Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
LANGWORTHY, Edward
Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=huppe&id=I48813
LANGWORTHY, Edward. (St. Lawrence Co., NY, Aug. 3, 1808-Dubuque, IA, Jan. 5, 1893). In September 1832, Langworthy may have constructed the first house in the future state of Iowa along West Locust. (1) One of many eager miners of LEAD, Langworthy and his brothers James LANGWORTHY and Lucius Hart LANGWORTHY were driven from the region in November of that year by soldiers from Prairie du Chien who had the responsibility of keeping whites east of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Langworthy returned to the Iowa side of the river in April 1833. He built several homes and many stores. In 1836 he attended a railroad convention in Madison, Wisconsin and was an early advocate for constructing a railway from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. (2) Elected town trustee, county commissioner, and a member of the legislature for three sessions, Langworthy was also a member of the constitutional convention in 1844 when he proposed to exclude "negroes" from the state and to abolish the grand jury system. Neither idea passed. Langworthy helped create a claims system for the sale of mineral lands which was adopted by the public land office.
As a city alderman, Langworthy helped establish schools, factories, and a street railway system. He supported street and road improvements. Following the financial panic of 1857-58, he became a stockholder and director of the FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DUBUQUE.
In 1856-1857, John Francis RAGUE, a famous architect, designed the Edward and Pauline Langworthy home which was constructed in OCTAGON STYLE ARCHITECTURE. At the time of his death, Langworthy's personal assets totaled $170,000 making him the wealthiest of the brothers. (3)
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Source:
1. Gibson, Michael D. "Part II-Dubuque's First Family: The Langworthys," Julien's Journal, August 2013, p. 40
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
Hudson, David; Bergman, Marvin; Horton, Loren. The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2008
Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880, p. 827-828
"Edward Langworthy," Linwood Legacies. Online: http://www.linwoodlegacies.org/edward-langworthy.html