The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-20
One Given Him by General Jackson
Is Found and Placed In the
Iowa Historical De-
partment.
USED BY MASON LODGE
Chief keokuk Bought as Handker
chiefs at rs Gents Each
When he Went
Shopping.

lby u. Y. Bsaman, in Annals of Iowa.
From 1851 to 1874, lived at In
dependent (now selma on the Des
Moines river, in Van Buren, county.
Iowa, two miles below the farm Of
James H. Jordan. and one mile below
the town Of Iowaville, where was
fought the last balttle between the
Sacs and Foxes and the Iowans, in
which the latter were practically ex-
terminated.
Mr.. Jordan was Indian post trader
at Iowayille in 1888 and subsequent
years, when Black Hawk had quit
! fighting and had built lodge on Jor-
dams farm, where he died and was
buried. | often conversed with Mr..
Jordan about the incidents Of Black
Hawks later life These were written
up by me in 1873 for the Old Settlers
Memorial, journal then published by
Thomas Gregg at Keokuk.
1t was generally known, notwith-
standing the final destruction of Black
Hawks skeleton in fire In Burling-
ton, Iowa, and the destruction or loss
of the medals and swords given him
by others, that the sword given to
him by General Jackson was not found
with Black Hawks remains, but it
has not been generally known since
then what became of the sword.
For some years | have been trying
to locate it. but without success until
last October learned it was in the
possession of Arthur Hinkle, Jordan S
grandson, at Selma, and he consented
to its deposit with the Historical De-
partment of Iowa.
From Mr.. Jordans statements to
me and information by others, the
following I believe is its true history
In April, 1888, Black Hawk was ia
ken as a prisoner to Washington, and
presented to President Jackson, who
SO impressed him with the futility OF
be good. He was then given this sword
by Jackson. Others gave him some
jewelry for his wife-all in token OF
| the new formed friendship.
He returned to Iowa and lived on
Mr.. Jordan's farm near Iowaville un-
til his death. September 10, 1888. The
day before his death he gave this
sword to Mr. Jordan
During the SOS it came into the
possession of the Eureka Masonic
lodge in Iowaville by purchase from
resident of that vicinity, and the
/ tyler of the lodge used it as his official
arm. Where it had been since 1898,
and how it got out Of Jordan's imme-
diate possession, i have not been able
to ascertain. Jordan learned of it.
/ however, and Immediately recognized
it as the Jackson sword, but made nc
effort to get 1t, and it remained there
until the lodge became defunct.
Hon. Robert Sloan, now of Keosau
qua, was secretary of the lodge, and
kept the sword and took 1t with him
4 to Keosauqua. where he turned it over
to the Masonic lodge at that place. II
remained there until 1871 or 1872
when the lodge building was burned
and the scabbard and hilt of the sword
were destroyed or lost in the ruins
and now nothing remains of it but the
fire-scarred blade.
Mr.. Hinkle obtained it from the
1 lodge in 1889
In Mr.. Hinkle's possession is the
account book of Mr.. Jordan, his grand
! father, kept by him in Iowaville in
1883, and years following, and in
which are entered many accounts
4 against the Indians, then on their res
ervation near 1owaville.
On the first page appears an &C
count against the Indian Chief Keo.
kuk, OF date October !, 1883. Some OF
! it is not very legible. One item is for
"strowd" (proper spelling stroud)
which perhaps everybody may non
know is coarse blanket used by the
Indians. The breech clouts, toma.