The Chief Wapello memorial in Agency, Iowa is a wonderful story.
Wa Pel Lo, a Fox chieftain, was born about 1787 at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He was second in command to Chief Keokuk of the Sac and Fox nation. He was a man of quiet wisdom and great devotion. His friendship with General Joseph Street is legendary. He knew General Street while he served as Indian agent in Prairie du Chien, Wis. and Rock Island, Ill.In 1829, Chief Wapello moved his people to the west side of the Mississippi River and eventually settled in Muscatine Slough near the present site of Wapello, Iowa. Because of the treaty in 1836 he moved again to a new village on the Skunk River. When he heard that General Street was establishing a new agency on the Des Moines River, Chief Wapello moved his people and settled in what is now the south part of Ottumwa in 1838.
Chief Wapello greatly mourned General Street’s death in 1840. He and Chief Keokuk were spokesmen in requesting that General Street’s body be buried in their territory, with the promise that the Street family would be given land surrounding the gravesite. Two years later, in March 1842, Chief Wapello died. Before he died he requested to be buried beside his "white father." His body was carried by ox cart to the agency and laid to rest near his friend in a lasting symbol of devoted friendship between two persons of different races and cultures.
At the agency council in 1841, Chief Wapello was the key person in refusing to sell any more land. In a speech he said "this is the only country we have left and we are so few we cannot conquer other countries. We hope that you will have pity on us." After his death in 1842 the government decided to try again.
On October 4, 1842, Territorial Governor John Chambers began the council with about 4,000 people gathered. About half were Indians. Dragoons maintained order. Col. George Davenport represented the American Fur Co. Antoine LeClaire was chief interpreter. The Indian delegation was dressed in their most colorful manner. Chief Kishkekosh of the Foxes wore a long frockcoat and carried a gold headed cane. Chief Keokuk led the delegation.
The council lasted one week and resulted in the purchase of most of Iowa for $800,000, or 12 cents an acre. The Indians were paid in 1,000 boxes of silver dollars. The agreement to fulfill the promise made in respect to the agency land given by the Indians to the Street family appears in article vii of the treaty. By terms of the treaty the Indians were moved to the Knoxville area and within two years, to Kansas.