Part III: En-sal-sun's timeline
Part III: En-sal-sun's Timeline
Series: The Life and Legacy of En-sal-sun Selsic
Part II: Part II: What does En-sal-sun mean?
Part III: Part III: En-sal-sun's Timeline (This post)
En-sal-sun was 20-35 years old at the time of the Rogue River Conflict
Chronological Timeline: En-sal-sun
1820s–1830s: Estimated birth of En-sal-sun.
~1850: Birth of daughter, Nellie Selsic.
1855: En-sal-sun acts as a treaty signatory.
1855–1857: Birth of son, Antone Selsic.
March 16, 1856: Village fire at Mii-k'wvn-nuu-dvn,
Post-March 1856: Forced removal ("Trail of Tears") to the Siletz Reservation.
June 21, 1856 ‒ After the Rogue River War ended, the U.S. Army rounded up Native people at Big Bend on the Rogue River and marched them 50 miles to the military fort at Port Orford. More than 600 Native people were put aboard the steamer ship Columbia, shipped to Portland, and then taken on a smaller ship to a place near Dayton. They were then marched on foot to Grand Ronde and eventually the Siletz Coast Reservation. • This was the largest removal of people from Southern Oregon. Federal officials claimed urgency, saying that miners and settlers would continue their war of extermination if all Native people weren't removed from the region
July 1856 ‒ Another voyage of the Columbia steamship took more Lower Rogue River people and the bands of Cholcultah (Tyee George) and Lympy Tyee along the same route as the first journey
1856–1894: Decades of survival, communal labor, and quiet resistance.
1886–1892: Documented in agency census records.
1894 (July 26): Frank Selsig receives the official land allotment under the Dawes Act.
1894–1895: Window of En-sal-sun’s passing; he is absent from the 1895 census.
1895: Ella Selsic is listed as the head of household on the allotment; she and her son, Antone, maintain the site following Frank's passing.
1902: Death of Ella Selsic.
Note: timeline constructed from the research shown in this post.
What can we learn about Ensalsun's time line?
If En-sal-sun was a treaty signer (such as in the 1855 treaties), he would have been an adult or a young man of standing at that time, which contradicts an 1858 birth year.
If he was a signatory to the 1855 treaties, he would likely have been born in the 1820s or 1830s, which would have made him an elder by the time of the 1892 census.
Pre-1855:
When was En-Sal-Sun born?
Ancestral Roots Before the forced removal-
Our family’s history was deeply tied to the village of Mii-k'wvn-nuu-dvn. This site was more than a location; it was the center of our community, trade, and culture along the Rogue River, representing the life our ancestors lived before the treaties and displacement began.
The majority of Ancestry trees have En-sal-sun's birth at 1840. One tree has his birth year as 1826. (with the research shown here this is the most accurate).
It is common in these historical census rolls for the age to be a "best estimate" by the agent rather than a precise calculation based on a birth certificate, especially since birth records were often not maintained or were recorded informally during that period.
We see that in this case as the census record says En-sal-sun was 34 in 1892. That would make his birth year 1858.
However, En-sal-sun was a treaty signer so he would have been an adult or a young man of standing at that time, which contradicts an 1858 birth year.
If he was a signatory to the 1855 treaties, he would likely have been born in the 1820s or 1830s, which would have made him an elder by the time of the 1892 census.
1855–1856 (The Removal): .
What led up to the Removal?
The term "Rogue River Conflict" is an umbrella term that encompasses the entire period of intense struggle in that region, including the Rogue River Wars (a series of specific military conflicts between 1855 and 1856), the treaty negotiations (most notably the 1853 and 1855 treaties), and the subsequent forced removal (the "Trail of Tears") of the Rogue River and Chasta peoples to the Siletz Reservation.
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When would En-sal-sun and his wife Ella arrived at Siletz Agency?
The Coast (Siletz) Reservation was officially established by Executive Order on November 9, 1855. Following the end of the Rogue River Wars in 1856, the federal government conducted a series of forced removals, or "trails of tears," to bring various tribes to the reservation.
This would make him approximately 25 to 35 years old during the 1855 treaty negotiations.
Major removal events occurred throughout the summer of 1856, with many people being marched up the coast or transported by ship. While there is no specific arrival record for "En-sal-sun" in the provided search results, the historical timeline for the forced removal of tribes—including the Rogue River and Chasta peoples—largely occurred during the summer of 1856.
