Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-27
KNOXVILLE MAN
KNEW BLACKHAWK
ELDER REED, OVER go YEARS OLD,
COMPLIES "REMINISCENCES
OF CHIEF
Also Acquainted With keokuk-TeIls
of Romance of Latter's Daughter,
Maiden of Nauasia-Parents Recall
Their Son to the East.

Knoxville, Dec. 26.-E1der Reed OF
this city, now nearing his ninety-frst
birthday anniversary, has just COM
piled his "reminiscences of Black Hawk,
the famous Indian chief. 1t is almost
certain that Mr. Reed is the only living
man who knew the leader of the Sacs
and Fox. The substance of his me-
moir IS as follows:
cat the early date of the winter of
1887 he lived near the border of the
Half Breed Lands and also near Fort
Madison. To these lands the Indians
resorted to spend the winter and to be
near supplies. The elder Reeds home
was near the border of these, and al
most in sight of Black Hawks wig
wan. He further affirms that he is
the only white now living who had en-
home. He had visited the Black Hawk
leather trunks, which we're doubtless
gifts from Washington and other large
cities of which they were guests by
edict of the national government.
con their return to their people in
Iowa, they came well laden with rich
spoils; the old chief himself having a
fine broadcloth suit and silk hat, and
whenever he went abroad or mingled
with the whites he donned his official
robes. But the poor old chief was no
longer chief of his nation. The United
States government deemed it wise to
punish him by giving the chief COM
mand to Keokuk, who was a subordin-
ate. Keokuk was a noble Indian, and
man OF peace, and friendly to the
whites. He was opposed to Black
HAWKS murderous war on the white
settlers. Between KeokuB and DR..
Galloway sort of agent, there grew
UP David and Jonathan love that
endured to the end Keokuk's dying
request was to be buried by the side
of his friend. DR.. Galloway.
"Black Hawk was a small man. but
every inch of him was warrior; his
wife was an Indian-French mixture,
and much above the average in good
looks. On one occasion the Elder Reed
was at their wigwam and maple sugar
making was just on, and Mrs. Black
Hawk gave him mold of sugar to
take nome.
"The Elder Reed only knew of two
sons and one daughter. The elder,
Tom, as known to the whites, was
dubbed as Bad Indian and never min
gled with the white settlers. The sec
ond son, MISUNDERSTANDING, the Elder
Reed says, was his ideal of a perfect
physical man. He was handsome, well
disposed and of more than ordinary in,
telligence. Nauasia, the daughter and
youngest, was real princess, tall and
slender, beautiful and supple, quick as
a flash, with that native grace SO rare
and yet so bewitching. 1t is related
by the Elder Reed that when party
or dance occurred in the village or set
Element it was race between the
young beaux who should secure Naua
STA first for partner; and in the dance
she could jump like a gazelle. And
it is further related that she became
involved in romance that well nigh
broke her heart.
Wealthy parents in the east sem
their son to the west to put on little
more ruggedness, and he met and fel
a victim to Nauasia's witchery result
ing in an engagement The parents
however, getting hint of the situation
recalled him home at once"