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We found the "U.S. Indian Census Schedules: Census of the Tsetchestahase (Cheyenne) Tribe" submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer at http://genealogytrails.com/oka/cheyenne1903census.html . Included in the document is a Cheyenna Tribe Prentiss family tree, set out below. To that, we have added (1) additional information which we located on the Kiowa Comanche Apache & Ft. Sill Reservation in Oklahoma and (2) the extensive research material prepared by Tom Young:

A. We have no names for Noble Prentiss' parents, but they were both deceased at the time he entered the Carlisle Indian School on 31 Aug 1882. They had 1 or more children, including:

1. Noble Prentiss, b. Sep 1870, OK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [1]

1. Noble Prentiss, b. Sep 1870, OK, d. 21 Feb 1943, and bur. probably at Concho Indian Cemetery, Concho, OK. 7th grade education. 1920 in Calumet, Canadian Co., OK, with his wife and family. 1940 census, widowed, Darlington, Canadian Co., OK..

Sharrieh1, at Ancestry.com, and follow up communication of 20 Feb 2017 on her website, indicates that early Indian census records have the Indian names on the left with the English name on the right. She found multiple records, with some spelling variations:

1. "A-tha-nan" on the left and Noble Prentiss on the right and
2, "Am-E-Yoh-Na" on the left and Julia Prentiss on the right.

The photo on the left was taken in 1898 at the U.S. Indian Congress of the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition in Omaha, 1898. He was then 28 years of age. It is a full length portrait of delegate "Black Man" (Noble Prentis) in traditional clothing, including a feather headdress and a buckskin shirt with painted eagle, turtle, and star motifs. He also holds a ceremonial staff (?). He is there identified as "Culture/People: Southern Inunaina (Arapahoe)" A more detailed photo is found at Photographs/Black Man, Arapahoe .

Tom Young's email of 10 Feb 2017 relates that the 1900 census gives his Indian name as Bad Man, while the 1898 photograph says Black Man. Tom suggests that perhaps the name, Noble Prentiss came from a history book by that author which may have been found on a shelf in the Agency office or at the Carlisle Indian School, which both he and his future wife, Julia, attended.

The Student file of Noble Prentiss, identifies him as a member of the Arapahoe Nation who entered the school on August 31, 1882, age 12, , 4' 9" tall, 75 lbs., and ultimately departed on July 23, 1892. The student did not attend the school continuously, but left and reentered. The file contains student information cards and a report after leaving that indicates Prentiss was a laborer in Darlington, Oklahoma in 1910. The U. S. Register of Civil, Military and Naval Service shows him as a Butcher in 1899 at the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Agency.

Note that in his file He is student is identified both as Noble Prentiss and Noble Prentis.

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Photo at left: Photo at Carlisle Indian School. The school file says 1879 for the photo, but that file likely contains photos of later dates since Noble's file says he entered in 1882 at age 12. The file names the individuals as "Ford Big Horse and Noble Prentiss.", Since Noble's name appears 2nd, a reasonable inference may be that Ford Big Horse is on the left and Noble is on the right. A clearer image can be found at Collections.si.edu (after bringing up the linked page, left click on the photo and then scroll to enlarge it).

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Noble m. Julia Bent in 1893. For her Arapahoe name, "Am-E-Yoh-Na", see above. She was b. Jul 1871, d. 26 Nov 1925, and bur. Concho Indian Cemetery, Concho, OK. Tom Young's email of 10 Febn 2017 relates the following:

Julia Bent's history is somewhat more interesting She is the daughter of George Bent and "Kiowa Woman" and granddaughter of William Wells Bent and "Mis-Stan-Ata, aka Owl Woman":
"Mis-Stan-Ata, aka Owl Woman" was b. c. 1810-1815, CO (based on her 1835 marriage to William Bent (white, b. in St. Louis, MO) and d. 1847, Bent Co., CO,, bur. Las Animas Cem., Las Animas Co, Bent Co., CO. shortly after giving birth to her 4th child, Julia. Instead of being buried, her body was placed on a high platform, exposed to weather and birds, so that it could quickly return to the earth. A photo of Owl Woman is found at Ancestry.com .

In 2011, Owl Woman was inducted into Colorado Women's Hall of Fame for her role in managing elations between native tribes andAmerican settlers.

Her father, Pale Thunder, was a respected Medicine Man of the Tsitsistas (Cheyenne, and her mother was "Tail Woman.". She worked at Bent's fort and was often in charge of Bent's supply trains. She frequently stayed in the village outside the walls of the Fort. She had 4 children:

1. Mary E. Bent, b. 1838 and d. 1878
2. Robert Bent.
3. George Bent, b. 7 Jul 1843, La Junta, CO, and d. 1918. He m. as his 3rd wife, a Cheyenne woman, "Standing Out Bent. She was b. 1857 and d. 1945; bur. Colony Indian Cem., Colony, Washita Co., OK. A photo of George and his wife can be found at Ancestry.com .
4. Julia Bent, b. c. 1847.

