James Bigheart (Osage romanized Pun-Kah-Wi-Tah-An-Kah; c. 1838 – October 5, 1908), also known as Big Jim, was an Osage politician who served as principal chief of the Osage Nation.
James Bigheart | |
|---|---|
 James Bigheart in May 1894 | |
| Principal chief of the Osage Nation | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pun-Kah-Wi-Tah-An-Kah c. 1838 Neosho County, Kansas |
| Died | October 5, 1908 (age 69–70) Bigheart, Oklahoma |
| Citizenship | Osage Nation |
| Political party | Non-Progressives |
| Education | Osage Mission's post |
| Known for | Negotiating the creation of the Osage Nation Mineral Estate |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1862–1865 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
Early life
editJames Bigheart was born Pun-Kah-Wi-Tah-An-Kah in 1838 to Nun-tsa-tum-kah and Wah-hui-shah near St. Paul, Kansas. Bigheart converted to Catholicism, was educated at the Osage Mission's post, and fluent in multiple languages.[1][a] He enlisted in the 9th Kansas Cavalry Regiment of the Union Army in Iola, Kansas on January 19, 1862. He left the army as a first lieutenant on March 22, 1865.[1]
Osage leadership
editHe signed his first treaty with the United States on May 27, 1868. In 1870 the United States bought the Osage Nation reservation in Kansas, and the Osage in turn bought a reservation in Indian Territory from the Cherokee Nation. In 1871 he moved to Silver Lake (now Bartlesville) and then to Pawhuska in 1872. He built a home near Bird Creek, about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Pawhuska. In 1875 he became principal chief of the Osage Nation. By 1881 Bigheart was the leader of the "Full Bloods", or Non-Progressives Party, of the Osage Nation.[1][b] Bigheart is credited with leading his faction to delay the allotment of the Osage Nation reservation by about ten years. When the Osage Nation organized their first written constitution, Bigheart was the President of the National Council who drafted it and a signer of the document. When the first Osage elections were held in November 1882 Bigheart became the first elected Principal Chief of the Osage Nation. He suffered a stroke in March 1906 and was left partially paralyzed.[1] He died in Bigheart, Oklahoma on October 5, 1908.[3][4]
Legacy
editThe town of Bigheart, Oklahoma was named after James, until it was renamed to Barnsdall in 1921.[5] In 1989, the Chief James Bigheart Memorial Bridge was dedicated on Oklahoma State Highway 11.[6] In 2016, the Osage Nation dedicated a statue to Bigheart at Law Building on the Osage campus in Pawhuska.[7]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f Russell, Orpha B (Winter 1954). "Chief James Bigheart of the Osage". Chronicles of Oklahoma: 384–394. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "James Bigheart Memorial". Visit The Osage. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Chief James Bigheart". www.okcemeteries.net. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Governor James Bigheart Dead". Bigheart Chronicle. October 9, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved April 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tulsa District > Locations > Tulsa District Lakes > Oklahoma > Birch Lake > History". www.swt.usace.army.mil. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Oklahoma's Memorial Highways & Bridges". www.odot.org. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ Erwin, Mike (June 29, 2016). "Bigheart statue honors Osages Nation's revered tribal leader". Pawhuska Journal Capital. Retrieved October 12, 2023.