Ancestors (removal from land walk) courtesy of CTSI
The birth of his children:1. Nellie Selsic Birth: Abt 1850
2. Antone Selsic birth: Abt. 1855-1857
Antone's birth is often estimated to be between 1855 and 1857. This period corresponds directly with the forced relocation of the Rogue River and Chasta tribes to the Siletz Reservation, which began in the winter of 1855 and continued through the spring of 1856. Because his family's timeline includes this displacement from their homeland to the Siletz Agency during those exact years, it is difficult to determine if he was born in their original territory shortly before the removal or at the Siletz Agency shortly after their arrival.
1856–1890s (Life at Siletz):
What can be found from the Siletz records?
While the records are silent between 1856 and 1887, the reality for En-sal-sun was anything but quiet. These three decades were defined by the daily, quiet resistance of survival—tending to communal lands he did not own, protecting his children from the pressures of forced assimilation, and holding his family together during a time of immense displacement and change.
1. Survival and Subsistence
Following the forced removal in 1856, the immediate priority for every tribal member—especially for a leader—was basic survival. He would have been engaged in the daily struggle to:
-Adapt to a new environment: The Siletz landscape was vastly different from his ancestral lands, and he had to learn new methods of foraging, fishing, and gathering to sustain his family, as the government rations provided were frequently insufficient and unreliable.
-Engage in Communal Labor: The Agency required tribal members to work on communal farms to "earn" their meager rations. He likely spent these years performing heavy manual labor, such as clearing timber, fencing land, and tilling soil for agency-run crops.
2. Maintaining Family and Tribal Cohesion
Even as the government attempted to erode tribal hierarchies, traditional leaders often worked quietly behind the scenes to maintain the social fabric of their communities. During these decades, he would have been:
-Navigating Intergenerational Challenges: He was raising his children, including Nellie and Antone, within a reservation system that was hostile to their language and culture. Protecting their identity and teaching them their heritage in secret or within the confines of the family unit would have been a primary focus.
-Maintaining Tribal Bonds: Despite the forced relocation of multiple different tribes to the same reservation, he would have continued to interact with other families, including the Depoe family, maintaining the political and social networks that existed before the removal.
3. Resisting and Adjusting to Assimilation
This era was marked by the federal government's relentless effort to force assimilation. He would have been caught in the crosshairs of this policy, likely:
-Dealing with Shifting Boundaries: The reservation was constantly being "diminished" or reduced in size due to pressure from white settlers. He would have experienced the stress and uncertainty of seeing his communal lands gradually carved up or taken away.
-Navigating Bureaucracy: He would have been subject to the oversight of the Siletz Indian Agent, who controlled everything from the movement of people to the distribution of supplies, forcing him to engage with an administrative system that did not recognize his traditional status or authority.
En-sal-sun now given and called by the English name Frank Selsic can be seen in just two Census Records:
Name Frk Selsic
Relation to Head of Household Husband
Residence Age 46
Record Type Census
Birth Date abt 1840
Residence Date 30 Jun 1886
Tribe Siletz
Reservation Siletz-Ind
Last Census Number 23
30 Jun 1886 Census Report Siletz Agency
The birth date of 1840 frequently cited on Ancestry profiles originates from the 1886 Siletz Agency census; however, this date appears to be an administrative estimate rather than a verified record
1892 Census Record at Siletz Agency
Name Frank Selsic
Gender Male
Relation to Head of Household Husband
Residence Age 39
Record Type Census
Birth Date abt 1853
Residence Date 30 Jun 1892
Residence Place Oregon
Tribe Confederated Tribes
Agency Siletz Indian
Last Census Number 463
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| Cover Letter for the 1892 Siletz Census Report |
Where the Census keepers lazy not to completely fill in the Census forms of our Ancestors?
Much of the essential context—the date, the agency name, and the certifying officer—was often included in a cover letter or summary report that accompanied the census rolls when they were mailed to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. The enumerator often viewed the individual pages as supplementary data rather than self-contained documents.
The 1892 census records En-sal-sun's age as 39. However, his role as a signatory to the 1855 treaties suggests he was likely born in the 1820s or 1830s. Certaintly makes this abureaucratic error
Editorial Note: The discrepancy between agency records and historical reality is a common theme in Siletz genealogical research, often caused by agent estimation rather than official documentation.
