Background
Frank Joshua North was born in Manhattan, New York on March 10, 1840.
Frank Joshua North was born in Manhattan, New York on March 10, 1840.
He is most well known for organizing and leading the Pawnee Scouts from 1865 to 1877 and reached the rank of major. In 1856, at the age of 16, Frank moved to Nebraska and worked as a transporter, moving goods between Omaha, Nebraska and Fort Kearny. During this time, North made contact with the Pawnee Indians, befriended them and learned the Pawnee language.
In 1860, North was working as a clerk and interpreter at the Pawnee Agency trading post in Genoa, Nebraska.
In 1864, General Samuel R. Curtis approached Frank North to have him organize a company of Pawnee scouts. In 1865, North organized and commanded the Pawnee Scouts.
He was appointed the rank of First Lieutenant and then Captain. While commanding the Pawnee Scouts, Captain Frank North fought in the Battle of Crazy Woman"s Fork, Battle of the Powder River and the Battle of Tongue River, all of which took place in the August of 1865 in Dakota Territory.
On July 11, 1869, Frank North fought with his scouts at the Battle of Summit Springs in Colorado.
After the battle, North claimed to have shot and killed the Cheyenne chief Tall Bulletin. He participated in the Dull Knife Fight. Frank North was promoted to the rank of Major and mustered out of the Army.
Frank North served one term in the Nebraska State Legislature from 1871 to 1872.
In the 1880s, North was the Indian manager in Buffalo Bill Cody"s Wild West Show. Frank Joshua North died on March 15, 1885, in Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska.