Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-02-23
Ah-ho.eho.ka. (Blue Wing

lHuIduS
sent in western Sank County when
the white settlers came, Ah-1o-cho-ka
was the most prominent character
He was chief Of band of WinnebagO4
here, and until his death at very
advanced age, he held the confidence
and devotion Of his tribe. Tall and
straight Of stature, he was a typical
Indian with graceful movements. He
frequently associated with the Writes
and kept himself Informed on the
events of the day which affected the
territory occupied by his tribe and
he doubtless felt keenly the encroach-
ments Of the whites as one piece OF
land after another was taken up by
them, but he never made complaint.
Ah-ho-cho-kas headquarters were
then IN the Indian village which was
situated in the southwestern part
Of what is now che township Of
Reedsburg To maintain his hold on
the place he purchased, in 1851 (June
20th), of the government 40 acres Of
land Is. E. II OF s. W. II, Section 29(
which included the Indian village site.
Here he continued his home until 1851,
when he sold the land, and in COM
pany with the dusky inhabitants, va
GATED the Indian village and took up
his quarters on the south bank of
the Baraboo river west Of Reedsburg
The name Ah-ho-cho-ka translated in
to English, is "Blue Wing, and this
vas the appellation he used in sign
ing his name to legal documents.
The most striking qualities of this
Indian chief in his intercourse with
the whitea was his integrity, good
nature and kindness of heart. He was
never tricky but always open, fair
Just and patient in all his dealings.
He was well known to the early set
tiers and they usually received him
with warm welcome whenever he
called to see them; they sometimes
invited him to remain ov.~ night.
He lived more than a century. In
his advanced age he become bent in
form and his memory lost its former
acuteness. In response to inquiries
in regard to his age, he would make
reply: MAYBE 100 years, maybe
little more, maybe little less" By
some OF his relatives his age at the
time Of his death, was stated to be
ia years
When he became a very old man an
abnormal growth appeared on his nose.
In conversing with the whites he
would place his hand over his nose
apparently regarding it as being un-
slightly. The growth spread and be-
came malignant finally causing his
death. He was buried in the Indian
burying ground near Tomah, Wiscon-
sin. After considerable Indian cere-
mony at the grave his remains were
inferred with the head placed TO
the east or toward the rising sun, in
accordance with the usual custom of
his tribe. A number of his relatives,
including the Decorahs, had shifted
their quarters to Tomah and Ah-hO-
cho-ka finally went there to live with
them. Here he remained until he died
in November. 1898.
Ah-ho-cho-ka had several sons and
three daughters The name of one Of
his sons is Ah-ho-sheeb-ka or Little
Thunder" The names of his daugh
ters, beginning with the oldest are,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, Helna-kay-
ka, and He-na-kay- Hoo-noo-ka, the last
named daughter being yet alive and
Ghe only surviving child. She was also
Ah-ho-cho-ka's favorite daughter, and
he would often mention her as his
''good daughter"
In early days the Indians sometimes
secretly obtained liquor from the
whites. Ah-ho-cho-ka himself, would
not refuse a small nip of "ire-water"
when it was offered to him, but he
never imbibed 70 excess, and advised
his people against the use OF strong
drink, telling them it was liable to get
them into trouble. On one occasion
an Indian returned to the Indian viii
Iage In an intoxicated condition. He
was very boisterous and noisy, and
among other stunts began to beat up"
his squaw. The matter was referred
10 Ah-ho-cho-ka, who at once order
ed that the drunken Indian be over
powered, his hands securely tied to-
gether and likewise his feet. He was
then strung on long pole placed be-
tween his arms and between his legs,
and the pole placed on two crotches
at sufficient elevation to suspend the
culprit with his back barely touching
the ground. In this helpless position
he was regarded as being safe and was
left hanging until he thoroughly sober