USA > Iowa > Henry County > The history of Henry county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 38
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" 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 this 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 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
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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 their 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 gu 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.'
"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 tact in allaying a rising storm, fraught with war and bloodshed, not only in his own tribe, but also among neighboring tribes, where his people had
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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 Mr. 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.
" 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 passions.
" A bitter and incurable feud existed in the tribe during their time of resi- dence on the Des Moines River between what was denominated as 'Keokuk's band ' and 'Black Hawk's band,' the latter recognizing Hardfish as their leader. This distrust and, indeed, hatred were smothered in their common intercourse when sober; but when their blood was fired with whisky it sometimes assumed a tragic feature amongst the leaders of the respective bands. An instance of this character occurred on the lower part of the Des Moines, on a. return of a party making a visit to the 'half-breeds' at the town of Keokuk, on the Mississippi. In a quarrel, excited by whisky, Keokuk received a dan- gerous stab in the breast from a son of Black Hawk. The writer of the pres- ent sketch saw him conveyed by his friends homeward, lying in a canoe, unable to rise.
" Hardfish and his coadjutors lost no occasion to find fault with Keokuk's- administration. The payments were made in silver coin, put in boxes, contain- ing $500 each, and passed into Keokuk's hands for distribution. The several traders received each his quota, according to their several demands against the tribes admitted by Keokuk, which invariably consumed the far greater portion of the amount received. The remainder was turned over to the chiefs and dis- tributed among their respective bands. Great complaints were made of these allowances to the traders, on the ground of exorbitant prices charged on the goods actually furnished ; and it is alleged that some of these accounts were spurious. In confirmation of this last charge, over and above the character of the items exhibited in these accounts, an affidavit was filed with Gov. Lucas by an individual, to which the Governor gave credence, setting forth that Keokuk had proposed to the maker of the affidavit to prefer a purely fictitious account against the tribe for the sum of $10,000, and he would admit its correctness, and, when paid, the money should be divided among themselves, share and share alike. To swell the traders' bills, items were introduced of a character that showed fraud upon their face, such as a large number of 'blanket coats,' arti- cles which the Indians never wore, and 'telescopes,' of the use of which they had no knowledge. This shows the reckless manner in which these bills were- swollen to the exorbitant amounts complained of, in which Keokuk was openly charged with being in league with the traders to defraud Hardfish's band. At this time, the nation numbered about two thousand three hundred souls, and only about one-third of the whole number belonged to Keokuk's party. Gov ..
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Lucas warmly espoused the popular side in the controversy that arose in rela- tion to the mode and manner of making the annual payment, and the matter was referred to the Indian Bureau, and the mode was changed so that payments were made to the heads of families, approximating a per-capita distribution. This method of making the payments met the unqualified disapprobation of the traders, and, after one year's trial, fell back into the old channel. Keokuk led his tribe west to the Kansas country, in 1845, and, according to reports, died some years after of delirium tremens."
Mr. James Jordan relates the following anecdote of Keokuk: "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 impossible to overcome. disease while she lived. Thereupon, Keokuk took the old woman without the settlement and deliberately cut 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 sec- tion." The scene of this sacrifice was near Independent, adjacent to Jordan's farm.
Keokuk's son is at the head of the Sac and Fox Nation, in the Indian Territory.
One of the most amusing anecdotes preserved by Maj. Beach, Indian Agent, is the following :
" When Gen. 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 Hardfish's efforts would be put forth to induce 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 Governor, 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 told Keokuk that, owing to the wishes of the Department, the Governor might prefer to have the meeting take place at the Agency, in Wapello 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 a request that the Governor would cause the needed supplies of food, etc., to be provided for them. Under the 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
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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 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 expressed 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 re- sponded to the tramp of their ponies, and the Indians' persons, instead of being painted with vermilion and dressed in bright colors, were streaked with the somber, funereal 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 unbur- ied in their camp. The Hardfishes seemed as much at a loss as anybody, wondering who could have died without their knowing it.
" The solemn dirge ceased, and dismounting, the several hundred savages formed in line, on foot, and marched, with Keokuk at their head, into the
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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 stepped forward and extended his hand. The hearty grasp with which the Governor seized and clung 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 hospitality, at Maysville, Ky., the incident came up in conversation. The Governor was told that he must not credit Keokuk with the paternity of the entire plot, but that his ingenuity was put into requisition only to manage the details. The kind old gentleman seemed greatly amused."
