St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum Was Home to Native American Royalty

 
Fred, Gabriel & John Aveline, Orphans of Royal Native American Lineage

St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum Home to Native American Princes

By Diana Vice & Karen Brand

Vice and Brand are Historians with the General de Lafayette Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in Lafayette, Indiana.

My friend and co- DAR Historian, Karen Brand, and I have been researching orphans who had once lived at the St. Joseph’s Orphanage Asylum in Lafayette, Indiana.  The orphanage was founded in 1876 by the local Catholic Church and ran until 1938 when it closed. Our goal is to capture as many personal stories as we can.  [For previous orphan stories, you can read about this writer’s grandfather, Roy Hanthorn, and Con Kennedy, known as the Carnival King.]

Karen recently came across an interesting story about three brothers who had lived there at the turn of the 20^th century who were famous for their genealogical heritage. In fact, they were considered to be of royal Native American descent.  Their names were Fred, Gabriel, and John Aveline.

L to R: Louis Aveline, James, Fred, Catherine, John B. (Jack),
Martha - not pictured: Gabriel

When I saw the surname of Aveline, memories from my 1960s childhood, growing up in the 500 block of Central Street, came flooding back. The Fred Aveline family lived across the street from the duplex that my family shared with my grandmother, aunts, and uncles. It turns out that Fred was a descendant of one of the famous orphan boys.  

The Aveline Home in the 1960s - 418 Central St.

Here is the story from the June 27, 1902, issue of The Call newspaper from Lafayette, Indiana.

Aveline Boys at St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum of Royal Lineage

The Call – Lafayette, Indiana – Friday, June 27, 1902

“I go to my tent and lie down in despair.”

The historical story of the battle of Tippecanoe is known to every child in the county. The rugged
concrete-like Prophet Rock with its overhanging ledge has often been the interesting object of resident and visitor, the old site of Prophet Town near the mouth of Tippecanoe River has often been visited, the old trail from there to the site of old Ouiatenon near the Sand Ridge vicinity has been traveled o’er and o’er until the old Indian trail has lost its ancient importance. The old site of Fort Ouiatenon is now the transformed picture of the thrifty farmer of today, with his cornfield under cultivation, but withal now and then an old rusty bracelet, a cross of the early Jesuit fathers, or a stone tomahawk is turned up from the soil in the spring plowing, to remind us of the past.

Our surroundings on all sides have their historical value, from the long-lost hunting grounds of the Wea to the bloody battlefield of Tippecanoe. These historical spots which all delight to visit, and in the pride of our surroundings love to show to others. Could we realize that a descendant of the great race that once trod these confines dwelt in our midst, he or she, would be an equal object of interest.

While we have no surviving representative of the diplomatic Tecumseh, or the cunning and deceptive Elks-wet-a-wa, we have representatives of the great Miami’s, a tribe of the great Red Man of the past equally as skilled as the Shawnee or Pottawattamie. These children, three in number, are consigned to the St. Joseph’s Orphan home. They are interesting little specimens of their once noble race, and bear all the characteristics in features of their ancestry, the clear eye, the firm set jaw, the prominent check bone, the tinge of copper color, the straight black hair, and the piercing eye that looks you through and through, while in conversation with them. They are children of the Aveline family, that before the mother died several years ago resided between Wabash and Marion. 

The father, James Aveline, who is a half breed Miami, is still living, but a wanderer. The mother of these children was an Indian princess. Her maiden name was Mary Godfroy, she being the daughter of Gabriel Godfroy, who still lives near Peru on the Mississinewa River, on a small tract of land adjoining the land where the Wallace Shows (Circus) make their winter quarters. Gabriel Godfroy owned the land occupied by the Wallace’s until he sold it a few years ago for the purpose for which it is now used, this tract being ceded to him by the government. Gabriel Godfroy is a full-blooded Miami. His brother, James Godfroy, was the last tribe of the Miamis, and Gabriel Godfroy, the grandfather of these children at the orphans’ home, was the last great war chief of the Miamis. So these children, according to the Indian law and custom, are the natural heirs to the chieftainship of the Miamis.  James Godfroy, the last surviving tribe chief, died six years ago near Fort Wayne, and his funeral was conducted with great pomp and ceremony from the cathedral in Fort Wayne. Gabriel Godfroy, the grandfather, is noted today in the neighborhood in which he resides as the crack rifle shot of the locality. He is 75 years of age and straight as an arrow.

The children at the Home are named Fred, Gabriel and John. Freddie is the oldest, and he is in Indian custom, the natural heir to the tribe chieftainship, and Gabriel, to the title of war chief. Under Indian tradition, John is not an heir to title. Freddie is an interesting character. He strongly resembles his grandfather, is especially polite, and the same may also be said of Gabriel. The two boys, Fred and Gabriel, show the strong character of the Indian nature. In Freddie, the perspective faculties are decidedly marked, and there is strong brain power most plainly visible in the shape of his head. When talking to him you get a strong outline of his character. He looks you in the eye with firmness, and during your talk with him there is that same riveted glance. All three of the boys are bright scholars in their classes. Freddie in the language of the phrenologist, would make a statesman, and Gabriel would not be far behind his elder brother. When seen on the playground yesterday afternoon, Master Gabriel was sitting on the cellar door with his legs and hands crossed, his quick cunning eye with swift glances taking in all the surroundings with that quick perception peculiar to his race.

Fred soon made his appearance on the ground, having come from the baseball grounds, as he is a member of the home team and a very clever third baseman. He is very athletic in his tendencies when not at study. When called by the superintendent of the Home, he was sprightly in his response, and when introduced to The Call representative, lifted his hat manfully, and with an open countenance, extended his hand with a “how do you do, sir?” With a polite response to your salutation, looks you in the eye with true Indian instinct, and politely bows his way out and is off to the companionship of his baseball associates. The boys are interesting characters and give promise of a future manhood of usefulness. Freddie, when old enough, is to have a college education, along the lines his future talents may develop.

Fred Aveline, Sr. on Right with Unknown person

L to R: Don, Fred, Sr. & Jim Aveline taken on Romig
 between 3rd & 4th Streets

By Artist George Winter