Keokuk (1767–1848) was a chief of the Sauk “or Sac” tribe along the Iowa River who became a very important figure in the early development of the Iowa portion of the United States. He was recognized by the United States as the principal chief of the Sac and Fox nation.

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^{"Kee-o-kuk, The Watchful Fox, Chief of the Tribe" by George Catlin. Photo from Wikimedia commons}

Chief Keokuk became known to the white man during the war of 1812. During that time most Indians sympathized with the English, but Keokuk kept his allegiance with the Americans. Keokuk County, Iowa and the town of Keokuk, Iowa, where he is buried, are named after this great leader.

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^{by George Catlin. Photo from Wikimedia commons}

In 1837 Keokuk accompanied Black Hawk, Wapello, Poweshiek, and other leaders of the Sac and Fox nations, visited Washington when the U.S. Government purchased 1,250,000 acres which became the territory of Iowa.
After the Black Hawk Wars, in 1845 Keokuk and his followers, according to treaty, moved west of the Mississippi River to a reservation in Kansas, where Keokuk died mysteriously just three years later in 1848. In June of that year, The St. Louis New Era reported the death of Chief Keokuk. According to the report he was poisoned by a member of his tribe. The accused Indian confessed after being arrested and was subsequently shot.

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^{Chief Keokuk - Wikimedia Commons}

In 1883 Chief Keokuk’s remains were moved back to Keokuk, Iowa, and there in Rand Park today stands The Chief Keokuk Statue, erected by the Keokuk Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

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^{Chief Keokuk Monument in Keokuk, Iowa - Wikimedia Commons}

Note: I have in my home a reproduction of George Catlin’s portrait “ Kee-o-kúk, The Watchful Fox, Chief of the Tribe”. (photo below is my copy) This portrait, along with another George Catlin portrait of Seminole Warrior Osceola, was given to my wife and I by her father. He purchased the Catlin portraits from the Smithsonian Art Museum sometime around 1980. Catlin’s art work on Native Americans was on display at the Smithsonian at that time.

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^{Photo by Scott Rogers}

For more reading about Keokuk and the Sauk tribe, including Chief Blackhawk, the following books are available on Amazon: (affiliate links)

The amazing work of famous historical artist George Catlin is reflected in this book:

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, a.k.a. affiliate, therefore if you were to click one of the Amazon links above and actually make a purchase, I receive a tiny percentage as a referral fee, or commission. *

**Thanks for Reading!**