Shoppenagon

November is Native American Heritage Month. In observance, we're highlighting one of Michigan's most famous Native Americans. In this photo, we see Grayling legend David Shoppenagon with his wife and child.

Shoppenagon's birth date is unknown. He died in 1911 and was generally believed to be about 103 at the time! He was a Chippewa from the Saginaw River Valley who settled in Grayling sometime in the 1870's. Locals believed him to be a chief. However, the Grayling Centennial history (The First Hundred Years: An Introduction to the History of the Grayling Area, edited and published by the Grayling Centennial Commission, 1972), notes that Shoppenagon himself may have never claimed such a title.

"Old Shop," as he was affectionately known, built a home at the mouth of the Au Sable River's east branch. He gained wide renown as an expert trapper, hunter and fisherman. Whites often hired him as a guide, and his services were greatly in demand.

The Grayling Centennial history characterizes Shoppenagon as a man who knew the value of promotion. It's noted that he frequently dressed in Native American regalia to impress his clients. The Grayling history also states that Rasmus Hanson, a local lumber baron, had an arrangement with Shoppenagon and used his image to sell his products. During his long life, Shoppenagon contributed greatly to Grayling area commerce and to general awareness of the Northern Lower Peninsula's abundant natural resources.

The Archives of Michigan contains a number of resources pertaining to Native Americans. The Archives' Circular No. 30 provides a good overview (Click here to access Circular No. 30.).

The Library of Michigan's site includes a page listing Native American genealogy and history resources (Click here to access this page). Other items can be retrieved by searching ANSWER, the Library's online catalog (Click here to search ANSWER)

Anyone interested in primary research on Michigan's Native Americans might also want to visit the Clarke Library at Central Michigan University. Click here to read a description of the Clarke Library's Native American-related resources

The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office has placed an historical marker on the site of Shoppenagon's home. To read the marker's text, click here and perform a search on the word "Shoppenagon." Further information on this and other markers can be found in the book Traveling Through Time: A Guide to Michigan's Historical Markers, edited by Laura Rose Ashlee and published by the University of Michigan press (click here for more information on this book).

-Bob Garrett, Archivist
E-mail: garrettr1@michigan.gov

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Archives of Michigan
Michigan Library and Historical Center
702 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48913
Phone: (517) 373-1408
E-mail: archives@michigan.gov