On page 58 of the Montana exhibit book for the 1893 Columbian Exposition I noticed the following item:




Does anyone know anything more about Mrs. Harmon?



= = = = = = = = = =
Montana State Board of World's Fair Managers. MONTANA: EXHIBIT AT THE WORLD'S FAIR AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS RESOURCES OF THE STATE. . . . (Butte: Inter Mountain Printers, 1893).

Text at:
http://tinyurl.com/34prha
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I was intrigued by reference to Sitting Bull, so I did some quick looking. There is a lot of fascinating history here. I will try to keep it cohesive.

Zoe Lulu Harmon was the wife of Capt William Harmon. She died in Miles City in 1895.

I found them and their three children in the 1880 Dakota Territory census- Ft. Abraham Lincoln, Burleigh Co.---Leo C, Milan,& William. Another son Joseph R is listed with his widowed father & brother Milan T in 1900 Custer Co census under misspelling William Harman. Leo was a clerk & banker (after being educated in Montreal) in Miles City during the panic and until 1900.

Zoe Lulu born about 1847 was daughter of Matilda Picotte Galpin also known as Eagle Woman- the only female Sioux chief.

Matilda was a signer of 1882 Standing Rock treaty. She was daughter of a Hunkpapa -Two Kettle union---Two Lance I and Rosy Light of Dawn. (Sitting Bull was Hunkpapa.) In North Dakota History Journal of Northern Plains it credits Zoe Lulu Harmon with having Sitting Bull's pipe.

Capt William Harmon b1835 Springfield, ME outlived Zoe Lulu and died in 1903 Milwaukee. He was Civil war vet 1st Minnesota volunteer infantry & obtained rank of Captain in regular army resigning in 1870. He owned the steamer "H.M. Rice". He then did government contract work in Dakota Territory. In 1882 Montana he established first permanent ranch in what would be Fallon County on east O'Fallon Creek. William, Zoe, & son Milan had land patents in Carter County-1892, 1894, 1905.

Sitting Bull visited Capt William Harmon at Bismarck while being "escorted" on the steamer General Sherman. The book "Campaign's General Custer in the Northwest and the Final Surrender of Sitting Bull" by Judson Elliott Walker details this in Chapter 4.

Charles Galpin was listed as Zoe Lulu's father in all but Leo Harmon's bio. He listed his grandparent as Picotte with French heritage. I believe him to be correct.

Matilda had a country marriage with Honore Picotte, American Fur Co. trader in Dakotas. I found only 2 children daughters Zoe Lulu & Louise. Father DeSmet is credited with telling Honore to go home to his white wife in St. Louis. (I did not find the citation for this)

Matilda then married Ft Abraham Lincoln clerk & Civil War veteran Charles Galpin. Matilda had 2 more daughters- Alma married Henry Parkin (clerk Ft Abraham Lincoln, store manager Standing Rock, trading post of Ft Yates, later owned Cannonball Ranch, territorial legislature, state senator); Lucy Annie married Charles Van Solen (town of Solen).

Charles & Matilda were frequent interpreters and part of Father Pierre DeSmet's 1868 peace commission. Charles died in 1869 and Matilda became the trader. It was unusual for a woman to be the trader. She was born in 1820 and died in 1888. She is credited as being a peace keeper.

I am going to read more about Matilda and if I find how she & Zoe Lulu are related to Sitting Bull- I will let you know.

Cindy Stalcup

Wow!

Cindy . . . Many, many thanks for all the information.

Glad I could help you. Historical & genealogical research is a hobby.
This is a very interesting family. I didn't find how Sitting Bull and Zoe Lulu Harmon were related. I don't think I can sort that out.

I did see that Zoe Lulu & siblings were educated in St Louis (went with Father DeSmet) and boarded with the Haney family. The Haneys were also involved in the riverboat trade.

To give some idea of the financial scope, Charles Galpin invested $10,000 in 1861 as a partner in the LaBarge, Harkness, & Co. The company owned & ran the "Emilie" & "Shreveport" from St Louis to Ft Benton in "govt trade" beginning in 1862. The riverboat trade history is a whole library unto itself.

