PRESS RELEASE: 6-15-23
CASE: James Russell Heidbrink aka “Owl Goingback”
Sovereign Nations / identity falsely claimed: Cherokee/Choctaw
Determination: FRAUD
James Russell Heidbrink, aka “Owl Goingback”, is a horror fiction author who claims to be “half Cherokee and half Choctaw”, which would make him a full-blooded American Indian. That is a very bold and obvious lie. He is an ethnic fraud because James Russell Heidbrink is a man of European ancestry who possesses zero American Indian ancestry from any tribe whatsoever, including Cherokee or Choctaw.
He claims his mother, “Quiet Starr”, whose actual name was Allene Francis Hahn, was Cherokee and Choctaw. She was not. And we have letters on public display from all of the federally recognized Cherokee and Choctaw tribal enrollment offices that clearly say he is neither, nor was his mother, nor was his ancestor, David Earnest Penly, nor anyone else in his family.
On his father’s side, only 3 generations back, his family are immigrants from Germany and England.
He is the recipient of many awards recognizing him as a “Native American” author writing about “Native American” themes. This is also literary fraud because Mr. Heidbrink will never possess a Native American” perspective on anything. What he knows about Native American people he attained by reading about us and being a tourist amongst us.
Yet he “travels throughout the United States lecturing about the customs and folklore of the American Indians”. In doing so, he usurps the voices of actual American Indian people who could be authentically speaking on lived American Indian experiences and culture. He is taking up space that could be occupied by legitimately American Indian people. He is one Pretendian fraud among many who are collectively erasing us by replacing us. And now he’s being honored at StokerCon 2023, the American Horror Writer’s annual convention in Pennsylvania. They are being informed regarding Mr. Heidbrink’s fraud.
His Wikipedia entry admits that “Owl Goingback” is his pen name, but we have screenshots of Mr. Heidbrink implying that it is his birth name, by showing his ID on Facebook, having legally changed his name to “Owl Goingback”, a prestigious Cherokee family name which he has stolen to further his profitable fraud. We believe he did this to make himself appear to be Cherokee, which is a classic pretendian tactic.
Mr. Heidbrink owes the public and the Cherokee and Choctaw people an apology. He should legally change his name back to the name his non-American Indian parents gave him, and cease and desist with his Red Face cosplay. To his readers: Please let Mr. Heidbrink know you do not support this type of harmful fraud. To his publishers and supporters: Please do not harbor and enable pretendians like Mr. Heidbrink. Pretendian fraud is the last nail in the coffin of our genocide.
GENEALOGICAL REPORT: CHOCTAW AND CHEROKEE ANCESTRY CLAIMS JAMES R. HEIDBRINK Heidbrink paternal, Hahn maternal and allied families thru marriage.
CONCLUSION: FOLLOWING THE GENEALOGICAL STANDARD BASED ON HISTORICAL INFORMATION, FACTUAL DOCUMENTATION THRU NUMEROROUS LEGITIMATE SOURCES CITED HERE WITHIN THE REPORT, COMBINED WITH THE LETIERS (view Official letters) OF NON-RECONITION BY THE FEDERALLY RECONIZED CHOCTAW NATION, FEDERALLY RECONIZED CHEROKEE NATION AND FEDERALLY RECONIZED EASTERN BAND CHEROKEE INDIANS, I DID NOT FIND ANY EVEIDENCE OF AMERICAN INDIAN ANCESTRY. Note: THE ABOVE TRIBES AND BANDS ARE THE ONLY SOVEREIGN NATIONS WHO POSSESS THE LEGAL RIGHTS TO DECIDE WHO IS OR IS NOT A DESCENDANT OR CITIZEN OF THEIR PEOPLE.
Analysis paternal line: the Heidbrink families were clearly and undeniably of European descent usually arriving in the U.S. circa 1850, of primarily German and British origins, of whom had strong inclination to settle in Southeast Missouri near very popular mining and trading area such as Cape Giradeau (trading port), Mine La Motte, Bollinger, Perry counties, where they have remained for generations. There is no indication of interaction with American Indian communities and these families are duly noted on U.S. Land records and Federal U.S. census reports, military records since arrival, are found to be of European descent.
History: American Indians were not considered citizens of the U.S. until1924 and were not usually present of Federal U.S. Census reports prior to 1890, they had their own Censuses and Rolls for identifying their People. I have documented the Heidbrink families as being consistently listed on U.S. Census reports as white for roughly 150 years, and do NOT find his ancestors on any Indian censuses or Rolls for the Choctaw or Cherokee Tribes. Nor did I find that they were living in areas that the Choctaw or Cherokee occupied over time.
NOTE: My goal is to find evidence American ancestry. It is not my job to form a personal opinion when analyzing documentation. I cannot change history, nor can I change the legitimately sourced Federal U.S. records, or American Indian censuses and Rolls, to fit a person's narrative of American Indian ancestry claims. I may only use valid documentations and resources to form a professional opinion.
