EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE) - Revision history

Randylyon at 16:05, 17 October 2021

2021-10-17T16:05:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:05, 17 October 2021
Line 13:		Line 13:
	OFFICERS:		OFFICERS:

	President, ~~EDWARD~~ LANGWORTHY		President, [[LANGWORTHY, Edward\|Edward LANGWORTHY]]
	Secretary, ~~CHANDLER CHILDS~~
	Treasurer, ~~ALEXANDER~~ SIMPLOT		Secretary, Chandler Childs

			Treasurer, [[SIMPLOT, Alexander\|Alexander SIMPLOT]]

	CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION		CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Randylyon at 15:57, 17 October 2021

2021-10-17T15:57:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:57, 17 October 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE).		EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE).

	On June 10, 1865, a meeting was held at ~~[[GLOBE HALL]]~~ to organize a society of the early settlers of Dubuque city and county. P. A. Lorimier, chairman of a former meeting led the meeting. [[MASON, Timothy\|Timothy MASON]], of the Committee on Constitution, remarked on the appearance of the City of Dubuque and Dubuque County thirty years previously. He believed an organization of those pioneers would "temd to find the remaining early settlers in stronger ties of friendship and...soothe the cares of the evening of their lives.		On June 10, 1865, a meeting was held at Globe Hall to organize a society of the early settlers of Dubuque city and county. P. A. Lorimier, chairman of a former meeting led the meeting. [[MASON, Timothy\|Timothy MASON]], of the Committee on Constitution, remarked on the appearance of the City of Dubuque and Dubuque County thirty years previously. He believed an organization of those pioneers would "temd to find the remaining early settlers in stronger ties of friendship and...soothe the cares of the evening of their lives.

	The time would be fixed to limit the membership and when all had joined who chose to do so the number would no doubt annually decrease. Upon the death of the last member, the society would cease.		The time would be fixed to limit the membership and when all had joined who chose to do so the number would no doubt annually decrease. Upon the death of the last member, the society would cease.
Line 7:		Line 7:
	After the constitution was read, the date of membership was fixed at July 4, 1840 and would include those residing within the lead mining region at that date on either side of the (Mississippi) river in the vicinity of Dubuque.		After the constitution was read, the date of membership was fixed at July 4, 1840 and would include those residing within the lead mining region at that date on either side of the (Mississippi) river in the vicinity of Dubuque.

	Since Edward ~~Langworthy~~ had already died, it was agreed that he be remembered. There was also a subscription fund established for the purchase of a cane to be presented to the President of the Association and to be handed down to his last successor. The President was instructed to call a meeting of the Association on the death of any member. [[WILSON, Thomas S.\|Thomas S. WILSON]], George O. Karrick, J. R. Goodrich, [[LEVI, Alexander\|Alexander LEVI]], J. D. Graffort and [[KING, John\|John KING]] were appointed to a committee to report to the next meeting on the interests of the Association and a view to a celebration or festival by the Early Settlers.		Since [[LANGWORTHY, Edward\|Edward LANGWORTHY]] had already died, it was agreed that he be remembered. There was also a subscription fund established for the purchase of a cane to be presented to the President of the Association and to be handed down to his last successor. The President was instructed to call a meeting of the Association on the death of any member. [[WILSON, Thomas S.\|Thomas S. WILSON]], George O. Karrick, J. R. Goodrich, [[LEVI, Alexander\|Alexander LEVI]], J. D. Graffort and [[KING, John\|John KING]] were appointed to a committee to report to the next meeting on the interests of the Association and a view to a celebration or festival by the Early Settlers.

	The organization was later replaced by the [[EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION]].		The organization was later replaced by the [[EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION]].

Randylyon at 15:56, 17 October 2021

2021-10-17T15:56:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 17 October 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE).		EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE).

	~~IOWA FARMER~~, ~~PUBLISHERS~~		On June 10, 1865, a meeting was held at [[GLOBE HALL]] to organize a society of the early settlers of Dubuque city and county. P. A. Lorimier, chairman of a former meeting led the meeting. [[MASON, Timothy\|Timothy MASON]], of the Committee on Constitution, remarked on the appearance of the City of Dubuque and Dubuque County thirty years previously. He believed an organization of those pioneers would "temd to find the remaining early settlers in stronger ties of friendship and...soothe the cares of the evening of their lives.
	~~TELEGRAPH-HERALD PRINTERS~~, ~~DUBUQUE~~

	~~Author~~		The time would be fixed to limit the membership and when all had joined who chose to do so the number would no doubt annually decrease. Upon the death of the last member, the society would cease.
	Dubuque ~~County~~ Early Settlers' ~~Association~~
			After the constitution was read, the date of membership was fixed at July 4, 1840 and would include those residing within the lead mining region at that date on either side of the (Mississippi) river in the vicinity of Dubuque.

