Wassaja Montezuma was born about 1869 near Four Peaks in central Arizona Territory. His father, Co-cu-ye-vah, was a leader in the Yavapai band. His mother was Thil-ge-ya.
In 1871, when he was about five, he was captured by Pima Indian raiders along his sisters to be enslaved or sold. He never saw his parents again. Wassaja was brought to Adamsville, a farming community near Florence. There he was sold to itinerant Italian photographer Carlo Gentile for $30. Carlo was in the area doing photographs of the native American culture.
Carlo was from Naples having immigrated to America in the 1850's. He adopted Wassaja as his own son and had him baptized in the Catholic church, renaming him Carlos Montezuma.
In the following years Carlos accompanied Carlo on his photographic travels in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. They ended up in Chicago where Carlo sold his photographs and Carlos started school. For a few month they traveled with the Buffalo Bill Cody show. After a few years they moved to New York where Carlo open an art gallery.
When the gallery burned down Carlo was forced to return to his traveling photographer life, and in the Fall of 1878 Carlos was placed in the care of Baptist minister William H. Steadman in Urbana, Illinois.
Carlos graduated with honors from Urbana High School in 1879 and enrolled at the University of Illinois (then the Illinois Industrial University) in 1880. He was only fourteen years old. Wassaja was very personable and outgoing and he was elected president of the Class of 1884. He also became a talented orator, joining the debate team. He graduated in 1884.
After graduation, Carlos took a job in a pharmacy and was accepted at the Chicago Medical College, where he obtained his doctorate of medicine. He was not only the first Native American student at both the University of Illinois and Northwestern University, but also the second Native American ever to earn a medical degree in an American university.
In 1887 Carlos was invited to address audiences in New York and Philadelphia on what educated Native Americans could accomplish. As a result of his connections, Jefferson Morgan, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, offered Dr. Montezuma work as a physician with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). In 1889 Carlos began traveling to reservations and provided services to Native Americans at Fort Stevenson in Dakota Territory, the Western Shoshone Agency in Nevada, the Colville Agency in Washington and finally in July 1893 to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.
On October 27, 1893, Carlos's adoptive father, Carlo Gentile, died in Chicago. He gave financial aid to Gentile's widow and until 1896 the custodian of Gentile's six-year-old son, also named Carlos.
In 1896 Carlos returned to Chicago and started private medical practice. In 1900, he traveled as team doctor with Coach Pop Warner's National Champion Carlisle Indian School football team back to Arizona for the first time since his childhood. In 1897 he joined the Yavapai struggle that led to the creation of the Fort McDowell Yavapai or Mohave-Apache Reservation by late 1903.
By 1905, Carlos attracted national attention as an Indian leader. He began publicly attacking the government for the conditions imposed under the reservation system. He became an outspoken critic of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
He helped found the Society of American Indians in 1911, the first Indian rights organization created by and for Indians. In 1916 he started Wassaja, a monthly magazine that exposed the problems of the BIA and promoted Native American education, civil rights and citizenship.
In 1913 Carlos married Mary Keller ~1891-? in Chicago. She had immigrated with her family at age 12 from Germany. He and Mary had no children.
Carlos became diabetic in 1920 and had tuberculosis in 1922. He decided to return to Arizona. He died on January 31, 1923 and was buried at the Fort McDowell Indian cemetery.
Sources include:
-- Wikipedia, Carlos Montezuma
-- Who Is Wassaja, Fort McDowell Yavapia Nation website
-- A Pima Past, Anna Moore Shaw
-- yourdictionary.com biography - carlos montezuma
-- Wassaja - Life In Two Worlds, Rhema Sayers; DesertLeaf, June 2018
In 1871, when he was about five, he was captured by Pima Indian raiders along his sisters to be enslaved or sold. He never saw his parents again. Wassaja was brought to Adamsville, a farming community near Florence. There he was sold to itinerant Italian photographer Carlo Gentile for $30. Carlo was in the area doing photographs of the native American culture.
Carlo was from Naples having immigrated to America in the 1850's. He adopted Wassaja as his own son and had him baptized in the Catholic church, renaming him Carlos Montezuma.
In the following years Carlos accompanied Carlo on his photographic travels in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. They ended up in Chicago where Carlo sold his photographs and Carlos started school. For a few month they traveled with the Buffalo Bill Cody show. After a few years they moved to New York where Carlo open an art gallery.
When the gallery burned down Carlo was forced to return to his traveling photographer life, and in the Fall of 1878 Carlos was placed in the care of Baptist minister William H. Steadman in Urbana, Illinois.
Carlos graduated with honors from Urbana High School in 1879 and enrolled at the University of Illinois (then the Illinois Industrial University) in 1880. He was only fourteen years old. Wassaja was very personable and outgoing and he was elected president of the Class of 1884. He also became a talented orator, joining the debate team. He graduated in 1884.