PATERNAL HEIDBRINK LINES:
Father: Carl Melvin Heidbrink b. Missouri 1936-2010 listed on Federal U.S. Census reports 1940 and 1950, race white, lists parents proving parental relationship, lists his children and spouse proving marital relationship and parentage to children. Missouri U.S. Birth register, Missouri Death records proving parental and marital relationship, U.S. Social Security Death Index
Paternal grandparents: Raymond Leslie Heidbrink b. Missouri 1899-1959 listed on Federal U.S. Census reports 1910 thru 1950 race white, lists parents proving parental relationship, lists his children and spouse proving marital relationship and parentage to children. Missouri U.S. Death certificate proving parental and marital relationships, U.S. WW I draft registration race white, WW2 draft card race white, U.S. Social Security application maiden full name of his spouse was listed proving marital relationship and her maiden name. Note: Raymond was the 1st generation of his German family born in the United States. Spouse: Emma Wilhelmine Grace Kaelin b. 1899 Missouri-19951isted on Federal U.S. census reports 1900 thru 1950 race white, lists parents and country of origin proving parental marital relationships and parentage to children. Note: Emma was the 1st generation of her German family. Conclusion: Both Raymond and Emma being of European origins it is not possible to have American Indian ancestry.
Paternal great grandparents: John Herman Heidbrink b. Missouri 1871-1950 listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1880 thru 1940 race white proving parental and marital relationships, lists children proving parentage. Missouri U.S. marriage record proving marital relationship, Missouri U.S. Death record lists his spouse and parents’ names proving parental and marital relationships. Ida Anne Goodall b. Missouri 1867- 1942 listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1880 thru 1940 race white, lists spouse and parents proving parental and marital relationships, lists children proving parentage. Missouri U.S. birth record lists parents proving parental relationship, Missouri U.S. Marriage record lists spouse proving marital relationship. Both John and Ida were the 1st generation of their families born in the United States. John being of German descent and Ida being of British descent thru her father. Instead, her mother was Mary Frances Cox b.1850 Illinois -1917 listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1870 thru 1910 race white, listed with spouse proving marital relationship, Missouri U.S: Birth record for her daughter lists her spouse and child. Missouri U.S. death record lists her parents proving parentage. Her father: William Cox b. 1830 Kentucky and Mary Hartford b.1830 Kentucky, both listed on her death record. Conclusion: There is no evidence of American Indian ancestry for Heidbrink, Goodall, Cox and Hartford lines
Final analysis paternal line: The Heidbrink, Koelin, Goodall lines are 1st generation born in United States of German and British origins, therefore not American Indian. The Cox and Hartford lines do not appear to have American Indian ancestry, since neither are listed on any Cherokee or Choctaw Rolls nor their child- Mary Frances. She was listed as white on Federal U.S. census reports race white at a time when American Indians were Not present on Federal U.S. census reports. No one is this family is listed on any of over 30 Cherokee or Choctaw Rolls or census.
MATERNALLINE HAHN:
Mother: Allene Frances or Fran Hahn b. 1934 Missouri- 2020 listed on Federal U.S. census report 1940 race white, shown with her mother and sibling proving parentage, U.S. Newspapaers.com Obituary Index St. Louis Post lists her father proving parentage.
Maternal grandparents: James Obia Hahn b. 1909 Missouri- 1986 listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1910 thru 1950, race white, listed with parents proving parentage, lists his children and spouse proving marital relationship and parentage to children. Missouri U.S. marriage record lists spouse proving marital relationship. U.S. Newspapers.com St. Louis Post Obituary Index lists children proving parentage, WWII Draft card race white. Spouse: Vivian Penly b.1914 Tennessee, listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1920, 1930,1950 race white, lists parents and siblings proving parental relationship, lists children marital status Divorced, proves parentage to children. Missouri U.S. Marriage record lists spouse proving marital relationship U.S. Social Security application lists 1child and spouse proving marital relationship and parentage to child. Her parents: David Ernest Penly b. 1886- 1963 Perry, Mississippi (note: Perry Mississippi was situated on lands which the Choctaw inhabited 80 years prior. However, those lands were ceded by the Choctaw, a total of 6 million acres in the Treaty of Mount Dexter in 1805. The area was then designated for white settlers. Perry county was officially established on or about 1826. By the time Penly was 20, he was residing in Missouri where he lived the rest of his life and died. Therefore, he was born in Perry After Choctaw lands were ceded about 80 years after the land was no longer available to Choctaw people, it was inhabited by white settlers after the Treaty of Mount Dexter. Spouse: Estelle Daniels b. Kansas 1889-1970, listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1910 thru 1940, race white, listed with husband and children proving marital relationship and parentage to the children, listed on Penly's WWI Draft card and WW2 Draft card, Virginia U.S. Marriage record proving marital relationship. Conclusion: There is no evidence that would indicate American Indian ancestry, all were listed as white consistently and no one is found on Cherokee or Choctaw Rolls or census.
