Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
LANGWORTHY, James
LANGWORTHY, James. (Windsor, VT, Jan. 20, 1800-Monticello, IA, Mar. 31, 1865). Businessman. In October 1833, Langworthy, "head of the family," aided in the construction of Iowa's first schoolhouse. Later he had the route surveyed and then hired Lyman DILLON to construct the MILITARY ROAD stretching from Dubuque to Iowa City. Langworthy built the second brick home in Dubuque (1836) on the corner of Iowa and 12th STREETS.
Langworthy came to the area as early as 1823 to visit the Sac and FOX village at the mouth of Catfish Creek. While the natives would not allow him to mine LEAD, he was permitted in 1829 to explore the entire area between the Maquoketa and Turkey rivers. In June 1830, he was the author of the first "laws" to be written within the borders of Author of the first "laws" in Dubuque, Iowa. Langworthy’s knowledge of the territory proved valuable to the United States Army during the BLACK HAWK WAR that ended in 1832.
So successful was the firm of J. L. Langworthy and Bros. that in 1855-1856 it paid one-twelfth of the entire tax collected in Dubuque. This co-partnership of James, Edward and Solon LANGWORTHY in MINING, real estate, and banking continued until all retired in 1862.