I was born in the city of New York, August 1872. When I was four years old my Dad desired to go West, he had some friends living in Yankton, S.D. We were near the Yankton Sioux reservation. I don't remember much for I was too young but it was the year that General Custer and his men were massacred by Ogalala Sioux Indians. Later in years I remember that there was trouble with the Sioux Indians. I recall the Rosebud Reservations when there was about 2000 tepees along the Brule River, the Indians used to take there ponies to the river and give them water, that is when there was any there. Sometimes it was dry.

As a boy I spent much of my time with the Indian boys and girls. We always got along well. Things got pretty bad and there were uprisings on account of the Indian Agents, they were not giving the Indians there rations which the Government allowed them. One day we packed up and went to Detroit, at that time there were hardly 200,000 inhabitants. I had gotten so used to the Indian children I was lonesome for them. There were some Indians along the river front which I got acquainted with and some at Walpole Island, but they were all civilized but I painted pictures of them. I have had many people ask me how I took to the painting of Indians. Well he was artistic to paint always proud of himself and no fear of anyone also willing to help you: but you had to be square with him or you would be sorry.

The most touching thing which made me feel for the Indian was the battle of Wounded Knee at Pine Ridge, S.D. when the great Prophet Wavaka introduced the Ghost Dance, he said, we must not steal or fight and when they were learning this dance and songs and its Christ like form Creed which should have meant the end of Wars. Who comes but an Indian Agent like most of his kind was ignorant and utterly unfitted for his position. He made a report that the Indians are preparing some new war dance, so troops were sent there. This took place called Wounded Knee near Pine Ridge Dec 29, 1890. They were told to turn in all there rifles and guns of any kind. One Indian a young man got maddened by personal indignity by making more search for rifles, he fired a shot at the troops but it was proven he hit no one as an answer a volley was fired from the troops and killed half of the Indians, a minute laterfour Hotchkiss Machine guns were turned on the defenseless mass of virtual prisoners of 120 men, 250 women and children were massacred in broad daylight mowed down and left laying where they fell. Those that wanted to surrender were shot down like dogs. Poor Chief Big Foot sick at the time was found dead together with his wife and baby, which was in her arms lying together in the snow. The time came when World War I broke out and the young Indians were drafted.

I have spent some 20 years painting pictures of different Indian chiefs of four branches of Sioux, Cheyennes, Kickapoos, Chiapewas, Tuscarorras and Ottowas. My best friend among the Indians today is Chief Ettawageshik of Ottowa tribe.

In 1895 there was Ethnographical Fair in Prague, Bohemia. They wanted a man that could represent an American frontiersman, I applied and got the job. I had to speak Bohemian and was with an American medicine show going from town to town. It was run by Medicine Man Spotted Horse, there were four Indians beside him they were: White Wolf, Black Bear, White Bear and Yellow Hawk. I took White Wolf with me to Bohemia, he was 1/2 Kickapoo and 1/2 Sioux. We stayed at the Fair for six months, we had a log cabin there, American style. I had it full of Indian relics and gave talks on American life. After the fair I went on tour through Europe with my Indian and Relics which were later bought by Count Tolstoy. Later I attended Art School in the Rudolphin, Prague, Bohemia, studying there for two years, then returning to America. I started over painting Indian scenes and Scenic painting for Opera Houses.

If I was to describe my life in detail it would be a large book; but handicapped by not having enough proof. I had many beautiful photographs of the early west and Indians, but they were destroyed by fire in Europe in 1914 during the War which was my second trip to Europe.