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D U B U Q U E :
ITS
HISTORY, MINES, INDIAN LEGE NDS, E.T. C.,
IN
T W 0 L E C T U R E S,
DELIVERED BEFORE THE
D U B U Q U E LITE R A R Y INSTITUTE,
( -
DECEMBER 18th, 1854, AND FEBRUARY 26th, 1855.
BY
& -
L J C I Us H* I, A N G w o R T H Y.
--tº-
\
DUBUQUE :
LP U. BLIS HE D F3 Y T H E IN STITU T. E.
Dubuque, March 4th, 1855.
ºf. H. LANGworTHY, Esq. -
Dear Sir –At the close of the regular exercises last evening, the Dubuque
Literary Scientific Institute, adopted a series of Resolutions, in which the thanks of the
Institute, were tendered for your Récent Lectures on the Early History of our City, and
the opinions éxpressed that justice both to the present and future Inhabitants of the
place, requires that they be given to the public in a priñted form.
The undersigned were thereupon Appointed a Committee to solicit at your hands,
a copy for publication. In discharging the duty assigned us, permit us to express our
hearty concurrence with the views of the Institute, and our personal hope that you will
comply with the request hereby communicated.
Very truly yours,
JESSE GUERNSEY,
J. J. DYER,
J. ALLEN,
CoMMITTER.
Dubuque, March 4th, 1855.
GENTLEMEN :
In complying with your request, as a Committee of the Dubuque Literary and Scien-
tific Institute, for my two historical sketches of Dubuque and the mines, with a view to
their publication under the auspices of your Society, permit me to say, that they contain
only the prominent incidents of a frontier settlement, consequently in the events narrated
much of minuteness and connectedness of the frame work of history will be wanting. They
were prepared, moreover, for presentation to your valuable Institute in the style of social
narrative, to a home audience, on subjects whose chief interest must be merely associa-
tive and historical, before a Society whose common aims and responsibilities were, to sus-
tain its first course of Lectures, and to induce citizens to undertake them, where the most
indifferent treatment of any subject for amusement or instruction, would be looked upon
with unusual leniency. Your Institute being established for mutual improvement rather
than deep historical research, or close scientific observation, much latitute is allowable in
the treatment of general themes. -
That thcre should have been a call for, or a possibility of their finding their way in
public print to a larger circle, the lecturer had not the remotest conception. I am aware
that they only possess the merit of originality, so far as they contain portions of the un-
written history of the times ; to which circumstance is probably to be attributed the in-
terest manifested in their publication. The manuscripts are at your disposal.
Yours truly,
L. H. LANGWORTHY.
Messrs. REv. J. GUERNsey,
| HON. J. J. Dyer,
PROF. J. ALLEN,
LECTURE I.
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIEs, AND GENTLEMEN.—
In this lecture, I propose to give a brief plain state-
ment of incidents connected with the early history
of Dubuque, from 1830, to 1836; a period prior to
any authentic published accounts, together with
some Indian traditions, and such other matters as
have fallen under my own observation, or have been
orally transmitted. The traditions that have
come down to us through the dim lights of poetry
or romance concerning these children of the for-
est, who had dwelt by the side of the majestic Mis-
sissippi, and enjoyed the grand and inspiring scene-
ry of this romantic region, in all its wild luxuriance,
would be more interesting far, and I fear I shall
weary your patience, by recounting the common-
place reminiscences of by-gone days.
Again, in giving the facts regarding the early
history of Dubuque, I feel that I cannot do justice
to my subject without the just charge of great ego-
tism, having been personally identified with most
4.
of the incidents of which I shall treat. Conscious
of this difficulty I hesitated some time before accept-
ing the kind invitation to address you upon this
occasion. I have to call up the facts of our past
history from a somewhat treacherous memory, and
prepare a sketch without a written data, stirring in-
cidents, or interesting details, original in all its
parts, and truthful in all its relations. But relying
on your liveliest charities, I thus undertake the
task.
It will be proper, perhaps, to review some of the
circumstances that led to our first settlement here,
and the condition of the Upper Mississippi Valley,
at the time of which I shall first speak. There
were no white inhabitants settled upon all the re-
gion north and west of the Illinois River. Thir-
teen miles square of mining land had been ceded
to the government of the United States, by the
Winnebago Indians, at Galena ; a few trading
posts were established along the Mississippi, at
various points above St. Louis, forts were erected
and garrisoned at Warsaw, then Ft. Edwards, Ft.
Armstrong, at Rock Island, and Ft. Crawford, at
Prairie Du Chien. -
Indian Villages lined the banks of the ocean
stream, at different places, and mere trails united
us with St. Louis, and central Illinois.
The Indians were immensely numerous, jealous
of the white people who were approaching their
5
borders, and ready upon any provocation to fly in
to open hostilities against them, Many renowned
chiefs, such as Blackhawk, and Keokuk, stood
at the head of the respective bands of the differ-
ent nations to inspire dread and apprehension
among the mingling masses, as the first wave of
civilization rolled onward to the western wilds.
Strange, that such a vast aboriginal population
should so soon pass away, and their places be
usurped by the intruding white man, with his ino-
vations and improvements. At that time no steam
boats navigated the Mississippi, except, occa-
sionally one, laden with Government stores for
the different garrisons along the river. Supplies
for the new settlers had to be transported from
Ohio and Kentucky, in keel boats, and a journey
to the lead mines then, was like a journey now
over the mountains to Oregon, and California.
No thought was then entertained that this mi-
ning region would ever become the home of per-
manent settlers, or useful for purposes of agricul-
ture. It was deemed a sterile frozen region.
Galena, had, however, a place on the maps,
and became of considerable commercial importance
long before Dubuque was known, except by the
French and Spanish traders, who, for barter with
the Indians for their furs and peltry, had long he-
fore penetrated the wilds of North America. But
even they had gone onward to the better hunting
6
grounds in the great plains and mountain passes of
the West.
In 1822, or 1823, Col. Johnson, of Kentucky,
commenced mining near Galena, and opened
some lodes of lead ore, one of them, (which was
called the Buck lode,) proved immensely valuable.
He had a number of negro hands mining and
smelting the ore as it was raised.
In 1824, Moses Meeker, Mr. Harris, and their
families, with Orrin Smith, and a number of oth-
ers, landed at Galena, from a keel boat, some fifty
days out from Cincinnati; they all engaged in mi-
ning with various success.
In the fall of the same year James Langworthy,
arrived from St. Louis, who with Orrin Smith, and
others, opened the mines of Hardscrabble. They
soon had the good fortune to strike a valuable vein
of ore and sold the same to Alexes Phelps, who re-
alized above purchase money and expenses more
than $20,000 from it.
Hardscrabble diggings are situated about nine
miles north of Galena and received the name from a
terrible encounter which took place between con-
tending parties for possession of a lode,in which hard
blows, rifles, and bowie knives, were freely used. In
1827 the speaker came to the mines, in company
with a brother and two sisters, together with Mr.
Meeker, on his return from Cincinnati, Maj. Hough,
Capt. Donney and Lady, and five or six others.
