SEPTEMBER 9, 1861

OMAHA ATTORNEY HATU MI (HIRAM CHASE) BORN—1^ST NATIVE AMERICAN TO ARGUE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

Born on the Omaha Reservation in Macy, Nebraska (NB), Hiram attended mission schools before going to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy, in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, and Peru State College, in Peru, NB. Graduating from Cincinnati Law School in 1889, he became the 1^st Native American to pass the NB Bar. He and fellow Omaha Thomas Sloan established Sloan & Chase—the 1^st Native American law firm in the U.S. & were the 1^st Native Americans to argue in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1893, Chase became County Judge of Thurston County and, in 1898, was elected County Attorney. Chase and Sloan were early leaders of the Society of American Indians (SAI), the 1^st pan-Indian rights organization. At SAI’s 1911 inaugural conference, Chase spoke on “The Law and the American Indian in the United States.” Sloan and Chase, supporters of the Peyote faith that became the Native American Church, represented followers on Freedom of Religion grounds. Chase died December 3, 1928, in Chadron, NB.

Sources:
  “Hiram Chase, esq.,” Jackalope Arts.  Retrieved 3/10/2022, othrpchase (jackalopearts.org)
Wikipedia
Photo:  Author and date unknown (but before 1927).  Public Domain.