Joseph Wah kah keh mo hot
aka Joseph Davis
Shawano County Journal
26 May 1932
Aged Indian is Only Living Civil War Vet
It is just sixty-seven years ago that Joseph Kahkehmohot, the last of the Civil War veterans in Shawano County, left his wilderness home on the reservation and joined the 38th Regiment of the Wisconsin Infantry, answering Lincoln's call to arms. He was 18 years old when he left home to enter this great struggle between the north and the south. He saw hundreds in battle and spent many weary days working for that one cause of righteousness.
On the 26th of June 1865, he was honorably discharged and came back to his home. Mr. Kahkehmehot is 88* years old and is now living at Keshena. Age has destroyed his hearing, while he needs assistance in getting about. Two years ago he was the only Civil War veteran who took part in the historical pageant.
All of the old soldiers have passed on except Joseph Kahkehmehot, who is the sole Civil War Veteran still living in Shawano County.
When you go to honor our heroes on Decoration Day, let us not forget the last of the great army of men who fought to provide "Liberty and justice for all."
* Probably should have read 98
Shawano County Journal
6 Apr 1933
Joe Davis, 95, Reputed To Be Son Of President Of The Confederate South
Joe Davis, whose Indian Name was Wah Kah Keh Mo Hot, died yesterday morning at half past two in his home in Keshena. He was ninety-five years old, according to the best calculation and records. He was the last living Civil War veteran in Shawano County. His going erases the list.
He was a Menominee Indian, oldest on the roll. He had lived all his life with the tribe. Two years ago, when the historic pageant for Shawano County was given, Joe Davis played an important part. Supt. Rootz, generalissimos of the pageant, announced that Joe had been married two days before to his third wife at the age of ninety-three. This wife dies only a few months ago. One son Paul, is living at Keshena.
The Menominee's have always held that Mr. Davis was a son of Jeff Davis, President of the Confederacy. The legend, which the Menominee records insist is the truth, is that Jefferson Davis and Captain Powell were stationed at the old Indian fort at Prairie du Chien. Powell was a captain in the Black Hawk was and Jeff Davis was a first lieutenant.
At the close of the war these two men were transferred to Fort Howard, which is now west Green Bay. They both purchased Indian maidens for wives, a perfectly legitimate thing to do according to the custom of the times. It was exactly the same procedures as was followed by other famous men, who laid the foundation of Northeastern Wisconsin, Grignon, Dausman, Fisk, Satterly, perfectly legitimate according to the usage of the time and place. Two daughters of Capt.. Powell still live on the Reservation. His white wife died in Antigo only a few years ago.
When Joe Davis went to the Civil War he enlisted under his Indian name under the fear that his identity might be discovered and he be made an object of special effort for capture by southern troops. He fought with a Wisconsin division in the army of the east, his enlistment enduring over a period of three years. He was a good soldier and a brave one.
He received a pension upon his return to the reservation. A few years after the war some Southern officers came to the Reservation and made an exhaustive search to prove that their president had had no Indian wife. Their line of argument was that the claim was anachronistic, that Davis had been at Fort Howard at the time which be incongruous with Joe's birth or age. But the Indians still insist that their records by legend and word of mouth are correct.
Joe was a good Indian was well a good soldier. He stood straight as an arrow and kept a buoyancy in his step up to the time of his last illness. When he walked across the platform at the pageant two years ago, his stride was as sprightly as the men of fifty.
He lived most of his life after the war on one of those little clearing farms about four miles out on the South Branch road. His son Paul. the only survivor, is seventy-two years old. The funeral will be held Saturday morning near Keshena.
Joseph Kah Keh Mo Hot Native American
Enlisted as Pvt 38 Wis Inf Co G on 17 Aug 1864 Richmond Township, Shawano Co
Mustered out as Pvt 38 Wis Inf Co G on 25 Jun 1865
Wounded while on picket 1 Jan 1865 at Peterburg, VA
Time Served 10m 8d
Born abt 1838
Died 5 Apr 1933 at Keshena
Buried Keshena
Father Jefferson Davis
Mother Wan ne ne na quau
Children Paul and Gabriel
Wives Mary Ann Keshena, Margaret
Pension
Service Record - Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road , Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. (Companies "F," "G," "H," "I" and "K" joined October 1, 1864. Received Rebel Peace Commissioners Stephens, Hunter, Campbell and Hatch through lines under flag of truce January 29, 1865. Fort Stedman , Petersburg, March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Occupation of Petersburg April 3. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Moved to Washington, D. C., April 21-25. Grand Review May 28. 2nd Battalion mustered out June 6, 1865. 1st Battalion on duty at Arsenal, Washington, during trial and execution of President Lincoln's assassins. Mustered out July 26, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 56 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 56 Enlisted men by disease. Total 113.