7
We embarked at Quincy, Illinois, in a Pirogue,
and were thirty days on the voyage. A Pirogue,
is a kind of intermediate craft, between a canoe,
and a keel boat. The name is French, and signi-
fies the kind of boats used by the early voyageurs
to transport their furs and effects over the shoal
waters and rapid streams of the western wilder-
ness. I mention the time occupied in our journey
hither, in order to show some of the difficulties of
settling this new country at that early period.
Think of a boat's crew, with severalladies on board
all unaccustomed to the river, being compelled to
work a boat up with poles, and oars, against the
swollen current of this mighty stream, in the hot
weather of June, sleeping on sandbars, or anchor-
ed out in the river at night to avoid the muske-
toes, or lurking Indians, living upon salt pork and
dry biscuit, coffee without cream or sugar, and
withal making only about eight miles aver-
age per day. But this was then the land of prom-
ise, as California has since been. In July of that
year, the Winnebago war commenced. Much
alarm was spread over the country, and the peo-
ple erected forts, and block houses, for defence,
abandoning all other employments for the time.
Col. Henry Dodge led a company of miners,
against the Indians, at their town on Rock Riv-
er. The village however, was found deserted,
and they returned, after taking one lad prisoner.
8
After some slight depredations the Indians ap-
plied for peace at the Treaty held by Gen. Cass,
at Prairie Du Chien, in August, 1827 and thus this
war was closed. The citizens returned again to
their usual employments, and spread over all that
country north of Galena, as far as Mineral Point,
and Dodgeville, which had been purchased at that
treaty of those Indians. By this time steam-
boats began to ply regularly between here and St.
Louis, and a large amount of lead was manufac-
tured for exportation.
In 1830, a war between the Indians themselves,
began with all the horrors of savage barbarity.
Some ten or twelve Sac and Fox chiefs, with their
party were going to Prairie Du Chien, from Dubu-
que, or rather the Little Fox Village, as it was then
called, as delegates to attend the Treaty conference
to be held there by United States Commissioners.
But when at Cassville Island, in their canoes, they
were attacked by a large war party of Sioux and li-
terally cut to pieces. Only two of all their number
escaped, one being wounded never reached home,
and the other being shot through the body, lived
only to tell of the disaster. He arrived in their vil-
lage after swimming streams, hiding and skulking
, along, and starving with hunger, in time to die-
among his kindred and friends. The tribe, now
in great confusion and alarm, left the place and the
graves of their Fathers, mostly never to return, and
º
thus these mines, and this beautiful country was
left vacant, and open to settlement; for previously
the Indians would allow no one to intrude upon
their lands.
There were mines of lead worked here as ear-
ly as 1800, by the natives aided by Julien Dubuque,
an Indian trader, who adopted their habits and cus-
toms, married into their tribe, and became a great
chief among them. He is said to have been of
French and Spanish parentage, of small stature,
greatly addicted to the vices incident upon the co-
mingling of Spanish and Indian races in America,
and a great medicine man. He would take live
snakes of the most venomous kinds into his arms
and bosom, and was consequently regarded by the
Indians with a superstitious veneration. He died
a victim to his vices in 1810, and was buried on a
high bluff that overlooks the river, near the Indian
village at the mouth of Catfish creek. A stone
house surmounted by a red cedar cross, with a lead-
en door, was placed around his grave, which may be
still seen, though in a dilapidated condition. When
I first visited his tomb in 1830, the remains of two
Indian chiefs were deposited within, I suppose as a
mark of peculiar distinction. On the cross is
inscribed the following, in French, which being
translated literally is: “Julien Dubuque, miner, of
the mines of Spain, DIED, this 24th day of March,
1810, aged 45 years and 6 months.” \
à-ma o -


} ()
We crossed over the Mississippi at this
time, swimming our horses by the side of a canoe.
It was the first flow, or the first tide of civilization
on this western shore. There was not a white set-
tler north of the Des Moines, and west of the Mis-
sissippi to Astoria, on the Columbia river, with the
exception of Indian traders. The Indians had all
along guarded this mining district with scrupulous
care. They would not allow the white people to
visit the place, even to look at the old grass grown
diggings of Dubuque, which were known to exist
here, much less would they permit mining to be
done, or settlements to be made. It was like the
ancient Canaan, to the Israelitish leader, “a forbid-
den ground.” To PASS over was the ULTIMA THULE
of many an enterprising miner; but, up to this
time only a glimpse of the promised land had
been permitted.
The country had just been abandoned by the
RED MEN, their moccasin tracks were yet fresh in
the prairie trails along which the retiring race had
fled on their mysterious mission westward, and the
decaying embers were yet cooling on their desert-
ed hearths within their now lonely and silent wig-
wams. Where Dubuque now stands, corn fields
stretched along the bluffs, up the ravines, and the
Coule valley, and a thousand acres of level
land skirting the shore, was covered with tall grass,
-- a--mºa.

11
as a field of waving grain. But the stalks of the
corn were of the last year's growth, the ears had
been plucked, and they withered and blighted, left
standing alone MOURNFUL REPRESENTATIVEs of the
VANISHED race. A large village was then stand-
ing at the mouth of Catfish Creek, silent, solitary,
deserted—no one remained to greet us, but the
mystic shadows of the past. About seventy build-
ings constructed with poles, and the bark of trees
remained to tell of those who had so recently in-
habited them. Their council house, though rude,
was ample in its dimensions, and contained a great
number of furnaces, in which kettles had been
placed, to prepare the feasts of peace or war. But
their council fires had gone out. On the inner sur-
face of the bark there were paintings done with
considerable artistic skill, representing the buffalo,
elk, bear, panther, and other animals of the
chase ; also their wild sports on the prairie, and
even their feats in wars where chief meets chief,
and warriors mix in bloody fray. Thus was re-
tained a rude record of their national history.
Could the place have been preserved on the can-
vass, or by the Daguerrean art, it would have been
an interesting relic, but nothing now remains of it,
and but few know that such a place ever existed.
It was burned down in the summer of 1830, by
Some visitors in a spirit of vandelism, much to the
regret of the new settlers.
I:4
Just below the village stands the Sioux Bluff,
noted in Indian tradition as the place where was
fought the last great battle between the Sacs and
Fox, and the Sioux, who were continually at
war with each other. It is an isolated bluff some
two hundred feet high, with the side next to the
river perpendicular and separated from the adjoin-
ing bluffs by a wide valley passing all around it.
Here, according to the legends of the day, a Sioux
band of warriors made a last and final stand. They
had partially fortified their position by a thick line
of brush wood, cut down and inter-locked together,
and here, with their wives and children awaited the
attack of the war-like Sacs and Fox, now for the
first time united into one band. Night came on,
and the foe was near, confident in his strength
and flushed with recent victory. At night the dus-
ky warriors began to ascend the hill with silent,
slow, and measured pace, then with one desperate
rush the out-posts were gained and the sentinels dis-
persed. Setting on fire the brush-wood defences
illuminating the battle ground, they fought with
the advantage of darkness about them, while the
Sioux were exposed in the light, to the deadly
aim of their arrows and guns. The fight was im-
mediately around the burning out-lines of the
camp until the Sioux, thinned in numbers, began to
give way. The chiefs and warriors of the assail-
13
ants with war clubs and tomahawks, charged upon
them in overwhelming numbers. Short, but terri-
ble was the conflict upon the verge of the towering
cliff to which they were now driven, for amidst the
wild yells and terrific scenes of savage war, the
Sioux were all slaughtered on the spot, or hurled
headlong from the precipice to the vale below.
