Biography
Chief Katonah, was the sachem of the condensed remnant tribes called Ramapoo. He lived in the area in the late seventeenth century. Records show that in 1708 the Ridgefield settlers petitioned the General Assembly at Hartford to remove the Ramapoo Indians. Katonah sold the Ramapoo lands of 20,000 acres for 100 Pounds Sterling to the "Proprietors of Ridgefield". His name appears on land deeds up to 1743. The Remnant tribe of the Ramapoo scattered to the North and West. Chief Catonah was the son of Onox and the grandson of Ponus. Catonah had a brother named Onox and a son named Papiag (Pohag) who also signed land deeds. Catonah was the successor to Powahay, also a grandson of Ponus. Catonah's daughter married Sam Mohawk alias Chicken Warrups. Tapgow, son of Ponus, signed many land deeds in Northern Jersey including the Schyuler Patent or Ramapo Tract Deed in 1710 in North Jersey.
Legend has it that he died of grief after his wife, Cantitoe, sometimes known as Mustato, and their son, Papiag, were killed by lightning. Chief Katonah is said to be buried with his wife and son in Katonah's Wood, off Rt. 22. The Chief, as the story is told, is said to be buried beneath a giant boulder, and his wife and son are buried beneath two smaller immediately adjacent boulders. This is recounted by William Will's poem Katonah.Cantitoe was said to be a Pompton Indian.
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