Untitled Document

BLACK HAWKS BURIAL

Black Hawks body was disposed of according to his special request.

The body was placed on the surface of the ground in a sitting position, with the face toward the southeast, and the body supported in that position by a wooden slab or puncheon.. On his left side was placed a cane given to him by Henry Clay, with his right hand resting on it. .He was dressed in a full military suit, which had been presented to him by President Jackson, Three silver medals hung upon his breast which had been presented to him by distinguished persons during his visits to Washington. There were also placed in the grave two swords, an extra pair of moccacins, and some other articles of Indian costume, with a sufficient supply of provisions to last him three days on the journey to the spirit land.

Around the body and articles, buried with it were, two large blankets closely wrapped. Two wooden forks were then firmly driven into the ground and a pole placed upon them extending over the body. The whole was then covered with sod to the depth of about one foot. Al his feet a was flagstaff with a beautiful silk American flag which was presented to him, The flag stayed over his grave until the wind tore it to pieces and long after the body had been stolen.A post was planted by the grave, on which was inscribed or paiinted some figures commemorative of his deeds. Subsequently his relative and friends enclosed the grave with a rude picket fence and fondly hoped. that the remains of the great war chief was at rest.

These details of the theft of Black Hawks body are given by Robert Fulton: Red Men In Iowa-1882

"One morning, about July 1, 1839, Black Hawk's bereaved widow returned from her accustomed visit to his grave; bitterly weeping.. Calling on Mr, Jordan, she informed him that someone had opened the grave and had taken away the head of her husband. Mr. Jordan promised to do all that he could to fnd out who had taken it. The next winter the rest of the skelaton had been stolen. . It afterword transpired that one Dr. Turrner, who lived at Lexington, a little village at that time situated above the present town of Bonaparte. in Van Buren county, was the man who had committed the deed.

He came in the night and attempted to sieze the body, but being frightened only suceecded in getting the head which he carried away in his saddle bags. The next winter he came again and carried away the rest of the skeleton. They were conveyed to Quincy, Ill. where the different parts were put together with wire.

Black Hawks relatives complained bitterly at the outrage. Finally the man in Quincey whom Dr. Turner had given the skeleton to, informed the Govenor of Iowa that he would hold them subject to his order. The govenor directed him to forward the remains to his office. When he recieved them, he notified Black Hawks family of the fact. The two sons immediatley went to Burlington where they saw the skeleton in the executive office. They were afraid however, that if they brought it home they would be stolen again and concluded that leaving them there would be the best decision.

At the expiration of his term Govenor Lyons left them for his succesor, Govenmor Chambers.It was finally placed in a museum that was established in Burlington and some years after with many other valuables and artifacts which had been collected were destroyed in a fire.

Reminiscences of Black Hawk By People Who Knew Him.

Burlington,Iowa Hawkeye

March 24, 1907

Submitted by the Webmaster, transcribed by Jessika Jones.

Illinois Ancestors