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Katie (Monahwee) Harjo
(1875-4/17/1930)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
By Hannah Ridley (TU, BA class of 2025)
Early History
Katie Monahwee was born ca. 1875 to David Monahwee and A. Milly (Miley) Carr in Nuyaka, Indian Territory, Oklahoma. David Monahwee was a descendant of Chief Monahwee (Menawa) (ca. 1765-1835), a prominent past leader of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.[1] Katie’s father, David, was also a member of the Creek National Council. Katie had three known siblings: Hannah (1871-1934), John (ca. 1873-1928), and Ella (1884-1960).[2]
Nuyaka Mission School
At the start of the 1886 school year, when Katie was twelve years old, she attended the Nuyaka Mission Boarding School for Creek Indian Boys and Girls, Indian Territory. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation had established this school, located approximately fifteen miles west of Okmulgee, in 1882, after the Tullahassee Manual Labor School (Tullahassee Mission) had burnt down in 1880. In 1882, Augusta (Robertson) Moore was appointed Superintendent. As with other mission schools for Native peoples in this era, a top priority at Nuyaka was assimilating students to speak only English. An 1887 article in Indian Record states, “Two years ago there were no English speaking children, now all speak English and no Creek is heard from morning to night.”[3]
Katie attended Nuyaka Mission School along with approximately eighty other children and stayed at the Robertson Cottage girl’s dormitory. The Robertson Cottage was supervised by Miss Grace Robertson, sister to August (Robertson) Moore and to Alice Robertson. Katie’s older sister, Hannah Monahwee, also attended Nuyaka Mission School with her during the 1886 school year. During April of that year, Katie and Hannah returned home for some time to be with their dying mother. They both returned to Nuyaka on May 12th, 1886, after being absent for three weeks. Although there is no known record of their mother’s death, it is probable that she died around this time. This conclusion is also supported by an interview in which Katie’s sister Ella Monahwee—born in 1884—states that her mother died when she was young.[4]
Katie Monahwee, Age 12, is the 20th entry in a list of May 1886: "Names of the Girls of 'R.C.'" or Robertson Cottage, one of the dormitories of the Nuyaka Mission.
Image Credit: Alice Robertson Papers, TU Department of Special Collections and University Archives ID: 1931-001-3-4-2-001
Adult Life
After the 1886 school year at Nuyaka Mission, little information is known to exist about the following four years of Katie’s life, until she married Henry Marsey (Marsie) Harjo (ca. 1862-1932). Although no marriage certificate has been found, multiple newspapers state that they married between 1891 and 1892. She would have been approximately seventeen at the time of her wedding, and he would have been around thirty years old.[5]
Henry M. Harjo was a graduate of Bacone College in Muskogee, Indian Territory, where he earned his ministry degree. During the 1901 school year, Henry was named Superintendent of Wealaka Mission. Additionally, he was a member of the Muskogee Wichita Baptist Association. Henry’s first wife, Harriet (Dorsey) Harjo, died on March 31, 1891, and their one daughter died less than two months after her mother on May 6, 1891.[6]
Katie and Henry had eight children: Naomi (1896-1930), Lillie May (1898-ca. 1960), Alice (1901-ca. 1907), Ella Ruth (ca. 1903-1905), Lois (1906-1982), James, Joseph (1910-1972), and Mary (ca. 1911). Through her daughter Naomi Harjo, Katie is the great-grandmother of Joy Harjo, who served as the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2019 to 2022.[7]
Missionary Work
In 1887, Henry received 160 acres from a federal land allotment. Around the time of the Glenpool oil strike in 1905, Henry profited from owning land over an oil field and became wealthy. With some of their oil revenue, Henry and Katie worked to establish mission schools near Lake Okeechobee in Florida. A 2012 article in The Stuart News of Stuart, Florida, does not name these schools but notes that Henry “was aware of the descendants of hundreds of Seminole Indians in Florida who had resisted the move to Indian Territory and wanted to assist them in getting an education and improving their lives.”[8] According to The Stuart News, Henry placed a large importance on his missionary work in Florida: “Being a Baptist missionary and able to speak the native language, he also worked to convert the Seminoles to Christianity.” In 1914, the Harjos started renting a house in Stuart, Florida, so that they could spend longer increments of time working there. Later, in 1919, the family bought a house in Stuart. They became early donors to Bacone College with a significant gift of eighty acres to support the founding of the Murrow Indian Children’s Home (also known as Murrow Orphanage), which is near Muskogee and affiliated with Bacone College.[9]
Death and Legacy
Katie Monahwee died on April 17, 1930, at the age of fifty-three. Her obituary states that she passed away at “13:30 a.m. following a prolonged illness.” At the time of her death, she had four surviving children: Naomi, Lois, Joseph, and Mary. Her husband Henry Harjo died two years later, on July 16, 1932. Katie is buried at the Okmulgee Cemetery, Lot 129, Section B.[10] On June 28, 1899, Katie’s Muscogee (Creek) Nation Census Card was approved; her Dawes Roll Number is 1796.[11]
Katie is pictured in the back of a car alongside her children. Her husband Henry Harjo is driving the car.