When was he given his Land Allotment?
The forced transition into the individual allotment system.
official Land Patent Detail for an Indian Allotment granted to Frank Selsic under the General Allotment Act of 1887 (also known as the Dawes Act).
Frank Selsic was given his land allotment on July 26, 1894.
Were our ancestors given any supplies when given their land allotments?
The allotment era, driven primarily by the Dawes Act of 1887, was characterized more by the imposition of a new system of private property ownership than by the provision of resources to support that transition.
There is no evidence that the government provided standard "start-up" supplies—such as livestock, farming equipment, or significant quantities of seeds—to Siletz tribal members when they received their land allotments. Instead, the allotment process was focused on "de-Indianizing" tribal members by breaking up communal landholdings and forcing individuals into a model of subsistence farming that often did not align with their cultural practices or the quality of the land they were assigned.
What were our ancestors suppose to do with out any supplies?
The reality of the allotment era at Siletz include:
Financial Struggle: Most tribal members could not afford the necessary equipment, livestock, or agricultural tools required to become self-sufficient farmers on their allotments.
Land Quality: The most productive lands were frequently designated as "surplus" and sold to non-Native settlers. Many tribal members were left with parcels that were either too small, too rugged, or ill-suited for intensive agriculture.
Broken Promises: While the allotment policy was framed as a way to protect Indian property rights, it ultimately functioned to dismantle tribal identities and communal management. The 1892 agreement at the Siletz Reservation, for example, involved the forced cession of "surplus" lands, further marginalizing the people who had just been assigned their individual plots.
The 1892 Settlement: In the specific case of the 1892 Siletz agreement, there were provisions for monetary payments (such as $75 to adult allottees) after the "surplus" lands were sold, but these payments were not supplies or tools for agricultural development. They were compensation for the loss of communal land, and they were often insufficient for the economic hardships the community faced.
Name Frank Selsig
Issue Date 26 Jul 1894
Place Lincoln, Oregon, USA
Meridian Willamette
Township 009s
Range 011W
Aliquots Lot/Trct 1
Section 17
Accession Number IA-0533-344
If we accept the historically supported conclusion that En-sal-sun was born in the 1820s or 1830s (based on his status as a treaty signatory in 1855), we can calculate his age during his decades at the Siletz Reservation:
At the time of the 1856 arrival: He would have been approximately 20 to 35 years old—in the prime of his life as a tribal leader and head of his family.
During the 1886 census: (where he was listed as ~46): He would have actually been between 56 and 66 years old.
During the 1892 census: (where he was listed as 34): He would have been between 62 and 72 years old.
At the time of his 1894 land allotment: He would have been an elder, likely in his early-to-mid 70s.
If En-sal-sun received a land allotment in 1887 why was he on the Siletz census record of 1892:
Financial Struggle: Most tribal members could not afford the necessary equipment, livestock, or agricultural tools required to become self-sufficient farmers on their allotments.
Land Quality: The most productive lands were frequently designated as "surplus" and sold to non-Native settlers. Many tribal members were left with parcels that were either too small, too rugged, or ill-suited for intensive agriculture.
Broken Promises: While the allotment policy was framed as a way to protect Indian property rights, it ultimately functioned to dismantle tribal identities and communal management. The 1892 agreement at the Siletz Reservation, for example, involved the forced cession of "surplus" lands, further marginalizing the people who had just been assigned their individual plots.
The 1892 Settlement: In the specific case of the 1892 Siletz agreement, there were provisions for monetary payments (such as $75 to adult allottees) after the "surplus" lands were sold, but these payments were not supplies or tools for agricultural development. They were compensation for the loss of communal land, and they were often insufficient for the economic hardships the community faced.
Name Frank Selsig
Issue Date 26 Jul 1894
Place Lincoln, Oregon, USA
Meridian Willamette
Township 009s
Range 011W
Aliquots Lot/Trct 1
Section 17
Accession Number IA-0533-344
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| Frank Selsig Land Allotment |
Age Estimation During Siletz Residency
If we accept the historically supported conclusion that En-sal-sun was born in the 1820s or 1830s (based on his status as a treaty signatory in 1855), we can calculate his age during his decades at the Siletz Reservation:
At the time of the 1856 arrival: He would have been approximately 20 to 35 years old—in the prime of his life as a tribal leader and head of his family.