William and Owl Woman founded Bent's Fort, now a National Historical Site in Colorado. I have a very interesting PDF book on George that mentions Julia and includes a picture. They apparently had a troubled relationship.

Photos of the restored fort can be found at Restored Fort ,

In 1910, Julia is listed as Cheyenne-Kiowa. All other records say Cheyenne. "Kiowa Woman", above, had a Kiowa father and Cheyenne mother per the same 1910 census. The Prentiss children are listed as Arapahoe. So Julia's four grandparents were one white, two Cheyenne and one Kiowa. Throw in Noble's Arapahoe and you have a very mixed family.

Her photo appears in the 1890 Indian school 2nd graduating class of 1890 at Carlisle Indian Dickinson.edu in the lower right corner.

Additional information about Julia is found at http://home.epix.net/~landis/prentiss.htm:

SOME OF OUR SOUTH WEST BOYS AND GIRLS.

Mrs. Julia Bent Prentiss, '90, has long been silent, but this week the Man-on-the-band-stand stole a peep into a very breezy letter which gives news of others from Carlisle.

Julia's husband, Noble Prentiss, is Agency butcher. Julia is well now but gets the fever, prevalent in that country every summer. The schools there now are having the measles. Her little daughter Lavinia whom she named after her "beloved Carlisle teacher, Miss Lavinia Bender" died nearly two years ago. Every one said she was a lovely child. She still has two children.

Julia Prentiss, well known and well liked by everyone in this community died on Thanksgiving Day in the hospital at Concho of blood poisoning, after an ilness of several days. She was buried at Concho Friday in teh Concho Cemeter. Surviving her are her husband, Noble Prentiss of Calumet, two sons, Fred and Stewart of Carnegie, two daughters, Mrs. Nellie Cloud Chief and Miss Dulcie Prentiss of Calumet.

Mrs. Prentiss was a highly educated Indian having graduated from carlisle Institute of Penn. She used her education to good advantage, acting as interpreter and spokesman for her tribe. Always workign for the best interests of the Indians, her efforts were fruitful in bringing a bewtter understanding between her race adn the wites. Her going will be a great loss to both the Indian and the white people. Mrs. Julia Bent Prentiss, '90, has long been silent, but this week the Man-on-the-band-stand stole a peep into a very breezy letter which gives news of others from Carlisle.

Children of Noble and Julia:

1. Lavinia B. Prentiss, b. c. 1894 and d. c. 1897
2. Fred G. Prentiss, b. 5 Dec 1896,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [2]
3. Nellie W Prentiss, b. 15 Mar 1899, and d. 20 Feb 1962. She m. Thomas Cloudchief on 25 Mar 1917. 1920 census in Calumet, Canadian Co., OK. He was b. c. 1892, OK, whose parents were also b. in OK. 1940 in Oak, Canadian Co., OK. Daughter: ol type="a">
4. Richenda Cloud Chief, dau., b. c. 1932, OK. 1940 at home.
   1. Stewart Cusey Prentiss, b. c. 1902, OK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [3]
   2. Dawson Prentiss, b. c. 1906, OK. 1920 at home in Calumet, Canadian Co., OK . Not in later census records.
   3. Jennie Prentiss. See John, following below.
   4. John Prentiss. Jennie and John are found only once each in the 1906 and 1907 Indian census. Both were apparently dead by 1910 when Julia lists seven children born, four living. She lists three born, two living in 1900. This matches the known family quite well. (Ref: Tom Young, email, 10 Feb 3017.)
   5. Dulcie G Prentiss. b. 22 Feb 1909. and d. 10 Dec 1949. 1916, 1918, in Concho, OK. 1920 not nome. She m. 1st James Warden on 11 Sep 1927. He was b. c. 1908, Tribe of Cheyenne and Arapahoe. In 1931, 1932 Indian census. She m. 2nd Richard White on 29 Jun 1948.

   Living with Noble Prentiss' family in 1910 was a "Kiowa Woman," Julia's widowed mother, b. c. 1851, CO. with her father b. in OK and mother in CO.

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2. Fred G. Prentiss, b. 5 Dec 1896,, OK, and d. 29 Jul 1922.. 1920 at home in Calumet, Canadian Co., OK. 1940 census in Darlington, Canadian Co., OK. He occupation was that of a Mason with 1 year of High School. In 1940 his widowed father, Noble, was living with him.

Fred m. 1st Mrs Emily Dale, The 1922 marriage records says he was 25 and she was 24. Emily is his wife in the 1930 census and it says his age at first marriage was 24 (close enough) and Emily was 21 agreeing with her 1922 status as Mrs, either divorced or widowed, and In addition, Emily's 89 year old mother (Fred's mother-in-law) is living with them in 1930 (per Tom Young, email, 20 Feb 2017).

