USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > The history of Des Moines county, Iowa, containing a history of the country, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers > Part 36
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" The situations of their villages are, oftentimes, extremely beautiful and picturesque. The rude architecture of their lodges; the droves of Indian ponies galloping over the prairies, and snorting at the approach of white men ; the squaws busily engaged in preparing food, or, perhaps, 'toting' a back-load of fagots that would frighten a New York porter, while their 'lazy lords ' sit smoking upon the grass or quietly sleeping in their lodges; the young papooses swarming the river-bank, and, with bow and arrow, exercising their infant archery upon every prairie flower or luckless bird; or, perchance, the gayly-painted warrior. mounted upon his prancing steed, his feathers streaming to the breeze, as he gallops from village to village with the fleetness of the wind, are objects which, to the traveler unaccustomed to Indian habits and character, are full of intense interest and novelty.
" Sometimes, midway between two villages, or, perhaps, off in the prairie, may be seen a hundred young ' warriors' from each clan-' picked men,' who have won laurels on the battle-field. They have met (per agreement) to exer- eise their feats in the race or the ancient games, the prize being, perhaps, two
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or three horses, a rifle. or a war-club; the old warriors or chiefs of each village looking on as Judges. Great interest is manifested on these occasions, and the same ambitious emulation for rivalry is exhibited in these 'children of nature' as among those who play their part beneath the gilded domes of the city.
"' The Sacs and Foxes frequently visit the towns on the river-Burlington, Madison, etc. The dress of the males generally consists of leggings, fitting closely from the loins to the ankles, usually of smoke-tanned deerskin, and often of blue and sometimes of red cloth, trimmed with fringe and beads in a variety of fantastic forms. They wear a white and, frequently, a scarlet-colored blanket thrown over the shoulders. Their moccasins are of deerskin, often trimmed with extreme taste, with beads and porcupine-quills. Their head-dress is of various fashions, and ofttimes indescribable. A chief or warrior's head-dress consists of a profusion of scarlet-colored hair, and long, black beards of the wild turkey connected to the scalp-lock, and not unfrequently a silver band or a richly-beaded turban. Their ears are strung with rings and trinkets, their arms with bracelets of brass, tin, silver and steel, and their necks are often strung with a profusion of wampum. A tolerably correct idea may be formed of the riches and taste of a young Indian by the number of strings of wampum around his neck. This may be considered their legal tender, as no treaty was ever formed or pipe of friendship smoked betwixt different Indian tribes without an exchange of wampum.
" No Indians exult more than the Sacs and Foxes in a triumphant skirmish with their enemies, and none more proudly exhibit their bloody trophies. They frequently have several scalps suspended on a spear or connected with their dress. As an evidence of the value they place upon these emblems of merci- less victory, I will relate an incident of my attempt to get one of a veteran Sac brave. I had witnessed him, for several days, passing my window on a little pony, proudly waving his bouquet of scalps, connected with beads, ribbons and eagle's feathers, and tied with a rattlesnake-skin upon a spear. Having a desire to obtain one, after three days' unsuccessful negotiation, during which time I offered him money, calico, beads, powder and tobacco, he finally con- sented to part with it for one box (i. e. $1,000.)
" They place great reliance in dreams, and the intrepid warrior who awakes in the morning from a night of troublesome dreams is dejected and melancholy. Sometimes they imagine that an evil spirit or sorcerer has inflicted a spell, after the manner of the witches of former times. I think it was last year that Keokuk had an aged squaw killed because she had inflicted a spell upon some of his children."
In corroboration of the last statement, we append the account of that sum- mary act given us by James Jordan, whose acquaintance with the Indians began at a very early day. He said : "In 1837, the chief's son was prostrated with fever. Keokuk was absent at the time, but there chanced to be in the camp an old squaw, who was alleged to be invested with supernatural powers. When Keokuk returned, his valiant heir informed him that the witch had cast an evil spirit into the settlement, which had increased the fever and rendered it im- possible to overcome disease while she lived. Thereupon, Keokuk took the old woman without the settlement and deliberately ent off her head with a cleaver. This summary act was witnessed by Mrs. Phelps, wife of Billy Phelps, one of the original locators of that section." The scene of this sacrifice was near Independent, adjacent to Jordan's farm. Mr. Newhall was mistaken as to the date of the tragedy.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
KEOKUK, THE ORATOR CHIEFTAIN.