Along the margin of the bluff was to be seen their
bleaching bones at the time of the white man's ear-
liest settlement. The Indians never pass this cas-
tellated crag, without ascending to its summit and
casting pebbles, or other substances upon this
place of carnage. It is said a youthful fairy form,
every full moon at mid-night hour is seen to hover
round the fatal spot, and for a hundred years been
heard to wail her lover slain. Once in each year,
the custom is, among surviving friends, to visit the
resting places of their distinguished chiefs, and pile
new earth upon their graves. This is a simple,
though touching symbol of rememberance.
On the prairie where Dubuque now stands there
were a number of ancient mounds. Some of these
tumili, or whatever they may be called, were of a
round, others of a square form, and some were ar-
ranged in parallel lines, giving them the appear-
ance of old fortifications, which indeed some theo-
rists suppose them to have been. Others think
they were erected by the Incas, “Children of the
14
Sun,” the ancient Peruvians, in their migration, or
that they were the mausoleums of the distinguished
dead of a race, who, have long since passed away,
whose very name and history are buried under the
rubbish of time. They may be, however, only the
works of a class of animals now extinct, resembling
in habits the prairie dog still known to exist in the
great plains that skirt the base of the Rocky Mount-
ains west of Missouriand Arkansas. These little ani-
mals live in communities, and scrape togetherheaps
of earth for their dwelling places similar in appear-
ance to these mounds. Though their origin is lost
in obscurity it is clear that they were not erected
by a race who had any of the arts of civilized life
among them, such as may be found in Mexico
and Central America, no tell tale blocks of granite,
ruined tablets, or crumbling towers.
The mounds were used by the Indians for buri-
al places, especially, while Dubuque lived among
them, though sometimes they wrapped their dead
in blankets, or bark, and placed them up in the
branches of the trees, and often on scaffolding. At
this time many were to be seen among the trees
along where Main Street now runs, that being the
only point where timber then grew. But in the
mounds their remains were mostly deposited, espe-
cially the mixed races, children of the laborers of
Julien Dubuque who inter-married with the natives;
15
their graves were mostly distinguishable by pa-
lings being placed around them. v
These remains were exhumed by some Dentist
visitors, who desired their teeth for use in their
profession. The delicate American lady has hard-
ly dreamed her artificials were of the west INDIAN
Ivory !! Many of these bodies were found
quite entire, with little trinkets, about them, such
as pieces of silver, wanpum, beads, knives, toma-
hawks, etc. These grave robbers were compelled
however to desist, for even coarse miners could not
bear such vandalism. There were at that time
beautiful groves of timber growing upon the north-
ern declivities of the bluffs back of Dubuque, ex-
tending a mile or so, but these simultaneously with
the ranks of the swarthy native, were all
mowed down by the sweeping scythe which the
white man calls progress. We can almost conceive
of the great spirit of the red man looking down
from his clouds in sorrow or anger upon the work
of devastation.
It will be proper to remark while passing, that
the Indians do not mine or labor in any way; on this
occasion however of our valuable discovery of min-
eral being left by parties before mentioned, they re-
turned being protected by the troops; and encourag-
ed by the traders, they mined to some considerable
extent upon this lead mine. The owners had suc- -
16
ceeded in taking away about one hundred and twen-
ty thousand pounds of mineral, selling the same for
five dollars per thousand. Five years before this,
three thousand pounds were given for one barrel of
flour, English and Spanish lead having been shipped
into our ports, in the form of busts, weights,
anvils, anchors, etc., to evade the high rate of duty
upon pig lead, and other kinds specified in the
tariff law. This course threw down the price
of the article in the mines to a ruinously low rate.
It operated hardly on all classes, and all were
high tariff men, especially as regards the article of
lead. When the Indians mined however, which
was on special occasions, there were often fifty or
a hundred boys and squaws at work, on one vein.
They would dig down a square hole, covering the
entire width of the mine leaving one side not per-
pendicular, but at an angle of about forty-five de-
grees, then with deer skin sacks attached to a bark
rope, they would haul out along the inclining side
of the shaft, the rock and ore. Their mode of
smelting was by digging into a bank slightly, then
put up flat rocks in a funnel shape, and place the
ore within, mixed with wood; this all burn to-
gether, and the lead would trickle down into a
small excavation in the earth, of any shape they
desired, and slowly cool and become fit for expor-
£ation. &
17
The lead manufactured here in early times by
Tubuque and the natives, found its way to St.
Louis, Chicago, Mackinac, and other trading ports,
and some even into the Indian rifle in the war of
1812, in the woods of Indiana and Michigan. The
mode of smelting adopted at first by the white peo-
ple, was by building a furnace somewhat like two
large chimney places, set in a bank of earth leav-
ing an aperture in the lower side, for a circulation of
air. In these, large logs of wood were placed like
back logs, back sticks and fore sticks all fitting to-
gether, then the mineral was placed on the logs,
covered with finer wood, and the whole set on fire.
Thus in twenty-four hours the lead would be ex-
tracted and run into cast-iron moulds. About fifty
per cent. of lead was obtained in this way, leaving
scoriae and a waste of small pieces of ore, to be
run over in another furnace differently constructed.
In this last process, aboutfifteen per cent, was ad-
ded to the first product. Now, by the improved
mode, of blast furnaces, about eighty-five per cent. is
obtained, showing that the ore is nearly pure, except,
only the combination of sulphur with it, which is
the inflammable material, andassists in the process
of separation. º
As I have said, the speaker and an elder brother,
in June of that year, crossed the Mississippi in a
canoe, swimming their horses by its side, landed
3
IS
for the first time on the western bank of the stream,
and stood upon the soil of this unknown land. No
sound disturbed the Solemn stillness,
“So wondrous wild, the whole might seem,
The scenery of a Fairy dream.”
soon after this a number of miners crossed over
the river and possessed themselves of these lands,
thus left vacant; their mining operations proved
eminently successful. Many discoveries were made,
which bid fair to realize the most romantic ideas of
the wealth previously thought to be stored away
within the subterranean vaults of these mines. It
was known that Dubuque had obtained immense
quantities from them, and the accounts which the In-
dians gave of them, served to strengthen the belief
that the veins of ore here, were inexhaustible. The
first lode discovered was of great value, and con-
firmed this opinion.
About the fourth of July, Zachary Taylor, then
commanding at Prairie Du Chien, called upon the
miners, and in a formal and public manner, for-
bade their settlement, and ordered them to re-cross
the river. This land was not yet purchased of the
Indians, and of course, came under the control of
the War Department. Capt. Taylor, as he was
then called, told the miners, it was his duty as a
Government officer, to protect the lands; that
19
such were the treaty stipulations, and that they
must be off in one week. They declined doing
this, telling the Captain that he must sur-
render this time. They urged that they had oc-
cupied a vacant country, had struck some valuable
lodes, that the land would soon be purchased, and
that they intended to maintain possession; to
which, Zachary Taylor, replied, “We shall see to
that my boys.” - M
Accordingly a detatchment of United States
troops were dispatched with orders to make
miners at Dubuque walk Spanish. Anticipating
their arrival they had taken themselves off, for at
that early day they believed that “ rough” would be
“ready” at the appointed time. The miners were
anxiously peering from the high bluffs on the east
side of the river as a steamer came in sight bring-
ing the soldiers, who were landed on the west shore.