During the 1886 census: (where he was listed as ~46): He would have actually been between 56 and 66 years old.
During the 1892 census: (where he was listed as 34): He would have been between 62 and 72 years old.
At the time of his 1894 land allotment: He would have been an elder, likely in his early-to-mid 70s.
If En-sal-sun received a land allotment in 1887 why was he on the Siletz census record of 1892:
Land allotment records and census records served two different purposses for the government. Land Allotments (Trust Responsibility): These were property records. Once En-sal-sun secured his allotment (the 82.53 acres in Township 9 South, Range 11 West), it was a legal claim to a specific parcel of land intended to transition tribal members into private ownership under the General Allotment Act (Dawes Act). These were headcount records used by the Siletz Agency to manage the reservation population. Even after an individual received an allotment, they remained under the jurisdiction and "care" of the Siletz Indian Agent for purposes of rations, census reporting, and ongoing government oversight.
When did En-sal-sun die?
During the late 1800s, federal agents at the Siletz Agency were primarily tasked with managing communal land, labor, and compliance with agency policies. They were not consistently recording vital statistics (births and deaths) for individual tribal members unless it directly impacted land allotment lists or ration distributions. As a result, the death of an elder often went unregistered if it did not immediately alter the status of his land allotment.
The ongoing displacement caused by the 1875 Act and subsequent efforts to open reservation lands to white settlement caused significant instability. Many tribal members moved away from the Agency to live on traditional lands or in other communities to escape the restrictive, often punitive, conditions of the reservation. If he died away from the direct supervision of the Agency, there would be no official death certificate or agency record generated.
While official documentation remains elusive, we can narrow the window of En-sal-sun’s passing through his wife Ella’s record. By the 1895 census, Ella is listed as an individual head of household—a shift that confirms she was no longer living with Frank. Given that Frank was present for his land allotment in July 1894 and absent from the household by the 1895 census, the evidence points to his passing occurring within that specific twelve-month gap, a period characterized by the immense administrative and personal instability of the era.
The ongoing displacement caused by the 1875 Act and subsequent efforts to open reservation lands to white settlement caused significant instability. Many tribal members moved away from the Agency to live on traditional lands or in other communities to escape the restrictive, often punitive, conditions of the reservation. If he died away from the direct supervision of the Agency, there would be no official death certificate or agency record generated.
Family Search
Reflecting on the 1894–1895 Transition:
The land patent issued on July 26, 1894, marks a bittersweet milestone in our family history—it is the last official government record of En-sal-sun. By the 1895 census, Ella is listed as the sole head of household. This shift in the record is not just a bureaucratic detail; it marks the heartbreaking window in which En-sal-sun passed away. It was left to Ella and their son, Antone, to navigate the new reality of the allotment era, maintaining their home and family legacy in the shadow of his absence.
Where was En-sal-sun buried?
Based on the historical records currently available, there is no official documentation of exactly where En-sal-sun died or where he was buried.
Based on the historical evidence we have discussed—specifically that he was a signatory to the 1855 treaties, which establishes he was an adult at that time—we can estimate his age as follows:
Age in 1855: As a man of standing and a treaty signatory, he was likely at least 20 to 30 years old.
Death Window (1894–1895): If we add the approximate 40 years that passed between those treaty negotiations and his death, he would have been at least 60 to 70 years old, and potentially older depending on his exact age in 1855.
This reinforces the assessment that he was an elder by the time of his passing. The census records listing him as 39 or 46 at various points are clearly administrative errors, as they would make him a child or a teenager during the 1855 treaty signings—an impossibility for a participant in those high-stakes political and legal events.
Where was En-sal-sun buried?
Based on the historical records currently available, there is no official documentation of exactly where En-sal-sun died or where he was buried.
Based on the historical evidence we have discussed—specifically that he was a signatory to the 1855 treaties, which establishes he was an adult at that time—we can estimate his age as follows:
Age in 1855: As a man of standing and a treaty signatory, he was likely at least 20 to 30 years old.
Death Window (1894–1895): If we add the approximate 40 years that passed between those treaty negotiations and his death, he would have been at least 60 to 70 years old, and potentially older depending on his exact age in 1855.
