Person: Thomas Francis Richardville, Myaamia Name: Waapimaankwa

• Oklahoma Allottee

  Kansas Allottee

  Treaty Reserve Recipient

  Myaamia Language Source

  Nationality: Myaamia
  Family Group: Richardville
• ID: 2399
  

  Gender: Male

  Date of Birth: Knw 04-23-1830
  Location of Birth: N/A

  Date of Death: Knw 01-16-1911
  Location of Death: N/A
• Biography/Notes:
  Waapimaankwa was the great-grandson of Akima Pinšiwa (Chief J. B. Richardville), the son of a man known as Pimicinwa or Crescent Richardville. Thomas was orphaned at a young age and grew up in Indiana. Though he was exempted from removal and did not make the trip to Kansas Territory in 1846, he rejoined his Myaamia community in the Spring of 1860. Chief Richardville had eight children by three wives. His oldest children were Francis, Rose Ann, Mary Louisa and Mary Jane, all of whom came from his first marriage to Angeline Goodboo. In 1866, he married Ruth Ozandiah and had a son Henry Moses. He later married Martonah (Mary Lindsey) and had three children: Catherine, Charles, and Hannah. Educated as a lawyer at Notre Dame, he became a valuable intermediary between the Miami Nation and the United States government. Though he was influential in leadership for many years prior, he first became Chief in 1888, after the relocation to Indian Territory. Chief Richardville's leadership was integral to the decision to remain a separate entity upon relocation, rather than consolidating membership with the Peoria Tribe as allowed under the 1867 Treaty.