A History

of the

Captain Hendrick Aupaumut Chapter

 (This is an attempt to create a history of the chapter.  Harley Taft Green did the vast majority of the organizational work.)

The resolution founding the chapter at Green Bay Fox River Valley was dated 25 July 1969.  The charter was dated 24 Oct. 1969 and signed by James B. Gardiner President General. The Charter Night was held at the Beaumont Hotel in Green Bay.  Nearly all the chapter members were present.  Also in attendance was Pres. Gen. James Gardiner of New York, Past Pres. Gen. Len Young Smith of Illinois. State Pres. Ron Baymiller, State Sec. Niles Allen and a number of other state officers.  Members of other chapters also were present.

 A number of awards were presented.  The Silver Good Citizenship award was presented to Rev. Joe Head for his efforts with  the Liberty Bell program.  He visited schools with a replica of the Liberty Bell and explained its significance.  The bell is now on display at the National SAR Headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.  Another Silver Good Citizenship medal was presented to Fr. Ansel Keefe, 32nd Division Chaplain.  The SAR Medal of appreciation was presented to Mrs. Berniece Miller of Bowler and to Mrs. Frederick Trowbridge of Green Bay.

 Mrs. Miller is a Stockbridge Indian who provided information about both Capt. Hendrick Aupaumut and Jacob Konkapot who both served in the Revolutionary War. There is a most interesting museum in Bowler that deals with much of this history.  Mrs. Trowbrige was helpful in the location of potential members for the chapter.

 Founding members of the chapter were George H. Crowell, Harley Taft Green, Harley Tomkins Green, Harold E. Gridley Jr., William E. Hammett, James Horn, Warren E. Jenkins, Charles J. Larson, Frederick N. Trowbridge Sr., Frederick N. Trowbridge Jr. and Robert D. Williams.

 The following are the Charter Members; Claude A. Burgard, David A. Burgard, John C. Gower, Harley Thomas Green, Donald E. Kelley and Samuel E. Kelley. Of these, three are still members of the chapter; Harley Taft Green, Donald Kelley and Charles J. Larson.

Officers elected were Harley Taft Green, President, Robert D. Williams, Vice President and Charles J. Larson, Secretary-Treasurer.

 The chapter officers through current year of 200-2001:

 Two members of the chapter have served as State President; Harley Green 1975-76 and Charles J. Larson1996-97. Claude Burgard served as State Treasurer. Green and Larson also have held other state offices during the 1970s.  Pastor Robert Miskomen served as State Chaplain in the 1970s.  David Larson was the first color guard commander.

 This year (2000-2001), Fr. Robert Carson is serving as State Chaplain, James Waid is currently 2^nd Vice President of the state SAR, and Charles Larson is Alternate Trustee of National SAR.  The current state C.A.R. President Travis Kuhlka is a member of the Aupaumut chapter.

 Three students from the chapter area have been state representatives in the national oration contest.  Russell Lowe 1976, Mark Howard 1977, and Douglas Snyder 1978.

 Records show that the first chapter picnic was held in 1976.  It was not a regular event until the past 15 years. The picnic is now a statewide event that includes some DAR and C.A.R. representation.  It has been held at the Larson farm near Amherst.

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(The following is a history of Capt. Hendrick Aupaumut for whom the chapter is named, compiled by Compatriot Harley T. Green in the 1970s.)

Captain Hendrick Aupaumut, a Stockbridge Indian, was born about 1757 and educated in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.  Well-versed in English, he became a translator and late in life edited a catechism, one of the very few things ever translated into the Stockbridge Indian language. His Revolutionary War Service and other military activity is presented in summary below:

 He enlisted June 23,1775 as a private in Captain Goodrich’s Indian company, Col. Pattersons’ regiment, which took part in the battle of Bunker Hill.

Records show that on July 11,1778, "fourteen muskets and one rifle received by Hendrick, Lieutenant, for Captain Ninhems’ Indian Company."

 On August 31,1778, American forces under the command of General George Washington engaged British forces at White Plains, New York. In this engagement, Captain Ninham, with his father and thirty other Stockbridge Indians, lost their lives.  At this time Hendrick Aupaumut was promoted to Captain and received a sword at the hands of General Washington. A letter of General Washington states "that Captain Hendrick and others of the Stockbridge Indians were in service with the army."  

