Peter is a Yankton Western Dakota Sioux man (Ihanktonwan people, Oceti Sakowin)

Delegation group of 1857–58 (below) in front of the White House, Washington, D.C.
The Sioux delegation leader, Struck by the Ree (right), was a newborn baby at the 1804 Council at Calumet Bluff, and Meriwether Lewis supposedly wrapped him in an American flag.
This map shows the 11,155,890 acres ceded by the Yankton Sioux and highlights the remaining reservation.

The Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota is a federally recognized tribe of Yankton Western Dakota people, located in South Dakota. Their Dakota name is Ihaƞktoƞwaƞ Dakota Oyate, meaning "People of the End Village" which comes from the period when the tribe lived at the end of Spirit Lake just north of Mille Lacs Lake.

The Yankton Agency (often spelled “Yancton”) was created in 1859 to serve the Yankton people. Agency headquarters were located on the Missouri River near Greenwood in present-day Charles Mix County in South Dakota. The Yankton agent also oversaw the Santee Agency from April 1877 through June 1878. In 1933, the Yankton Agency was abolished. The Yankton Sioux transferred to the Rosebud Agency, and the Santee Sioux and the Ponca were transferred to the Winnebago Agency. Yankton was reopened as a sub-agency to the Rosebud Agency in 1937 and then reestablished as a full agency in 1967.

Historically, the tribe is known for being the protectors of the sacred Pipestone Quarry for the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota).

Further Reading: National Parks Service. “Pipestone NM: History (Table of Contents).” Www.nps.gov, 1965, www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/pipe2/contents.htm. Accessed 16 June 2024.

The Yankton Agency serves the Santee Sioux Nation, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, and Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

Biography:
Peter Picotte was born in June of 1862 (Note: Indian Census reports only and all say b=1860), to father Charles Felix 'Itekeča (Shaggy Face)' Picotte and an indian mother Louise Picotte (Benoist). He married once to Mary Ann McBride who died c. 1924, and never remarried. Peter and Mary Ann had no children. Regarding his date of birth, the 1937 census, the last in which he appears, has his age at 77, so a birthdate closer to 1860 is warranted, 1862 seems to be a consensus.

According to Carla Joinson in her book Vanished in Hiawatha, Peter's date of admission is unknown, but when admitted was diagnosed with senile dementia (Senile dementia is a neurodegenerative brain syndrome and a term that's sometimes used to describe mental deterioration associated with old age). He is shown as a patient at Canton ONLY on June 30, 1933, so one assumes he was admitted after June 30, 1932, or he would have been on that male census report.

Peter was transferred to St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington D.C. on December 22, 1933, when the Canton Asylum was closed. Again, one assumes therefore that he was one of those patients transferred to St. Elizabeths who were very shortly after arrival, discharged, and returned home, as he is shown living in the Rosebud jurisdiction on April 1, 1934. His last appearance in a census was on April 1, 1937, living on the Yankton Reservation.

His profile is part of the The Canton Asylum One Place Study.

Research Notes:
-In the 1930 census Peter's parents are from South Dakota/Montana, Mary Ann's parents are from Canada/Canada
-The June 12, 1900, federal census shows a birthdate of June 1862, all Indian censuses show (1860) as a birthdate
-The 1930 and 1940 federal census of Charles Mix County refers to Peter being of a large family father named Herbert, BUT this Peter is only 1-11/12 and 11 years old so it cannot be the same Peter
-Peter Picotte is NOT in the 1940 census for St. Elizabeths Hospital, indicating that he was discharged, probably shortly after admission in December 1933. Census records show that he was in the Rosebud jurisdiction in 1937, which cannot be correct as correspondence from St. Elizabeth Hospital dated March 26 and 31, 1937 indicated that he died there.
-NOT Peter Pecot. NOT Peter P Picotte on FaG. NOT Pierre “Peter” Picotte (1832-1919) on FaG. NOT Peter Benedict Picotte
__________
Sources:

1864 May 16 -

DeSmet, Pierre, and Margie Sobotka. “Early Territorial Catholic Vital Records of Indians & Settlers, 1838-1870.” Familysearch.org, Nov. 1997, www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/802330/?offset=0#page=1&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
(Curator Note: edit to read children of Chas. Picotte and 2nd Sioux wife)

1886 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll680unit/page/n118/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 119/463, fam #396 (age 24),

1887 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll680unit/page/n208/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 209/463, fam #396 (age 25),

1890 Jul & Aug - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll680unit/page/n276/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 277/463, family 352 (age 30), census of the Yankton Sioux, Yankton Agency, So. Dakota

1892 Aug 10 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll680unit/page/n333/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 334/463, line 1988 (age 31), census of the Yankton Sioux, Yankton Agency, So. Dakota

1893 Aug 10 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll680unit/page/n384/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 385/463, line 1010 (age 33), census of the Yankton Sioux, Yankton Agency, So. Dakota