The complete name of Zoe Lulu's mother was "Eagle Woman That All Look At". Her husband Charles Galpin called her Little Eagle. She was baptized Matilda. She was by all accounts very capable. Dakota PBS radio did a 3part series on her.

Zoe Lulu's brother Charles Francois Picotte was granted 640 ac outside of reservation for his assistance in treaty signing by US Govt. He bought additional 30 ac to get river access & it became the site of new territorial capital Yankton. It was first called Charlie's Town. He did die broke.

Cindy,

You're a goldmine of information on Mrs. Harmon and those around her. Thanks again for sharing this material with us.

Cindy,

If you are interested in paddleboats on the Montana stretch of the Missouri, Jackson's book on the Yellowstone is a good read (even though the boat was called Yellowstone, it mostly worked the St. Louis to Fort Benton run).

Jackson, Donald Dean, b. 1919. VOYAGES OF THE STEAMBOAT YELLOW STONE (New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1985).



If you have any interest in Fort Benton - these are good:

Bell, William S, b. 1832. OLD FORT BENTON: WHAT IT WAS, AND HOW IT CAME TO BE (1909, reprint: Seattle: Shorey Book Store, 1971).

OLD FORT BENTON, MONTANA: EARLY FUR TRADING POST WITH BLACKFOOT INDIANS AND HEAD OF NAVIGATION ON THE MISSOURI RIVER (ca. 1907, reprint: Fairfield, WA: Ye Galleon Press, 1975).

Overholser, Joel F. CENTENARY HISTORY OF FORT BENTON, MONTANA, 1846-1946 Fort Benton?: Fort Benton Centennial Association, 1946).

Thanks again.

Several more Fort Benton sources:

Lepley, John G., BIRTHPLACE OF MONTANA-A HISTORY OF FORT BENTON Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Missoula, 1999

Lepley, John G., PACKETS TO PARADISE-STEAMBOATING TO FORT BENTON, Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Missoula, 2001

Overholser, Joel, FORT BENTON-WORLD'S INNERMOST PORT. Self published, 1987.

As you can see, I never do two citations the same. I'm a free spirit.

She and William had homesteads in Carter County in 1892 and 1894.

Here's a bit of information on other family lines descended from Sitting Bull.


"Relative Of Sitting Bull Gets Artifacts"
By The Associated Press
BILLINGS GAZETTE
December 16, 2007

BISMARCK, N.D. - When Sitting Bull's name passes the lips of Ernie LaPointe, the word "great-grandfather" follows.

For many people, Sitting Bull is a famed Indian spiritual leader. His name is said in the same breath as George Custer and the Battle of Little Big Horn. But the man depicted in movies and books is different from the man LaPointe's mother told him about as a child.

Continued at:
http://www.billingsgazett...ngbull.txt

Hello Hal,

I just discovered this website/discussion board today...I realize the Zoe Lulu Harmon discussion is two years old. But let me add some information.

First of all - my credentials: I am Capt. William and Zoe Lulu Harmon's great granddaughter. I've just recently gotten into the genealogy thing and have been digging alot on this side of the family.

The comment about Zoe Lulu Harmon being a niece to Sitting Bull was interesting - but not true in the biological sense. Indians often refer to close elder friends of the family as "Auntie" or "Uncle". There is a relation to Sitting Bull through marriage - but it's a real stretch. It goes something like this:

Zoe Lulu's biological father was Honore Picotte (a French Canadian fur trader). Honore's nephew was Joseph Picotte (so this would be Zoe Lulu's 1st cousin). Joseph Picotte was married to Julia Hazawin. Julia's aunt was Wiyanduta/Red Woman (sister to Julia's father, Chief Forked Horn) - Red Woman was Sitting Bull's 2nd wife.

Zoe Lulu's mother was Wambdi Autepewin/Eagle Woman Who All Look At/Matilda Galpin. Although some articles written about her refer to her as "a Chief" - this is not to be taken literally. There are no female sioux Chiefs. Mrs. Galpin was very well respected and a "semi-famous" female leader of her time...she was trusted enough to speak for the sioux on their behalf, but she was not a Chief.