Three of the men, who had lingered too long, were
taken prisoners. They were however soon releas-
ed, or rather took themselves off. It is said that
one of them, a large fat man, by the name of Lem-
ons, made his escape from the Soldiers while at Ga-
lena, and taking the course of the high prairie ridge
leading northerly, exhibited such astonishing speed
that the race has long been celebrated among the
miners, as the greatest feat ever performed in the
diggings. .
20
The military force was stationed permanently
at Dubuque, and the Indians, venturing back to the
place sure of safety and protection against their in-
veterate enemy, the Sioux and other intruders,
were encouraged to mine upon the lodes and pros-
pects which the white people had discovered. From
one mine alone, the Indians obtained more than a
million pounds of ore, in which they were assisted
by the traders and settlers along the river, with
provisions, implements and teams. While the dis-
coverers, those who had opened these mines again
after they were abandoned by them and the Span-
ish miners more than twenty years, were compelled
to look across the water and see the fruits of their
industry and enterprise consumed by the Indians.
We lost in this manner, more than twenty thousand
dollars worth of mineral, which was taken from one
lode by them.
Opposite to this place at that time there lived a
man by the name of Jordan, and this was not un-
aptly called looking over Jordan, into the promised
land. In the commencement of the Blackhawk
war, in 1832, the military force was withdrawn
and sent against the same Indians, whose lands
they had so long guarded; many of them having
joined Black Hawkin his insane attempt to re-gain
the possession of that which their nation had once
disposed of in Michigan and Illinois. Zachary
21
Taylor, with his forces and the volunteers under
Col. Dodge, composed in part of those miners thus
despoiled of the fruits of their first labors at Du-
buque, were among those who followed the Indi-
ans and finally defeated them at Wisconsin, and at
the Bad Axe, in the fall of the same year, putting
an end to that war. {
They recollect Col. Taylor well, indeed almost
too well, though only as a faithful and brave officer.
What he did at Dubuque, although it robbed them
of the rewards of their labor, it is supposed he
thought to be his duty under his general orders,
and as for his conduct in the wars of our country,
since that period, that is a portion of American His-
tory ! Long after this, while conversing with him
in the White House, at Washington, the old vet-
eran alluded to these early scenes of his life, with
great gaiety and declared that those miners at Du-
buque, were worse to manage than the Seminoles
or even the Mexicans. - *
In September, a treaty was held at Rock Is-
land, by General Scott and others, on the part of
the Government, and the Black Hawk purchase
was agreed to. It included all the country border-
ing on the west side of the Mississippi river, com-
prising the eastern portion of our State. About this
time those who felt an interest in the mines of Du.
buque, returned to take possession of their former
22
discoveries. Up to this date the Indians, defeated
and dispersed at the battles of Bad Axe and Wis-
consin, were lurking about in the vicinity. Mr.
Jordan and family were among those at the Fort
in Galena, and all the other settlers near by, had
sought safety either in the stockades, or had en-
tered the army in defence of the country. There
were however two men, who had foolishly remain-
ed on their farm on the Menominee. One day
while they were hoeing corn in their field, the In-
dians came in view, and seeing them thus engaged
and unprotected, crawled up on the different sides
of the field, and after having secured their guns
which had been left carelessly by the fence,
fired upon them, and killed one of them, whose
name was Durgan; the other made his escape. A
party had just returned in the invalid company,
from Fort Winnebago, and hearing of their depre-
dations, formed a company of twelve men at Platte‘.
ville, and started in pursuit, scouring the islands,
where the Indians were thought to be secreted, and
the woods generally, until they arrived at Mr. Jor-
dan's plaee (now Dumleith,) where they found by in
dubitable signs that the Indians had crossed the
river, for they had cut in two the large canoe of Mr.
Jordan, and made their escape in half of it; show-
ing that there were but a few of them, so few, that
they could not take the whole canoe from the
.23
distant bank into the river. Three of the compa-
my remained until they were joined by others di-
rect from the battle of Bad Axe, when they again
crossed the River, and renewed operations
upon the same mines discovered by them in 1830,
also, building houses, erecting furnaces, cutting
wild hay, and preparing for the winter.
Many fine lodes and prospects were discovered
and considerable lead manufactured up to about
January, twenty-fifth, 1833. I could here name
many others who settled during this fall; Thomas
McCraney, Whitesides, Camps, Hurd, Riley,
Thomas Kelly, etc. In fact there were more than
two hundred allured here by the flattering prospects
of the country during this fall. But in January
the troops were again sent down from Prairie Du
Chien, and removed the settlers the second time,
merely because the treaty by which the land was
acquired, had not been ratified by the United States
Senate, a formal act that every one knew would
take place at the earliest opportunity. This was a
foolish policy on the part of the Government, and
operated peculiarly hard on the new settlers, who
were thus obliged to leave their cabins in the cold
winter of 1832—3, and their business also until
spring. Many re-crossed the river and did not re-
turn. We repaired to the Island, and there crected
temporary buildings to await the ratification of the
24
treaty. Having about three hundred thousand
pounds of lead on hand, and being uncertain what
would be the orders of the military regarding this
kind of property taken from land not yet fully
owned by Government, we removed it also to our
island home, and remained by it until spring, the
soldiers meantime occupying our warm and com-
fortable dwellings at the mines.
Several cabins were torn down, and some wag.
ons that were conveying mineral away during the
winter were cut to pieces and destroyed, by the or-
ders of Lieutenant Covington, the officer in com-
mand, he being clothed with a little brief authority.
But on complaint to Col. Taylor, at Prairie Du
Chien, he was removed, and Lieutenant George Wil-
son, brother of Judge Wilson, sent in his place, a
man of more mild and amiable disposition.
In June, 1833, Mr. John P. Sheldon, arrived
with a commission from the department at Wash.
ington, as Superintendent of the mines, the military
force having been previously withdrawn, and the
treaty confirmed. He proceeded to grant written
permits to miners, and licenses to smelters. These
permits entitled the holder to the privi-
lege of staking off two hundred yards square of land
wherever he chose, if not occupied by others, and
have peaceful possession, by delivering his mineral
to a licensed smelter, while the smelter was re-
£5
quired to give a bond to the agent, conditioned to
pay, for the use of the Government, a fixed per
centage of all the lead he manufactured. Mr.
Sheldon continued to act in this capacity only
about one year, for he could not be the instrument
of enforcing this unjust and unwise policy. He
saw that these men, like all other pioneers who by
their enterprise were opening up a new country,
and fitting it for the homes of those who follow
their footsteps, should be left, by a wise and judi-
cious system, to the enjoyment of their hard earn-
ings. The hidden wealth of the earth, its pine for-
ests and surface productions, should alikebe offered
freely to all those who penetrate the wilderness,
and thus lay the foundation of future societies and
States.
It has been the policy of our Government, at
various times, to exact rent for all mineral, or pine
lumber taken from the public lands; which policy
is wrong and should be forever abandoned; for the
early settlers have privations and hardships enough
without encountering the opposition of their own
Government, especially these miners many of whom
had labored for years on the frontiers, cut off from
the enjoyments of home and all the endearments
of domestic life. Your speaker was himself one of
these, being thrown in early life upon the crest of
the wave of western emigration, often beyond the
4.
