United States
Department of the Interior
Indian Field Service
San Carlos Agency
San Carlos, Ariz.
Jul 28 1927Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Please refer to your request for further information in the estate of Chiquito Bullis, as noted in your letter dated April 30, 1927, files as above noted.
Additional testimony taken at supplemental hearing indicates that Chiquito Bullis and Captain Chiquito were one and the same person.
It further appears that Mary Bullis, a Mojave captive, was the surviving widow according to Indian custom.
Evidence further shows, without question, that it would be impossible to locate any heirs or relatives of Mary Bullis as she was captured when a child and no one knows her people.
Yours very truly,James B. Kitch Superintendent.
Testimony in case of
Chiquito Bullis by
Chappo Savage.
State your name age and residence.
Chappo Savage aged 79, living at San Pedro, Arizona.
Did you know Chiquito Bullis?
Yes.
Was he ever known as Captain Chiquito?
Yes he was chief of the Indians on San Pedro and they got to calling him Chief Chiquito.
Do you remember when Chiquito died?
Yes I was there.
Who was living with him as his wife at that time?
A Mohave woman.
Where was Josepha Bullis living?
About 2 miles away from the old mans camp, she had a little piece of land of her own.
How long had she been living away from him?
Quite a long time I don't know the years.
Did you belong to that camp of which Chiquito was chief?
No I lived in another band near Feldman.
Did you ever visit the home of Chiquito Bullis?
Yes I visited it often.
Who was considered the wife and doing the cooking for Chiquito when you would visit there?
That Mohave woman.
Did Josepha ever live with any other Indian men after she separated from Chiquito?
Yes she lived with about eight men.
Is she living now?
No she died over here last winter.
Did you ever hear of any relatives of that Mohave woman who was living with Chiquito when he died?
No, she was a captive and no one know her people.
R.J. McDaniel
Witness San Carlos, Arizona
Ben Randall
His Mark
Chappo Savage.
Subscribe and sworn to before me this 28th day of June 1927.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.
Testimony in case of
Chiquito Bullis by
James Noline.
State your name age and residence.
James Noline age 68, living at San Carlos, Arizona.
Did you know Chiquito Bullis?
Yes.
Was he also known as Captain Chiquito?
Yes.
When he died what woman was he living with as husband and wife?
That captured Mohave woman.
Did you ever visit his camp the last years of his life?
Yes I visited him often. I also got there they day after he died.
Did you know Josepha Bullis?
Yes.
Did the Indians consider her the wife of Chiquito when he died?
No.
Why?
They separated 36 years ago, and that Mohave woman was doing his cooking.
Did Chiquito and Josepha live in separate camps?
Yes.
Now it has been stated that she lived in the same camp?
Chiquito was recognized as sort of Chief of the Indians on this Arivapa Canyon near San Pedro, this camp extends along the canyon several miles, his own family camp was just a part of this big camp. His camp was on his allotment of land, the home of Josepha was some distance away on another piece of land.
Now this Mohave woman the widow of Chiquito do you know any of her relatives?
No I do not, she never had any Mohave Indians visit her and she was captured when she was small and no one would know any of her people.
Did she ever live with any other man besides Chiquito or have any other children?
No.
R.J. McDaniel
Witness San Carlos, Arizona
Ben Randall
His Mark
James Noline.
Subscribe and sworn to before me this 28th day of June 1927.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.
Testimony in case of
Chiquito Bullis by
Elin Bullis.
State your name age and residence.
Elin Bullis age 41, living at San Carlos, Arizona.
Did you know Chiquito Bullis?
Yes he was my father.
Was he also known as Captain Chiquito?
Yes they also called him that.
Did you know Josepha Bullis?
Yes.
Was Josepha ever married to your father Chiquito?
I don't know just heard about it.
Did she live in the camp with your father?
No.
How far away from your father did she live?
Two miles and one-half.
Who was doing the cooking for your father when he died?
That Mohave woman named Mary.
Did you ever hear of any relatives of this Mohave woman Mary?
No she was captured when she was a little girl from the Mohave Indians and no one would know any of her people.
