Omaha daily bee., 1885-03-16
THE WHITE CHIEF" GONE.
Major Frank ], North, Commander
,Of The Famous ''Pawnee Scouts"
Passes Away.
A Life of Danger, Daring and Ro-
nance Closed in the Midst of
His Family and Friends.

On Saturday last a telegram from j..
L. North, Esq, brought to this COM
munity the sad tidings that his brother,
Major Frank j. North, had died about
noon of that day In the city Of Columbus,
Neb,, Of congestion Of the lungs.
Frank j. North was born March 10,
1910, in Tompkins county, n. Y. His
father, Thomas j North, was sgeneralmer.
chsnt. Early in life deceased moved
with his family to Rlchland county,
Ohio, and in 1856 the family moved to
Omaha, Neb. The father was engaged
as q surveyor under contract with the
government, and on March 18th, 1857,
while so employed near Papllllon river,
he was caught in a terrific storm and
persisted. Thus, at the age CT II, Mr..
Frank j. North by the sad death of his
father, was left with his mother to super.
intend the extensive business in which
his father hal become engaged whereby
forty men were employed in clearing a
large tract of timber land, on which a
part of the city of Omaha now stands.
Frank took charge and kept this work
moving until It's completion.
In 1867 the deceased moved to
Florence, just above this city, where he
resided In the winter of 1S57-5S, and
went in the following summer to Colum.
bus, Neb.. while the family returned to
Ohio, and after about one years resi-.
dence there returned to Nebraska. At
Columbus Frank j. North began to
break prairie with teams taken with him
there, and did some farming. In the
fall of 1858 he joined a trapping party,
who established a camp 125 miles west of
Columbus, and remained there until the
spring of 1859, returning to Columbus
and farming during the summer, after
which he began freighting from Omaha
to Cottonwood Springs. In the spring
of 1860 he went to Denver, shortly
returned to Columbus, continued freight
ing for some time, and finally went to
the Pawnee reservation with a team to
work for the agent there. Having pre-.
viously become proficient in the Pawnee
language, Mr.. North soon secured q good
position at the agency as clerk, in which
position he renamed until August, 1864,
when he began the organization of q
company of Pawnee scouts, to be en-
rolled for ninety days. This organiza-
ton completed, he went with these SC uts
with General Samuel CARTS, serving un-
til his time expired as frat lieutenant.
Before bidding adieu to Lieut.. North
and his Scouts, so favorably thought was
Gen. CARTS of than and their control by
Lieut.. North, that without solicitation he
promised a captsin's commis!io to North,
which he rec aived October 10, 1864. He
Immediately recruited to a full quota a
separate, Independent company of Paw
nee scouts, which he led to Julesburg and
joined Gen. Conner, going out on the
Powder river campaign. Besldes a great
deal of scouting during the season, this
company killed more than 200 Indian
enemies without the loss of a man from
the ranks of the scouts, who attributed
this wonderful escape to the Great Spirit.
In 1865 Capt. North commanded
Camp Genoa, twenty-five miles west of
Columbus, remaining there until the
spring of 1866, when all volunteers wers
mustered out of service. Returning to
Columbus, Capt. North In the fall of
1866 was appointed rost-trader for the
Pawnee agency, where he remained until
the spring CT 1867. In March, 1867, he
again entered the service as major of a
battalion, he organizing 1t and appoint,
ing its officers. These troops served
along the Z. P. line until 1871 when they
were mustered out.
In the summer Of 1871 Major North
was made post guide and interpreter fol-
Camp Munson, In 1872 he was trans.
ferred to Fort D. A. Russell in Wyom-
ing, whers he served until 1875; Their
was transferred to Sidney Barracks where
he remained until August 9TH, 1876, wher
he wa, called to Chicsgo to report t.
General Sheridan and ordered to proceeC
to the Indian Territory and enli,t on
hundred Pawnee Indians as scouts TO
service in the department Of the Platte
This was done, aud he brought his Paw
nee scouts by rail to Sidney Barracks
where they were equipped for service
They were ordered to Red Cloud Agen
cy, where they participated In the cap
ture of Chief Rsd Cloud and his entlr
tribe of warriors. They then went wit
General Crook and served during tn
entire campaign of 1S7G-77; returned t
Sidney barracks until May LIST, 1877
when they were disbanded and returne
to the Indian Territory. Soon afte
Major North came to Omaha, formed
co.partnership with Hon. W. F. Cody
Buffalo Bill, under the firm name Q
Cody and North and embarked In tn
stock business, having accumulated $50
head of cattle which grazed on fv
rsnches, embracing an area of coun
try twenty-five miles In brsadt
by thirty in length, situated In tn
: Di,msl river re .tion, sixty-fv
/, miles north of North Platte City, 4
western Nebraska. On December 2t
1865, Major North married Miss Mar
L. Smith, In Columbus. She was Dor
In Hartford county, Connecticut, Jun
Is, l845. They have one daughter
/. Stella Ga lovely girl-now attendin
: Brownell Hall school, In Omaha, Dor
? April l6, 1869.
The tidings that flashed along tn
] wires Saturday fell upon the ears Of hi
T legions of friends all over this gres
western country. aye, and away on th
Atlantic border, like q mourning, melaI
choly wall! 1t was difficult to real'z
that he was dead, whom We all hay