Kaw People - Notable Kaw People

Notable Kaw People

• Allegawaho, b. ca. 1820, d. ca. 1897, Kaw Chief, 1867-1873. Allegawaho Heritage Memorial Park in Council Grove, Kansas is named after him.
• Charles Curtis, the only Native American to be elected Vice President of the United States (under Herbert Hoover (1929–1933)). More important was his Congressional career, where he served long terms both in the House and Senate, where he was elected Minority Whip and Majority Leader, reflecting his ability to manage legislation and build deals. Curtis' mother Ellen Pappan Curtis was one-quarter each of Kaw, Osage, Potawatomi and French ancestry.
• Lucy Tayiah-Eads, b. 1888, adopted daughter of Washunga. Elected Chief of Kaw in 1920s and attempted to get federal recognition for the tribe.
• Joseph James and Joseph James, Jr. (Joe Jim or Jojim) 19th century interpreters and guides.
• William A. Mehojah, the last Kaw full blood, died on April 23, 2000. The Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park (AMHP) was dedicated in his name on June 19, 2005 near Council Grove, Kansas.
• Jim Pepper, the U.S. jazz saxophonist, singer, and composer was of both Kaw and Creek ancestry
• Maude McCauley Rowe, died in 1978. One of the last three native speakers of the Kansa language. Between 1974 and 1977 linguist Robert Rankin recorded many hours of Rowe speaking Kansa, thus enabling the survival of the language and many of its oral traditions.
• Washunga, principal chief of the Kaws from 1873 until his death in 1908. Washunga, Oklahoma was named for him.
• White Plume. Monchousia, Kaw Chief who visited President Monroe in 1822 in Washington D.C.