How long had Josepha been living away from your fathers camp when he died.
About 36 years, her brother was killed by Apache Kid and some other Indians over there and she left at that time, later she returned to San Pedro valley but did not live with Chiquito any more.
Elin C. Bullis
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of June 1927.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.
Testimony in case of
Chiquito Bullis by
Josepha Bullis.
State your name age and residence.
Josepha Bullis age 75, living at San Pedro, Arizona.
Did you know Chiquito Bullis?
Yes.
Were you ever married to Chiquito Bullis?
Yes.
When did Bullis die?
I believe about 5 years ago.
How many wives did Bullis have that you know of?
Six.
Name them.
I was the first, Carrie Lane was next, Goodegula the mother of Lon Bullis, Rough Mohave, Mary Bullis and the sixth was Laura Patton the mother of Elin Bullis.
How many children did Chiquito have by you?
Five, three girls and two boys.
Name them.
They all died many years ago young children except John who married and died not long ago.
Now these four who died little did they all die before your husband Chiquito Bullis?
Yes.
Did any of those four ever grow up to be married or have children.
No they all died young with our marriage or children.
Which died first John or his father Chiquito?
John died first.
How many times was John married?
Twice, Mrs. Robt. Roy living now he divorced her and afterwards married his last wife Maud Bullis Jefferson she is here now.
Did John ever have any children by Mrs. Robt. Roy?
None.
Did he ever have any children by Mrs. Maud Jefferson.
Five three dead and two living, the living ones are named Joseph and Jennie.
How many of Johns children were living when he died?
Just the same two who are living now.
Did any of his other children ever grow up?
No they died when babies.
Were you living with Chiquito Bullis when he died?
Yes.
Living in the same house?
He died in one teepee and I lived in one adjoining about 80 feet away.
Had you ever married with anyone or lived as wife with any other man between the time you married Bullis and the date of his death?
No I was still his wife when he died.
Were you ever separated from him?
Many year ago when Hattie Harney was a little girl (age now 48 years ), the friends of Chiquito killed my brother and ran me away. Bullis sent for me three times and I returned to him and lived with him ever since.
Where did Chiquito Bullis die?
At San Pedro.
Where were you when he died?
Over here at San Carlos.
I had been here about 10 days when I heard he was dead, his sons Elin and Lon went over to San Pedro and I followed right after them and Bullis was buried when we got there, and I have lived on the place (Homestead allotment ) ever since.
Before you left San Pedro ten days before Bullis died were you cooking for Bullis and taking care of him?
No he had another wife Mary Bullis who was cooking for him.
How many years before Bullis died did you stop cooking for him?
I don't know years.
Were you considered by the Indians the wife of Bullis when he died?
I was married to him alright but he had another wife who lived with him and I lived separate from him, in another teepee.
Was Mary living with him in the same teepee when he died?
Yes they were living together.
How many children did Bullis have by Carrie Lane?
They had two and both are dead.
When did those children of Carrie Lane die?
They died many years ago one married named Rex and the other one died right after he came from school unmarried and without issue.
When did Rex die before Chiquito or afterwards?
He died before Chiquito.
Who was Rex married to when he died?
Della Bullis now living.
How many children did Rex have?
Two both boys Edward and Lyon both living.
What became of Carrie Lane?
They were separated that is Bullis and her many years ago and she married Henry Lane of San Carlos.
What became of Goodegulat the mother of Lon Bullis?
She separated from Bullis many years ago and ran away she died many years ago before Bullis.
How many children did Bullis have by the mother of Lon Bullis, Goodegula?
Four children.
Name them.
Cook a son, the second had an Indian name I cannot remember it the third was a girl I dont remember her name, the fourth and last was Lon who died lately.
When did Cook die before or after Bullis?
He died before his father.
Did he ever marry or have children?
No he never married and never had any children.
When did that second son die?
He died long before Bullis without marriage or issue.
When did the third child the daughter die?
She died before her father Bullis she was married twice.
Did she ever have any children?
No she never had children by either of her husbands except one that died in childbirth many years ago, before Bullis.