1900 Jun 12 - "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSTD-PC4 : Thu Apr 11 19:19:37 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte and Mary Ann Picotte, 1900, pg. 786/906, line 26 (b=6/1862, Head), census of Ree Township, Charles Mix, South Dakota

1905 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3Y-9WVF : Sat Mar 09 02:13:32 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1905, pg. 566/597, line 976 (age 45, Mary Ann age 49), census of the Yankton Sioux, Yankton Agency

1905 - "South Dakota State Census, 1905", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM4V-TBZ : Fri Mar 08 13:56:34 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, pg. 1665/ 3763, card 763 (age 43), 1905 South Dakota State census

1910 May 18 - "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPXJ-QGK : Sat Mar 09 06:32:04 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte and Mary A Picotte, 1910, pg. 406/1104, line 24 (age 49), census of the Yankton Sioux Reservation, Ree Township, Charles Mix County, South Dakota

1911 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L1R-CKPZ : Wed Mar 06 23:47:54 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1911, pg. 392/443, page 57 (age 51), census of the Yankton Indians, Yankton Agency, SD

1913 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGRT-YT5P : Sun Mar 10 09:29:09 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1913, pg. 71/528, line 352 (age 53), census of the Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency

1914 JUn 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQLB-VM2M : Sun Mar 10 12:16:28 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1914, pg. 173/528/ line 1236 (b=1860), census of the Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency

1915 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQ54-1SW2 : Fri Mar 08 22:29:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1915, pg. 280/528, line 1258 (b=1860), census of the Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency

1915 Jun 30 - "South Dakota State Census, 1915," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMHV-1BZ : 18 February 2021), Peter Picotte; citing State Historical Society, Pierre; FHL microfilm 2,283,781, pg. 1355/2386, card# 53, 1915 South Dakota State census

1916 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGRB-NBGF : Sun Mar 10 18:36:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1916, pg. 387/528, line 1294 (b=1860), census of the Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency

1917 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3W-N6HY : Fri Mar 08 17:30:02 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1917, pg. 492/528, line 1300 (b=1860), census of the Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency

1918 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W36D-W7ZM : Fri Mar 08 01:06:55 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1918, pg. 171/605, line 1308 (b=1860), census of the Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency

1919 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W3VQ-WC2M : Fri Mar 08 07:26:59 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1919, pg. 371/605/ line 1321 (b=1860), census of the Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency

1920 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG5D-YSHH : Fri Mar 08 15:54:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1920, pg. 572/605, line 1314 (b=1860, Mary Ann b=1856), census of the Yankton Sioux, Yankton Agency

1921 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQQY-D1W2 : Sun Mar 10 22:19:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1921, pg. 169/812, line 1318 (b=1860), census of Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency, SD

1922 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQQP-JZZM : Thu Mar 07 04:13:21 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1922, pg. 350/812, line 1318 (b=1860), census of Yankton Indians, Yankton Agency

1924 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WQQ7-642M : Sun Mar 10 22:04:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, pg. 676/812, line 131 (Mary Ann died 4/4/1924), census of Yankton Sioux Indians, Yankton Agency

1925 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3C-9XSL : Thu Mar 07 20:32:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1925, pg. 82/651, line 1320 (b=1860, Mary Ann has disappeared), census of the Yankton Sioux, Yankton Agency, S.D.

1926 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG54-5YSZ : Wed Mar 06 18:35:42 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte., pg. 298/651, line 1324 (b=1860, BHS), census of the Yankton Sioux tribe, Yankton Agency, S.D.

1927 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7ZMV-HS3Z : Sat Mar 09 15:39:53 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte., pg. 514/651, line 1347 9b=1860, BHS), census of the Yankton Indians, Yankton Agency, S.D.

1928 Jun 30 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4J14-Z42M : Sat Mar 09 06:34:34 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1928, pg. 520/579, line 1339 (age 60), census of the Yankton Sioux tribe, Yankton Agency, Yankton jurisdiction

1930 Apr 4 - "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQJ1-X1W : Sun Mar 10 20:04:50 UTC 2024), Entry for Earl Kenyon and Emily E Kenyon, 1930, pg. 411/1028, line 15 (age 68 b=1862, widow and boarder), census of Ree Township, Charles Mix, South Dakota

1933 Jun 30 - Canton Insane Asylum: 1923-33; Cantonment School, pg. 370/1140: 1910-27, Series: Superintendents' Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports 1910 – 1935, Record Group 75: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20408 @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/155855298?objectPage=427, line 32, Canton Asylum male census

1934 Apr 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4JXL-D9N2 : Sun Mar 10 08:04:23 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1934, pg. 689/785, line 1363 (age 74), census of the Yankton Indians, Rosebud jurisdiction

1937 Jan 1 - "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJ2-59YR : Fri Mar 08 14:51:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Picotte, 1937, pg. 758/925, line 1381 (age 77), census of the Yankton Indians, Rosebud jurisdiction

References

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 5 2016, 3:34:05 UTC
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/8251009/person/-39...
• wife's tree: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/8251009/person/508...