Reclaiming the Story of Ella Selsic: A Daughter of Old Joshua
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| 1884 Drawn map by ethnologis James Owen Dorsey based on information provided by É-ne-á-ti, a Tututni man living on the Siletz Reservation. |
Ella Selsic (c. 1840s – 1900s)
For many years, Ella Selsic remained a 'shadow' in our family records—obscured by inconsistent spellings, anglicized names, and the deliberate silence of reservation-era documentation. By synthesizing federal allotment records, oral deposition testimony, and local history, we can finally trace the journey of this foundational ancestor. Daughter of the Chemetunne leader Old Joshua and a Yukichetunne mother lost to the turmoil of the Rogue River Wars, Ella’s life serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of our people and the enduring strength of our kinship ties.
Ella Selsic (also seen as Ellen) was a foundational figure in the Depoe and Selsic family lines. She was the full sibling of Charles Depoe, both sharing the same parents. Her family network was complex, including half-siblings such as Sandy Grant and Ada Depoe Arden, who shared the same father but had different mothers. Her life spanned the transition from ancestral homelands to the Siletz Reservation.
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| Charles Depoe and Ada Arden Depoe |
Key Highlights of Her Life:
Family Ties: Ella was deeply connected to the prominent Depoe line. Her status as the full sibling of Charles Depoe and her connection to Sandy Grant and Ada Depoe Arden (as half-siblings) helps clarify the intricate family network that persisted through the reservation era. Her ancestral nations include the Chemetunne (Joshua) and Yukichetunne (Euchre) bands.
Ancestry: She was the daughter of Old Joshua, a leader of the Chemetunne (Joshua), and an unknown mother from the Yukichetunne (Euchre) band who passed away during the era of the Rogue River Wars.
Marriage and Children: She was married to Frank Selsic (Chief En-sal-sun), a signatory of the 1855 Oregon Coast Treaty. They had children, including Antone Selsic and Nellie Selsic.
Descendants: Ella has numerous descendants who are registered members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Key family lines descending from her include the Selsic, Tom, Martin, and Towner families, all of whom carry forward her legacy and tribal heritage.
Land and Legacy: Ella and Frank held distinct land allotments at Little Whale Cove and Whale Cove.
The Selsig/Selsic Family: While the records explicitly mention that Frank Selsig and his wife Ella and their son Antone, held the allotments spanning the northern rim of Whale Cove and the southern portion of Little Whale Cove, specific architectural records of a permanent family home on that exact bluff are scarcer. However, standard practice for Siletz allotment holders at the time involved maintaining cabins, seasonal fishing camps, or small residences on their coast plots to maintain their land claims and continue traditional marine foraging.
Following her passing, the records of her estate—which included heirs like her niece and nephew, Nannie Thornton and Jasper Grant (children of Sandy Grant)—provided the vital documentation needed to connect these family branches.
Descendants: Ella has numerous descendants who are registered members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Key family lines descending from her include the Selsic, Tom, Martin, and Towner families...
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| 1930s Whale Cove Depoe Bay Oregon Coast Highway |
A Life Reclaimed: Long obscured by inconsistent census reporting and anglicized names, Ella has been reclaimed through the synthesis of land allotment records, deposition testimony (notably from Joshua Tom), and local historical documentation. Her life stands as a testament to the resilience of her people and the endurance of these kinship ties.
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| Siletz Logo 1979 |
If you are a descendant of the Selsic, Tom, Martin, or Towner families, I would love to hear from you. My research is ongoing, and the most important pieces of our history are often the stories passed down.
If you'd like to dive deeper into the research that shaped Ella's story, I’ve shared my sources here.
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
My name is 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.
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