Keokuk (1767-1848) was already an old man when the Black Hawk War broke out in 1832. There are few details known of his life, where he was born, or how he attained leadership in the Sauk tribe. A Settler who met him described him as a principal warrior of the Sauk, a shrewd politic man as well as a brave one, who possessed great weight in tribal councils. He also noted that Keokuk was high-minded, and honorable and noted an incident where Keokuk arrested two deserting soldiers and brought them back to the nearest US military fort for punishment.
During the Black Hawk War, Keokuk tried to keep the Sauk out of the conflict and brought himself into conflict with Black Hawk. Some Sauk joined Black Hawk's movement, though Keokuk cooperated with the US government in sending scouts and other members of his band to act as auxiliaries to American troops. Eventually, the Jackson Administration decided to recognized Keokuk as leader of the Sauk and Fox tribes, a decision that further angered and embittered Black Hawk. Keokuk's people were given land in return for their cooperation, but were late forced to remove to Kansas, where he died.
The town of Keokuk, Iowa is named for him. His remains were returned from Kansas and reinterred there with a monument erected in 1913.
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