He m. 2nd Fannie. She was b. c. 1894 per 1 Jan 1937 Indian Census at U. S. Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 .

Fred and Fannie Prentiss had 1 or more children, including:

1. Burgess Lee Prentiss was b. 6 Oct 1935. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [4]

3. Stewart Cusey Prentiss. b. 30 Dec 1901, and d. 23 Nov 1977. 1920 at home in Calumet, Canadian Co., OK. 1939 and 1940 in Mountain View, Kiowa Co., OK.

He m. Ester Guoladdle on 23 Oct 1924. She was b. 1899 and d. 25 May 1971. Bur Carnegie Cem., Caddo Co., OK. Dau. of Newton Guoladdle and Hallie Tosickah. For some reason, the head of the household in the 1 Apr 1932 Indian Census appears to be Esther Guoladdle, b. c. 1899, perhaps a sister to Inez. Esther, and probably Stewart and Inez, are members of the Kiowa Tribe on the "Kiowa Com Ap & Ft. Sill Ap" Reservation. Children, including those by Esther's prior marriages:

1. May Apekaum, Daughter, b. 1918, Kiowa, Kiowa Com Ap & Ft Sill Ap.
2. Evans Aunquoe, Son, b. 1923, Kiowa, Kiowa Com Ap & Ft Sill Ap., Kiowa, Kiowa Com Ap & Ft Sill Ap.
3. Frederick Prentiss, Son, b. 31 May 1925, OK, and d. 22 Oct 1966, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX per Cert. of Death. Bur. Carnegie Cem., Caddo Co., OK. Army PFC in WW II. His Cert. of Death shows that his usual occupation was a Presser in a Cleaning & Pressing business. Kiowa, Kiowa Com Ap & Ft Sill Ap.
4. Beatrice Prentiss, Daughter, b.1927. 1940 at home. Kiowa, Kiowa Com Ap & Ft Sill Ap.
5. Flora Minnie Prentiss, Daughter, b. 29 Mar 1929. Kiowa, Kiowa Com Ap & Ft Sill Ap.1937 at home per Indian census. 1940 at home in Mountain View, Kiowa Co., OK.
6. Reuben Prentiss, Son, b. 1 Sep 1930 and d. 4 Oct 1989, Caddo Co., OK. Bur Carnegie Cem., Caddo Co., OK, per Find a Grave. Kiowa, Kiowa Com Ap & Ft Sill Ap.He m. Valerie, Children:
   1. Jean Prentiss
   2. Thomas Prentiss
   3. Richard Prentiss
   4. Reuben Prentiss Jr. He m. Bridgette.
   5. Mary Prentiss of Anadarko,
   6. Donna Prentiss of Anadarko,
   7. Laura Prentiss. She m. Glen Kocher of Anadarko,
   8. Karen Prentiss. She m. Lawan Cortez of Anadarko,
   9. Kym Prentiss. She m. Mr. Pendarvis of Anadarko
   10. Marinna Prentiss. She m. Queton Edwards of Lawton.
   11. Rosemary Prentiss. She m. Mr. Queton, of Lawton.
   12. Sandra Prentiss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [5]
7. Emerson Prentiss, Son, b. 17 Sep 1932, Mountain View, Kiowa Co., OK, and d. 29 Mar 2009, Carnegie,Caddo Co., OK, per SSDI & Find a Grave
8. Richard Prentiss, Son, b. 1935. 1940 at home in Mountain View,Kiowa Co., OK.

4. Burgess Lee Prentiss was b. 6 Oct 1935 at the Kiowa Comanche & Apache Reservation probably in, or near, of Stillwater, Oklahoma where his son of the same name lived) per U. S., Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 .

He m. Carlo Thunderbull Children per obituary of Burgess Lee Prentiss Jr.:

1. Burgess Lee Prentiss Jr., b. 7 Jun 1956, Clinton, OK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [6]
2. Rosanna Prentiss. She m. Mr. Morales. Died by 2008.
3. Gloria Prentiss. She m. Mr.Borwn and in 2008 lived in Stillwater.
4. Carol Ann Prentiss. She m. Mr. Higgins and in 2008 lived in Mobile, AL.
5. Monty Miller (stepbrother?) who in 2008 lived in Tahlequah. The following information comes from Wikipedia: Tahlequah (Cherokee: ???,[3] pronounced /?tæl?kw??/ tal-?-kwah) is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capitol of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cherokee County. The main campus of Northeastern State University is located in the city. Tahlequah is also the capital of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and the modern Cherokee Nation.