Image credit: Posted with permission by Joy Harjo. This photograph is printed in Joy Harjo, "The Place of Origins," in Partial Recall: Photographs of Native Americans, edited by Lucy R. Lippard.
Katie is pictured on the left next to her husband Henry Harjo, as well as two other men to the right.
Image credit: Posted with permission by Joy Harjo. This photograph is printed in Joy Harjo, "The Place of Origins," in Partial Recall: Photographs of Native Americans, edited by Lucy R. Lippard.
Notes
[1] “Katie Harjo Funeral is Held at Okmulgee,” The Tulsa Tribune, April 20, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/900735031 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Menawa,” American Battlefield Trust, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/menawa (accessed November 29, 2023); “Mrs. Harjo Dies at Home in West,” South Florida Developer (Stuart, Florida), June 07, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/885013791 (accessed October 10, 2023); “Mrs. Katie Harjo of Creek Nation Taken by Death,” Okmulgee Daily Democrat (Okmulgee, Oklahoma), April 17, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/707359066 (accessed October 10, 2023).
2 “Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records,” n.d. Www.ancestry.com.
(accessed November 29, 2023; Danny Chancellor, “Hannah Monahwee Alexander,” Findagrave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38363813/hannah-alexander (accessed November 26, 2023); EnergyBob, “Aldrich-Toth Family Tree,” Ancestry.com,
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/22028529 (accessed October 14, 2023); Regina Green, “1NativeJourney,” Ancestry.com, n.d., https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/74378909 (accessed October 14, 2023); Ella Monahwee Jacobs, Interview by Nettie Cain, November 29, 1937, Holdenville, Oklahoma, transcript, Indian-Pioneer Oral History Project, The University of Oklahoma Western History Collection, Norman, OK; “Katie Harjo Funeral is Held at Okmulgee,” The Tulsa Tribune, April 20, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/900735031 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Last Rites for Indian Are Held,” Hughes County Tribune (Holdenville, Oklahoma), November 01, 1928, https://www.newspapers.com/image/748176811 (accessed November 28, 2023); “Mrs. Harjo Dies at Home in West,” South Florida Developer, June 07, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/885013791 (accessed October 10, 2023); “Mrs. Katie Harjo of Creek Nation Taken by Death,” Okmulgee Daily Democrat, April 17, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/707359066 (accessed
October 10, 2023); Shanna (Flaherty) Pierce, “Ella Monahwee Jacobs,” Findagrave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7024424/ella-jacobs (accessed November 26, 2023);
U.S. Census Bureau, 1910 United States Federal Census, Okmulgee Ward 3, Okmulgee, Oklahoma; Roll T624_1267; Page 10B; Enumeration District 0153. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/5905783?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a22673149556c46364a656f73737031504a6f536e2f38526934353458434e6a714267756c70506b78545975453d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d; U.S. Census Bureau; 1920 United States Federal Census, Okmulgee Ward 3, Okmulgee, Oklahoma; Roll T625_1476; Page 1A; Enumeration District 131, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/8005913?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a223169373054417a6b47774b753267457579485741486b7479787a396e653361374b513848712b66513150593d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d; U.S. Census Bureau; 1930 United States Federal Census, Okmulgee Ward 3, Okmulgee, Page 3B, Enumeration District 0029, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/8006101?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a226b736f474a766c7a6a7a6170304d4276414e58636e6a2f4d554e664e786f79445a4f502b45794c316574493d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d.
[3] “Nuyaka Mission,” Indian Record, July, 1886, https://www.newspapers.com/image/585126649,
(accessed October 15, 2023); “Nuyaka Mission,” Indian Record, February, 1997. https://www.newspapers.com/image/585127026 (accessed October 15, 2023); Nuyaka Mission School, 1885-1886, 1931.001.3.4.2, Papers of the Robertson and Worcester Families, 1815-1932, Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.
[4] Guy William Logsdon, The University of Tulsa (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977); “Nuyaka Mission.” Indian Record; “Nuyaka Mission,” Oklahoma Historical Society, https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1618609/ (accessed December 9, 2023); Nuyaka Mission School 1885-1886. Special Collections, University of Tulsa libraries. 1931.001.3.4.2.
