Wesley's grave marker says he was the son of Clarence Tallchief of the "Seneca Tribe." Information about Wesley's parents and early life would be appreciated.
Wesley attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, arriving as a 13-year-old 4th grader on June 29, 1900 and leaving November 9, 1904 with a 6th grade education. The school listed his trade as "Farming a good part of the time" and placed him on the R. Ellsworth Haines farm (35986411) in Hamilton Square, NJ. His school record does not name his mother, but states she had died. (Note: The Dickinson College archiving effort indicates the records for two students named Wesley Tallchief were commingled at the National Archives. The other Wesley Tallchief was born around 1889.)
Reports in Trenton's "Daily True American" state Wesley worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and later for the Windsor Hotel as a fireman (meaning he stoked the heating system). The reports incorrectly state he was of the Sioux tribe.
In March, 1910, Wesley was shot in the thigh, lung, and liver by Harry Briehler of Trenton in Brown's Saloon on Perry Street in Trenton when Wesley intervened in a fight between Briehler and another man. Wesley died of his injuries in St. Francis Hospital 10 days later. His friends and the churches of Hamilton Square paid for his funeral and burial. In December, 1910, Harry Briehler pleaded guilty to manslaughter, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault (for shooting another man in the fight) and was sentenced to 14 years in Trenton State Prison.
Wesley attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, arriving as a 13-year-old 4th grader on June 29, 1900 and leaving November 9, 1904 with a 6th grade education. The school listed his trade as "Farming a good part of the time" and placed him on the R. Ellsworth Haines farm (35986411) in Hamilton Square, NJ. His school record does not name his mother, but states she had died. (Note: The Dickinson College archiving effort indicates the records for two students named Wesley Tallchief were commingled at the National Archives. The other Wesley Tallchief was born around 1889.)
Reports in Trenton's "Daily True American" state Wesley worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and later for the Windsor Hotel as a fireman (meaning he stoked the heating system). The reports incorrectly state he was of the Sioux tribe.
In March, 1910, Wesley was shot in the thigh, lung, and liver by Harry Briehler of Trenton in Brown's Saloon on Perry Street in Trenton when Wesley intervened in a fight between Briehler and another man. Wesley died of his injuries in St. Francis Hospital 10 days later. His friends and the churches of Hamilton Square paid for his funeral and burial. In December, 1910, Harry Briehler pleaded guilty to manslaughter, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault (for shooting another man in the fight) and was sentenced to 14 years in Trenton State Prison.
Wesley's grave marker says he was the son of Clarence Tallchief of the "Seneca Tribe." Information about Wesley's parents and early life would be appreciated.
Wesley attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, arriving as a 13-year-old 4th grader on June 29, 1900 and leaving November 9, 1904 with a 6th grade education. The school listed his trade as "Farming a good part of the time" and placed him on the R. Ellsworth Haines farm (35986411) in Hamilton Square, NJ. His school record does not name his mother, but states she had died. (Note: The Dickinson College archiving effort indicates the records for two students named Wesley Tallchief were commingled at the National Archives. The other Wesley Tallchief was born around 1889.)
Reports in Trenton's "Daily True American" state Wesley worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and later for the Windsor Hotel as a fireman (meaning he stoked the heating system). The reports incorrectly state he was of the Sioux tribe.
In March, 1910, Wesley was shot in the thigh, lung, and liver by Harry Briehler of Trenton in Brown's Saloon on Perry Street in Trenton when Wesley intervened in a fight between Briehler and another man. Wesley died of his injuries in St. Francis Hospital 10 days later. His friends and the churches of Hamilton Square paid for his funeral and burial. In December, 1910, Harry Briehler pleaded guilty to manslaughter, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault (for shooting another man in the fight) and was sentenced to 14 years in Trenton State Prison.
Wesley attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, arriving as a 13-year-old 4th grader on June 29, 1900 and leaving November 9, 1904 with a 6th grade education. The school listed his trade as "Farming a good part of the time" and placed him on the R. Ellsworth Haines farm (35986411) in Hamilton Square, NJ. His school record does not name his mother, but states she had died. (Note: The Dickinson College archiving effort indicates the records for two students named Wesley Tallchief were commingled at the National Archives. The other Wesley Tallchief was born around 1889.)
Reports in Trenton's "Daily True American" state Wesley worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and later for the Windsor Hotel as a fireman (meaning he stoked the heating system). The reports incorrectly state he was of the Sioux tribe.
In March, 1910, Wesley was shot in the thigh, lung, and liver by Harry Briehler of Trenton in Brown's Saloon on Perry Street in Trenton when Wesley intervened in a fight between Briehler and another man. Wesley died of his injuries in St. Francis Hospital 10 days later. His friends and the churches of Hamilton Square paid for his funeral and burial. In December, 1910, Harry Briehler pleaded guilty to manslaughter, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault (for shooting another man in the fight) and was sentenced to 14 years in Trenton State Prison.
Gravesite Details
Children touring Hamilton on school trips often leave a flag. As far as we know, Wesley was not in the military, but the flag is a kind gesture.
