Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-10-23
D. A. R. UNVEILS
STATUE OF OLD
Chief kEOKUK

Kookuk. Ia. Oct. 22.-Menbers OF
the Daughters Of the American Rev,
olution from all parts Of Illinois, Mis-
souri, and Iowa attended the dedica,
ton here today OF the statue in men,.
ory Of Chief KeoKuk, of Black Hawk
fame, for whom this city was named.
With Mrs. William c. Story Of New
York City, president-general of the
Daughters CT the American Rcvou-
ton, in attendance, Iowa members
have arranged for the most import
an conference ever held by the so.
cicty in this state. Other prominent
people who will attend include Lore
Go Taft. the sculptor, DR.. Frank wy.
man, fthe department, of Indian ar.
fairs, and Mrs. r. R. Howell, state
regent of The d. A. r. John KeOkuk
OF Oklahoma. great atgreat-grandson OF
the Indian chief. brought message
from the Sac and Fox tribes, over
which Chief KeOkuk ruled while in
his prime
In connection with the unveiling OF
the statue, tablet in memory of the
early owa trails will be dedica-ed.
The staue of Chief Keokuk is OF
bronze, 10 feet in height, resting on a
base Is feet high. 1t is the work OF
Miss Nellie V. Walker, an Iowa girl,
now living in Chicago. Great care
was taken in the reproduction OF
Chief Keokuk's dress, and Miss Walk
er made frequent trips to the Smith.
ssapiaa Institute sJg In nn.n srouS his
torical societies throughout the cen
trail states in order to give a correct
picture of the Indian as he lived.
The bones of Chief Keokuk were
buried recently under the statue
They were brought here a number OF
years ago from Ottawa, Kan. When
first found, the skull and number OF
the bones of the arm were missing
but later the skull was discovered in
white mems lodge at Ottawa, where
it was being used in an initiation
ceremony.
Historians write that Keokuk NOV
ed in more magnificent style than any
other chief in America. In points OF
natural intellect, integrity of charac
ter and the capacity to govern and
command, he is said to have been
without a superior among Indians.
Keokuk was born on the Rock river
in the northwestern part OF Illinois,
about 1881. While still a youth he
joined a war party against the Sioux,
and it was the spear OF Keokuk that
brought the Sioux chieftain to the
ground in death. During the second
war with Great Britain, runner
reached the Sac and Fox tribe that
the United States had sent an army
to destroy the Indian village OF Pc
oria on The Illinois river, and that
the plan eventually was to destroy
the entire Sac and Fox nation. The
Indians were panic stricken and de,
cided to abandon their villages. keo-
kuk is said to have been the one
cool man among them. He urged the
braves to hold together in one body
and follow his command.
, The sturdy young Sac aroused the
braves to a spirit OF fight, and his
speech at that time made him their
CHIEF. The rumor proved false one,
but kcokuk remained the leader.
Later. when Black Hawk urged the
Sac and Fox, TO war against the
whites, Keokuk made what is consid
cred his most memorable speech. He
said that he would lead them against
the whites on one condition, and that
was that they should put their women
and children to death and then re.
solve that, having crossed the Mis-
sissirpi, they would never return, but
perish among the graves Of their tat~-
ers rather than yield them to the
white man.