Chapter Seven

CHIEF MAHASKA, MOST NOTED CHIEF OF THE lOWAS.

Our county bears the name of the most noted chief of the Iowa Indians, who at one time held dominion over a large part of the state of Iowa. He was the son of Manhawgaw, under whose leadership the tribe migrated· westward from the region of the Great Lakes.. They crossed the Mississippi river and made their home on the banks of the Iowa river near its mouth, and gave their name to the stream. An Indian legend cited by T. S. Parvin, who is excellent authority, says: "This tribe separated from the Sacs and Foxes and wandered off westward in search of a new home. Crossing the Mississippi river, they turned southward, reaching. a high bluff near the mouth of the Iowa river. Looking off over the beautiful valley spread out before them, they halted, exclaiming, 'Ioway,' or 'This is the place.' " Their wandering in the years that followed reached as far west as the Dakotas.

They were in continual warfare with the Sioux, Osages and other western tribes. In a conference with the Sioux Indians Manhawgaw was treacherously slain. The indignant Iowas resolved on an immediate revenge. They raised a war party, of which the son, Mahaska, was the legitimate chief. He modestly declined the honor, stating that he wished to accompany the expedition as a common soldier. He therefore conferred the leadership upon a distinguished and tried warrior until he should have opportunity to prove himself worthy of assuming command of his tribe. The expedition into the Sioux country was most successful as savages measure success, and young Mahaska brought home a bunch of scalps that left no doubt as to his ability and bravery as a leader. We are told that he was in eighteen battles against numerous bands of Indians and was never defeated. On his return from an expedition against the Osages on the north bank of the Missouri river he married four wives. It was a custom in his tribe when husbands or brothers fell in battle for the surviving warriors to adopt their wives or sisters. The young chief found on his return that four sisters had been deprived of their protectors, all of whom he married. One of the youngest of these was Rant-che-waime, or the Female Flying Pigeon, who during all her life was his favorite wife.

In another foray against the same tribe, after his warriors had dealt the enemy a severe blow, he received a rifle ball in his leg. Bleeding profusely, he was easily tracked by his enemies, and sought a hiding place where he might rest and recuperate. This he found under a large log that lay across a water-course. Guided by the trail of blood that flowed from his wound, the Osages followed him to the stream where they lost his trail, for Mahaska had taken the precaution to step into the water some distance below the log, they supposing that he had crossed the stream at the place where he entered. He remained under the log with just so much of his face out of the water as enabled him to breathe. He had succeeded in completely throwing his pursuers off his trail. When the stillness of night had settled down upon all nature and nothing could be heard but the tinkling of the bells on the Indian horses as they fed in the valley, Mahaska crept out of his hiding place, caught one of the best horses, and, mounting, made off toward the north to join his tribe, whose home was then on the Des Moines river.

Arriving at the Missouri river, he tied one end of the halter around the horse's neck and the other he took in his teeth. Then driving the horse into the flowing stream, he compelled the animal to supplement his own strength as a swimmer and was safely carried across.

This was the Indian mode of meeting such difficulties. Through all these vicissitudes he clung to his gun and the three scalps which he had taken in the battle. When he arrived home he was joyfully received by his people, and ordered the war dance. Being unable, on account of his wound, to lead the dance himself, he conferred that honor upon Big Axe, one of his trusted braves. As Mahaska placed the scalps in his hands he made it the occasion for an address which marked an epoch in his history. These were his words: "I have now revenged the death of my father; my heart is at rest. I will go to war no more. I told Manshuchess (meaning General Clark) when I was in St. Louis that I would take his peace talk. My word is out. I will fight no more."

Mahaska in our language means White Cloud. His home was near where the city of Eldon now stands at the old town of Iowaville. He was always the friend of the Americans and always rejoiced in the reflection that he never had shed American blood.

In 1824 Mahaska accompanied a select party of warrior chiefs to Washington to have an interview with President Monroe. They went by the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Wheeling, West Virginia, and thence by stage to the national capital. A "talk" was had with the president. Mahaska was presented with a medal and a treaty was concluded between the United States and the Iowa tribe. The treaty granted certain concessions to the United States for a satisfactory consideration. Provisions were made for supplies of blankets, farming utensils and cattle, and assistants in taking up agricultural pursuits. The conditions also stipulated that an annual payment of five hundred dollars should be made to his tribe for ten years.

Mahaska's favorite wife, Rant-che-vnime, had accompanied him to   Washington. One evening on coming to their hotel after having indulged freely in the use of firewater, through the day, the agent in charge of the company heard a racket in the room and hastened to the door. He found that the chief was settling an imaginary difficulty with his faithful wife. On hearing his approach, Mahaska, not caring to meet him just at that time, lifted the window sash and stepped out, forgetting that he was
lodging in the second story. The fall broke his arm. But so accustomed was he to such trifles that he insisted on riding out two miles the next day to see a cannon cast.

