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T. S. Parvin Tells A bant Losing Blackbawk’sSkeletonT. S. Parvin, of Cedar Rapids, was in Quincy the other day, and to a newspaper man of that city ho related some o the early history of the state and of the Indians and their relics. He stated that the great chief, Black Hawk, was buried on a blulT overlooking the Des Moines river,at what was then Iowaville, in Lee county, and that a Quincy doctor stole the reuiaius and prepared the skeleton for u^e in his office. It happened that a son of Black Ilawk afterward found that tho remains had been removed— been taken to Quincy, and he appealed to Guv. Lucas for an investigation of the matter and the result was that the remains were returned. Mr. Parvin was Gov. Lucas' private secretary at that time aud knows tho facts in the case, perhaps, as well as any other man in Iowa. The bones, he says, were shipped to Iowa City in a box, and Blaekhavvk’s son, fearing that they would bo molested should they bo deposited in the original grave, asked tho governor to care for them. Mr. Parvin states that they were in the governor's oflice a long time—rested under the table, and for a year or more he used the box for a foot stool while sitting at his desk.When the city of Burlington established an historical society tho bones were shipped to that place, but there has always been somo doubt as to what became of farm, for the historical collection was burred and it is believed the box wa3 in the building and was destroyed with the rest of the collection.Tho final disposition of Blackhawk’sbones has been a matter of dispute for alongtime. It will doubtless become a general belief that Blackhawk's bou s were destroyed in tho Burlington fire.
Newspaper Details
Burlington Gazette
Burlington, Iowa, US
Mon, Jun 26, 1893
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Little D.
MO, USA 28 May 2018
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