A bit more Curtis biog.

[Rankin, Robert L]

This is from a different web article.  It confirms that Curtis learned to
speak Kaw in his youth.  The Kaw pow wow is this coming weekend.  I'll try
to talk to the Pappans if any come this year and try to find out what
Curtis's Indian name was.  It is probably on the tribal role from around
1860 too if I can locate that.  It's an interesting question, whether or not
it is on the inscription.  The chair is said to have been given by "the real
Curtis boys."  These may refer to relatives of his or perhaps to the "court
house gang" in Topeka where he was District Attorney during prohibition.

 Bob
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"Charles Curtis had the misfortune of being the Vice President during the
Stock Market crash, and the economic down turn known as "The Great
Depression".

He was born in North Topeka in 1860, the great-great grandson of Kaw Indian
Chief White Plume, who had given assistance to Lewis and Clark. His
grandfather Louis Gonville, Chief White Plume's son in law, was French.
Curtis life was dominated by his heritage and he learned to speak Kaw and
French while growing up. When he was only three years old his mother died.
It was the responsibility of the grandparents to raise Charles Curtis. At
first he was in the custody of his Paternal grandparents but then his
maternal grandparents, the Gonvilles, wanted to be sure he that they and
young Charles kept their membership in the tribe in case of any future land
settlements.

Even though he was only 1/8th Kaw he lived on the Reservation. His knowledge
of the Kaw language and his skill with a bow and arrow made him popular with
the other boys.

He became a tribal hero after running sixty miles to Topeka for help when
the Cheyenne raided the reservation."