Mike Daggett
Encyclopedia
Mike Daggett, or Ondongarte by birth, (? - February 25, 1911) was a Shoshone
native American
who is best known for his involvement in the Battle of Kelley Creek
, during which he was killed with several members of his family. Daggett was known by many other names as well, including "Shoshone Mike", "Indian Mike", "Rock Creek Mike" and "Salmon River Mike".
Daggett fathered twelve or thirteen children and is first recorded in history in 1890 when he and his family were removed from their lands on Fort Hall Indian Reservation
in Idaho
by settlers who claimed they had purchased the land. Twenty years later, in the spring of 1910, Daggett led his family off the reservation and they wandered into Nevada
and California
where they worked at various jobs. Finally, in January of 1911, the Daggetts were encamped in Little High Rock Canyon in Washoe County
, Nevada. Their winter stores were running low so Mike decided to steal and slaughter some cattle belonging to a local rancher. The theft did not go unnoticed and a posse of four men went to the canyon to deal with the situation, but when the four entered, Mike and two of his oldest sons ambushed the posse and killed all of them on January 19. The bodies were later found mutilated and piled inside a cave by a search party on February 8, after which a posse of Nevada and California policemen and citizens were sent to apprehend the Daggett party. On February 25, 1911, the posse discovered Shoshone Mike and his followers at a place known as Kelley Creek in Humboldt County
, Nevada. During a battle that lasted three hours, Mike was killed, along with eight others, and four of his children were taken into police custody. The four later attended Stewart Indian School
near Carson City, Nevada but by 1913 only one was still alive.
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who is best known for his involvement in the Battle of Kelley Creek
Battle of Kelley Creek
The Battle of Kelley Creek was one of the last armed conflicts between the United States and native Americans during the Indian wars era. In January 1911 a small group of Bannocks and Shoshones killed four men in an incident known as the Last Massacre...
, during which he was killed with several members of his family. Daggett was known by many other names as well, including "Shoshone Mike", "Indian Mike", "Rock Creek Mike" and "Salmon River Mike".
Daggett fathered twelve or thirteen children and is first recorded in history in 1890 when he and his family were removed from their lands on Fort Hall Indian Reservation
Fort Hall Indian Reservation
The Fort Hall Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation of the federally recognized Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in the U.S. state of Idaho. It is located in southeastern Idaho on the Snake River Plain north of Pocatello, and comprises 814.874 sq mi of land area in four counties: Bingham, Power,...
in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
by settlers who claimed they had purchased the land. Twenty years later, in the spring of 1910, Daggett led his family off the reservation and they wandered into Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where they worked at various jobs. Finally, in January of 1911, the Daggetts were encamped in Little High Rock Canyon in Washoe County
Washoe County, Nevada
Washoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 421,407 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Reno. Washoe County includes the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.-History:...
, Nevada. Their winter stores were running low so Mike decided to steal and slaughter some cattle belonging to a local rancher. The theft did not go unnoticed and a posse of four men went to the canyon to deal with the situation, but when the four entered, Mike and two of his oldest sons ambushed the posse and killed all of them on January 19. The bodies were later found mutilated and piled inside a cave by a search party on February 8, after which a posse of Nevada and California policemen and citizens were sent to apprehend the Daggett party. On February 25, 1911, the posse discovered Shoshone Mike and his followers at a place known as Kelley Creek in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, Nevada
Humboldt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2007, the population was estimated to be 18,052. Its county seat is Winnemucca.The county was the site of an arrest in 2000 that led to the U.S. Supreme Court decision Hiibel v...
, Nevada. During a battle that lasted three hours, Mike was killed, along with eight others, and four of his children were taken into police custody. The four later attended Stewart Indian School
Stewart Indian School
The Steward Indian School was an Indian school southeast of Carson City, NV. The school was named for Nevada's first senator, William M. Stewart and opened on December 17, 1890. The school opened with 37 students from Washoe, Paiute and Shoshone tribes and was staffed by 3 teachers...
near Carson City, Nevada but by 1913 only one was still alive.