When did Lon die?
He died in Phoenix after his father.
Was he married and did he have any children?
He was married to Jane Bullis when he died she is living, he had a white wife somewhere before that this white wife died.
Did he ever have any children by that white wife?
Yes he brought back two children Lon Randolph and Audrey both living.
Did he ever have any children by Jane Bullis the widow?
Two one living Dorothy and one dead.
When did the dead child die?
That child died before Lon about 3 years old.
What ever became of Rough Mohave the fourth wife of Bullis?
She ran away from him many years ago and afterwards died.
Did she died before Bullis?
Yes.
Did Bullis have any children by Rough Mohave?
She had two children by him, one a boy and one a daughter both died many years ago before Bullis.
Did the son of Bullis and Rough Mohave ever marry or have children?
Yes he married and had two children both girls one dead and one living named Nettie Teuma.
Now the dead sister of Nettie did she ever marry of have children?
No she never married and had no children.
What became of Mary Bullis the fifth wife of Chiquito Bullis?
She died after Chiquito Bullis.
Did she remarry after Bullis died?
No, she died single a widow.
How many children did Bullis have by her?
No children.
Do you know of any relatives of the widow Mary Bullis?
No she was captured by Bullis from the Mohave Indians many years ago before we had any treaties when we were wild, and we dont know of any of her relatives.
What became of Laura Patton?
She is living now but when Bullis' brother committed that murder many years ago and Bullis ran away she was left behind and from that time separated from him. That was many years ago and she afterwards married Paul Patton.
Did Laura Patton the last wife of Bullis marry Paul Patton before Bullis died?
She married a man named William Mull before Bullis died and divorced Mull and later Married Patton.
Did Bullis have any children by Laura Patton?
There were two children Elin Bullis living and one dead.
When did the dead child of Bullis and Laura Patton die before or after Bullis?
The dead son died before Bullis.
Did that dead son ever marry or have any children?
No he never married and never had children.
Is there any fence around the allotment of Chiquito Bullis?
Yes there was a bob wire fence around it and since it has been leased there is now some woven wire around it too.
Who built that fence around the Bullis land?
That fence of the bob wire has been there many years, it was built by old man Bullis and his many wives.
Did Elin Bullis build that fence or any other fence on that land?
No he did not.
Is there any house frame or otherwise on that land?
There is no house only two teepees belonging to me on the land.
Didn't Elin Bullis and Patton farm that land last year, put a crop in?
About two years ago Elin put in some beans and left them. I took care of them and ate them a little patch, Paul Patton put some grain in last year, he left it and a Mexican family watered it and threshed it and got some sacks of grain, I dont know what became of sacks of grain. Then the only improvements on the place are two teepees and the fence that you wives build and that the lesse built, and the white lesee has put a little shack on there now.
Did old man Bullis ever make a writing about his property or will that you know of?
No he never said a word he was caring for his fruit trees and took sick and died right away.
Did you bob your hair when the old man Bullis died?
No I did not I wept though.
Have you any thing else you wish to say about this case?
Will I be one of the heirs?
I cannot say I will submit this to the Department at Washington. Now since that time many years ago that you left from fear and returned did you ever sleep with Bullis as his wife?
No I did not when I returned with my son John he told us to stay with him at his camp as they might kill us as his friends killed my brother and we stayed there all the time but I did not sleep with him. I cleared a strip of land on his place that should be mine as I did all the work and hired a Mexican to help me.
Witness San Carlos, Arizona
Ben Randall
Her Mark
Josepha Bullis.
Subscribe and sworn to before me this 12th day of June 1925.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.
Testimony of
Sherman Curley in case of
Chiquito Bullis.
I want to make a statement about Bullis, He was my uncle he was married six times. all of his wives except an old Mohave named Mary divorced him about the time Gerinimo was in trouble, (1886). He was considered married to Mary when he died and she came over here and died near the River Crossing about three months after old man Bullis. He had five sons that I knew of only one living now Lynn Bullis the rest all died. They may have been others but they died many years ago, I knew of the five dead ones and the living one. Bullis had six wives two Mohaves and four Apache women. He divorced all but one when he was sent away with Gerinimo. I dont know the names of the five children of Bullis who are dead.
