Joe Little Twig
Encyclopedia
Joseph Little Twig was a professional football
player, who played during the early years of the National Football League
.
, first played football at Catarague Indian School and then at the Carlisle Indian School located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
. In 1922, he joined the Oorang Indians
; Jim Thorpe's
All Indian Football team in LaRue, Ohio. He spent two years with the Indians. After the franchise folded in 1923, Joe and Thorpe joined the Rock Island Independents
for the 1924
and 1925
seasons. He finished his NFL career in 1926, playing with the Akron Indians and the Canton Bulldogs
.
from 1917 until 1921. He was stationed overseas during World War I
. In 1927, Joe joined the Canton Police Department
. While on the police force, he served as a patrolman on motorcycle duty. He left the force in 1931.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, who played during the early years of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Football
Joe, a member of the Mohawk nationMohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
, first played football at Catarague Indian School and then at the Carlisle Indian School located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
. In 1922, he joined the Oorang Indians
Oorang Indians
The Oorang Indians were a traveling team in the National Football League from LaRue, Ohio . The team was named after the Oorang dog kennels. It was a novelty team put together by the kennels' owner, Walter Lingo, for marketing purposes. All of the players were Native American, with Jim Thorpe as...
; Jim Thorpe's
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
All Indian Football team in LaRue, Ohio. He spent two years with the Indians. After the franchise folded in 1923, Joe and Thorpe joined the Rock Island Independents
Rock Island Independents
The Rock Island Independents were a professional American football team based in Rock Island, Illinois. One of the first professional football teams, they were founded in 1907 as an independent club. They later played in what is now the National Football League from 1920 to 1925. They joined the...
for the 1924
1924 NFL season
The 1924 NFL season was the 5th regular season of the National Football League. The league had 18 teams play during the season, including the new clubs Frankford Yellow Jackets, Kansas City Blues, and Kenosha Maroons. The Louisville Brecks, Oorang Indians, St...
and 1925
1925 NFL season
The 1925 NFL season was the 6th regular season of the National Football League. Five new teams entered the league: New York Giants, Detroit Panthers, Pottsville Maroons, Providence Steam Roller, and a new Canton Bulldogs team...
seasons. He finished his NFL career in 1926, playing with the Akron Indians and the Canton Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
.
Military and Police
Before starting his NFL career, Joe served in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1917 until 1921. He was stationed overseas during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1927, Joe joined the Canton Police Department
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. While on the police force, he served as a patrolman on motorcycle duty. He left the force in 1931.
Family
In 1929 Joe married Gertrude Hale. Jim Thorpe attended the ceremony and acted as best man. In 1935 Joe divorced his first wife and married a Mrs. Winfield. With this wife Joe had two daughters Norma Jean and JoAnn.Death
Joe died on March 6, 1939 when his automobile struck a tree at the bottom of a hill in Canton, OhioCanton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.