26
furthest bounds of civilization, and not unfrequent
ly amid the tragical scenes of border strife.
But among all such toils and dangers a kind
Providence has thus far safely guided his wander-
ing footsteps. For thirty-seven years he has
witnessed the expanding energies of the West in
various stages of progress and development. In
that time five new States have grown up from a
homeless wilderness, and become great and pros-
perous, teeming with a rapidly augmenting popu-
lation, Twenty-three years he labored mostly in
the mines, in different capacities, and during
about half that period he has toiled in the deep
narrow caves and crevices, in the cold damp
ground, working upon his knees, sometimes in the
water, and living like many other miners in
“Bachelor's Hall,” cooking his own food, and
feeling secluded from society and far from the
circle and associations of youthful friendship. Un-
der such privations he felt the demand of a heavy
tax by the government to be oppressive indeed,
and he would be wanting in consistency and spirit
if he had not on all proper occasions protested
against a system that seems much more regal
than republican, and which degrades the Western
Pioneer to the condition of a tenant at will of the
General Government. The history of the West
Fhows that in thirty-seven years the increase of
27
population in the five States alluded to exceeds the
number of people in the whole thirteen colonies
at the time of the revolution; and the West has
thus added such additional strength to our govern-
ment as to pay a hundred-fold for the few favors
it has extended to us.
In 1833-4, the town of Dubuque continued to
improve. It now first received its name by a public
meeting held for that purpose, and began to as-
sume the appearance of a prosperous business
place. Many stores were erected, emigrants
continued to flock hither, the mints increased in
richness, and as if by magic the country was
transformed from a lonely wilderness into a pros-
perous community. -
It is true that the cholera and other fatal dis-
eases made their ravages among us; yet, notwith-
standing all obstacles, our resources were rapidly
developed. At this time Burlington and some
other towns along the river had been settled, and
become points from which further advances were
made into the new country. The lands in the
southern part of our State, having been first
brought into market, were settled previous to the
rest, except this locality of the mining region. In-
deed, this dilatory action on the part of the gov-
ernment, in relation to the mines and the public.
23
lands in their vicinity, was another hindrance to
our prosperity. -
During this period there happened many tra.
gical occurrences at Dubuque. The civil laws of
the country had not been extended here; conse-
quently, all authority was vested in the hands of
the people at large. A man by the name of
O'Connor murdered his partner by shooting him
dead with a rifle. A sheriff was immediately
appointed, who with a posse comitatus, arrested
the offender. A court was then organized, and a
jury of twelve men impaneled. They allowed
the prisoner a lawyer to claim for him the benefit
of legal maxims applicable to the case. He was
tried, found guilty, and condemned to death. After
some time given him to prepare for death, and
to receive the consolations of religion through a
priest of his own choice, he was hung in the
presence of a concourse of a thousand people.
The spot were the execution took place was after-
wards called O'Connor's mound. It has recently
been leveled to give place to buildings on the cor-
ner of White and Seventh streets. -
At this time there were but very few men in the
whole country who did not indulge in drinking and
gambling. “Poker” and “brag” were games of
common pastime, while the betting often run up
to hundreds of dollars at a single sitting, It perva-
29
ded all classes; the merchants and other passen-
gers to and from St. Louis while on the steamboats
occupied their time chiefly in this way, and it was
considered no disgrace to gamble. Balls and par-
ties were also common and it was not an unfrequent
occurrence for one to treat his partner in the dance
at the bar, if he did not, he generally performed
that delicate and flattering attention to himself.
The Sabbath was regarded as a holiday and vice
and immorality was prevalent in every form.
Yet amidst all this there were occasional
gleams of moral Sunshine breaking through the
clouds of dissipation, and a brighter future lay be-
fore us. In fact drunkeness and rioting had already
considerably diminished, and a few years after-
wards we had reason to rejoice that order had ta-
ken the place of discord. Upon the establishing
pf courts here, first under the jurisdiction of Michi-
gan, then under that of Wisconsin Territory, mat-
ters assumed a more peaceful and quiet aspect.
But there were even then occasions of turbu-
lence and blood-shed in quarrels about lands and
claims. Mr. Woodbury Massey lost his life in one
of these difficulties. There were no courts of com-
petent jurisdiction to try cases of crime, or rights
to property. A long time intervened between the
withdrawal of the Government protection and the
establishment of civil laws by local authority.
36)
No survey of the public lands had yet been
made, and in the transition from the old, to the new
state of things, mis-understandings naturally arose.
Under the Government rules, and regulations for
the control of the mines, it was meccessary to work
and have mining tools almost continually on the
land claimed in order to secure possession; under
the new order of things there were no uniform cus-
toms prevailing re?arding possession of property;
each man formed his own standard and was gov-
erned by his own opinions. It is not surprising
then, that difficulties should arise. He who has
passed through all the scenes and trials incident
to the settlement of a new country will not readily,
seek another distant frontier as a home.
Woodbury Massey was the eldest of several
brothers, and a sister, all left orphans in early life.
Himself and family were members and the chief
founders of the first Methodist Church erected in
this city; a man of fine education; polite and amia-
ble in his disposition; one of our first merchants and
possessing a large share of popular favor. He was
enterprising in business, and upright in all his deal-
ings. Had he lived, he would no doubt have
proved, a main pillar and support in our young
community. Dut in an evil, hour he became the
purchaser of a lot and lode, called the Irish Lot
near where Mr. Mc’Kenzie now lives.
31
It appeared that a Mr. Smith, father and son,
had some claim on this lot and lode. They were
he exact opposite to Mr. Massey in character and
disposition. A suit before a magistrate grew out
of this claim, and the jury decided the property to
belong to Mr. Massey. It being a case of forcible
entry and detainer, the Sheriff, as was his duty,
went with the latter to put him again in possession
of the premises.
When they arrived upon the ground, the two
Smiths, being secreted among the diggings, rose up
suddenly, and firing their guns in quick succession
Mr. Massey was shot through the heart. His fam-
ily living near by, saw him fall, thus early cut
down in the prime of his life and usefulness, a vic-
tim to the unsettled state of the times, and the un-
governed passions of turbulent men. The perpe.
trators of this deed were arrested and held in con-
finement until the session of the Circuit Court at
Mineral Point, Judge Irving, presiding, upon the
trial. The counsel for the defence objected to the
jurisdiction of the court, which was sustained by
the Judge and accordingly the prisoners were dis-
charged and let loose upon society, They how-
ever left this part of the country for a time.
One of the younger brothers of Mr. Massey,
highly exasperated by this transaction that no triº
al could be obtained for such offenders, had deter-
32
inined it seems, that should the elder Smith eveſ
come in his way, he would take the punishment for
the murder of his brother into his own hands. One
day, while sitting in his shop at Galena, he chanced
to sea Smith walking the public streets of the place
when instantly snatching a pistol and hastening in
the direction, he fired upon him with fatal aim.
Thus Smith paid the forfeit of his life by intruding
again among the friends of the murdered man, and
in the community which had witnessed the scenes
of his violence. t
For this act of the younger brother there seems
to have been the broadest charity manifested. He
was never tried,or even arrested, and still lives in the
country, a quiet man, and greatly respected by all
who know him.