After graduation, Carlos took a job in a pharmacy and was accepted at the Chicago Medical College, where he obtained his doctorate of medicine. He was not only the first Native American student at both the University of Illinois and Northwestern University, but also the second Native American ever to earn a medical degree in an American university.
In 1887 Carlos was invited to address audiences in New York and Philadelphia on what educated Native Americans could accomplish. As a result of his connections, Jefferson Morgan, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, offered Dr. Montezuma work as a physician with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). In 1889 Carlos began traveling to reservations and provided services to Native Americans at Fort Stevenson in Dakota Territory, the Western Shoshone Agency in Nevada, the Colville Agency in Washington and finally in July 1893 to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.
On October 27, 1893, Carlos's adoptive father, Carlo Gentile, died in Chicago. He gave financial aid to Gentile's widow and until 1896 the custodian of Gentile's six-year-old son, also named Carlos.
In 1896 Carlos returned to Chicago and started private medical practice. In 1900, he traveled as team doctor with Coach Pop Warner's National Champion Carlisle Indian School football team back to Arizona for the first time since his childhood. In 1897 he joined the Yavapai struggle that led to the creation of the Fort McDowell Yavapai or Mohave-Apache Reservation by late 1903.
By 1905, Carlos attracted national attention as an Indian leader. He began publicly attacking the government for the conditions imposed under the reservation system. He became an outspoken critic of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
He helped found the Society of American Indians in 1911, the first Indian rights organization created by and for Indians. In 1916 he started Wassaja, a monthly magazine that exposed the problems of the BIA and promoted Native American education, civil rights and citizenship.
In 1913 Carlos married Mary Keller ~1891-? in Chicago. She had immigrated with her family at age 12 from Germany. He and Mary had no children.
Carlos became diabetic in 1920 and had tuberculosis in 1922. He decided to return to Arizona. He died on January 31, 1923 and was buried at the Fort McDowell Indian cemetery.
Sources include:
-- Wikipedia, Carlos Montezuma
-- Who Is Wassaja, Fort McDowell Yavapia Nation website
-- A Pima Past, Anna Moore Shaw
-- yourdictionary.com biography - carlos montezuma
-- Wassaja - Life In Two Worlds, Rhema Sayers; DesertLeaf, June 2018
Wassaja Montezuma was born about 1869 near Four Peaks in central Arizona Territory. His father, Co-cu-ye-vah, was a leader in the Yavapai band. His mother was Thil-ge-ya.
In 1871, when he was about five, he was captured by Pima Indian raiders along his sisters to be enslaved or sold. He never saw his parents again. Wassaja was brought to Adamsville, a farming community near Florence. There he was sold to itinerant Italian photographer Carlo Gentile for $30. Carlo was in the area doing photographs of the native American culture.
Carlo was from Naples having immigrated to America in the 1850's. He adopted Wassaja as his own son and had him baptized in the Catholic church, renaming him Carlos Montezuma.
In the following years Carlos accompanied Carlo on his photographic travels in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. They ended up in Chicago where Carlo sold his photographs and Carlos started school. For a few month they traveled with the Buffalo Bill Cody show. After a few years they moved to New York where Carlo open an art gallery.
When the gallery burned down Carlo was forced to return to his traveling photographer life, and in the Fall of 1878 Carlos was placed in the care of Baptist minister William H. Steadman in Urbana, Illinois.
Carlos graduated with honors from Urbana High School in 1879 and enrolled at the University of Illinois (then the Illinois Industrial University) in 1880. He was only fourteen years old. Wassaja was very personable and outgoing and he was elected president of the Class of 1884. He also became a talented orator, joining the debate team. He graduated in 1884.
After graduation, Carlos took a job in a pharmacy and was accepted at the Chicago Medical College, where he obtained his doctorate of medicine. He was not only the first Native American student at both the University of Illinois and Northwestern University, but also the second Native American ever to earn a medical degree in an American university.
In 1887 Carlos was invited to address audiences in New York and Philadelphia on what educated Native Americans could accomplish. As a result of his connections, Jefferson Morgan, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, offered Dr. Montezuma work as a physician with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). In 1889 Carlos began traveling to reservations and provided services to Native Americans at Fort Stevenson in Dakota Territory, the Western Shoshone Agency in Nevada, the Colville Agency in Washington and finally in July 1893 to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.
On October 27, 1893, Carlos's adoptive father, Carlo Gentile, died in Chicago. He gave financial aid to Gentile's widow and until 1896 the custodian of Gentile's six-year-old son, also named Carlos.