[5] “Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records.” N.d. https://ancestry.com;
EnergyBob, “Aldrich-Toth;” Green, “1NativeJourney,” (all Ancestry.com entries accessed October 14, 2023; “Katie Harjo Funeral is Held at Okmulgee,” The Tulsa Tribune, April 20, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/900735031 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Mrs. Harjo Dies at Home in West,” South Florida Developer, June 07, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/885013791 (accessed October 10, 2023); “Mrs. Katie Harjo of Creek Nation Taken by Death,” Okmulgee Daily Democrat, April 17, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/707359066 (accessed October 10, 2023); “Successful Henry Harjo,” St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida), October 27, 2013, https://www.newspapers.com/image/781783089 (accessed October 10, 2023).
[6] “Arbeka, I.T.,” Our Brother in Red (Muskogee, Oklahoma), April 24, 1891, https://www.newspapers.com/image/30439002 (accessed October 21, 2023); “Creek Teachers Named,” The Indian Journal, August 09, 1901, https://www.newspapers.com/image/16731612 (accessed October 18, 2023); “From Arbeka, I.T.,” Our Brother in Red, May 16, 1891,
https://www.newspapers.com/image/30439204 (accessed October 21, 2023); “Grateful Indians Endow Bacone College,” The Galena Evening Times, March 01, 1924, https://www.newspapers.com/image/145464498 (accessed October 10, 2023); “Henry Harjo, distinguished Creek Indian,” The Stuart News, September 19, 2012, https://www.newspapers.com/image/804888840 (accessed November 26, 2023); “Indians Give Funds,” Muskogee Times-Democrat, March 31, 1922 https://www.newspapers.com/image/608068111 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Successful Henry Harjo;” Maurice Wright, Bacone College A History, (Butler University, 1968).
[7] “Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records.” n.d. https://ancestry.com; EnergyBob, “Aldrich-Toth;” Green, 1NativeJourney; “Injun Files Big Suit,” Muskogee Times-Democrat, August 21, 1907, https://www.newspapers.com/image/665477311 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Legal Notices,” The Okfuskee County News (Okemah, Oklahoma), April 14, 1960, https://www.newspapers.com/image/666731188 (accessed October 30, 2023); MillieBelle, “Ella Ruth Harjo,” Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/259300126/ella-ruth-harjo (accessed October 30, 2023); “Only Life Estate,” Muskogee Daily Phoenix, November 7, 1907, https://www.newspapers.com/image/584145012 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Perplexing Question,” The Pawnee County Outlook (Pawnee, Oklahoma), November 14, 1907, https://www.newspapers.com/image/585998384 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Restrictions Removed,” Tulsa Daily Legal News, October 12, 1918, https://www.newspapers.com/image/611945341 (accessed October 30, 2023); Alice Harjo enrollment card, NAI Number 251747, Enrollment cards, 1898-1914, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group Number, 75, The National Archives at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas, https://www.ancestry.com/alice/harjo/censuscard; Ella Ruth Harjo enrollment card, NAI Number 251747; https://www.ancestry.com/ellaruth/harjo/censuscard; Katie Harjo enrollment card, NAI Number 251747, https://www.ancestry.com/katie/harjo/censuscard; Lillie May Harjo enrollment card, NAI Number 251747, https://www.ancestry.com/lilliemay/harjo/censuscard; Naomi Harjo enrollment card, NAI Number 251747, https://www.ancestry.com/naomi/harjo/censuscard; U.S. Native American Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes, Ancestry, 1895-1914,
[8] “Henry Harjo, distinguished Creek Indian,” The Stuart News, September 19, 2012, https://www.newspapers.com/image/804888840 (accessed November 26, 2023).
[9] “Henry Harjo, Distinguished;” “Successful Henry Harjo.”
[10] “Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records,” n.d.; EnergyBob, “Aldrich-Toth;” Green, “1NativeJourney;” “Index: Okmulgee Cemetery Burial Records,” Okmulgee County Genealogical Society, January 6, 2022, https://okmcgs.com/cemetery-records-online/ (Accessed September 1, 2023); “Leader of Creeks Dies,” Tulsa Tribune, July 17, 1932, https://www.newspapers.com/image/901320072 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Katie Harjo Funeral is Held at Okmulgee,” Tulsa Tribune, April 20, 1930, https://www.newspapers.com/image/900735031 (accessed October 18, 2023); “Mrs. Harjo Dies;” “Mrs. Katie Harjo.”
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