The death of the father, of course, soon brought
the younger Smith to the mines. It was under-
stood privately that he determined to shoot one or
the other of the surviving brothers at the very first
opportunity. He was known to be an excellent
shot with a pistol, of imperious disposition and rash
temper. These rumors finally reached the ears
of the fair haired, blue eyed sister, who was thus
made to believe that he would carry his threats
into execution. She was just verging into woman-
hood, with fresh susceptibilities and all of her
deep affections awakened by the surrounding diffi:
Arº- a
33
culties of the family. One day, without consulti
others, she determined by a wild and daring adven.
ture to cut off all chances of danger in that direc-
tion. Disguising herself for the occasion and ta-
king a lad along to point out the person she sought,
having never seen him herself, she went into the
street. Passing a store, by the way-side, the boy
saw Smith and designated him from the other gen-
tlemen in the room by his clothing. On seeing him
thus surrounded by other men, one would suppose
that her nerves would lose their wonted firmness.
He was well armed and resolute in character, this
she knew; yet stepping in amidst them all, in a
voice tremulous with emotion and ominous in its
tones, she exclaimed, “If you are Smith defend
yourself.” In an instant, as he arose, she pointed
a pistol at his breast and fired; he fell, and she
retired as suddenly as she appeared. It was ali
done so quickly, and seemed so awful that the spec-
tators stood bewildered at the tragical scene until
it was too late to prevent the disaster. -
It so happened that Mr. Smith had at the time
a large wallet filled with papers in his breast pock-
et. The ball striking about its center did not of
course penetrate all of the folded leaves, and thus
providentially his life was spared. *
Smith, soon recovering from the stunning ef
* * * • * * -$ e § a
fects, rushod into the street to Ineet his assailant;
§
34.
but she had ſled and found shelter at the house of
Mr. Johnson, a substantial merchant of the town,
and was subsequently sent away by her friends
here, to some relatives in Illinois, where she was
afterwards married to a Mr. Williamson, formerly
of this place. Her name, Louisa, has been given
to one of the counties in our State. Smith lived
several years, but the wounds probably hastened
his death. She is also dead, and is to be hoped
that God's mercy has followed them beyond
earth's rude strifes and that they dwell in peace in a
purer and better world.
If, in reviewing before you, ladies and gentlemen,
these deeply thrilling scenes as they affected our
Susceptibilities in the dark days of Dubuque's early
history, I shall wound the feelings of any surviving
friends of either of the parties, forgive me, and be-
lieve that I would not willingly probe any wound-
ed hearts, much less would I wish to gather fresh
infamy to throw over the memory of the dead.
Twenty years of forgetfulness are passed away,
and with them some of the regrets and remem-
brances, the hopes and the disappointments, which
clustered around each by-gone day; and, while
memory now un-willingly re-calls them let the
mantle of charity fall upon all that has been wrong
in the aetions of the past.
In 1835 the times continuing prosperous great
35
additions were made to our population. The mines
proved rich and abundant, and many farms began
to be improved in the vicinity. The Town had
had become a place of considerable importance,
exporting in that year about fifty million pounds
of lead.
About this time, Choteau, of St. Louis, an heir
at law of Julien Dubuque, endeavored to gain pos-
session of his claim by proposing to lease the land
to miners and farmers for a mere nominal consid-
eration; but they generally preferred the protection
of the Government, and refused to acknowledge
any other ownership.
This claim of Dubuque, extending as it did,
over the whole mining district, has been a source of
much injury to the city and country generally; for
men do not like to risk their labor on lands to
which there is not a perfect title. Again, the mi-
ning character of the lands served to keep them
out of market for a long time after other portions
of the country had been disposed of to the inhabit-
ants. This accounts for the newness of settle-
ments in our vicinity, in comparison with other
parts of the State.
During this year Capt, Edward White, then re-
siding on the hill, (now Sullivan's addition of Mount
Pleasant,) had a difficulty with Dr. John Stod-
dard, concerning the right of possession to that
36.
claim. Under the excitement of a quarrel, he show
White with a charge of coarse shot, and in three
days the wound proved fatal. He died much re-
gretted by all, leaving a large and amiable family.
He was buried, near the place where he was shot
and two rough stones were setup to mark the spot.
But such scenes. are now quite forgotten, except
perhaps, in the memory of a few whose hearts may
still silently bleed, and the world know it not.
I was rambling the other day through the grove
which has since grown up, when I accidentally
came upon the two grave stones that point to the
ashes of the silent dead. I had forgotten the
place and all the circumstances conneeted with it,
until these rude memorials re-called, them. Many
scenes of our border life are doubtless gone from
my memory entirely, or are too common-place to
be re-counted here. Stoddard escaped to a distant
part of the country, I know not whither, leaving.
some distant connections still here ; but it is to be
presumed that when the recollection of that scene
of violence and passion comes, over his memory he
will feel the unavailing, regrets that must occasion-
ally, at least, fill the mind of every man who want-
only spills the blood of his fellow-man. . . "
Lynchings were of frequent occurrence at
this time. A fellow by the name of Leek had
stolen a large eanoe belonging to Thomas,
37.
McCraney, and loaded the same with lead from the
piles near the river, which had been placed there
for convenient shipment. He floated down the
stream as far as Rock Island, and there sold out
at a net profit, as he supposed. But already there
was one on his path, though he supposed he had
left no traces in the secrecy of the silent waters.
He was found at |Bock Island, and brought back,
to Dubuque for trial. Judge Lynch immediately.
called his court together, Leek was found guilty,
and sentenced to receive thirty-nine lashes which
were accordingly well laid on. He had no syms,
pathy except what he received by a little brandy
administered on the occasion. The sentence was
executed by Mr. Enoch, sheriff for the time. A
blackjack tree, which stood near the present
mansion of Judge Dyer, was the scene of this act
of justice. Having been tied to the tree and
whipped, he was then sent across the river, with
a promise of a double punishment should he ven-
ture to return. - - **
A Mr. John O'Marra was knocked on the head
with a club while sky-larking, as they called it, by
Patrick Brennan—rather rough playing as the
poor man died immediately. The officers of the
lynch law turned out to arrest the offender, but
he had made his escape. sº
A fellow living in town was known to, beat,
38
and abuse his wife most shamefully. He was
taken, tarred and feathered, and sent across the
river. In short the majesty of the laws were fully
vindicated, and the peace and order of society
secured, as well, and perhaps better, than since
the establishment of regular courts; for let it be
remembered that there has never been but One
case of capital punishment inflicted in this com-
munity, and that is the case of O'Connor previ-
ously related.
The first house erected here for public wor-
ship was the old log church standing on the
ground now occupied by the old Methodist Church.
Rev. Mr. Bastian usually preached on the Sab-
bath, and the house was occupied for a
school on week days. Mr. Whitmore, now of
Bowen's Prairie, was the teacher. The next was
the old Catholic Church. An attempt was made
to build a Hotel by subscription, but this effort
failed.
About thirty blocks of land had previously
been laid off by George W. Harrison, and the
expense of the survey paid by individual con-
tributions. In fact all the public improvements of
the place were sustained by the generous spirit of
the people of the mines.
