Mailing List http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/OHLORAIN