Hollow Horn Bear died on March 15, 1913. A Brulé Lakota chief, he fought during the Sioux Wars, including the Battle of Little Big Horn, and became a spokesman for his tribe.
Hollow Horn Bear’s exact birthday is unknown, but is estimated to be in March 1850. He was born in present-day Sheridan County, Nebraska. As a child, he and his mother were captured during the Battle of Ash Hollow. He participated in his first fight at the age of 12 and continued to battle as his people were pushed west, confronting miners, settlers, the US Army, and the railroad. During his life, he joined in a total of 31 battles during the Sioux Wars to prevent white settlement on his homeland.
In 1874, Hollow Horn Bear began working as a scout for the US Army. Then in 1876 while he was out searching for lost horses, he went to Sitting Bull’s camps and five days later, fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn. Hollow Horn Bear claimed to have personally fought Marcus Reno and George A. Custer during the battle.
After the Lakota were forced to live in reservations, Hollow Horn Bear traveled to Washington, DC, to discuss living conditions in 1880. The following year, he was appointed head of the Rosebud Agency Indian Police in South Dakota. In that role, he arrested Crow Dog for the murder of Spotted Tail. The case went to the US Supreme Court and was the first time an Indian was tried for the murder of another Indian. The trial was a factor in the 1885 Major Crimes Act, which stated that certain crimes committed by Native Americans in Native American territory could fall under federal jurisdiction.
After Hollow Horn Bear retired from the police force, he became a leading spokesman for the Lakota tribe. He favored individual ownership of land by his people because he felt it would be harder for the government to take it away. Between 1890 and 1910, Hollow Horn Bear participated in several negotiations for the Lakota Sioux, pressing for housing, schools, and more. He was also present at the inaugural parades of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and the dedication of the National American Indian Memorial.
While in Washington, DC, for the dedication of the National American Indian Memorial and President Wilson’s inauguration, Hollow Horn Bear caught pneumonia and died on March 15, 1913. A massive crowd turned out for his funeral, and his body received a military escort when it was returned to the Rosebud Reservation.
In addition to appearing on two US stamps, Hollow Horn Bear was pictured on a 1970 Military Payment Certificate. It’s been suggested he may have been the inspiration for an 1899 $5 silver certificate and other currency as well. There’s also a historical marker honoring him on Route 18 in Todd County, South Dakota.
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First sentence, I think you meant that he died on March 15, 1913. Pretty hard to have been born and died on the same day and accomplished all that he did!!
There’s an error in the first line of the article. His date of death is given as his date of birth.
Guys you have a typo…he was born in 1850 and then died March 15, 1913.
Very. Informative article. As always, your article provides historical detail that I was unaware of before reading it. I do suggest that the first sentence needs to be edited to change “born” to “died.”
Date of birth should be 1850 not 1913
He died in 1913. Not born. Thanks
Ditto to all of the above!
The Indians always got a raw deal according to my grandmother who was born in Deadwood in 1890.
Thank you Ms Charlene Helling. It clearly states that he was believed to have been born in March, 1850. He died in March 15, 1913, a period of 63 years (62).
A wonderful example that Americans can be very inclusive & have been over the centuries. Thank you Mystic Stamp.
I always learn so much from these articles – and I also am finding out how much I was not taught in my history classes!
History – the true history, not the ones people believe should be censored – is just as important as any other subject. “You got to know where you’ve been in order to know where you’re going”.