Among the noted chiefs of later years, Keokuk, or " Running Fox," held a foremost place. He was the grand sachem of the Sacs and Foxes, the chief pre-eminent over all the tribes. He was of commanding presence, but given rather to the pleasures of the chase than the dangers of the battle-field. Still, he was not deficient in personal bravery, and held his place with firmness, both by reason of his ability to lead on all occasions and his wonderful eloquence as a speaker.
From a sketch of Keokuk, published in the " AAnnals of Iowa," 1865, by Uriah Biggs, one of the pioneers of Van Buren, the following interesting extraets are made :
" Keokuk is deserving of a prominent page in the records of the country, and a truthful history of his life would be read and cherished as a memento of one of nature's noblemen. As an orator, he was called to rank with the most gifted of his race. In person he was tall and of portly bearing, and in his publie speeches he displayed a commanding attitude and graceful gestures. He spoke rapidly, but his enunciation was clear and distinct and very forcible, enlling his figures from the stores of nature, and basing his arguments in skill- ful logic. He maintained in good faith the stipulations of treaties with the United States and with the neighboring tribes. He loved peace and the social amenities of life, and was fond of displaying those agreeable traits of character in ceremonious visits to neighboring chiefs, in which he observed the most punetilious etiquette and dignified decorum. Hle possessed a ready insight into the motives of others, and was not easily misled by sophistry or beguiled by flattery ; and in the field of wit, he was no mean champion. It is not my purpose to write a history of his life, but I will give one anecdote in illustration of these traits of his character.
" While residing near Ottumwah-noc, he received a message from the Mor- mon Prophet, Joe Smith, inviting Keokuk, as King of the Sacs and Foxes, to a royal conference at his palace at Nauvoo, on matters of the highest impor- tance to their respective people. The invitation was readily accepted, and a train of ponies was soon wending its way to the Mormon city, bearing Keokuk and suite in stately procession and savage pomp.
.. Notice had circulated through the country of this diplomatic interview, and a number of spectators attended to witness the denouement. The audience was given publicly in the Mormon Temple, and the respective chiefs were attended by their suites, the Prophet by the dignitaries of the Mormon Church, and the Indian potentate by the high civil' and military functionaries of his tribes, and the gentiles were comfortably seated as auditors.
" The Prophet opened the conference in a set speech of considerable length, giving Keokuk a brief history of the children of Israel, as detailed in the Bible, and dwelt forcibly upon the story of the lost tribes, and of the direct revelation he had received from a divine source, that the North American Indians were these identical lost tribes, and that he, the Prophet of God, held a divine commission to gather them together and to lead them to a land 'flowing with milk and honey.' After the Prophet closed his harangue, Keokuk . waited for the words of his pale-faced brother to sink deep into his mind,' and in making his reply, assumed the gravest attitude and most dignified demeanor. He would not controvert anything his brother had said about the lost and scattered condition of his race and people, and if his brother was commissioned by the Great Spirit to collect them together and lead them to a new country, it was
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his duty to do so. But he wished to inquire about some particulars his brother had not named, that were of the highest importance to him and his people. The red men were not much used to milk, and he thought they would prefer streams of water, and in the country where they now were there was a good supply of honey. The points that they wished to inquire into were whether the new government would pay large annuities, and whether there was plenty of whisky. Joe Smith saw at once that he had met his match, and that Keokuk was not the proper material with which to increase his army of dupes, and closed the conference in as amiable a manner as possible.