Hope to get out to Miles City one of these days. Have never been, but it would be cool to see some of my ancester's old kicking grounds.

best regards,
Barbara Harmon

Thanks for the additional info Barbara.

You'll likely enjoy visiting Eastern Montana . . . beautiful county and interesting history.

Whereabouts are you in AK? We're in King Salmon.

Hello Hal,

I'm located in "Los Anchorage"

Did you know Lori Burroughs? She works with me and I think she grew up in King Salmon area. (Don't know her maiden name - her mom and dad just recently have to leave King Salmon for health reasons)

What is your connection to Miles City?

good "meeting you"

Barbara

Los Anchorage. . . .

Why, I hear tell that it's only an hour or two drive from there to Alaska ; -)

The Burroughs name doesn't ring a bell. But then, I know a lot of people here by face, but not by name. My wife knows pretty everyone by name, I'll ask her later if she knows the family.

As for Miles . . . I born and raised there.

So I checked with Lori Borroughs - and her maiden name is Flynn. She said her brother Charles "Chas" Flynn still lives in King Salmon and works for the DOT. Ring a bell now?

The name Flynn is familiar. With so few people living here year-round, it's more than likely I've saw him around and would know the face . . . names are a different matter. It was several years before I learned my neighbor's name was actually Bruce and not "Hey Man!" ; -)

Hello Barbara Harmon,

I have found your genealogical research on Honore Picotte fascinating. My husband is descended on his maternal side from Honore and his French wife Therese Duchouquette of St. Louis. I have found a reference that Sitting Bull liked Honore Picotte compared to some other traders, perhaps due to Honore's great respect for the Indian culture. Some sources say that he had nine Indian children, but I had found only 3 and now your reference to a fourth daughter. He had four children with Therese; the only boy and oldest girl died in childhood.

Possibly I have no right to ask how the Indians regarded Honore. The French believe that he supported his children's education and needs. However other information states that Matilda Galpin supported their education through her able trading assets. Honore must have had pride in his only son Charles F. Picotte, but Charles reports hardly ever seeing him. Some believe Pierre DeSmet persuaded Honore
to return to Therese, and yet later DeSmet escorts Alma and Mary Louise to St. Louis for education. Is there no contact or support form Honore?

Thanks for your consideration,

Cathy Danz

OK, I don't have any information to add to this subject but I just wanted to interrupt for a second to say, Thank you all very much. This is the type of string I really enjoy on this site. Lots of fun information and no degrading into name calling. So Thank you all very much for an enjoyable read.

My request for information about Honore's legacy within the Indian culture had some errors already. Your research turned up both Grace and Margaret as children four and five. Pierre DeSmet escorted Zoe and Louis with possibly Mrs. Galpin to St. Louis for their schooling. Perhaps the other Galpin children were included? Honore's daughter Celestine, our ancestor, was born in 1842, but there were two older children (and one younger). Apparently Honore travelled the river for years between families for years.

It is important to try not to judge people of yesterday by the moral standards of today.

My research of fur traders & their families has been confined to the Pacific Northwest area & the Hudson Bay Company so I can not speak to the policies of the other Fur Companies. The HBC had policy with regard to offspring & wives of "country marriages" which withheld pay for their future support from HBC employees' annual pay. It was a given especially among the non-French employees that at the end of their tours they would return to their original towns without their native wives & children. They had to return "to base" so to speak to receive their final pay & be discharged. However, quite a few of the French retired employees defied the Company and settled in valleys of Washington & Oregon & later Idaho & Montana with their native wives & children. The traders of Scotch origins said that the French loved the Indians because they both loved to sing, dance, & paint their women.

The most reliable records for the fur trade period are the Catholic church records for each post, trading post's daily "journals of occurences", and diaries & letters of traders and Catholic priests. HBC has vast archives in Manitoba. I have a lot of reference books for that region but few for the Dakotas.

Missouri's historical societies, university libraries, & museums have assorted fur company & military post records. Here are some other places to look for more info on Honore & his children-

Father DeSmet was a big diary and letter writer. There are volumes of his published as "Life, letters, & travels of Father DeSmet 1801-1873". The index for them lists Honore Picotte on pgs 607 & 608.