This reinforces the assessment that he was an elder by the time of his passing. The census records listing him as 39 or 46 at various points are clearly administrative errors, as they would make him a child or a teenager during the 1855 treaty signings—an impossibility for a participant in those high-stakes political and legal events.
This timeline documents the life of En-sal-sun, a key figure in our family history. By reconciling federal census records—which are often riddled with administrative errors—with historical evidence from the 1855 treaty era, we can construct a more accurate narrative. While government agents frequently miscalculated ages and overlooked vital statistics, the evidence suggests En-sal-sun was born in the 1820s or 1830s. He was not a child during the 1855 treaties, but a man of standing and leadership who guided his family through the immense trauma of forced removal to the Siletz Reservation. This record honors that resilience, grounding his story in the specific geography of his ancestral home, Tal-dash-dvn, and tracing his journey through the challenges of the allotment era.
Researcher's Note:
When looking at the land patents alongside the census rolls, the reality of the allotment era becomes deeply personal. Frank held this land for such a short time before his passing. It underscores that for Ella and Antone, this allotment was more than just a legal tract of land—it was the place where they honored the final days of a leader and attempted to build a future in a rapidly changing world.
Feedback & Corrections: I strive to ensure the historical information shared here is as accurate as possible. If you spot an error, have additional documentation, or would like to share related family history, please let me know. I welcome any corrections or insights that help deepen our understanding of this shared past.
My Blog: http://www.makingitthrough4110.com/
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A Note on the Family Story
I am Amber Wegmuller, and this project began with a desire to uncover the voices and stories of my ancestors. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of being our family's history keeper, teaching me that our stories deserve to be remembered. As I digitize records, work on our family tree, and piece together the branches of our history, my goal is to honor the people who came before us—the ones whose resilience and stories have shaped who we are today.
Our Ancestral Lineage: This history is rooted in the deep, enduring ties of our people:
Tututni & Kwatami (Siletz): Mikonotunne (Mackanontin), Chemetunne (Joshua), Yukichetunne (Euchre), and Sik-ses-tenne (Sixes).
Grand Ronde: Umpqua, Shasta, Klickitat, and Lower Chinook.
Sources:
https://nativegov.org/resources/allotment-legacies-guide/#:~:text=Many%20of%20the%20parcels%20were,of%20land%20her%20family%20received%3A
https://ctsi.nsn.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CTSI-Comprehensive-Plan-2005-2015-History-Pt1.pdf
https://ctsi.nsn.us/the-end-of-wars-removal/
https://www.grandronde.org/culture-history/trail-of-tears/
https://ctsi.nsn.us/the-1892-surplus-lands-agreement/#:~:text=The%20allotment%20policy%20was%20an,the%20resources%20on%20those%20lands.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawes_Act#:~:text=This%20would%20convert%20traditional%20systems,previously%20exist%20in%20their%20cultures.
https://ctsi.nsn.us/the-siletz-allotments-in-1891-1892/#:~:text=Allotment%20was%20an%20extension%20of,of%20tribal%20lands%20and%20resources.&text=Before%20the%20Secretary%20of%20the,an%20agreement%20ceding%20those%20lands.
https://nativegov.org/resources/allotment-legacies-guide/#:~:text=Many%20of%20the%20parcels%20were,of%20land%20her%20family%20received%3A
https://ctsi.nsn.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CTSI-Comprehensive-Plan-2005-2015-History-Pt1.pdf
https://ctsi.nsn.us/the-end-of-wars-removal/
https://www.grandronde.org/culture-history/trail-of-tears/
https://ctsi.nsn.us/the-1892-surplus-lands-agreement/#:~:text=The%20allotment%20policy%20was%20an,the%20resources%20on%20those%20lands.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawes_Act#:~:text=This%20would%20convert%20traditional%20systems,previously%20exist%20in%20their%20cultures.
https://ctsi.nsn.us/the-siletz-allotments-in-1891-1892/#:~:text=Allotment%20was%20an%20extension%20of,of%20tribal%20lands%20and%20resources.&text=Before%20the%20Secretary%20of%20the,an%20agreement%20ceding%20those%20lands.
https://www.siletzlanguage.org/docs/R2R%20Points%20of%20Interest_4.pdf
Removal of the Rogue River Indians Education: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/equity/NativeAmericanEducation/Documents/Grade%208%20%20Lesson%203%20%20War%20and%20Removal%20Trails%20of%20Tears%20Presentation.pdf
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