Maternal great grandparents (parents of James Obia Hahn): James Robert Hahn b. Missouri 1884-1962 listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1900 thru 1950 race white, listed with parents proving parental relationship, listed with spouse and children proving marital relationship and parentage. WWI Draft card race white, WW2 Draft card race white, Missouri U.S. Death certificate father's name listed. Spouse: Ellen/Ella Duncan/Dunkin listed on Federal U.S. census reports race white, listed with spouse and children proving marital and parental relationships. Missouri U.S. Death record lists spouse and parents’ names and birthplace Missouri. Her parents: Henry Dunkin and Lizzie Edmonds both from Missouri. Conclusion: race consistently listed as white from Missouri, parents from Missouri. Hypothesis formed: DOB's of her
parents based on her age probably born roughly 1860. If they were Cherokee or Choctaw they would have been eligible for the Dawes Roll and living in Indian Territory, Oklahoma after Forced Removal. Dawes Roll consulted: conclusion there were no Henry Dunkin/Duncan's or lizzie/Elizabeth Edmonds listed. Also note Ellen/Ella Duncan would have also been listed on the Dawes Roll either with her parents or separately, she would also had to have been living in Indian Territory, Oklahoma, she was not. She is clearly present on Federal U.S. census reports in Missouri. Also residing in an area that the Cherokee and Choctaw did not inhabit during the time period.
Maternal 2nd great grandparents: Isreal Lafayette Hahn b. Missouri 1845-1920, listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1850 thru 1920, race white (note was being counted on U.S. census reports during a time in which American Indians were Not yet U.S. citizens and not counted on U.S. census reports). Listed with parents and siblings proving parental relationships, listed with spouse and children proving marital relationship and parentage to children. Missouri U.S. marriage record proving marital relationship, Missouri U.S. Death record spouse listed and child proving relationships. U.S. civil war Pension Index lists spouse proving marital relationship. Spouse: Mary Elizabeth Gamblin b. Missouri 1866-1945 listed on Federal U.S. census reports 1870, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 race white, listed with parents and siblings proving parentage, listed with spouse and children proving marital relationship and parentage to children. Missouri U.S. marriage record proving marital relationship. Missouri U.S. Death record lists spouse proving marital relationship. Her parents: Herman Gamblin b. Kentucky 1832-19211isted on 1870 and 1880 Federal U.S. census race white (note at this time American Indians were not U.S. citizens and were not found on U.S. census reports) U.S. General Land Office records filing date 1888. (note American Indians were not U.S. citizens and could not purchase land at that time thru the U.S. Federal government) Spouse: Adeline or Mary Adeline Thompson b. Illinois 1838-1880 listed on 1850, 1870, 1880 Federal U.S. census reports race white, listed with spouse and children proving marital relationship and parentage to the children. Conclusion the Cherokee and Choctaw never lived in Illinois, never resided in the area during the time period, consistently found on U.S. census reports during a time when American Indians were not counted, consistently listed as white on documents.
Maternal 3rd great grandparents: Joseph Neal Hahn b. Missouri 1821-1858,1st generation in his family born in the United States. Listed on 1850 Federal U.S. census race white, listed with spouse and children proving marital relationship and parentage to children. Spouse: Mary Polly Reaganb. Tennessee 1825-1886 listed on the 1850 and 1860 Federal U.S. census report race white, listed with spouse and children proving marital relationship and parentage to the children. U.S. Marriage record proving marital relationship.
Conclusion: they were both listed on a Federal U.S. census reports when American Indians were not citizens of the U.S. and not counted on U.S. census reports, also residing in an area that the Cherokee and Choctaw never inhabited during the time period. Missouri U.S. Marriage record proving marital relationship his parents were both of German descent, therefore impossible that he was American Indian.
Forced Removal: By 1830 the U.S. government implemented a plan to remove the Cherokee and Choctaw to Indian Territory or modern-day Oklahoma. The Choctaw ere one of the 1st Tribes removed to Indian territory, Oklahoma (about 15,000 in 1831) In the winter of 1838 to 1839 the U.S. government successfully executed the Forced Removal of a combined total of roughly 30,000 Choctaw and Cherokee of the southeast from northwest Georgia, northeast Alabama, Mississippi, central west North Carolina, southeastern Tennessee. During this time of genocide Missouri was used as a passageway for the Trail of Tears by several Detachment leaders responsible for the Forced Removal.
No one fell off the Trail, no one ran away, no one infiltrated hostile white communities and pretended to be white, no one hid, no one dropped off their children to white settlers to "save" from the hardships, no one gave their daughter to white settlers along the way. We are talking about Tribes which had a deeply profound, inter woven familial ties to their People and communities. They did not want to separate, they stay together. One's suffering or hardship was everyone's hardship. They were a group; they were united in good and bad. They did Not have the white man's habit or mentality of run "every man for himself". There were those who died on the Trail and there were those who survived and ended up in Indian Territory, period. All were documented.
NOTE: the Heidbrink families lived on the Opposite side of Missouri to the southeast, NOT southwest, and were clearly documented to have settled and stayed in those southeastern Missourian areas. Nowhere near the Choctaw or Cherokee.