" He was gifted by nature with the elements of an orator in an eminent de- gree, and as such is entitled to rank with Logan, Red Jacket and Tecumseh ; but, unfortunately for his fame among the white people and with posterity, he was never able to obtain an interpreter who could claim even a slight acquaint- ance with philosophy. With one exception only, his interpreters were unac- quainted even with the elements of their mother-tongue. Of this serious ` hindrance to his fame Keokuk was well aware, and retained Frank Labashure, who had received a rudimental education in the French and English languages, until the latter broke down by dissipation and died. But during the meridian of his career among the white people, he was compelled to submit his speeches for translation to uneducated men, whose range of thought fell below the flights of a gifted mind, and the fine imagery, drawn from nature, was beyond their powers of reproduction. He had sufficient knowledge of the English tongue to make him sensible of this bad rendering of his thought, and often a feeling of mortification at the bungling efforts was depicted upon his countenance while he was speaking. The proper place to form a due estimate of his ability as an orator was in the Indian council, where he addressed himself exclusively to those who understood his language, and where the electric effects of his elo- quence could be plainly noted upon his audience. It was credibly asserted that by the force of his logic he had changed the vote of a council against the strongly predetermined opinions of its members. A striking instance of the influence of his eloquence is related as occurring while the forces under Black Hawk were invading Illinois, in 1832.
" Keokuk knew from the first that this reckless war would result in great disaster to the tribe, and used all diligence to dissuade warriors from following Black Hawk, and succeeded in retaining a majority with him at his town on the Iowa River. But, after Stillman's defeat, the war spirit raged with such ardor that a war-dance was held, and Keokuk took part in it, seeming to be moved with the current of the rising storm, and when the dance was over, he called a council to prepare for war. In his address, he admitted the justice of his complaints against the white man, and to seek redress was a noble aspiration of their natures. The blood of their brethren had been shed by the white man, and the spirits of their braves slain in battle called loudly for vengeance. 'I am your chief,' he said, 'and it is my duty to lead you to battle if, after fully considering the matter, you are determined to go. But, before you take this important step, it is wise to inquire into the chances for success.' He then represented to them the great power of the United States, against whom they would have to contend-that their chances of success were utterly hopeless. . But if you now determine to go upon the war-path, I will agree to lead you upon one condition-that before we go we kill all our old men and our wives and children, to save them from a lingering death by starvation, and that every one of us determine to leave his bones on the other side of the Mis- sissippi.'
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" This was a strong and truthful picture of the project before them, and was presented in such a forcible light as to cool their ardor and to cause them to abandon their rash undertaking. Many other incidents are related of his elo- quence and taet in allaving a rising storm, fraught with war and bloodshed, not only in his own tribe, but also among neighboring tribes, where his people had been the aggressors. Some of these incidents have been preserved by writers on Indian research, but many will be lost to history. He delivered a eulogy upon Gen. Harrison at the Sac and Fox Agency, which was interpreted by Antoine Le Claire, and considered by many who heard its delivery as one of his best efforts. This speech. however, was not written down, and is lost to his- tory : but enough of the incidents of his career as an orator have been saved from the wreck of time to stamp his reputation for natural abilities of the high- est order, and furnish another positive refutation of Buffon's theory. on the de- terioration of men and animals on the American Continent."
The occasion referred to by Mr. Biggs, in the foregoing paragraph, when Keokuk delivered so remarkable a speech, is one of the most entertaining anec-' dotes we have been able to secure. That it may be given in connection with this mention of the scene, we interrupt the order of the paper now being quoted, and insert it here. The story was preserved by Maj. Beach, who succeeded Gen. Street, upon the latter's death, as Agent of the Sacs and Foxes. The Agency was located about six miles east of the present site of Ottumwa, near what is now known as Agency City. Maj. Beach published a series of hastily- written papers on the subject of his experience with the Indians, and from those articles (which are given in the Western Historical Company's History of Wapello County, 1878), is taken the following sketch :
" When Gren. Harrison became President of the United States, in March, 1840, Hon. John Chambers, ex-Congressman of Kentucky, was appointed to replace Gov. Lucas as Governor of Iowa Territory. The office then included within its commission that of Superintendent over the Indians and their agen- cies. For several months previous to this date, feelings of antagonism had existed between the old Black Hawk party, whose chief was Hardfish, and the other bands, which spirit was mainly excited and kept alive by the traders, who were influenced by their rival interests. Gov. Lucas was characteristically obstinate, and leaned decidedly toward the Hardfish side of the controversy. Upon the arrival of Gov. Chambers at Burlington, it was, of course, an object with Keokuk to gain his favor, or, at least, to have him committed to a strictly impartial course ; while Ilardfish's efforts would be put forth to indnee him to follow in the track of his predecessor. Keokuk at once requested the Agent to obtain the Governor's consent for him and his chief men to visit the Gov- ernor at Burlington.
