Last Sachem of the Chippewas Has Gone

Chief Satago and his wife. He is said to have been 108 years old.

Author’s note: The headline above says it all. I found this obituary in a 1911 copy of the Detroit Free Press. I was fascinated by the writeup of his life. I’ve reprinted this in its entirety.

St. Ignace, Mich., Sept. 28 – With the death of Chief Satago, passed away the most noted and historic personage in northern Michigan. From Chief Satago the poet Longfellow gleaned much material for “Hiawatha.” In the lodge of Chief Satago the poet spent much of his time more than a half century ago when in this north country in search of material.

Satago was a devout Roman Catholic, his ancestors being converted by Father Marquette. The most cherished event of his life was the fact that he was present when the remains of the great missionary and discoverer were disinterred from the ruins of the old mission church by Father Jacker. From his chieftain father he often heard of the wonderful cortege of 30 canoes that bore Marquette’s body up Lake Michigan to the mission here.

Author’s Note: About the last paragraph above, It says that Satago was 108 years old in 1911. That makes his birth year 1803. Father Marquette’s bones were returned to St. Ignace in 1677. It was impossible that Satago was an actual witness to this as the obituary implies.

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