			Since Edward Langworthy had already died, it was agreed that he be remembered. There was also a subscription fund established for the purchase of a cane to be presented to the President of the Association and to be handed down to his last successor. The President was instructed to call a meeting of the Association on the death of any member. [[WILSON, Thomas S.\|Thomas S. WILSON]], George O. Karrick, J. R. Goodrich, [[LEVI, Alexander\|Alexander LEVI]], J. D. Graffort and [[KING, John\|John KING]] were appointed to a committee to report to the next meeting on the interests of the Association and a view to a celebration or festival by the Early Settlers.

			The organization was later replaced by the [[EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION]].

	OFFICERS:		OFFICERS:

Randylyon at 15:27, 17 October 2021

2021-10-17T15:27:34Z

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 Treasurer, ALEXANDER SIMPLOT
-Officers Since Organization Have Been:
+CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION
 PREAMBLE.
@@ Line 124: / Line 95: @@
 [[Category: Organizations]]

Randylyon at 15:18, 17 October 2021

2021-10-17T15:18:22Z

Show changes

Randylyon: New page: EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE). IOWA FARMER, PUBLISHERS TELEGRAPH-HERALD PRINTERS, DUBUQUE Author Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association OFFICERS: President, ...

2012-06-03T02:56:11Z

New page: EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE). IOWA FARMER, PUBLISHERS TELEGRAPH-HERALD PRINTERS, DUBUQUE Author Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association OFFICERS: President, ...

New page

EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE).

IOWA FARMER, PUBLISHERS
TELEGRAPH-HERALD PRINTERS, DUBUQUE

Author
Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association

OFFICERS:

President, EDWARD LANGWORTHY
Secretary, CHANDLER CHILDS
Treasurer, ALEXANDER SIMPLOT

Officers Since Organization Have Been:

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

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

~~ TREASURERS ~~
Wni. G. Stewart, Philip Pier.

~~ VICE PRESIDENTS ~~

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

Members Index, 738 members listed

CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS OF THE
ASSOCIATION

The following is a copy of the Constitution adopted in 1865 and as amended
subsequently in that year, and also 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.

FORM OF CERTIFICATE.

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.

PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

WILLIAM QUIGLEY, President.

ALEXANDER SIMPLOT, Secretary.

PHILIP PIER, Treasurer.

I am indebted to Mr. Richard Herrmann of this city, for the use of his highly
interesting manuscript history of the "Life and Adventures of Julien Dubuque,"
from which, in a desultory way, I have selected interesting incidents and
general details of his life.

From its pages we learn that Julien Dubuque was the first in this country of
that name. Jean Dubuque, his father, came from the Parish of Trinity, Diocese
of Rouen, in France, and married in Quebec in 1668. His descendents later
established themselves in the District of Three Rivers, and on the 10th of
January, 1762 Julien Dubuque first saw the light of day at St. Pierre les
Bicquets in the County of Nicolet, on the banks of the St. Lawrence. He
received the best schooling that the border towns of the newly settled country
could afford and his shrewdness and diplomacy of after years showed good results
therefrom and had much to do with shaping his future career in life. As he grew
up to manhood the glowing descriptions of the far west, its forests and waters
teeming with game, fur-bearing animals and fish of all kinds, its mineral resources
and other possibilities, stimulated his ambition to explore the unknown land.
Starting in the summer of his twenty-second year from Three Rivers, his course in
order to reach his objective point, the Mississippi, was up the north shore of the
St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, thence by batteau or canoe, work his way along the
north shore of that lake until he arrived at the foot of the cataract of Niagara,
and from thence, accompanied by two or three Indians or half breeds, they carried
the canoes on their shoulders above the falls, for re-embarkation. The fort at
Sandusky and occasional trading posts along the shores of Lakes Erie and Huron
afforded them their necessary supplies. At the fort on the Island of Mackinac a
short halt was made. Thence with two Canadian voyageurs for companions, paddling
through the straits of Mackinac, they entered Lake Michigan paddling their canoes
near the northern shore westward, and entered Green Bay going thence into Fox River
and into Lake Winnebago.

Here in a village of the Miamies and Kickapoos they remained for some time.
The chief, with whom Dubuque became quite friendly, and from whom he obtained
the secret of a root which would cure the bite of the venomous rattlesnakes that
abounded in the country, furnished them with two Indians and two birch bark canoes
to conduct him over the Portage to the headwaters of the Wisconsin River. Here
they launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin for their descent to the Great River, accompanied by their guides, stopping only to prepare their meals or camping for
the night. On reaching the Mississippi they found three other white men — Gautier
De Vorville, Michael Brisbois, and Capt. Fisher, a Scotchman — located at the
trading post of Prairie du Chien, lying a short distance above the mouth of the
Wisconsin, and stopped with them, passing their time in exploring the surrounding
country on their hunting expeditions. They freely used their canoes in getting
acquainted with the Great River and Dubuque soon became known to, and traded with
the Indians, and in 1785 established himself in Prairie du Chien, where he and his comrades, Basil Giard, and Pierre Autaga, were among its first inhabitants. Young
Dubuque's active and lively nature soon got him on good terms with the Indians and
gave him a wonderful influence over them.

