Black Hawk: A Sauk Chief Connection

One of my early efforts described the ancestry of my late wife, Roberta Harrison Weber, going back to signors of the Magna Carta in England and their movement to this country in its early stages.

Today I want to introduce you to an ancestor of her mother.  I do not have the printed evidence to prove, but the facial resemblance of Black Hawk and one of his sons, Rolling Thunder, and family lore places Roberta's mother to be the daughter of Black Hawk and a certain wife, Princess Singing Bird. Family lore says that is why most of the female descendants in her family have delightful singing voices.

Black Hawk, whose Indian name was Makataimeshekiakiak, fought for the British under the leadership of the famous Tecumseh during the War of 1812.  He continued his activity until 1832, when he led 200 warriors back across the Mississippi.  On August 2, 1832, they were overwhelmed at Bad Axe River, WI, and he was taken prisoner.

He served some time in Jefferson Barracks with other prisoners, and when President Jackson ordered the Sauk Chief to the east in 1833, he became quite a celebrity and attracted great crowds. His courage, integrity, and dignity were revealed in his autobiography (1833), which has become an American classic.

I invite you to search "Chief Black Hawk" on your computer and enjoy the many articles describing his activities as well as the various state parks and other historic memories of this individual.  One statute in Rockford, IL, will show the reverse side as you click on it.

While the females in my family are endowed with great singing voices, I also note that the males have a tendency to grow very meager beards for their heritage—another possible outcome of Native American heritage.

So thank you for allowing me a few paragraphs to introduce you to an important segment of American History as I express some news and commentary on events.