Lon Bullis was one of them wasnt he?
Yes.
Was another of them married to Maud Jefferson?
Yes.
Was another one the one who married Della Bullis?
Yes he was a son and was killed in Globe by a white man.
Was Nettie Tehuma and relation to Bullis?
Yes she is a daughter of one of these dead sons.
Do you claim any interest in this estate?
No. he is my uncle but I dont claim anything.
Witness San Carlos, Arizona
Ben Randall
His Mark
Sherman Curley.
Subscribe and sworn to before me this 26th day of February 1926.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.
Testimony in case of
Chiquito Bullis by
Mrs. Jacob Watson.
State your name age and residence.
Mrs. Jacob Watsen aged 49 years old, living at San Carlos.
Did you know Chiquito Bullis?
Yes.
When did he die?
One year after the Flu was here, (1919)
Do you know how many wives he had?
He had several wives but had separated from them two are now living one the mother of Lynn Bullis married again before Bullis died and one other old lady living at San Pedron (Josepha)
Was any of the wives living with Bullis when he died?
He was living with one woman a Mohave when he died.
Who was that woman?
Her name was Mary Bullis she was a Mohave captive.
Was he living with Mary when he died was she still cooking for him?
Yes they were living together as husband and wife.
Then he had divorced Indian custom the old lady Josepha had he?
Yes they separated many years ago when Bullis was a young man.
How many children did Chiquito Bullis have?
He had a lot of children many of them are dead, Lon Bullis died a few years ago and one is still living named Lynn.
Did you know a son of Bullis named John who married Mrs. Robt Roy?
Yes I knew him he died before his father Chiquito.
Did John ever have any children by Mrs. Robt Roy?
No she never had any by him.
Did John ever have any other wives?
Yes he had another wife named Jefferson who recently died.
Did he ever have any children by Maud Jefferson?
Yes I know of two still living. (Joseph and Jennie)
Was one of the wives of Bullis named Carrie Lane?
Yes she divorced him and is now married to Henry Lane who lives here
Did Bullis have any children by Carrie?
Yes he had two one died many years ago a young child and one lived to grow up and then died, he was married to a woman named Della.
Did the son who married Della die before or after the Father?
He died many years before his father old man Bullis.
How many children did this son have by Della?
They had two children still living with their mother. (Edward and Lyon)
Do you remember a wife of Bullis who was the mother of Lon who died recently?
Yes I knew her she died many years ago and was also separated from him before his death.
How many children did Bullis have by the mother of Lon Bullis?
She had two that I remember one died many years ago without children and Lon Bullis who died after the father.
Was Lon Bullis married when he died?
Yes to Jane Bullis who is still living and who had one child by him (Dorothy) still living.
Did Lon have any children by any other women?
Yes he came home one time and had two children by a white woman, they are sent off to school somewheres they dont live here.
Did you know of a wife of Bullis named Rough Mohave?
Yes that was one of his wives she died years ago.
Did she have any children by Bullis?
Yes one dead one who died many years ago and one still living named Nettie Tehuma.
Now this other child of Rough Mohave did she grow up and have children?
No she died young many years ago.
Now this Mohave woman Mary was she living with Bullis when he died?
Yes thats the only one he was living with.
Did she die after the old man Bullis?
Yes afterwards.
Did Bullis ever have any children by her?
No.
Do you know of any of her relatives?
No she was captured when young and had no blood relatives that we know of.
Now do you know of any more wives of Bullis?
Yes there is a woman named Patton who divorced him years ago and married Patton.
Did Bullis ever have any children by this Patton woman?
Yes there were two children Lynn who is living and one who died many years ago, never married or had children.
Have you any interest in this case?
No.
Witness San Carlos, Arizona
Ben Randall
Her Mark
Mrs. Jacob Watson.
Subscribe and sworn to before me this 26th day of February 1926.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.
