Fanny Kelly
Encyclopedia
Fanny Kelly was a North American pioneer woman captured by the Sioux
and freed five months later. She later wrote a book about her experiences called Narrative of My Captivity among the Sioux Indians in 1871.
in 1845 to James Wiggins. In 1856, Wiggins decided to relocate his family to the new town of Geneva
in the soon-to-be state of Kansas
. Along the way, however, he died of cholera
, leaving the family to continue on to Geneva on their own. Fanny eventually married Josiah S. Kelly.
Kelly hoped that a change of climate would aid his failing health, so he, Fanny, and her seven-year-old niece and adopted daughter, Mary Hurley, along with two "colored servants", Franklin and Andy, set out on May 17, 1864 from Geneva for the region that is now Idaho
or Montana
. They acquired a fellow traveler, a Methodist clergyman named Mr. Sharp, a few days later. A couple of weeks after that, William and Sarah Larimer and their eight-year-old son Frank, with whom they were acquainted, left a large wagon train
to join them. Two others joined the group somewhere along the journey, Gardner Wakefield and Noah Taylor.
when they encountered a large group of "about two hundred and fifty" Oglala Sioux
"painted and equipped for war", led by their war chief, Ottawa. Vastly outnumbered, the emigrants tried to placate the warriors. The Sioux became increasingly assertive and suddenly attacked without warning. Sharp, Taylor, and Franklin were killed immediately. Wakefield was seriously injured. Josiah Kelly, William Larimer, and Andy got away, while the two women and two children were taken captive. Another wagon that happened on the scene by chance sped off, at the cost of one person's life. The Sioux then proceeded to loot the five wagons.
Josiah Kelly and Andy separately made their way to the protection of a large wagon train some miles away, as did the people of the other wagon that had passed by. They later found William Larimer, with an arrow wound to the arm, and Wakefield with three arrows in him, but still alive. After a couple of days, the party made its way to Deer Creek Station
, where there was an army garrison.
Meanwhile, the prisoners attempted to escape. The very night of their capture, Fanny Kelly had Mary Hurley slip away in the darkness. Fanny herself tried to follow, but was caught and beaten. Mary's scalped and arrow-ridden body was found a few days later and buried by her uncle. The Larimers did manage to escape the next night. They were reunited with William Larimer at Deer Creek Station. When he had recovered from his wound, the family returned to Kansas.
The band arrived at their home village, only to be attacked by a Union Army
force led by Brigadier General Alfred Sully
. Fanny was hustled away with the rest of the women and children. Freedom was not to be so quickly gained. After several days of pursuit, Sully's men gave up. When the Sioux returned to their homes, they were so angered at their losses, they threatened to burn Fanny at the stake. At a council to decide her fate, Ottawa spoke up for her, and she was spared. She became Ottawa's "exclusive property". She described him as being "over seventy-five years of age, and partially blind".
One day, an Indian arrived at the camp, bearing a letter from Captain Marshall of the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry detailing the attempts that had been made to rescue her. The Indian had been offered a reward to help free her, but he proved to be unfaithful.
On September 5, a large band of Sioux attacked part of a wagon train led by Captain James L. Fisk
taking settlers to what is now Montana. Unbeknownst to her, the attack had been repulsed, though the whites had suffered twelve deaths to six by the Sioux. Fanny was made to exchange letters with Captain Fisk to try to get him to lower his guard. Since the Sioux were illiterate in English, she was able to warn Fisk of their intentions. Fisk tried to ransom her, to no avail, but he promised to spread the news of her situation.
When the old chief went away on a journey. Fanny was sent to live in another village with an elderly couple. While there, she met and spoke several times with the chief "Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses". She later found out he had been given two expensive outfits by her husband to try to obtain her release; he, however, reported to Mr. Kelly that he could not find her.
General Sully had been sent to stop the Indian attacks on settlers beginning in 1862
. The Blackfeet became weary of the fighting and offered peace. Informed by Captain Fisk of Fanny's plight, Sully insisted she be freed, even though the Blackfeet protested she was being held by the Oglala. In November, Blackfeet warriors went to the Oglala camp, but the Oglala resisted the idea of giving Fanny up. Without Oglala permission, the Blackfeet took Fanny away. When the Oglala pursued to reclaim her, the two groups parleyed; the Blackfeet prevailed.
Fanny was taken to a Blackfeet village. She found out that other groups, having learned of the reward offered for her return, tried to buy her. Once, white traders in four wagons came to purchase her release as well; all but one were killed. The sole survivor escaped and walked all the way back to Fort Laramie. Fanny began to fear that the Blackfeet intended to attack Fort Sully
and not give her up.