It was confidently anticipated that Dubuque
would be the seat of the new Territorial Govern-
39
ment. From its central, position it was entitled to
it; but the speculators of Belmont and Madison
controlled that subject; the first session being
held at Belmont. Our members in the Senate
were John Foley, Thomas McCraney and
Thomas McKnight; in the House of Represen-
tatives, L. Wheeler, Hardin Nowlin, P. H. Ingle,
P. Quigley and H. T., Camp.
In May 1836, the first number of the “Du-
buque Visitor” made its appearance. It was pub-
lished by John King Esq. with an appropriate
motto of “Truth our guide—The public good our
aim,” and a heading “Dubuque Lead Mines, Wis-
consin Territory, Wednesday, May 11th, 1836.”
Here was the first record of transpiring events.
On the first page appeared an article entitled
“The worth and devotion of woman's love,” (we
were all bachelors then.) On the second page
was a communication on the great advantages of
our town and country, “by a citizen;” on the third
page appeared another article in regard to woman's
sphere and duties, by Hannah Moore, entitled
“Good House Wives.” Indeed, Woman was a rare
and cherished object in those days, and our editor
was a bachelor. On the fourth page was an
eloquent speech by the Hon. George W. Jones,
of Sinsinawa Mound, on the subject of the divis-
ion of Michigan Territory into two separate gov-
^:0
%iniãents, one to be called Wisconsin Territory.
He had been elected a delegate to Congress, from
Michigan, the year previous. While a candidate
he was waited on by a committee of our citizens
that he might declare, in accordance with western
custom, his political sentiments, when getting upon
a pile of lead in our town he stated among other
things that he, as a delegate in Congress, without
a vote on public measures, and asking favors from
both political parties, should however belong to
neither; and that if elected he would stand a friend
to each grand division and thus be enabled to se-
cure appropriations for our young and destitute
Territory. I do not mention this in the way of
disparagement to General Jones, for in one sense
of the word, we were all whigs then, particularly
on the subject of a good sound protective tariff on
lead. He was accordingly elected, and pursuing
this line of policy he gained many important
favors from the general Government, among
which was a grant of land from Congress of the sec-
tion comprising our City, By the act, the town
was to be laid off into streets, public squares, lots
and out-lots; these last to be sold to the claimants
and the proceeds devoted to our public improve-
mentS. - * , '
This was an important step in the progress of
the place, while the many other appropriations,
41
which Gen. Jones was enabled to procure, gave
permanency to business operations. A bill to
divide the Territory of Wisconsin was now pend-
ing before Congress. In regard to the name, Iowa,
it may be well recollected that Lieutenant Lee,
of the board of topographical Engineers, in his re-
port to Congress in 1838, upon the improvement
of the Mississippi River above St. Louis, when
remarking on the western rivers, mentions the
Iowa River, as a central stream, within what
would one day be a great State. Improving upon
this idea, a writer in the Dubuque Visitor, in a
little sketch, calls this “the future State of Iowa.”
This is the first time the word was ever used in
this connection. The article is called a “Vision,”
and is in these words:
“I was lying in a state of partial slumber and dreamed that I was
on a voyage among the islands of the ocean and visiting the great marts
of commerce in the old world. Anon, I was roaming over the once
happy land of Greece, then again standing on the classic ground of
Italy. After an absence of many years I thought I was again in Du-
buque. I found myself near a large stream, whose shores were lined
with farms, over which the yellow harvest was waving. Fine villages
were springing tip on every side, and along the broad road on which I
was traveling, thronged a crowd of horsemen, wagons, and steam-car-
riages. I inquired of a traveler whom I met, how far it was to Du.
buque's mines. The City of Dubuque said he, is fifty miles to the east
of this, at the commencement of the rail road leading to Jefferson City
in Missouri. I passed on till coming to where the ground began to
slope tº the east, the well-remembered cove of the mining country was
before me, 1 then recollected the many happy days I had formerly seer
§ 5%
42
in this spot, and how I was once delighted when success crowned my la
bors in the mines, and brought to light the earth's hidden wealth. But
how how changed. In many places, I could discover steam ascending,
which f was told proceeded from engines employed in working the
mines. Proceeding onward, I could discover the broad valley of the
Mississippi, and soon the silver stream was itself in sight, bearing on
its crystal current the products of almost every clime. , 's
“I descended into the city among a busy throng—to me strange
faces. I went along through streets and alleys which were lined with
solid blocks of brick or masonry, where a few years ago was a broad
green, smooth, prairie, - - - -
“After rambling up and down through the place, I found myself
in a spacious public square. In the centre of this area stood a splen.
did building, embellished with cornices and porticoes. On approaching
nearer, I heard proclamation, in a stentorian voice—' Hear ye! hear
ye! The flegislature of the State of Iowa will now commence its
third session!" Strange, thought I, such changes in ten short years.
Here in this place f once resided. Then it was a small town, and the
gurrounding country thinly settled, f was acquainted then with nearly
all the people. Now thousands are swarming, even Legislators fulfill-
ing their duties to their constituents in the halls of an independent
State Government. Suddenly I awoke my pleasing vision was dis-
pelled, for I found myself still pressing a straw pallet in Iny mining
cabin.” .. - -
William W. Corriell purchased the Dubuque
Visitor, and being pleased with that euphonious
Indian name, changed the name of the paper to
that of “The Iowa News.” Thus the name be-
came familiar in Congress and was finally adopted
for the territory west of the Mississippi,
Having introduced you to a newspaper of the
times, we will close this imperfect sketch. We
have brought the carly unwri "ºne History of
43
Dubuque down to a period when oral tradition
may properly cease, and written history begin,
but some more able pen in future may take up
the records of the times and transmit them in a
more embellished form to posterity.
I, E C T U R E { I.
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :—In
my previous lecture before this Institute, you
may remember that the History of Dubuque was
brought down to a period co-eval with the estab-
lishment of a news paper, edited by John King
Esq. A description of the country as it appeared
in 1830, was then given, when the Indians had
just abandoned the soil, their ancient homes and
the graves of their fathers, to seek an asylum
further towards the setting sun in the great plains
of the west, and when the pale faces, as if by
a right of natural inheritance, took first possession
of the vacant lands and deserted mines of Du-
buque. A few legendary tales of savage war,
and a number of incidents connected with the
first white settlements here, some of the trials,
difficulties and tragical scenes of border life
during a period of six or seven years, were also
given from memory, In this sketch I propose to
4 :)
speak of the facts transpiring in our community
since that time as they have been retained in
memory or preserved on the printed pages of our
public journals.
Could I produce the dreamy imagery of a
poet's fancy, or the traditionary lore of the savage
tribes who once held undisputed sway upon the
luxuriant banks of the Father of Waters, and with
the power of a Cooper or a Bryant call forth
from a brilliant imagination descriptions of scenes
of grandeur in nature, or feats of heroic daring
among the children of the forest; then I might
hope to enlist your attention and interest; but I
will endeavor to evoke from the mists of the
past such plain facts as have engaged the atten-
tion of our citizens as they have grappled with the
various obstacles incident to the settlement of a
new country.
The population of Dubuque, at the time I shall
now speak, was unlike that of most other commu-
mities. In fact, it is so up to the present time, be-
ing still a mining city. Instead of being in any
degree homogeneous, immigration flowed in from
all parts of the earth; every considerable nation
of Europe and all the States of our Union, were
duly represented. The German liberalism, the
New England puritanism and the Celtic nationalism
mixed and mingled in all the elements of society.