Maj. Beach tells of one of the numerous religious rites of Keokuk's band :
" The Sacs and Foxes were quite friendly and manageable ; in fact, were very friendly and agreeable people to live among, and all public and personal intercourse with them rolled smoothly along the well-worn track, without much of incident or marvel, until the final sale of their remaining Iowa domain. Sometimes incidents would occur possessing excitement or amusement enough to encroach for a little upon the monotony that otherwise might have become tedious, of which the writer will endeavor to recover the memory of one or two that may amuse the reader.
" The Sacs and Foxes, like all other Indians, were very religious people in their way, always maintaining the observance of a good many rites, ceremonies and feasts in their worship of the Great Spirit. Fasts did not seem to be pre- scribed in any of their missals, however, because, perhaps, forced ones, under a scarcity of game or other edibles, were not of impossible occurrence among people whose creed plainly was to let to-morrow take care of itself. Some of these ceremonies bore such resemblance to some of those laid down in the books of Moses as to have justified the impression among biblical students that the lost tribes of Israel might have found their way to this continent.
"Maj. Beach was a witness, one delightful forenoon in May, 1841, of a ceremony that seemed full of mystery, even to those Indians who took no part in celebrating it. A large lodge had been set up for the occasion on the level green, near Keokuk's village, and its sides left so entirely open that a view of the proceeding was unobstructed from without. Close around was a circle of guards or sentinels, evidently in the secret, as they were near enough to hear, but far enough away from the center to prevent eavesdroping. Low tones were observed by the speakers. Inside of the first circle of sentinels was a still more numerous row of guards, and a strict watch was maintained. Keokuk seemed to be the chief performer among those actively engaged. One old fellow, who held relations of importance with the tribe, seemed to be the one for whom all the display was made. He was distinguished from those about him by being
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clothed in a much scantier pattern of raiment than the rest. The first part of the ceremony seemed to be a general posturing of the subject, for the perform- ers would place the old Indian on his feet; then they would force him to sit down, and then compel him to assume some other attitude. Meanwhile, they kept up a vigorous powwowing over him, gesticulating in their wildest manner. Finally, after they had placed him in a sitting position, with a pile of blankets at his back, Keokuk advanced toward him, pistol in hand, and apparently took deliberate aim at the fellow's forehead. There was an explosion quite audible to outsiders, followed by a little puff of powder-smoke, and the old savage fell over as though he was shot dead. The attendants quickly covered him with blankets, and the wise ones of the tribe gathered about in solemn manner. Seated by the supposed dead man, the council indulged in many ' long talks.' At last, Keokuk was inspired with some power from the Great Spirit, and, hastily stepping forward, he seized the hand of the prostrate man. He lifted the dead Indian to a sitting posture, and speedily restored him to full life. The outside witnesses looked on with mute surprise and awe throughout the entire performance. It was evident from their manner that they believed the old Indian had really been killed, and that their mighty chieftain had raised him to life and health. The ceremony was designed, doubtless, to represent the close relationship between Keokuk and the invisible forces of the Happy Hunt- ing-Grounds, but this is merely speculation, for no interpretation of the cere- mony was ever made, so far as Maj. Beach could learn."
BLACK HAWK, THE BRAVE.
The most conspicuous figure in the list of noted Indians of the Northwest is Black Hawk. This remarkable man was more like a white man in his domestic tastes and instincts than any of his cotemporaries ; but was, withal, a warrior of the true savage type. During his sojourn in Van Buren County, probably no one was more intimately acquainted with Black Hawk than James Jordan was. Mr. Jordan's opportunities for knowing the Indian, and also for acquiring a thorough knowledge of the language in which he spoke, were unusual. For years, the two families lived side by side, and maintained a degree of intimacy peculiar and incidental to the isolated life then led. A feeling of friendliness sprang up between the native and the pioneer resident, which was but little removed from that of brotherhood. Hence it is that the statements of Mr. Jordan relative to Black Hawk and his life are accepted without reservation by all who hear them.
In personal appearance, Black Hawk was distinguished. He was five feet and eleven inches tall ; weighed about one hundred and forty to one hundred and fifty pounds, and had an eye black and piercing as a wild beast's.
Many errors have crept into history concerning Black Hawk. The most important one is that which fixes his birth in 1767. It will be observed in the State history, which precedes this sketch, that he was born in the Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the Mississippi, in Illinois, in 1767. Mr. Jordan pronounces the date an error. From Black Hawk's own lips he learned that the time of his birth was 1775, but the day is not given.
As to the Indian orthography of the name, Mr. Jordan gives Mu-ca-tah- mich-a-ka-kah, and this is confirmed by several other well-posted persons. Maj. Beach, in his admirable papers on the Indian Agency in Wapello County, a subject he was well fitted to write about, because of his having been Agent after Gen. Street's death in 1840, gives a slightly different spelling ; but only such
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