" It was the wish, however, of the Indian Department to discountenance and prevent such pilgrimages of Indians through the settlements, and the Agent promised Keokuk that he would inform the new Governor of his desire. Maj. Beach toll Keokuk that, owing to the wishes of the Department, the Governor might prefer to have the meeting take place at the Agency, in Wa- pello County.
" The Hardfish band-or rather their instigators, Eddy and his satellites- less patient, and ignoring their proper channel of communication with the Superintendent through the Agent, hastened to Burlington in a large body, and, having encamped a short way from town, sent in a written notice of their arrival and the purpose of their visit, with the request that the Governor would cause the needed supplies of food, etc., to be provided for them. Under the
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Lucas regime, an order on Eddy's Burlington store would have soon satisfied the demand ; but Gov. Chambers forwarded word that when he wanted to see any of them. he would, of course, be prepared to have them fed ; that he had no intention of converting his executive headquarters at Burlington into a council-ground for his red children, and that it was his purpose to visit them in their own country at a very early day. Hardfish went home with a new idea in his mind concerning Governors.
" Shortly after that failure, the agent received a communication from the Governor, informing him of the facts here related, and notifying him to use all means in his power to prevent the intrusion of his charge upon the white set- tlements. The letter also announced the Governor's intention to visit the Agency in a short time, due notice of which would be given.
" The Governor at last set his time, the bands were all informed, the Gov- ernor arrived at the Agency and a grand council was to be begun. Meanwhile, all the Indians except the Iowa River Foxes, who were indisposed to come so far on a matter that did not directly concern them, had gathered and were encamped about the Agency. The Keokuk band occupied the ground along the branch behind the mills, which was then full of plum, hazel and crab-apple thickets. The Hardfishes were on the edge of the river timber, south of the Agency. Long before the appointed hour, the latter tribes, arrayed in full tog- gery, arrived at the designated place of meeting. The men and ponies were caparisoned in their richest styles of ornamentation. They at once began a display of equestrianism, and performed for some time. They then dismounted, and, after securing their animals, formed in line and marched into the Agency- yard where the Governor was to receive them. Quite a respectable number of whites were in attendance, to witness the scenes and partake in the ceremonies of the occasion. Hardfish took the Governor by the hand, in a way of greet- ing, spoke a few words and sat down upon the grass, surrounded by his fol- lowers.
"Now, it was a sacred duty with the Governor to cherish the memory of his friend, Gen. Harrison. He had been Aide-de- Camp to the General in the war of 1812, and rumor told that their mutual sentiments were more like those of father and son than those of simple friendship. Keokuk had been apprised of this fact, and, as subsequent events revealed, knew how to 'make it tell.' The appointed hour of assembling came and passed, but yet no sign of Keokuk or his party was made at the Agency. As time passed, the Governor, with his sense of promptness offended, grew impatient at the delay. He finally ex- pressed opinions approbatory of Hardfish and derogatory of Keokuk.
" At length, when the council seemed about to prove a failure by default, the first faint sounds of Keokuk's music came floating on the air. The notes grew more audible as the band approached, but never swelled up to the full tone of joyful marches. As the front of the procession wound slowly into view, the lances and staves, instead of being decked with gaudy ribbons and feathers, were seen to be wrapped about with withered grass, No sound of bells responded to the tramp of their ponies, and the Indian persons, instead of being painted with vermilion and dressed in bright colors, were streaked with the somber, funeral substitute of clay. In fact, all the paraphernalia of woe betokened some sad affliction. The Agent, after a hurried word with the inter- preter, told the Governor that this was a funeral march, and that some one of their leading men must have died during the night, and probably lay yet un- buried in their camp. The Hardfishes seemed as much at a loss as anybody, wondering who could have died without their knowing it.