One day, Jumping Bear visited her. Fanny persuaded him to take a letter to General Sully; in the letter, she warned of a planned attack using her return as a ruse to gain entry to the fort. Forewarned, once Fanny and some of the Blackfeet chiefs had entered the fort on December 12 (a statement by officers present says "on or about the 9th day of December"), the gates were swiftly shut. Fanny was at last free.
. In this version of events, Fanny was returned safely to Fort Sully under Sitting Bull's protection.
. There, an outbreak of cholera
claimed Josiah Kelly, who succumbed on July 28, 1867. Their child was born afterward.
She was persuaded to go live with the Larimers, who had settled in Wyoming. While there, however, she claimed her manuscript was stolen for the purpose of plagiarism
. Sarah Larimer published a book about her own brief experience in 1870 called The Capture and Escape; or, Life among the Sioux. Fanny had to resort to litigation.
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
and freed five months later. She later wrote a book about her experiences called Narrative of My Captivity among the Sioux Indians in 1871.
Early life
She was born Fanny Wiggins in Orillia in what is now CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1845 to James Wiggins. In 1856, Wiggins decided to relocate his family to the new town of Geneva
Geneva, Kansas
Geneva is an unincorporated community in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States. Although official populations are not compiled for unincorporated places, the population of the surrounding Geneva Township was 172 in the 2000...
in the soon-to-be state of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Along the way, however, he died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
, leaving the family to continue on to Geneva on their own. Fanny eventually married Josiah S. Kelly.
Kelly hoped that a change of climate would aid his failing health, so he, Fanny, and her seven-year-old niece and adopted daughter, Mary Hurley, along with two "colored servants", Franklin and Andy, set out on May 17, 1864 from Geneva for the region that is now Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
or Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. They acquired a fellow traveler, a Methodist clergyman named Mr. Sharp, a few days later. A couple of weeks after that, William and Sarah Larimer and their eight-year-old son Frank, with whom they were acquainted, left a large wagon train
Wagon train
A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. In the American West, individuals traveling across the plains in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance, as is reflected in numerous films and television programs about the region, such as Audie Murphy's Tumbleweed and Ward Bond...
to join them. Two others joined the group somewhere along the journey, Gardner Wakefield and Noah Taylor.
Captivity
On July 12, the ill-fated party had crossed Little Box Elder Creek in WyomingWyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
when they encountered a large group of "about two hundred and fifty" Oglala Sioux
Oglala Lakota
The Oglala Lakota or Oglala Sioux are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people; along with the Nakota and Dakota, they make up the Great Sioux Nation. A majority of the Oglala live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the eighth-largest Native American reservation in the...
"painted and equipped for war", led by their war chief, Ottawa. Vastly outnumbered, the emigrants tried to placate the warriors. The Sioux became increasingly assertive and suddenly attacked without warning. Sharp, Taylor, and Franklin were killed immediately. Wakefield was seriously injured. Josiah Kelly, William Larimer, and Andy got away, while the two women and two children were taken captive. Another wagon that happened on the scene by chance sped off, at the cost of one person's life. The Sioux then proceeded to loot the five wagons.
Josiah Kelly and Andy separately made their way to the protection of a large wagon train some miles away, as did the people of the other wagon that had passed by. They later found William Larimer, with an arrow wound to the arm, and Wakefield with three arrows in him, but still alive. After a couple of days, the party made its way to Deer Creek Station
Glenrock, Wyoming
Glenrock is a town in Converse County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 2,231 at the 2000 census.Glenrock, known as Deer Creek Station, had its beginning as a mail and stage station along the Oregon Trail. The station served as a relay and eating place and was a vital supply point for...
, where there was an army garrison.
Meanwhile, the prisoners attempted to escape. The very night of their capture, Fanny Kelly had Mary Hurley slip away in the darkness. Fanny herself tried to follow, but was caught and beaten. Mary's scalped and arrow-ridden body was found a few days later and buried by her uncle. The Larimers did manage to escape the next night. They were reunited with William Larimer at Deer Creek Station. When he had recovered from his wound, the family returned to Kansas.
Fanny Kelly's account of her ordeal
According to Fanny, she was nearly killed by an old chief for losing his pipe, which she had dropped and broken. She managed to dispel the wrath of her captors by presenting them with some banknotes, telling them of their value. Another life-threatening quarrel ensued when she innocently accepted a gift of stockings from the brother-in-law of the old chief, inadvertently committing a social blunder. Angered, the chief killed one of his brother-in-law's horses. The brother-in-law sought to retaliate by aiming an arrow at Fanny, but Jumping Bear snatched his bow away.The band arrived at their home village, only to be attacked by a Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
force led by Brigadier General Alfred Sully
Alfred Sully
Alfred Sully , was a military officer during the American Civil War and during the Indian Wars on the frontier. He was also a noted painter.-Biography:...
