New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-15
CAREER OF CHIEF KEOKUK.
HEAD OF THE SAC AND FOX INDIANS-BE-
CAME A CHRISTIAN AND PROGRESSIVE
CITIZEN - COULD NOT CONVINCE
FELLOW-INDIANs OF TRUTH



, FELLOw-INDIANs OF TRUTH
OF STORY OF JONAH.
Guthrie Okla. May IA (speciaD.-The death OF
Keokuk, chief of the Sac and Fox Indians. OF
smallpox. revves many stories OF the interesting
old warriors career. Keokuk was son OF the
famous Keokuk. for whom the city OF keokuk
Iowa, named He was seventy-seven years
old, and for many years had been utra-progressive
in adopting the ways OF civilization. FRANK
OlsmIth. OF this city. who served as Government
armorer at the Sac and Fox agency in 1858, knew
Keokuk intimately, and tells many interesting
anecdotes OF him.
Probably the best description OF Keokuks boy
hood" says Mr.. Olsmith, rs contained IN Drake
History OF the American Indians. 1t tells OF MS
visit to Washington after the Black HAWK war
Keokuk succeeded his father as chief OF the sac
and Fox tribe and came with his people from
Quenemo Kan 10 their reservation. In what IL
now known as Oklahoma. In 1855. keokuk was
typical Indian sport. and knew all the PAGES o. ,ne
high roller in his youth He acquired many OF MS
disspated ways in frequent trips TO "ashins'on'
His boon companion Indian who bore 'he
English nickname Of Patterson Patterson is stu
living and like Keokuk, is an old man. Ihey
drank heavily in their younger days. ana were 'ne
best poker players in the tribe. Whenever they sa'
In a game they carried OF everything IN Sight,
Keokuk was excellent checker player nave
played many games with him. Keokuk and PARK
niscences could be told OF their drinking and gam
bling bouts Both wore the breechclout and shaved
their heads according TO the tribal custom VIM"
was 10 leave a heavy name down the Hiuu'e'
Keokuk had only child son named Chsr'es'
who Is about as worthless an Indian as can De
found In Oklahoma. Once, while COMING "o"'
Ouenemo TO the agency Keokuk and Parkerson got
drunk Charley offended his father and the latter
tried IN XIII the boy with gun. The boy eluded
him by running around a wagon. heokuk was 'o
tipsv 10 shoot true. Parkerson became diseus'eu'
and barring his breast said: Shoot a man. uon
shoot boy This snameu heohuh' "i " -
his snokestick. 49, j.
"In 1853 there was a great change in the HE OF
Keokuk He became a convert to the Bsptls'
Church and renounced almost every phase Vi HE
past living He put two Of his three wives away
stopped drinking and gambling. dressed IN cNili~eu
clothing and forsook most Of the supersti.iohs u
his tribe He built frame house and LETT MS Wig
wan to owls and bats He put furniture In MS
house and ate from table instead OF black,
greasy pot At his baptism he took the name oI
Moses Keokuk probably in the belief that ne was
to lead his people out OF their neathen ponuaee
Through all the years that have interviewed Moses
Keokuk was steadfastly the friend OF schools ana
churches and conducted himself upright citi-
zen His progressiveness aroused the resentment or
many members Of his tribe. He had formerly been
chief medicine and the leader OF the medicine
lodge ceremonies and nominations These. too he
abandoned, together with SHAVING MS "ea' ""N
painting his face H. died wealthy man.
Pleased with his own regeneration, Keokuk I'M
dertook to convert his old companion. Patterson
He made encouraging progress until he came 70 the
miracles Patterson, like some OF his white 6rotn-
ers was unable to accept the story OF Jonah ana
the whale He said that he did not believe ne story
was true and that II the men who wrote the Biple
would tell falsehood they would iell many
After that Keokuk and Parkerson drifed apar,
Patterson taller and more imposing looking man
was Keokuk being feet inches high anu muscu
lar while Keokuk not so tall ald vas rat ana
gross Keokuk spoke English with difficulty. espe,
ciay in the presence OF strangers whom ne reared
would ridicuie his mistakes. In the old days ne
ALWAYS spoke English best when in his cups being
holder and more Indifferent to joshing -,
Notwithstanding his conversion, keokuk, coulo
not entirely dscredit the superstions which he had
believed in his young days He was famillariy
called X by the half-breeds and whites; The fu-
bloods never called him Keokuk, preferring MS
Indian name When first went 10 the agency
son of the famous Black Hawk. who was Fox,
was living there. He then an old man. with
snow-whte hair. Because OF his fondness for red
paint. he usually comic sight He would
paint his scalp until II red as the wattes or
an old turkey gobbler. The crest OF white hair
down the middle made remarkable contrast. re
had only one wife girl about eighteen years old
KeOkuk had Christian burial and TOT this rea,
the full-bloods Of the tribe refused to auend
his funeral