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THE RED MEN OF IOWA.

CHAPTER XIV.

SKETCH OF KEOKUK.

Birth and Early Life--Not a Hereditary Chief--Daring Exploits--Promotion--Declines to Join Black Hawk against the Whites--Addresses his People--Dictates a Letter from the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines--His Lodge at Iowaville--Death of his Son--Village at Sugar Creek--Receives a Message from the Mormon Prophet--Attends a Regal Conference at Nauvoo--Replies to a Speech of Joseph Smith--Feud with the "Hard Fish Band"--Wounded--Charged with Fraud--Oration on the Death of President Harrison--Secures the Favor of Gov. Chambers--Keokuk as an Orator--His Interpreters--Personal Character--Removal to Kansas--Death.

KEOKUK (The Watchful Fox) was born near Rock River, Illinois, about the year 1789, and was of the Sac tribe. He was less renowned as a warrior than Black Hawk, but as an orator and diplomatis excelled him. As the friend of the whites he was able to secure the confidence and support of the government in promoting his aspirations to stand at the head of the Sac and Fox nation. There are many incidents in his life disproving the imputation of Black Hawk that Keokuk was lacking in bravery. Several of the incidents, which were well attested by his cotemporaries, we shall briefly notice.

Keokuk was not a hereditary chief, but attained his elevation by the early manifestation of those qualities which commanded the admiration of his people, and cowardice was not a characteristic that could be rewarded or even

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Chapter Fifteen

Introductory Page| Portrait of MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHE-KIA-KIAH (Black Hawk)| Title Page| Page 2|

Preface (pages 3 - 6)| Illustrations (page 7)| Contents (pages 8 - 17)

Chapter One| Chapter Two| Chapter Three| Chapter Four| Chapter Five

Chapter Six| Chapter Seven| Chapter Eight| Chapter Nine| Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven| Chapter Twelve| Chapter Thirteen

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