By means of ingenious artifices and pretended magic conjuration he so' surpassed
the juggleries of the Indians that he was regarded as a supernatural being. His
sure cure or antidote for poison of the rattlesnake, derived from the chief of
the Kickapoos, was a great success, so much so that he was thought to have power
by speaking to the reptiles to make them docile and harmless. His utterances were
regarded as oracles and he became recognized as their arbiter in disputed cases.
One instance is told wherein two Indians under the influence of whiskey, seized
a stray horse and both getting on his back rode wildly across the prairie;
suddenly the horse out of breath, sank down and rolling over on one of his riders,
an Indian was killed. The relatives of the victim cried out for vengeance on his
companion, whilst those of the latter claimed it was caused by an accident;
finally the case was submitted to Dubuque. He listened attentively to their
statements and then in a grave and solemn voice pronounced his judgment: "An eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, nothing is more just — whoever sheds blood
merits death. I order that two Indians chosen by each family shall mount this same
horse and then drive him at his greatest speed across the prairies until one or
the other of them shall perish." This decision, showing that the horse was the
sole cause of the accident, put an end to the dispute.

Dubuque learned from Fisher, that in 1780 the wife of Peosta, chief of the Foxes,
living some distance below on the west side of the river, had discovered a lead
ore mine thereabouts, and the further report that additional lead ore had been
unearthed in that vicinity promptly made up his mind that he would secure
possession of the mineral land of that region.

Taking a companion with him in his canoe, he went down the river to the Fox
village, where the Muskwickis of the Foxes lived, at the mouth of what is now
known as Catfish Creek. Here he met Peosta. the chief of the tribe, a man of
splendid physique, over six feet tall, and his handsome young daughter Potosa,
both of whom received him amicably, and he was much impressed by her appearance
and the noble dignity of the red man. He made them presents of glass beads,
small brass bells and other trinkets dear to the Indian and the feminine heart,
but found them reticent about giving information regarding the lead mines, and
returned nevertheless well satisfied, to Prairie du Chien.

He thereafter made repeated visits taking with him presents, and completely
ingratiated himself with the tribe, Peosta, and its several chiefs among whom
he was called Le Petite Nuit, presumably from his being short of stature and
dark complexioned. But more particularly was he successful in carrying away the
pride of the five villages, the beautiful Potosa, whom he married according to
their rites, after having been initiated into a knowledge of Manitou and taken
into the tribe as one of their braves.

Thence forward the obtaining possession of the mines was an easy matter. Dwelling
for a year with Potosa in Peosta's wigwam, as was customary with the tribe after
the taking of a wife, and affectionately regarded as a brave, he was readily
granted at a great council of the savages held at Prairie du Chien, September 22,
1788, the sole mining rights over a domain of about 148,171 acres of ground, which
included the mine discovered by the wife of Peosta.

This act of concession of the Indians to Dubuque has been preserved and is
contained fully in Mr. Herrmann's interesting narrative. Dubuque found that the
mines were worked in a very primitive way --- the mining being done by the squaws
and children, and only then when driven by necessity to get ore enough for the
necessaries of life. They would put down a shaft leaving the under side inclined,
enabling them to pull up by hand the rocks and lead ore from the depths of the mine.
A windlass and rope was unknown to them. Their rope was made of bark fibres and
was secured to a sack for holding ore, earth or rocks, made of buffalo hide or
deer skin. The lead was smelted in the rudest form of oven and thus traded off in
exchange for articles they wanted and was mostly shipped to St. Louis. Dubuque
worked the mines which he called The Mines of Spain, in a systematic manner,
building better smelting furnaces, and run the lead into more suitable shape,
known as pig-lead, for handling, which he boated to St. Louis, disposing of them
there for ready cash. These trips were gala days with him; at a dance, with a
violin and bow in hand, he would gayly trip the light fantastic, Money Musk, or
Virginia Reel, to the sound of his own music, and the admiration of his
compatriots. On his return he would bring back such things suitable to his own
use, or for trade with the Indians, not omitting to please his Indian wife with
the trinkets she admired. "On one of these trips he brought up a good sized
old-fashioned brass cannon purchased at St. Louis, and installed it upon the
point of land immediately under the bluff fronting the river and north of the
creek. Under this bluff he erected a log house for his home and built a stone
wall about the point enclosing the ground, apparently, in defense of which, the
cannon might be used if necessary for its protection.