In 1896 Carlos returned to Chicago and started private medical practice. In 1900, he traveled as team doctor with Coach Pop Warner's National Champion Carlisle Indian School football team back to Arizona for the first time since his childhood. In 1897 he joined the Yavapai struggle that led to the creation of the Fort McDowell Yavapai or Mohave-Apache Reservation by late 1903.
By 1905, Carlos attracted national attention as an Indian leader. He began publicly attacking the government for the conditions imposed under the reservation system. He became an outspoken critic of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
He helped found the Society of American Indians in 1911, the first Indian rights organization created by and for Indians. In 1916 he started Wassaja, a monthly magazine that exposed the problems of the BIA and promoted Native American education, civil rights and citizenship.
In 1913 Carlos married Mary Keller ~1891-? in Chicago. She had immigrated with her family at age 12 from Germany. He and Mary had no children.
Carlos became diabetic in 1920 and had tuberculosis in 1922. He decided to return to Arizona. He died on January 31, 1923 and was buried at the Fort McDowell Indian cemetery.
Sources include:
-- Wikipedia, Carlos Montezuma
-- Who Is Wassaja, Fort McDowell Yavapia Nation website
-- A Pima Past, Anna Moore Shaw
-- yourdictionary.com biography - carlos montezuma
-- Wassaja - Life In Two Worlds, Rhema Sayers; DesertLeaf, June 2018
In 1871, when he was about five, he was captured by Pima Indian raiders along his sisters to be enslaved or sold. He never saw his parents again. Wassaja was brought to Adamsville, a farming community near Florence. There he was sold to itinerant Italian photographer Carlo Gentile for $30. Carlo was in the area doing photographs of the native American culture.
Carlo was from Naples having immigrated to America in the 1850's. He adopted Wassaja as his own son and had him baptized in the Catholic church, renaming him Carlos Montezuma.
In the following years Carlos accompanied Carlo on his photographic travels in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. They ended up in Chicago where Carlo sold his photographs and Carlos started school. For a few month they traveled with the Buffalo Bill Cody show. After a few years they moved to New York where Carlo open an art gallery.
When the gallery burned down Carlo was forced to return to his traveling photographer life, and in the Fall of 1878 Carlos was placed in the care of Baptist minister William H. Steadman in Urbana, Illinois.
Carlos graduated with honors from Urbana High School in 1879 and enrolled at the University of Illinois (then the Illinois Industrial University) in 1880. He was only fourteen years old. Wassaja was very personable and outgoing and he was elected president of the Class of 1884. He also became a talented orator, joining the debate team. He graduated in 1884.
After graduation, Carlos took a job in a pharmacy and was accepted at the Chicago Medical College, where he obtained his doctorate of medicine. He was not only the first Native American student at both the University of Illinois and Northwestern University, but also the second Native American ever to earn a medical degree in an American university.
In 1887 Carlos was invited to address audiences in New York and Philadelphia on what educated Native Americans could accomplish. As a result of his connections, Jefferson Morgan, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, offered Dr. Montezuma work as a physician with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). In 1889 Carlos began traveling to reservations and provided services to Native Americans at Fort Stevenson in Dakota Territory, the Western Shoshone Agency in Nevada, the Colville Agency in Washington and finally in July 1893 to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.
On October 27, 1893, Carlos's adoptive father, Carlo Gentile, died in Chicago. He gave financial aid to Gentile's widow and until 1896 the custodian of Gentile's six-year-old son, also named Carlos.
In 1896 Carlos returned to Chicago and started private medical practice. In 1900, he traveled as team doctor with Coach Pop Warner's National Champion Carlisle Indian School football team back to Arizona for the first time since his childhood. In 1897 he joined the Yavapai struggle that led to the creation of the Fort McDowell Yavapai or Mohave-Apache Reservation by late 1903.
By 1905, Carlos attracted national attention as an Indian leader. He began publicly attacking the government for the conditions imposed under the reservation system. He became an outspoken critic of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
He helped found the Society of American Indians in 1911, the first Indian rights organization created by and for Indians. In 1916 he started Wassaja, a monthly magazine that exposed the problems of the BIA and promoted Native American education, civil rights and citizenship.
In 1913 Carlos married Mary Keller ~1891-? in Chicago. She had immigrated with her family at age 12 from Germany. He and Mary had no children.
Carlos became diabetic in 1920 and had tuberculosis in 1922. He decided to return to Arizona. He died on January 31, 1923 and was buried at the Fort McDowell Indian cemetery.
Sources include:
-- Wikipedia, Carlos Montezuma
-- Who Is Wassaja, Fort McDowell Yavapia Nation website
-- A Pima Past, Anna Moore Shaw
-- yourdictionary.com biography - carlos montezuma
-- Wassaja - Life In Two Worlds, Rhema Sayers; DesertLeaf, June 2018
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