5. Sandra Prentiss, b. 9 Mar 1957, and d. 24 Jan 2014. Her obituary, with photo at Obituaries, reads as follows:

Sandra Prentiss: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice, Lawton Constitution, The (OK), Tuesday, January 28, 2014

NADARKO - Funeral for Sandra Prentiss, 56, of Anadarko will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Christian Fellowship, Anadarko, with Minister Tim Nestell and Minister Ted Mercer officiating.

Sandra was called home Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. Burial will be in Memory Lane Cemetery, Anadarko, under direction of Russworm Funeral Watonga. She was born March 9, 1957, to Reuben and Valerie Pewenofkit Prentiss, in Lawton.

She was raised in Anadarko, and attended Anadarko and Fort Sill Indian Schools. Tribal affiliation was with the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. She worked as a CNA and took special care of the family members who were terminally ill. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She accepted by faith Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.

She is survived by her two children: Valda Inez Prentiss and spouse Randy Jessepe, and Joey Michael Pewenofkit and spouse Ashton Winrow;
- her brother, Reuben Jr. and spouse Bridgette Prentiss;
- sisters: Mary Prentiss, Donna Prentiss, Laura and Glen Kocher, Karen and Lawan Cortez, and Kym Pendarvis, all of Anadarko; and Marinna Queton Edwards and Rosemary Queton, of Lawton;
- seven grandchildren; Lisa, Amy and Davain Prentiss. Wesley and Kimora Jessepe, and Makeyla and Goyathlaw Peyenofkit;
- four greatgrandchildren: Bryslyn, Braydyn, Brayslyn and Kymbri Prentiss;
- two aunts: Beatrice Geimausaddle, of Mountain View; and Noreen (Queton) and James Morgan, of Oklahoma City and many cousins, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Reuben and Valerie (Pewenofkit) Prentiss; siblings: Jean Prentiss, Thomas, and Richard Prentiss; three nieces: Monica (Monskin) Prentiss, Lisa Prentiss Rivera, and Amy Prentiss;
- her maternal grandparents: Major and Mary (Kaudle Kaule) Pewenofkit;
- and paternal grandparents: Stewart and Inez (Gouladdle) Prentiss. She will be missed by all.

Pall Bearers: Thomas Yeahpau, Butch Yeahpau, Daniel Rivera, Sean Rivera, Brian Pahcoddy, J.R. Cortez, Reuben Cortez and Richard Standing. Honorary Pall Bearers: Stewart Prentiss, Reece Bedford, Randy Bennett, and Kevin Rivera

Children of Sandra Prentiss:

1. Valda Inez Prentiss and spouse Randy Jessepe,
2. Joey Michael Pewenofkit and spouse Ashton Winrow.

6. Burgess Lee Prentice Jr. was b. 7 Jun 1956, Clinton, OK, and d. 9 Oct 2008 in Stillwater Medical Center, Stillwater, OK. His obituary in the Stillwater, OK, The News Press of 12 Oct 2008 reads as follows:

Burgess Lee Prentiss Jr.: Services for Burgess Lee Prentiss Jr., 52, of Stillwater, will be 1 p.m. Monday in the Community Center in Concho, officiated by Rev. Richard Canoe and Rev. Gerald Panana. Burial will conclude in the Concho Indian Cemetery under the direction of Stanley-Lee Funeral Home.

Burgess was born June 7, 1956, in Clinton, to Burgess and Carlo (Thunderbull) Prentiss and passed away Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, in Stillwater Medical Center in Stillwater.

He grew up in El Reno and graduated from high school in Taft. He enjoyed drawing traditional Indian art. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Rosanna Morales.

He is survived by a son, Cheyenne Lee Prentice of Albuquerque; two sisters, Gloria Borwn of Stillwater and Carol Ann Higgins of Mobile, Ala.; a brother, Monty Miller of Tahlequah; his aunt and uncle Benny and Pearline Thunderbull and uncle Larry Thunderbull, all of Clinton; aunt Karen Miles and uncle Levi Thunderbull, both of El Reno.

A website showing Burgess Lee Prentiss' "traditional Indian art" can be found at http://rockhouserally.4t.com/photo.html . He is a half brother of famous Cheyenne artist Merlin Little Thunder.

Burgess Lee Prentice Jr. m. (unknown). Son:

1. Cheyenne Lee Prentice. In 2008 he lived in Albuquerque, NM.
Who are Noble Prentiss' Parents?

We suspect that "Noble Prentiss" is the first person in his line whose "Prentiss" surname departs from the more traditional Cheyenne names such as "Red Shield," "Red Hat," etc. Since Noble Pentiss was b. in 1871, his parents were likely born in the 1830s or 1840s. There are a number of people on the list shown as born in that period who may be his parents.

Investigation is continuing.

If you have any information about the folks mentioned in this article, please send your information to us at the Prentice Newsletter. Be sure to give the full title and date of this article in the Subject line of the email.

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