. Fanny was hustled away with the rest of the women and children. Freedom was not to be so quickly gained. After several days of pursuit, Sully's men gave up. When the Sioux returned to their homes, they were so angered at their losses, they threatened to burn Fanny at the stake. At a council to decide her fate, Ottawa spoke up for her, and she was spared. She became Ottawa's "exclusive property". She described him as being "over seventy-five years of age, and partially blind".
One day, an Indian arrived at the camp, bearing a letter from Captain Marshall of the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry detailing the attempts that had been made to rescue her. The Indian had been offered a reward to help free her, but he proved to be unfaithful.
On September 5, a large band of Sioux attacked part of a wagon train led by Captain James L. Fisk
James L. Fisk
James Liberty Fisk was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War who promoted settlement of the western United States. He led four expeditions from Minnesota to Montana in the 1860s.-Early life:...
taking settlers to what is now Montana. Unbeknownst to her, the attack had been repulsed, though the whites had suffered twelve deaths to six by the Sioux. Fanny was made to exchange letters with Captain Fisk to try to get him to lower his guard. Since the Sioux were illiterate in English, she was able to warn Fisk of their intentions. Fisk tried to ransom her, to no avail, but he promised to spread the news of her situation.
When the old chief went away on a journey. Fanny was sent to live in another village with an elderly couple. While there, she met and spoke several times with the chief "Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses". She later found out he had been given two expensive outfits by her husband to try to obtain her release; he, however, reported to Mr. Kelly that he could not find her.
General Sully had been sent to stop the Indian attacks on settlers beginning in 1862
Dakota War of 1862
The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising, was an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of the eastern Sioux. It began on August 17, 1862, along the Minnesota River in southwest Minnesota...
. The Blackfeet became weary of the fighting and offered peace. Informed by Captain Fisk of Fanny's plight, Sully insisted she be freed, even though the Blackfeet protested she was being held by the Oglala. In November, Blackfeet warriors went to the Oglala camp, but the Oglala resisted the idea of giving Fanny up. Without Oglala permission, the Blackfeet took Fanny away. When the Oglala pursued to reclaim her, the two groups parleyed; the Blackfeet prevailed.
Fanny was taken to a Blackfeet village. She found out that other groups, having learned of the reward offered for her return, tried to buy her. Once, white traders in four wagons came to purchase her release as well; all but one were killed. The sole survivor escaped and walked all the way back to Fort Laramie. Fanny began to fear that the Blackfeet intended to attack Fort Sully
Fort Sully
Fort Sully was one of the main military posts located on the east bank of the Missouri river in central Dakota built for use in the Indian Wars...
and not give her up.
One day, Jumping Bear visited her. Fanny persuaded him to take a letter to General Sully; in the letter, she warned of a planned attack using her return as a ruse to gain entry to the fort. Forewarned, once Fanny and some of the Blackfeet chiefs had entered the fort on December 12 (a statement by officers present says "on or about the 9th day of December"), the gates were swiftly shut. Fanny was at last free.
Alternate account
According to several books, Fanny did not live with the aged Ottawa. Despite her claim that "I had never suffered from any of them [the Oglallas] the slightest personal or unchaste insult", by other accounts, she was sold to a Hunkpapa Sioux named Brings Plenty to be his wife. So pleased was he with her docile demeanor, especially compared to Sioux women, that he named her "Real Woman", and it was only with great difficulty that Fanny was prised away from him by no less than Sitting BullSitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
. In this version of events, Fanny was returned safely to Fort Sully under Sitting Bull's protection.
Later life
Her husband, once he received the news, traveled to be reunited with her. The couple returned to Geneva, then moved, first to Shawneetown, then to Ellsworth, KansasEllsworth, Kansas
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,120.-19th century:...
. There, an outbreak of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
claimed Josiah Kelly, who succumbed on July 28, 1867. Their child was born afterward.
She was persuaded to go live with the Larimers, who had settled in Wyoming. While there, however, she claimed her manuscript was stolen for the purpose of plagiarism
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work, but the notion remains problematic with nebulous...
. Sarah Larimer published a book about her own brief experience in 1870 called The Capture and Escape; or, Life among the Sioux. Fanny had to resort to litigation.
External links
- Full text of Narrative of My Captivity among the Sioux Indians at the Making of AmericaMaking of AmericaMaking of America is a digital archive hosted by Cornell University and the University of Michigan. The Making of America collection at the University of Michigan consists primarily of books published in the United States between 1850 and 1877. The Making of America collection at Cornell contains...
digital archive