Every race of men have those few that, because of a mixture of timing and vision, places them at the crossroads of a people's existence. "Big Jim" BigHeart was such a person for the Osage people. Had James BigHeart chosen the "easy way", the Osage would not have the wealth that they do today.

The story of "Big Jim" and his work, heretofore, has been kept in the minds and hearts of the few remaining old timers who knew him personally. Only a few intimate friends and his family knew that practically every beneficial move made for the Osage Tribe for the end of the Civil War until the death of Big Jim in 1908, was sponsored by Big Jim and carried out, with his helpful guidance, by men of his choice. He cared nothing for personal glory and was happy to appoint and coach others to secure whatever he might plan for the security of his own children and those of his fellow tribesmen. Today, 90 years after his death, James BigHeart is recognized as the most brilliant politician and leader of the tribe that the Osages have known.

Because he was the outstanding leader in his tribe during the four decades immediately preceding his death 2,229 enrolled Osages and their descendants shared more than $300,000,000.00 from royalties, bonuses, leases, and rentals during the first 40 years after his death. Ironically, Big Jim died and was buried October 5, 1908, just three months before his tribesmen received their first payment under the "headright" method he had worked out for them, but he had lived long enough to realize that his life-long dream; the financial security for his tribesmen and their children, had been assured.

Although many reverently refer to him, others hated him with a passion. Big Jim died as he had lived, a Catholic, which had been introduced to the tribe by the Catholic mission schools. He was hated by those who believed in the traditional Medicine Men ways, and those who adopted the Peyote faith.

James BigHeart was born in a Osage village near St. Paul Kansas, known as Osage Mission. He was named Pun-Kah-Wi-Tah-An-Kah by his parents in 1838. His father was Nun-Tsa-Tum-Kah and his mother was Wah-Hiu-Shah.

James was twenty-five when he enlisted as a private in Company I of the 9th Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Calvary at Iola, Kansas on January 19, 1862. He was honorably discharged, as a first Lieutenant March 22, 1865. He stood six foot tall, and spoke seven languages fluently; Ponca, Sioux, Cherokee, Osage, French, English, and Latin. "Big Jim" was a figure to be handled tactfully. A Catholic convert, he was educated at the Old Osage Mission established among the Osages in 1847 by Father Schoenmakers.

Many detailed accounts of Big Jim's political battles have been written. The information used here came from just a few pages of an article on his life in the Chronicles of Oklahoma Vol. 32 pages 334-394.