Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-23
UNvE|L MEMORIAL
S j: A i 4. At .k| E0 { k. K.

Keokuk. Oct. 22-Members Of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
from all parts of Illinois, Missouri and
Iowa attended the dedication here to-
day of the statue in memory of Chief
Keokuk. of Black Hawk fame, for
whom this city was named. With Mrs.
William, c. Story, Of New York City.
nresident-general of the Daughters Of
the American revolution, in attendance
Iowa members have arranged for the
most important conference ever held
by the society in this state. Other
prominent peonle in attendance includ-
ed dorado Taft, the sculptor, Dr.
Frank Wyman, of the department Of
Indian affairs. and Mrs. II. r. Howell
state regent, D.aA. R. John Keokuk Of
Oklahoma. great-great-grandson Of the
Indian chief. brought a message from
the Sac and Fox tribes. over, which
Chief Keokuk ruled while in his primes
In connection with the unwilling Of
the statute, a tablet in memory Of the
early Iowa trails was also dedicated
, '1@' Statute Of Bronze.
The statute of Chief Keokuk Is of
bronze, ten feet in. height. resting on
a base fifteen feet high. 1t is the work
of Miss Nellie " Walker. an Iowa girl
now living In Chicago. Great care was
taken in the reproduction Of Chief
Keokuk's dress. and Miss Walker
made frequent trips to the Smithson-
ian institute and to numerous histor-
ical societies throughout. the central
states In order, to give a correct pic
ture Of: the Indian as he lived
The bones Of Chief Keokuk were
buried Recently under the statute.
They were brought here number Of
years ago from Ottawa. Kansas. When
first found the skull and number OF
the bones of the arm were missing,
but later the skullCwas discovered in
a white mans lodge at Ottawa, where
1T was being used in an initiation cere-
mony. p. -. - <. 49, 4.
Historians write that Keokuk moved
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 with
out a. superior among Indians. q a..tr
III Story of Life. r. e.,
Keokuk was born on the Rock river
in the northwestern part of Illinois
about 17S1. While still youth he
joined a war party against the Sioux.
and 1t" was the spear. of Keokuk that
brought the Sioux chieftain to- the
ground in death. During the second
war with Great Britain. rumor reach
ed the Sac and Fox tribe that the
United States had sent an army to
destroy the Indian village of Peoria
on the Illinois river and that the plan
eventually was to destroy the entire
Sac. and Fox nation. The Indians
were panic stricken and decided to
abandon their villages. Keokuk 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. Tn@ E-tI
The sturdy young Sac aroused the
braves to spirit Of fight. and his
sreech at that time made him their
chief The rumor proved false one,
but Keokuk remained their 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 resolve
that. having crossed the Mississippi
they would never return. but perish
among the graves of their fathers rath-
er than yield them to the white man.