An outstanding orator and a natural born leader, Keokuk was the shrewd leader of the Sauk and Mesquakie tribe. Unlike Black Hawk, Keokuk believed in more peaceful dealings with white officials. He always remained on good terms with American forces. In fact, when Black Hawk fought with the British in the War of 1812, Keokuk refused to collaborate with him. Instead, Keokuk opted to support the Americans.

His diplomatic nature earned him overwhelming support from the American government. He became known as the leader of the "Peace Band." The rivalry between Black Hawk and Keokuk left members of the tribe with a great dilemma-- who do they follow?

After the Black Hawk War, the Sauk and Mesquakie tribes entered negotiations with the American government. Despite not having authorization to do so, American officials appointed Keokuk as the civil chief of the tribes, a position typically inherited.

On September 21, 1832, Keokuk and several other Sauk and Mesquakie delegates signed a peace treaty clarifying the conditions of a disputed treaty signed in 1804. To avoid future complications, this new treaty called for the complete withdrawal of all natives living east of the Mississippi.

In the spring of 1833, when the U.S. government released Black Hawk and several of his followers from prison, they were released under Keokuk's supervision. By 1836, white settlement began encroaching on the land used by the tribes. In a conciliatory move, Keokuk sold much of the tribal lands in Iowa to the government.

Keokuk began to lose his people's support after he agreed to yet another land cessation in 1837. The Second Black Hawk Purchase, as it came to be known, involved the sale of 500,000 hectares (1,250,000 acres) of land. In 1840, white settlements continued to drive the Mesquakie from their land. In 1842, government pressure combined with economic strife in the Mesquakie communities led to the sale of the remaining land in Iowa.

Some sources say that, in 1848, a fellow tribesman poisoned Keokuk. His son, Moses Keokuk, succeeded him as chief of the Sauk and Mesquakie.

Keokuk has an Iowa city named after him and is the only native American ever honoured with a bronze bust in the U.S. Capitol.