14 Facts About Caroline Weldon

Caroline Weldon was born Susanna Karolina Faesch on 4 December 1844, in Kleinbasel, Canton Basel, Switzerland.

Caroline Weldon's father was Johann Lukas Faesch, a career Swiss military officer serving in a Swiss regiment in France.

Caroline Weldon was a member of the Faesch family, who were part of the Swiss nobility.

Caroline Weldon immigrated to America in 1852, together with her mother, settling in Brooklyn, New York.

Caroline Weldon returned to Brooklyn to live with her mother and stepfather.

Caroline Weldon's estranged husband Bernhard Schlatter filed for divorce which was granted in 1883.

Caroline Weldon joined the National Indian Defense Association, headed by Dr Thomas Bland and his wife Cora Bland.

Caroline Weldon began to aid the Sioux in their struggle to fight the US government's attempt via the Dawes Act to expropriate vast portions of the Great Sioux Reservation for the purpose of opening some up for white settlement and with the intent of rendering the creations of the two new states of North Dakota and South Dakota economically viable.

Caroline Weldon befriended Sitting Bull, leader of the traditionalist faction among the Sioux, and she acted as his secretary, interpreter, and advocate.

Caroline Weldon painted four portraits of Sitting Bull, three of which are known to have survived.

Caroline Weldon warned Sitting Bull that the Ghost Dance movement would give the government a pretext to harm him and to summon the military for intervention which would destroy the Sioux Nation.

Caroline Weldon lived briefly in Kansas City with her nephew Friedrich William Schleicher, a school teacher, only to return eventually to Brooklyn.

Caroline Weldon died alone in her Brooklyn apartment on 15 March 1921.

Caroline Weldon was interred at the Valentiny family plot at Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.