William B. Hųgᵋmįnąka Decorah Jr. (1889 - 1942)

Born 5 Jul 1889 in Wisconsin, United States

Descendants

William was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Birth

William B. Decorah was born on 5 Jul 1889. (Headstone)

Name

His Hocąk name was HoonkMeNukKah, which is for Hųgᵋmįnąka, from hųk, "chief"; mįną́k, "to sit, he sits, sitting"; and -ka, a definite article suffix used in personal names. This may be translated as, "Sitting Chief," or "Chief who is Seated." Compare the Bear Clan name, Miną́́ka, "He who is Seated." Hųgᵋmįnąka is a Thunderbird Clan name, as the Decoras belonged to that clan, and it is this clan that supplies the Peace Chief for a village.

Military Record

William Decorah served as a private in Co. D, 128th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Division in World War I. (Headstone Applications, Find a Grave) The 32nd Infantry was a Wisconsin unit and saw heavy action in France. (Garland)

Marriage

He was married to Margaret "Maggie" Boyce. (1937 census)

Death

He died on 23 Nov 1942 (aged 52–53) and is buried in the Mauston Cemetery, Mauston, Juneau County, Wisconsin, USA; Row 7 E to W , Lot 55. (Headstone Applications, Find a Grave)

Sources

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 15 April 2019), William Decorah, Wittenberg, Shawano, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 40, sheet 7A, line 12, family 117, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2612; FHL microfilm 2,342,346.
• 1937 Indian census; Roll: M595_573; Page: 20; Line: 1; Agency: Tomah Indian School. Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M595, 692 rolls); Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• United States, Applications for Headstones for U.S. military Veterans, roll 60, old roll 194 Dawson, Joseph – DeGorter, Samuel, 1941-1949.
• "Lt. Colonel Glenn W. Garlock, "An Afternoon of Grim Fighting: The Fate of Foster and Robert Decorah" in Richard Dieterle, The Encyclopedia of Hočąk (Winnebago) Mythology.
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 13 September 2020), memorial page for William Decorah (1889–23 Nov 1942), Find a Grave Memorial no. 186593686, citing Mauston-Oakwood Cemetery, Mauston, Juneau County, Wisconsin, USA ; Maintained by Bob (contributor 47155955) .