Two Moon Meridas

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"Chief" Two Moon Meridas (1888? - 1933) was an US seller of herbal medicine who claimed that he was of Sioux birth.

Meridas was born Chico Colon Meridan as a son of Chico Meridan and Mary Tumoon; his exact place and date of birth are unclear. His later marriage certificate lists them a Devil's Lake, South Dakota on August 29, 1888 but they are in doubt.

By 1914 Meridas was selling herbal medicines in the streets of Philadelphia and New York. In New York he met Helen Gertrude Nugent and later married her. Shortly afterwards they moved Waterbury, Connecticut.

Meridas began to sell his herbal medicines from his house. Contemporary newspaper accounts stated that during 1918 influenza epidemic, none of his patients died. This increased his prestige and clientele. His most famous product was "Bitter Oil", a laxative that was widely marketed as a cure-all.

In 1921 Meridases moved to larger house and eventually built their own laboratory. His business increased in such an extent that he had a fleet of buses for his salesmen and an airplane. He took money only from his products, not his advice. He spent lavishly but also surreptitiously donated to charities and to the poor.

In 1928 the Atlantic City gave him the keys to the city when he found his Indian Temple there.

Meridas claimed that he was a pueblo Indian. However, Unites States Department of Interior refused to certify that he was an Amerindian, although he was presented as one in his publicity. In August 6. 1930 the Oglala Lakota Sioux of the Pine Ridge Reservation gave him an honorary title of a chief, due to his financial help during the Depression.

In October 1930 Meridas and his wife traveled to Europe to meet Pope Pius XI.

In May 3, 1932 Meridas was indicted and later convicted of practicing medicine without a license in New York and Connecticut. In November 1932 Meridas brought 26 Sioux to Waterbury to speak for his defense, some of which stated that they had taken part of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. They also stated that Meridas had been named a Honorary Chief of the Sioux. They later celebrated in Meridas' estate on Beacon Valley, Connecticut.

Two Moon Meridas died in November 3, 1933.