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" The solemn dirge ceased, and, dismounting, the several hundred savages formed in line, on foot, and marched, with Keokuk at their head, into the yard. The chief advanced toward the Governor, who also moved forward to greet the Indians. Keokuk ordered his followers to halt, and, through his interpreter, said : . Say to our new Father that, before I take his hand, I will explain what all this means. We were told, not long ago, that our Great Father, at Washington, was dead. We have heard of him as a mighty war- rior, who had passed much of his life among the red men, and knew their wants. We believe that we would always have had friendship and justice at his hands. His death has made us very sad, and, as this was our first opportunity, we thought it would be very wrong if we did not use it to show that the hearts of his red children, as well as his white, know how to mourn over their great loss. We have kept our Father waiting here while we have performed that part of our mourning which we must always attend to before we leave our lodges with our dead.' 'Then, amid the murmurs of approbation from his people, he step- ped forward and extended his hand. The hearty grasp with which the Gov- ernor seized and chung to it showed that the chief had touched the right spot in his heart, and that the Hardfishes must thereafter be content to take a back seat.
" When, years after, Maj. Beach was enjoying a day of the Governor's hos- pitality, at Maysville, Ky .. the incident came up in conversation. The Gov- ernor was told that he must not credit Keokuk with the paternity of the entire plot. but that his ingenuity was put into requistion only to manage the details. The kind old gentlemen seemed greatly amused."
Of the visit of the Hardfish band, in the summer of 1840, and of the rebuff received at the hands of Gov. Chambers, the local press of Burlington, of that date says nothing; but an earlier visit paid Gov. Lucas by the same faction is recorded in the Patriot and Hawkeye. January 23 and 24, 1840. a large delegation, headed by Hardfish and Nasheaskuk-Black Hawk's oldest son-encamped near the town and signified a desire to open council with the Governor. From the cordial reception tendered the Indians by the Governor, one is naturally led to believe that the official sympathy was decidedly on the side of the Hardfish faction, as asserted by Maj. Beach. There was a double grievance borne to the ears of the Father by his red children, for not only did the chief declare that a spirit of partiality had been manifested toward the Keokuk wing, in the matter of trade and traders, but the young brave, Nasheaskuk, carried signs of mourning over the recent desecration of his father's tomb. The grave of Black Hawk had been robbed of its dead (as will be shown further on in this chapter), and the Indians demanded the restoration of the body.
With these two causes of anger-the one supposititious. perhaps, and the other real-the Indians sought their Father for counsel. Gov. Lucas received them with every mark of respect, and prepared for a great demonstration. He assured Nasheaskuk that the spoliation of the grave of his father was a crime under the white man's laws, and would be sternly dealt with. This explana- tion of the code satisfied the perturbed brave, who joined in friendly converse with the leaders during the remainder of the council. The proceedings termi- nated with a mighty powwow, and, strange to relate, the scene of the dance was none other than the historic church, Old Zion. The Governor is said to have provided for the occasion all necessary privileges, and a festive ceremony betokened the friendliness of the natives. While the dancing was in progress, Hardfish and Nasheaskuk stood by. silent spectators of the scene. Neither of
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those great men esteemed it dignified for them to join in the dance. It is said that Nasheaskuk disapproved of all festivities, but undoubtedly that sentiment prevailed only when he was in the presence of white men. It is a fact that Indian leaders frequently refrained from demonstrations of any emotion when away from the seclusion of their lodges.
Again taking up the thread of Mr. Biggs' recitals, we quote from the "Annals : "
" We have thus far portrayed the bright side of Keokuk's character; but, like most, if not all, great intellects, there is a dark background which the truth of history demands shall be brought to view. His traits of character thus far sketched, may not inaptly be compared to the great Grecian orator ; but here the similitude ends. The great blot on Keokuk's life was his inordi- nate love of money ; and, toward its close, he became a confirmed inebriate. His withering reply to the Mormon Prophet was intended by him as a pure stroke of wit ; it nevertheless expressed his ruling passion.
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