The prosperity that attended Dubuque in his management of the lead mines excited
the jealousy of the Indians and various pretexts were made to dispossess him of
his mining rights. He had however worked on their fears with such ingenious
stratagems that they regarded him as one clothed with supernatural powers and
shrunk from going too far in their efforts.

A dispute arose over a demand Dubuque had made of them, but the Indians after
days of conferences stubbornly refused to yield to him. Happening to have a
barrel of turpentine among his goods, he emptied it just after dark on the
sluggish waters of the creek. Building a large bonfire on the bank he called
the Indians suddenly from their lodges for consultation. When all were seated
about the fire he harangued them on the obligations they were under for benefits
he had conferred, and promised more if they would grant him the favor asked for.
But the chiefs refused to yield another point in his favor, and warned him to
beware of their vengeance if he persisted any longer in his demands. Dubuque
instantly assumed a defiant air, and threatened to execute the vengeance of
the Manitou upon them for their ingratitude. They still sat unmoved, when he
seized a fire brand, and telling them he would burn up the creek as proof he
was the great Spirit, threw the burning ember into the stream.

A sheet of flame rose instantly, and with a shriek of terror, each Indian arose
to his feet. Now, said Dubuque, with all the majesty he could assume, now, if you
do not yield, I will burn your creek, your canoes, your wigwams, yourselves!
I will set fire to the Mississippi and burn it up. But I loved you before you
hated me, and will forgive you, if the great Manitou will let me. I give you the
time of only one breath to answer me, if not, the river will burn. The Indians
fell before him prostrate in adoration. The head chief thanked him for their
lives, and granted all he asked. This was the last of Dubuque's strategic victories
over the Indians. Everything he asked thereafter of them was granted, and it was
not until after his death that they dared to drive his followers from the soil.

In 1796, the country being under the control of Spain, Dubuque presented a petition
to Governor Carondelet at New Orleans regarding his ownership of the mines, which
was granted under certain restrictions — would refer to Mr. Herrmann's book for
details.

The year 1803 brought Dubuque under the sway of our government. In 1804 he sold to
Auguste Choteau of St. Louis for $18,848.60 72,324 acres of his land and the
conveyance provided that at the death of Dubuque, all the remainder of his
territory should become the property of Choteau or his heirs.

In 1805 Lieutenant Zebulon Pike was detailed to explore the headwaters of the
Mississippi river and make treaties with the Indians along its shores. With a
force of twenty soldiers he embarked in a keel boat at St. Louis and made his
way up the river. On reaching Dubuque's fortifications they were, much to their
surprise, received by a sonorous salute from the brass cannon and Old Glory was
for the first time spread out to the breeze in Dubuque County. As this was the
advent of the first Americans who had visited this territory much civility was
shown them.

Dubuque continued to work at his mines and was meeting with abundant success when
death suddenly surprised him in the spring of 1810. Unfortunately he left no one
to succeed him in his enterprise. His death caused a veritable consternation
among the savages.

From all parts of the surrounding country they gathered to assist at his obsequies.

The most celebrated chiefs carried his remains to their last resting place — the
romantic bluff overlooking his home and the scenes of his labors, which the Early
Settlers and the Julien Dubuque Monument Association have still further marked
with a lasting monument to his memory. Eloquent tributes were paid by the chiefs
in their forceful and symbolic language, describing his life "as brilliant as
the sun at midday; but as fleeting as the snow which disappears under the sun's
warm rays. The memory of Dubuque was so well preserved amongst the surrounding
tribes, that for many years they kept each night a lamp burning on his grave.
They constructed a stone building or vault over his grave, which I (the writer
of this article) saw in a complete condition in the year 1845, from the deck of
the steamboat Mendota, while on my way to St. Louis with my father. I recollect
it well, the early morning sun giving it a glittering appearance as though it had
been whitewashed. A cross stood about three feet northeast of the tomb which at
the time I saw it consisted of only the upright in a slightly leaning condition,
some ten or twelve feet in height, the cross piece of which was said to contain
the words "Julien Dubuque, died March 14, 1810, aged 45 years and 6 months," was
nowhere to be seen, but the mortise in the upright piece (some 6 inches in width)
where it fitted into showed it had been there. No more fitting termination to this
article could be conceived than to close it with Dubuque's burial.

Mr. Richard Herrmann's book of 320 pages and its illustrations should be published
for the good of the community. The brief extracts I make from its pages are but the sippings of its contents. — Alexander Simplot, Secretary Early Settlers' Association.

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 ]om m the refram,

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 groy 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:

Total number of members from date of organization, 738
Total number of living members, 457.

Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association, author Dubuque County Early Settlers' Association, Iowa Farmer Publishers, Telegraph-Hearld Printers, Dubuque;
Library of Congress
~~ transcribed by Constance Diamond

[[Category: Organizations]]