Native American Leader. Also known as Mahaska, he was chief of the Iowa Native American tribe. Born near present-day Burlington, Iowa, he was the son of Iowa Chief Mauhawgaw (or Wounding Arrow), who was ambushed by members of the Sioux tribe during a feast. After he avenged his father's death by killing several of the Sioux, he became chief. A brave and daring warrior he fought numerous engagements against the Osage tribe and others. Following one engagement with the Osage, he clashed with three French fur traders and killed one of them. He was captured and imprisoned in St. Louis, Missouri but managed to escape after being incarcerated for many months. In 1824 he traveled with other Iowa Native Americans to Washington DC where he met with President James Monroe and negotiated a treaty between the US government and the Iowa tribe. After returning home, he began farming and constructed a log house. In 1833, following the killing of the son of an Iowa chief by the Omaha tribe, he was asked to help avenge his death but he refused to accompany the party. After they killed several of the Omaha, he aided the US Army in their apprehension and they were imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth. The following year, one of the prisoners escaped and came upon him encamped on the bank of the Nodaway River in present-day Cass County, Iowa and ambushed him by shooting him in the back and he was buried near where he died. His son, Francis White Cloud, succeeded him as chief of the Iowa tribe. Mahaska County in Iowa is named in his honor as was the double-ended, sidewheel naval steamer USS Manaska that saw service in the American Civil War.
Native American Leader. Also known as Mahaska, he was chief of the Iowa Native American tribe. Born near present-day Burlington, Iowa, he was the son of Iowa Chief Mauhawgaw (or Wounding Arrow), who was ambushed by members of the Sioux tribe during a feast. After he avenged his father's death by killing several of the Sioux, he became chief. A brave and daring warrior he fought numerous engagements against the Osage tribe and others. Following one engagement with the Osage, he clashed with three French fur traders and killed one of them. He was captured and imprisoned in St. Louis, Missouri but managed to escape after being incarcerated for many months. In 1824 he traveled with other Iowa Native Americans to Washington DC where he met with President James Monroe and negotiated a treaty between the US government and the Iowa tribe. After returning home, he began farming and constructed a log house. In 1833, following the killing of the son of an Iowa chief by the Omaha tribe, he was asked to help avenge his death but he refused to accompany the party. After they killed several of the Omaha, he aided the US Army in their apprehension and they were imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth. The following year, one of the prisoners escaped and came upon him encamped on the bank of the Nodaway River in present-day Cass County, Iowa and ambushed him by shooting him in the back and he was buried near where he died. His son, Francis White Cloud, succeeded him as chief of the Iowa tribe. Mahaska County in Iowa is named in his honor as was the double-ended, sidewheel naval steamer USS Manaska that saw service in the American Civil War.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Gravesite Details
His grave is near a large tree overlooking the Missouri River, below Iowa Point.
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