Following the Revolutionary War, Captain Hendrick was recalled to the service of his country as an envoy to the still hostile Western tribes of Indians who had fought with the British.

 On May 8,1792, a letter from Secretary of War Knox to Captain Hendrick concludes, "the business on which you are employed is of high importance to the United States and honorable to yourself."

 On August 20,1794 Captain Hendrick was with General Anthony Wayne at the battle of Fallen Timbers and rendered valuable service.  During all this time Captain Hendrick acted on behalf of the United States as a mediator between the warring factions until the final treaty of peace was signed at Greenville, Ohio on August 3,1795.

 That the United States appreciated his services is evidenced by a letter written January 30, 1809 by Secretary of War Henry Dearborn, who wrote that if he would send  one of his sons and two other lads from his tribe to the Friends of Baltimore, the United States would pay for their schooling for a reasonable time.  He sent his son Solomon U. Hendrick and two other boys, who were given a good education.

 In December of 1808, Captain Hendrick was in Washington, D.C., accompanied by several of the Chiefs of the Western tribes, and at that time, President Thomas Jefferson confirmed a grant of land to the Stockbridge Indians.  At the same time, President Jefferson addressed a letter to Captain Hendrick, containing a message to his people.  In closing he says "my son Hendrick, deliver these words to your people. "

 Captain Hendrick was later with General William Harrison at the battle of Tippecanoe, when Chief Tecumseh was defeated.

During the War of 1812, Captain Hendrick rejoined the American army, fought with, and was favorably mentioned for his services with General Harrison. 

 In 1821, Solomon U. Hendrick, the Captains’ very promising son, who had attained a hereditary chieftainship, went to Green Bay, Wisconsin and made a purchase of six thousand acres of land from the Menomonee Indians, beginning at the foot of the Kaukauna rapids, on the east and south side of the river, extending up to Little Chute and back in the country for two and a half miles.

 Captain Hendrick remained in New York to settle matters for the tribe and in poor health departed in September 1829 for Kaukauna, Wisconsin.  He died in 1830.

  A missionary, the Rev. Cutting Marsh, in his report to the missionary society and published September,1830 in the Missionary Herald wrote," there has been considerable sickness among the Indians during the summer…a number of whom have died, one was Captain Hendrick, at the age of 72.  He was Head Chief of the nation.  Captain Hendrick possessed a strong and vigorous mind, and was one of the ablest counselors and speakers the nation ever had.  He was in the army of the United States at the taking of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, during the Revolution, and received a Captains commission from General George Washington.  From time to time he rendered important service to the United States."

 There have been many heroes of foreign nationalities remembered for their services to the United States during the Revolutionary War, including the von Steubens, the Kosciuszkos, the Lafayettes.  Statues have been erected, schools named after and parks dedicated to these men-- and rightly so.

 But Captain Hendrick Aupaumut, a native-born American leader and hero, who not only fought with distinction and honor for his country and people throughout his entire life, long after the end of the War of Independence, lies in an unmarked grave in a farm field that is annually plowed and planted with farm crops.

 Certainly, his memorial should be more than this.

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(The above was prepared by Compatriot Harley T. Green, who obtained  much of the information from an article written by Dr. H. B. Tanner and supplied to him by Compatriot Earl Tower, SAR National Society committee of Graves Registration.)

Since this Captain Hendrick Aupaumut material was compiled by Harley Green in the 1970s two markers regarding Aupaumut have been placed in Kaukauna.  One is in the downtown area, a Wisconsin historical marker such as is placed along waysides.  The other is located not too far from the grave area.  A number of homes have been built in the area of the grave site.  For photos and further information, click on this link: Patriot Grave Sites.

 The bulk of the credit for the founding of the chapter has to go to Harley Green.  He continues to be a valued member of the chapter.  His help in attempting this history is greatly appreciated.

 (The above information about the Capt. Hendrick Aupaumut Chapter SAR was prepared by Compatriot Charles J. Larson the Summer of 2000.)

 Updated on April 30, 2003