Marquette University has vast collections of Catholic Records and Native American history. Here is their finding aid giving the contacts for the Archdiocese of St Paul & Minneapolis which covered Fort Pierre.
http://www.marquette.edu/...N/M-94.pdf

The Historical Society of South Dakota list assorted collections with reference to Picotte & military post records- here's the search engine
http://history.sd.gov/Archives/

Honore Picotte possibly had Metis ancestry in Canada himself. He had great respect for the Indian culture and never worked for HBC or the Northwest Company. The Scotch (and English) fur traders did not care for their French rivals particularly. French fur trappers were more likely to honor a marriage by Indian ceremony as valid as one in a cathedral. The sister of Struck By the Ree and Matilda Galpin had great stature in their tribes. Charles F. Picotte was the step-son of Mrs. Galpin which indicates that his own mother had died. Mrs. Galpin was good friends with Fr. DeSmet when Honore Picotte left for St. Louis. As a French Catholic, Honore would listen to Fr. DeSmet's counsel to choose one wife. Honore was in his fifties at the time. There is reason to believe Matilda was happy to live with Mr. Galpin and took part in the decision. Honore could pay support and for educations for his daughters in St. Louis. Perhaps he could assist the Galpins' trading ventures. That is my reason to ask for for the Indian viewpoint.

Honore Picotte worked for the Columbia Fur Co, American Fur Co, French Fur Co until it sold out to American Fur Co- then he worked for the Upper Missouri Outfit. For the "Indian viewpoint" try research boards closer to Fort Pierre and books written by the Lakota, Dakota, & Nakota.

Hello Cathy!

I am so sorry it's taken me until July to see your post. I'm guilty of forgetting about this site and haven't checked in months. Anyway, I'm delighted to be in contact with someone from the Honore-Theresa Picotte union. I did not know that Honore had a boy and a girl who died young...I only know of Celeste and Rita. I would love to hear more. Are you on Ancestry.com at all?

I have some notes that list 6 Indian children fathered by Honore, but I suppose nine is believable. He was a prolific guy

I can't speak to the Indian point of view from personal experience, as I was not raised a member. My father was enrolled in the Standing Rock Agency in Fort Yates, but I think he suffered discrimination early in life, and moved to California and didn't talk about that side of his life much until the end. Anyway, from what I've read, Honore provided for his Indian children's education. Historical notes indicate he placed Charles F., Marie Louise, and Zoe Lulu in homes/schools and paid those expenses.

Alma was not a Picotte, so Honore wouldn't pay for her education. After Charles Galpin died, Mrs. Galpin took over his trading post in order to support her family and send Alma, Sammy and Annie to school.

There is an excellent biography of Honore Picotte written by historian John S. Gray. Have you read it?

I look forward to hearing back from you.
warm regards,
Barbara

Dear Barbara,

Now I am the party who has not checked this website for many months and have only just discovered your encouraging reply. My quest for information began with the inheritance of a sampler stitched in June of 1850 in St. Louis by Celestine Picotte, aged 8 years. The fascinating history of her parents was more than I expected and I am so honored to be contacted by another descendant.

I have just started on Ancestry.com today and appreciate your direction to J.S. Gray. Along the way I discovered the research done on the First Minnesota Regiment in Minnesota. William Harmon has his own page and they welcome corrections and contributions. You may want to adjust some of the Harmon biography.
This is the link:
www.1stminnesota.net/ - Cached - Similar

Then choose the brown box "First Minnesota Roster" and type "Harmon" into the biographies box. I am very interested in checking more of my sources with yours.

Thanks so much,
Cathy Danz

According to relatives of Sitting Bull at Ft Peck Reservation, Sitting Bull buried his pipe on the reservation there before he gave himself up to the military at Ft Union/Buford. Sitting Bull had a niece at Ft Peck who married White Hawk and the story in the White Hawk family is that related above. He didn't want the military or whomever to have his pipe. He may have been given one after his arrest but the one brought back from Canada and probably the one used throughout his life is buried at Ft Peck.

After his capture he was given permission to participate in wild west shows and traveled the world doing so.