John Sitting Bull
John Sitting Bull in 1926 by David F. Barry
Born
Refuses-them (Nurcan)

ca. 1867
Northern Plains, US
DiedJune 10, 1955 (1955-06-11) (aged 88)
Rapid City, South Dakota, US
Occupations
  • Circus performer
  • actor
  • farmer
Parents
  • Bear Louse (father)
  • Seen-by-her-Nation-woman (mother)

John Sitting Bull (c. 1867 – June 10, 1955) was an American farmer, circus performer and actor. He was the stepson of the Lakota leader Sitting Bull.

Biography

John Sitting Bull was a son of Bear Louse and of Seen-by-her-Nation-woman. He was born c. 1867[1][2] on the northern Great Plains region of the United States. His native name was Refuses-them (Lakota: Nurcan). He was a deaf mute. Upon his father's death his mother remarried to Hunkpapa chief Sitting Bull who adopted him.[3]

After his stepfather's surrender with 186 members of his family and followers to the United States on July 19, 1881,[4] the band was detained as prisoners of war for two years at Fort Randall in Dakota Territory. They were allowed in May 1883 to rejoin the rest of the Hunkpapa Lakota band at Standing Rock Reservation. After the murder of Sitting Bull on December 15, 1890, the surviving immediate family relocated in early 1891 to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation settling in the White Clay district.[5]

John Sitting Bull was a performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West touring for several years the United States and Canada. In the 1950s towards the end of his life he acted in bit roles in several Hollywood movies, such as "Tomahawk" (1951), "The Savage" (1952) and "Chief Crazy Horse" (1955).[6]

John Sitting Bull was extensively interviewed by artist David Humphreys Miller in the 1940s who also painted several portraits of him. In his book “Ghost Dance” (1959, Duell, Sloane & Pearce, New York) David Humphreys Miller claimed that it was John Sitting Bull who had accidentally discharged a rifle when soldiers of the 7th cavalry attempted to disarm the fugitive Lakota under chief Spotted Elk (Big Foot) that resulted in the Wounded Knee Massacre. However, most historians disagree.[7]

When not touring with the circus, John Sitting Bull primarily lived with his niece, Angelina LaPointe on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.[8] He died in Rapid City, South Dakota on June 10, 1955.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1950 United States Census, April 11, 1950, South Dakota, Shannon County, ED 57-7, page 10, line 23, age stated as 84
  2. ↑ United States Social Security Administration, January 1941 application for a social security number, recorded as John Sittingbull, born 1867 in the "Northwest", social security number 503-18-8819
  3. ↑ Sitting Bull: His Life and Legacy by Ernie LaPointe, Gibbs Smith, 2009
  4. ↑ Sitting Bull Surrender Census, the Lakotas at Standing Rock Agency, 1881 by Ephriam D. Dickson III, South Dakota Historical Society Press, Pierre SD, 2010
  5. ↑ Indian Census, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903
  6. ↑ "Los Angeles Times", January 5, 1991, letter to the editor by artist David Humphreys Miller commenting on the December 29, 1990, article titled "Wounded Knee Massacre"
  7. ↑ Ghost Dance by David Humphreys Miller, Duell, Sloane & Pearce, New York, 1959
  8. ↑ 1950 United States Census, April 11, 1950, South Dakota, Shannon County, ED 57-7, page 10, lines 18 through 23, living as a lodger with his niece Angeline LaPointe and her family
  9. ↑ John Sitting Bull death notice in “The Huronite and Daily Plainsman", Huron SD, June 12, 1955, page 6
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