Hiram Valliere

Hiram Norman Valliere (also known as Chief Macintosh) Hiram Norman Valliere was born on February 18, 1927 and raised in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, on the shore of Mud Lake (now called Moss Lake). He is the third of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Valliere. Hiram has three surviving siblings, Bette Skenandore, Doris Nielson , and Joseph Valliere He attended the grade school and the first three years of high school in Lac du Flambeau. His senior year was spend at the Minocqua High School where he graduated with the Class of 1945. He participated in basketball, football, and boxing. He was an active member of the 4H Club and participated in giving declamations, both serious and humorous. He was active in Scouting and worked his way up to Assistant Scout Master and taught the Explorers Troop. He was a devoted duck hunter, which was his favorite sport. He belonged to the Minocqua Gun Club and was a member of their Trap Team. He was a member and Elder of the Community Church. He served as treasurer of the church and sang in the church choir. He also served as Superintendent of the Sunday School, where he taught the Junior High Class. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. and was on four different destroyers: The USS Gansvoort DD608, the USS Sutterly, the USS Bancroft, the USS Mullany and the USS APL 45. He married Florence Mary Schwartz, the love of his life, on January 1, 1950. He was working for the South Town YMCA at this time. They had five children: Charles (wife Lynn), Robert (wife Sue), Richard, Janis (husband Randy), and Greg (wife Jeannie). He worked as a carpenter in Chicago, Illinois for four years before returning to his hometown where they raised their family. He was a member of the American Legion, The VFW and the local Lions Club. He served in every office except Secretary and President. He wrote the Legend of the Totem Pole that the Lac du Flambeau Lions Club gave to the Lions Camp at Rosholt, Wisconsin. He chaired many committees. He also served on the Lakeland Eye Bank and served many times as a Delegate to the State Lions Convention. He was elected a Town Supervisor in 1967 where he served the town for twenty years. He only missed two town meetings in that length of time, he holds the record for longest term for a Town Supervisor. He also served as a member of the Wisconsin Towns Association and the Town Zoning Committee, eight years as Chairman. He was a member of the Cemetery Board, Town and Tribal Planning Committee, the Joint Liquor Control Board, Town Jurisdiction Committee, and Town Ambulance Board. He was elected to serve as a County Supervisor for District 8 in Vilas County in 1982, where he served for eight years. He served as Chairman of the Conservation Committee, member of the Public Property Committee as Secretary, member of the Committee on Aging, the Program Committee and two years on the Health Committee. He served as a member of the National Association of Counties Public Lands Steering Committee for four years. He also served as a member of the Timber Receipts Committee, a member of the Sub-Committee on Indian Affairs and was appointed Vice-Chairman. He was appointed to a N.A.Co. Special Task Force on Indian Affairs in January 1989 by NACo President James J. Snyder. He was one of two supervisors sent to the White House to request that the President appoint a presidential commission to study the impact of Federal Indian policy on non-Indians living on or near Indian reservations. He was also recommended by NACo to serve on such a commission if one was appointed. He served as a delegate for Vilas County on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and on the Upland Game Committee. He served on a number of ad-hock committees for the town and schools. He participated, representing the towns and counties at many public hearings, some national ones. He enjoyed doing many things: hunting, fishing, golfing, writing, and making tapes, window watching, dancing, talking, and cross-country skiing. He was the president of the Trout Lake Golf League for two years and President of the local square dance club. He was a pin collector, and a student of Indian History and Indian Law. He helped build the "dream home" for many local residents. He served as the Chief of the Macintosh Tribe and the Leader of the Truth Clan. The clan parties were always a great time for everyone. The Annual Pig Roast was one of the main events at the Macintosh homestead. He is survived by eight Grandchildren, Jake, Matt, Sky, Trisha, Kelsey, Steven, Paul, and Maddie. He also has many, many, Great Grandchildren. Eighty-five years and nine months. Where did they go? He was an American of Indian descent. A mixed blood, but always proud to say, "I am an American."

Hiram Valliere

February 18, 1927 - November 19, 2012