Iowa History
Project
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OTHER INDIAN CHIEFS OF IOWA
CHIEFS AND COUNCILS
The Indians could neither write nor print as we do
today and did not, therefore, have laws written down in big books. But
they needed laws just as we do because sometimes several thousand Indians would
gather in one village. Then they had to make rules for themselves.
Disputes between members of the tribe also had to be settled by someone.
Who has to do it?
SAC AND FOX CHIEFS
You have read the story of two of the greatest
chiefs that lived in Iowa. There were many others who were famous that
lived, at least for a time, in Iowa. Pashepaho, "the stabber,"
was a much older chief than either Black Hawk or Keokuk. He had more
power than either of them and was a famous fighter. He signed the
treaties of the 1824 and 1832 by which the Sac lands were sold to the
Government. He died at an old age in Kansas.
Wishecomaque, "Hard Fish," became the
chief of Black Hawk's village after a great chief's downfall. His village
was in Wapello County, Where Eddyville now is.
Powashiek, or "Roused Bear," a native of
Iowa, was head chief of the Fox tribe for many years. He was a very large man,
weighing over 250 pounds. He was always friendly with the white
people and was fair and honest with both Indians and Whites, as also
Appanoose, another Sac chief. Counties were named for both of these
Indians.
Wapello, "The Prince," and Kishekosh,
"Man with One Leg," were two other Fox chiefs. Kishekosh really
had two legs, and was a great athlete. He had a farm and tried to get
other Indians to become farmers, but they said that work was only for squaws
and they would not follow their chiefs example. Wapello was buried near
Agency beside his friend, General street, and both a county and a town have
been named for him.
Taimah (Tama), "Man Who Makes The Rocks
Tremble," was a Fox chief of little importance. He made a trip to
Washington in 1824 and signed a treaty for his tribe. He also has a
county and a town named for him.
CHIEFS OF THE IOWA TRIBE
The most noted chief of the Iowa tribe was
Mahaska, or "White Cloud." The favorite one of his seven wives
was a beautiful woman named Ranchewaime, or "Female Flying Pigeon."
She made a trip to Washington with him. When she returned to Iowa,
she told the Women of her tribe how the White women lived. Mahaska county bears
his name.
Mahaska's father, Manhawgaw, "Wounding
Arrow," An Iowa Chief, was killed while on a peaceful visit with the
Sioux Indian tribe. Mahaska at once led a war party against the Sioux. He
killed the Sioux Indian who killed his father.
At another time two Indians of Mahaska's tribe
killed six Omaha Indians. The Government wanted the two Indian murderer's
and Mahaska, being friend of the Government, let the officers arrest
them. After the Indians were released, they stole up to Mahaska's tepee
one night and killed him while he slept. Then they fled, but were caught
and killed, one by the Iowas, and the other by the Otoes.
Wangewa, "Hard Heart," was chief of an
Iowa village near the Missouri River. He was in more than fifty
battles, and commanded the warriors in seven of them.
SIOUX CHIEFS
We do not know much about the Sioux chiefs
that lived in Iowa. Waneta, who at eighteen years of age fought with the
British in the War of 1812, was on of their best chiefs.
Sidominadota, and his brother Inkpadutah, both
chiefs of an outlaw band of Sioux, have been called the worst chiefs that ever
lived.