“I’ve always been interested in Marquette’s history in general. I decided to write the book because somebody told me that they liked something I had written about him (Kawbawgam) in another book, which is a very brief piece about him,” Tichelaar said.

“She had said to me ‘Well, I didn’t really know much about him, so I appreciate you telling me more,’ and I thought, ‘Well, honestly I don’t really know that much about him either.’ I feel like there needed to be more said about him, or there had to be more to his story.”

Tichelaar kicked off the presentation by telling the audience that the birth and death dates, 1799-1902, on Chief Charles Kawbawgam’s grave may not be entirely accurate. While he thinks the year of Kawbawgam’s death is correct, Tichelaar’s research suggests that Kawbawgam’s birth date may be 1816 or 1817.

“I don’t know that he (Kawbawgam) was in any specific way a chief, but he had all the qualifications to be a chief,” Tichelaar said.

A portrait of Charlie Kawbawgam is seen. (Photo courtesy of Jack Deo, Superior View Studio, http://www.viewsofthepast.com)

He went on to display a family tree, showing that Kawbawgam’s great grandfather, grandfather, uncle and father were all chiefs.

When Kawbawgam was young, his mother left his father for a man who would eventually become the head chief at Sault Ste. Marie. His mother and stepfather brought him and his siblings to live in the Sault. After his stepfather died, his brother would become head chief there.

Throughout his life, Kawbawgam lived in the areas of Grand Island, the Sault, Tahquamenon, Ontario, Marquette and Humboldt Township. He didn’t leave the Upper Peninsula, except for possibly traveling to Detroit on one occasion.

In 1846, he was married to Charlotte Marjigesick in the Sault by a Catholic priest.

“I was really happy to find the marriage record,” Tichelaar said.

They had one son who died at a very young age and a daughter who has no records. It is assumed she also died young.

In 1849, they were still living in the Sault when Robert Graveraet hired Kawbawgam to go to Marquette to greet the settlers that were to arrive there.

On May 18, 1849, Graveraet sailed in to Marquette’s lower harbor with Peter White and several other men. They were greeted by Kawbawgam. Over time, Peter White and Kawbawgam would become friends.

The Kawbawgams had a wigwam near the lake in Marquette where they initially lived.

“As Marquette grew, Native Americans kind of moved off to the margins of the community. Partly probably of their own choice so they could stay in their own little ethnic separate group and keep their own traditions, but also probably partly because the white people may not have wanted them around as much,” Tichelaar said.

So, they ended up moving toward Lighthouse Point. They may have also lived along Teal Lake and along the Pine River.

“They never really settled in one spot. They tended to move around quite a lot. There’s not really much in terms of archeology to say exactly where they were all the time,” Tichelaar said.

Alfred Kidder, who lived across the street from Peter White, got together a number of people in Marquette and raised funds to build Kawbawgam a house. The house was constructed on Presque Isle in 1886. It is unknown where on Presque Isle the house was located.

Tichelaar said his best guess as to where the house was be located would be where the ice cream pavilion stands today. The house was there at least until Kawbawgam’s death in 1902, but what happened to it after that is a mystery. Tichelaar said he couldn’t find any records about it.

Kawbawgam’s funeral was at St. Peter’s Cathedral. His friend, Peter White, probably paid for it. He was buried at Presque Isle Park and there was no marker on the grave for several years. White wanted to put up a statue, but that never happened. Eventually a large stone washed up on the shore at Presque Isle and it was decided by the caretaker of Presque Isle at the time that would be used as the grave marker.

“I think it’s important that people take time to learn our history and especially the Native American history in the area,” Tichelaar said.

Tichelaar has published 21 books; eight historical fiction novels about the area, three nonfictions about the area, one play, several on literary criticism and a historical fantasy series about King Arthur. His book, “Kawbawgam: The Chief, The Legend, The Man” can be purchased at Snowbound Books and on Amazon.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning is a volunteer member-directed, and self-supporting nonprofit organization. The group is open to anyone who enjoys learning, new experiences and meeting people.

NCLL members pay a yearly $30 fee and a small fee for activities. Annual membership fees cover administrative costs, support local gatherings of the membership and provide reduced fees for the variety of non-credit offerings. Individuals don’t have to be a member to participate in NCLL offerings, but nonmembers pay a higher activity fee than members.

The NCLL is involved with a wide variety of activities including tours, field trips, hands-on workshops, social events, presentations, and demonstrations. Ideas for activities come from the committee and from individual suggestions.

“Sometimes we’ll go different places, like places that are just perfectly normal, but then you think, ‘I’ve never been there,'” board member Marie Watanen said. “I’ve learned more about the area just by coming to the NCLL.”

NCLL programs and general information can be found on their website at: www.nmu.edu/ncll. For questions, call 906-227-2979. It also has a regularly updated Facebook page.

Taylor Johnson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is tjohnson@miningjournal.net.