Testimony of
James Noline in case of
Chiquito Bullis.
State your name age and residence.
James Noline aged 67, living at San Carlos, Arizona.
Did you know Chiquito Bullis?
Yes.
When did he die?
He died about 7 years ago May 17.
Was he married and living with any Indian woman as husband and wife when he died?
Yes he was married and living with a Mohave woman.
Was that the same woman who died over at the River Crossing about three months after he died?
Yes that was the same one.
Did you know any of the other wives of Bullis?
He had six of them but I dont know the names.
Do you know of any of the children of Bullis?
I knew a son named John.
When did John die?
He died before the old man.
Did he have any children?
Yes he some who died and two a boy and girl now living. (Joseph and Jennie)
Are these the two children who were of Maud Jefferson the woman who just died?
Yes those are the children.
Do you know Lynn Bullis?
Yes he is the only one living now.
Did you know any of the other children?
I knew of five sons who grew up but did not know any names except Lynn who is living and the one who married the Jefferson woman.
Did you know the one who married Della Bullis?
Yes I knew him he is one of those I called.
Yes he had two sons now living.
Now did you know any of the others?
Not by name but one died in Phoenix at the Hospital (Lon) and one was the father of Nettie Teuma.
Do you know of any other relatives of the old man?
No, only those who I called ever grew up and you have named all of them.
Have you any interest in this estate?
No.
Are you sure that the old lady at San Pedro (Josepha) was separated from Bullis?
Yes they were separated many years ago.
Witness San Carlos, Arizona
Ben Randall
His Mark
James Noline.
Subscribe and sworn to before me this 26th day of February 1926.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.
Testimony in case of
(Chiquito Bullis (
Lon Bullis by
Mrs. Lon Bullis.
State your name age and residence.
Jane Bullis age 35 living at San Carlos Arizona.
Did you know Chiquito Bullis the man we have been talking about?
No.
Did you know Lon Bullis?
Yes.
When did he die?
He died about one year ago.
Was he married when he died?
He died in Phoenix at the hospital but I was married to him when he died.
How long had you been married to him?
I married him in 1917, he had a license and were married by a minister.
Had Lon ever been married before he married you?
I dont know about him before I married him but he must have been married as he had two children. (Lon and Audrey)
How many children did Lon have by you?
He had two by me one died and one living named Dorothy.
When did the dead child die and was it a boy or girl?
That child was a girl and had no name she died about 3 years of age before the father Lon.
Do you know anything about the Bullis wives or children that Josepha just told about?
No I do not.
Witness San Carlos, Arizona
Ben Randall
Jane Bullis.
Subscribe and sworn to before me this 12th day of June 1925.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.
Testimony in case of
Chiquito Bullis by
Maud Jefferson.
State your name age and residence.
Maud Jefferson 33 years of age living most of the time at San Pedro, now at San Carlos, Arizona.
Did you know old man Chiquito Bullis?
Yes.
Do you remember when he died?
Yes I lived in that San Pedro valley but he died about 6 years ago.
Do you know of that woman Josepha Bullis living in the camp of Bullis.
She lived over there but in separate teepee.
Did you know John Bullis?
Yes he was my husband.
When did he die?
He died in 1918 before the old man Bullis.
Were you living with John as wife when he died?
Yes.
Had he ever had any other wives beside you?
Yes, Mrs. Rob Roy, he divorced her before he married me.
When did you marry John Bullis?
1913.
Did John ever have any children by you?
Yes he had five by me three dead two living.
Those three who died did they all die before John?
Two died before the father one afterwards.
Did any of the three ever grow up marry or have children?
No they were just babies.
Now the child who survived his father John did he die before or after old man Bullis?
He died after his father John and before the old man Bullis.
What are the names of the two living children of John Bullis?
Joseph and Jennie.
Do you know of any children of John Bullis except the five by you?
No I do not.
Is there anything else you wish to say?
No.
Witness San Carlos, Arizona
Ben Randall
Her Mark
Maud Jefferson.
Subscribe and sworn to before me this 12th day of June 1925.
James B. Kitch
Superintendent.