Transcribed from volume I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar.

Fool Chief.—Among the Kansas or Kaw Indians there were two chiefs—father and son—who bore this appellation. The elder, whose Indian name was Ca-ega-wa-tan-nin-ga, was prominent in the tribe at the time Maj. S. H. Long held a council with the Kaws on the hank of the Missouri river and part of his expedition visited the Kaw village near the mouth of Blue river. Frederick Chouteau says that when he became acquainted with the Fool Chief in the fall of 1828 his village was located on the Kansas river some distance above Papan's ferry, where the city of Topeka now stands. Chouteau also says that when the old chief drank too much liquor he became crazy and hence got the name of "Fool Chief." He was finally killed while under the influence of liquor in Johnson county by a Kaw Indian named Wa-ho-ba-ke, whom he attacked.

The younger Fool Chief, Kah-he-ga-wa-ti-an-gah, inherited his rank from his father. In his youth he was a brave warrior and later in life a wise counselor, but, like his father, he was fond of "fire-water." Upon one occasion, when intoxicated, he killed a young Kaw brave who was popular in the tribe, and saved his life only by the payment of heavy fine in ponies, buffalo robes, etc., and for a time was deprived of his chieftainship. Subsequently he was reinstated, went to the Indian Territory with the tribe in 1873, and died there at an advanced age.

Page 650 from volume I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar. Transcribed May 2002 by Carolyn Ward.