EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

EARLY SETTLER'S ASSOCIATION. Successor organization to the EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE). Founded on July 25, 1898, the association was led by such members as Alexander SIMPLOT, Theodore RUETE, and Peter KIENE.

Article I of the articles of incorporation stated the name of the organization and the principal place of business--No. 8, Facade Building. Article II stated that the corporation had rights to collect data on the early history of Dubuque; maintain the Dubuque monument; and buy, sell, and own property. The life of the corporation, fifty years, was included as Article III. Article IV described the assets of the company to be donations. A slate of officers including a president, five vice-presidents, one secretary and one treasurer to be elected at an annual meeting in June, was outlined in Article V.

The following is a copy of the Constitution adopted in 1865, as amended subsequently in that year, and on December 17, 1868, and June 28, 1894.

PREAMBLE.

      Whereas, In the Providence of God we became pioneers 
      in the settlement of the rich and fertile County of 
      Dubuque, in the State of Iowa; and

      Whereas, The number of Early Settlers is fast decreasing, 
      and many of us will soon go to that bourne from whence 
      no traveler returns; and

      Whereas, We desire to gather and preserve the memory 
      of a settlement that has grown so rapidly and has been 
      so abundantly prospered; and believing that recollections 
      of the past, the happiness of the present, and the hopes 
      of the future, should unite us as a band of brothers, 
      we have formed an Association and now adopt this 
      Constitution:

CONSTITUTION.

      Article 1. This Association shall be known and 
                 designated as The Early Settlers' Association 
                 of Dubuque County.
      Article 2. The officers shall be a President, five Vice-Presidents, a 
      Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be chosen annually at a meeting in 
      June. Special Meetings may be held by adjournment, by call of the President, 
      or on the request of five members.
      Article 3. All persons who are now residents of Dubuque County, and who 
      were in the Upper Mississippi Lead Region for the last twenty-five years 
      are eligible to membership, and shall be considered members after signing 
      the Constitution, or authorizing the enrolling of their names.
      Article 4. The membership fee shall be one dollar. Ladies may become members
      without cost.
      Article 5. The funds of the Association shall be used for defraying 
      incidental expenses, for biographies, and for such other purposes as the
      Association may direct.

      Among the objects of this Association are the following: To collect data,
      memoranda and historical facts, referring to the early history of Dubuque 
      City and County.

      To attend funerals of deceased members in a body, and by occasional social 
      meetings to revive the recollections and preserve the memory of the scenes, 
      events and incidents for the last sixty-one years.

      To encourage the publication of a proper history of Dubuque.

      To collect the photographs and portraits, as far as possible, of all the 
      members of the Association.

      To have a room where the early settlers of Dubuque and their visiting 
      friends may meet at any time and amuse themselves by examining the files 
      of old newspapers of Dubuque, the relics collected, a historical library 
      referring to the Northwestern states, and give such information to the 
      Secretary as will enable him to perfect the records of the early history 
      of Dubuque County, for publication.

      The donation of a photograph is at the option of the member.  The 
      Association will thank any member, or other person, for any relics, 
      curiosities, old books, papers, or letters, which may be of interest 
      to the collection or add to the history of early settlements.

      All members of the Association, and others interested in the objects 
      stated, are invited to call and receive a copy of the Constitution and 
      also to sign their names to the list of members, if entitled to do so, 
      at the office of the Secretary.

Certificate of Membership

DUBUQUE COUNTY EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION, Organized June 10, 1865.

          Certificate of Membership

This Certifies, That ________is a Life Member of this Association from the date of ________________

Attest : ____________Secretary.

_________________ President.

_________________ Treasurer.

In June 1875, nearly half of those who arrived in Dubuque prior to 1840 were still living. (1)

Officers organization included:

~~ Presidents ~~ Edward Langworthy, Benjamin Rupert, Thomas S. Wilson, John Maclay, Geo. W. Jones, Phineas W. Crawford, Alexander Simplot, William Quigley.

~~ Vice presidents ~~Jacob Kessler, D. W. Cleveland, Peter Ferring, Walter Cook, E. H. Smith.

~~ Secretaries ~~ Chandler Childs, Wm. Myers, H. H. Smyth, Thomas Alsop, Dr. J. P. Quigley, Alexander Simplot, Andrew Bahl.

~~ Treasurers~~ Wm. G. Stewart, Philip Pier.

Annual picnics of the Association were held with traditional entertainment until around 1920 as the organization passed out of existence. At many of these picnics, the following tribute was sung:

Song for the Early Settlers

TO THE TUNE OF "JOHN BROWN'S BODY" Composed by JUDGE NOURSE of Des Moines

The Early Settler's Picnic has come around again,

And we compose the party of those that yet remain To exchange our happy greetings, and to welcome the refrain

As we go marching on.

CHORUS:

Glory, Glory, hallelujah; glory, glory, hallelujah ; Glory, glory, hallelujah, as we go marching on.

"Tis very many years ago since we all came out west

To grow up with the country that is now the yery best; God gave the soil and climate, and the settlers did the rest,

When they came marching on.

CHORUS:

Our hearts and homes are here in dear old Iowa,

We are the early settlers that settled here to stay And there's not a soul among us that ever rued the day,

When they came marching on.

CHORUS :

We may seem a little older and our heads are silyered o'er,

But our hearts are just as young as they were in days o yore. And we are thankful for the blessings that we're haying still in store.

While we go marching on.

CHORUS:

Our column is unbroken, though some have gone before,

And have crossed the shining river, and have reached the other shore Where they wait to give us greeting, as they did in days of your,

When we came marching on

CHORUS:

There's no better land than this to live and love together,

To bear the heat of summer, or to face the stormy weather. So sing you hallelujah. Old Iowa Forever,

As we go marching on.

CHORUS:

Our nation is united as it never was before,

We are happy and contented with Old Glory floating o'er. We are coming. Father Abraham, with many millions more.

While we go marching on.

CHORUS:

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

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Source:

1. "Dubuque History and the Early Settlers," Dubuque Herald, June 12, 1875, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18750612&printsec=frontpage&hl=en