While in Washington he sat for a portrait to Mr. King, and we know something of the form and features of the noted chief. Mahaska was six feet two inches in height, possessed uncommon strength and activity and was a man of perfect symmetry of person and unusually handsome. He returned to his home from the east a man of peace. What he had seen and heard made a deep impression on his mind: He took the advice of the Great Father, the president, and built himself a double log house, lived in greater comfort, and began in earnest to cultivate his land.

The Iowas and Sacs and Foxes were deadly enemies. The last battle between these tribes was fought on the Des Moines river near the town of Iowaville in 1824. The entire force of the Iowa tribe had gathered on the river bottom, about two miles from their village to witness a horse race, with no thought of any imminent danger. They had gone out to enjoy the excitement of the occasion and were entirely unarmed. The Sacs and Foxes had been watching for just such an opportunity to deal a crushing blow to their enemies. Their spies reported this gathering to their chief. Pash-epa-ho, who, with his warriors, were secreted in the forest near by.

Pash-e-pa-ho led two divisions to make the unexpected attack, while Black Hawk, then a young man unknown to fame, commanded a third division, which was to burn the defenseless village and murder its remaining denizens. Just at a time when the excitelnentwas the highest and all attention was given to the two competitors in the race, the savage Sacs and Foxes swept down upon the unsuspecting and terrorized assembly with their piercing war whoop. The Iowa warriors rushed back to their village to find it in flames and their wives and children falling beneath the blows of the tomahawk and war club of young Black Hawk's band. Their confusion and dismay prevented them from securing their arms, but they fought in desperation with clubs and stones, only to be massacred until there was left but a remnant of a brave and powerful tribe. As further resistance was utterly hopeless, those who remained after the awful slaughter surrendered. Their power was gone. Their national spirit had received a blow from which it never could recover. They lingered for a time about their old haunts but were hopeless and despondent. They were no longer an independent people and wandered about over the domain which was at one time their own land, and which will forever perpetuate their proud name.

When Mahaska was fifty years old he was foully murdered while asleep in his tepee on the Nodaway river. The deed was committed by one of his own band, whom Mahaska had caused to be arrested and placed in prison at Fort Leavenworth for going on the war path against the Omahas. The prisoner felt the disgrace so keenly that he determined to take revenge on his chief.

A delegation of his loyal followers carried their murdered chieftain to the old haunts of the tribe on the Des Moines river about one mile east of the mouth of the Raccoon and there he was doubtless laid to rest by the river which he loved, with honors becoming a brave warrior and a true friend of his tribe. As savages leave but few monuments to mark the resting place of their dead the location of this old Indian burying ground was forgotten until the relentless hand of civilization revealed its whereabouts. It has long been included within the city limits of the city of Des Moines. In July, 1880, a gravel pit gang in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was digging in one of the gravel pits on the Des Moines river bottom and unearthed an occasional human skeleton from its bed. Among them was one which attracted special attention because of the number of trinkets found deposited with it. A profuse use of war paint had preserved a fragment of the scalp on the skull and also a part of the skin on one hand. Among the relics were found a medal bearing the name and inscription of President Monroe on one side and on the other was stamped the bust of the distinguished author of the Monroe doctrine. T.J. Brunk had charge of the workman and these valued treasures of the Iowa chieftain were placed in his hands. L. R. Rosebrook, of Oskaloosa, states that he examined the medal and found it as above described. The whereabouts of this historic medal is not known at this time but an earnest effort is now being made to secure it for the Mahaska County Historical Society.

Mahaska, the second son of the great Mahaska, succeeded his father and became the ruling chief. He was a quarrelsome and drunken fellow, inheriting none of the ability and genius of his father. In 1838 the Iowas sold their interest in Iowa lands to the United States for $157,000, which was kept as a trust fund; the interest at five per cent to be paid annually to the tribe. They accepted lands beyond the Missouri river and became in some degree civilized.

During the civil war the Iowas were loyal to the union. Many of them enlisted in the army, making good soldiers.

This tribe, in common with most of the Indian tribes in America, were worshipers of the Great Spirit, whom they believed was the creator and ruler of the universe. They had a tradition that a long time ago a month's rain came upon the earth and drowned all living creatures except a few who escaped in a great canoe. The Iowas were divided into eight clans. Each clan had its own name and had lts own peculiar methods of cutting and wearing the hair.

In October, 1891, the Iowas had made such progress toward civilized life that they gave up their tribal relations and accepted lands in severalty.

In the journal left by Lewis and Clarke in their expedition up the Missouri river in 1804, they refer to this tribe of Indians as the "Ayouways." In the years that followed the orthography was changed to "Ioway"; later the "y" was dropped and we have the smooth soundinging and beautiful word, "Iowa," with the accent on the first syllable.