46
But there is something in the character and habits
of pioneers as they co-mingle amidst the grand
and inspiring scenery of the west, with mutual in-
terests and sympathies combining, which naturally
expands and enlarges the human faculties, though
meeting for the first time in distant lands, and
from different climes. They soon learn to assimi-
late and conform to each other in their opinions;
for there are a thousand interests and motives uni-
ting to render it necessary for them 2 to support
each other in all the trials and scenes of border
life. In a new country, like ours, an imperious ne-
eessity exists for cultivating the amenities of our
social being. So you will find us a hetrogeneous
mass of seven or eight hundred meeting together on
the Fourth day of July, 1836. It was Monday the
fifty-ninth of our mational Independence, and the
birth-day of Wisconsin Territory; a day celebra-
ted in Dubuque with great eclat, both on account
of the mational recollections it gave rise to, andthe
independent position we should thenceforth enjoy
under a separate Territorial organization from
Michigan to which we were previously united. So
long as the return of that day is duly honored by
the American people, so long may we presume,
that the principles proclaimed seventy-eight years .
ago in that immertal declaration of Independence
47
will be cherished, and the institutions of our coin-
try founded upon them be perpetuated.
It is a beautiful custom thus to come together
on every return of this great day, and refresh
our recollections, returning heart-felt gratitude to
God for the blessings which His kind providence
has permitted this nation to enjoy, Doubly inter-
esting is it to see in the far-off territories of the
Union natives from all climes joining with our
own citizens in the national jubilee of freedom.
The Reverend Mazzuchelli officiated as Chaplain
on this occasion, Milo H. Prentice read the declar-
ation, and William W. Corriell delivered the ora-
tion. Dr. Stephen Langworthy was appointed
President of the day, and Patrick Quigley, J. M.
Harrison, Dr. T. Mason, and William C. Jones,
Vice Presidents. The newly appointed
Governor, Gen. Henry Dodge, was invited to be
present, and a public dinner was tendered to him.
He had been our leader through two Indian Wars;
and was now governor of the Territory and super-
intendent of the various Indian nations in the
north-west. His great experience as a frontier
man and Indian fighter had pointed him out as a
proper man for these responsible stations. Accor-
dingly speeches and patriotism was the order of
the day, and at night music and dancing. The
Marshals, E. Lockwood and Davis Gililan, were
4.
3.
enabled to preserve good order and the celebration
was one of deep interest. On the thirteenth of
July the corner stone of the first Wisconsin
Presbyterian Church was laid. A procession, a
hymn and a prayer at the commencement and at.
the close, an appropriate address, and the depo-
site of the usual manuscripts in the stone, com-
prised the whole of the ceremonies. We recol-
lect well, that only a few years before this,
Government was engaged in buying the Indian
reservations east of the Mississippi and inducing
the poor red man to cross the Father of Waters,
as the means of securing a certain, safe and per-
manent retreat from the inroads and encroach-
ments of the whites. There rolled the majestic
river, seeming to say to the thin settlements of
the pale faces upon its eastern borders—“Thus
far only shalt thou come. Betwixt you and the
native race, I place a barrier and a shield. Your
swarms shall not cross my bosom to drive them
from their ancient hunting grounds. Here have
I rolled for ages in silent grandeur, through
boundless and unbroken solitudes. But you have
found your way to my eastern bank; there build
your cities and rear your temples. The God of
the red man shall still be worshiped on my
}
western shore,” But as well might it be attempt-
ed to turn back the gangº noble stream, and pour
3.)
it, with all its accumulated strength into tho lake?
from which it springs, as to stop the march of
the white man, with his innovations and improve.
ments. The Mississippi has proved no barrier
He stands proudly on its western banks, and
laughs at its impotency. Six or seven years be-
fore, perhaps the smoke of an Indian wigwam,
curled from the spot on which this house of wor-
ship was to be erected. At that time the white
man's dwelling was not found where our city now
stands, nor indeed in all the delightful country ori
our side of the great river.
There is something sublime and enobling in
the contemplation of the wonderful changes which
had been effected in this short space of time. The
woodman had reduced the stubborn forest to his
will, and with it, built dwellings for his protection
and comfort ; the plough had upturned the soil of
the fertile prairie; the perseverance of the miner
had taken him far down among the riches of the
earth and all the immense stores of mineral and
vegetable wealth with which this favored region,
has been supplied, were becoming developed,
Wisconsin, west of the Mississippi, was divided
into two counties ; Dubuque county, extending
below Davenport, with a population of over four
thousand, and Des Moines county, the balance of
the territory extending to the Missouri State line;
§
50
eontaining six of seven thousand. At this time
the settlements were confined mostly to the vicinity
of the river towns. Our village was only partial-
ly laid out, and where Dr. Mason's drug store now
stands was then up town. The lead business en-
grossed in its various departments the entire atten-
tion of the citizens; a few farms only having been
improved. People became slowly convinced that
this soil was well adapted to cultivation; believing
that this climate was unfavorable to agriculture. ...
It it is true that the mining regions in other coun-
tries are generally sterile and unproductive. This
idea seems to have been associated with this region.
People could not realize that over-lying rich mines
of ore was spread out a prairie soil of unsurpassed
fertility. "../
The mines of Dubuque differ very much from
those in Wisconsin and Illinois. There, they lie
near the out-crop of the limestone strata, and the
mineral is found often at a slight depth and with-
out much rock excavation; but the veins are gen-
erally small, broken and thread-like. Here, on
the contrary, the dip being to the south-west, we
have to penetrate a hard cap-rock of considerable
thickness, varying according to the elevation of the
ground. Under this cap-rock the mineral is found
in large caverns, either attached to the rocks or em-
bedded in the clay and ocher which fills the crevi-
se-
§
l
ces below the natural spaces of the caves. The
Langworthy lode, exhibited the most astonishing
specimens of lead ore ever found, perhaps, in any
country. As the work-men, with the owners, pene-
trated into this cave for the first time, a hollow
sound issued from it and the air came freshly
from the west, in the direction of the vein. Here,
in its primeval solitudes the different gases which
probably elaborate the curious ore had circulated
from of old, working their own silent wonders.
They began to examine the cave for mineral,
each man carrying a lamp or candle. Passing
along through various windings and narrow spaces
they suddenly came to one of the subterranean
vaults which was completely filled with the shi-
ning ore, lighted up and sparkling like diamonds,
or lying in great masses or adhereing to the sides
and roof of the cave in huge cubes. This mine,
in its full extent through the Langworthy, Thom-
as Kelly, and Cardiff grounds, has produced
Some ten million pounds of mineral.
When the miner sinks a shaft down into one of
these mineral caves, he will generally find its
course and direction to be with the cardinal points
of the compass. The veins of ore, here at Du-
buque run, from east to west, though these are
often crossed by 1Urtli and south clevices and
sometimes by fissures in other directions through
the rocks, Although there may be no mineral
within the cave first found, the practiced miner will
excavate along one of these cross crevices which
3.Té generally about twelve inches wide, by blast-
ing off the sides of the rock to a sufficient capacity
to admit a small car to run along through it upon
wooden rails with mineral tubs upon it. Thus he
will drift or excavate north or south with a view of
crossing a vein of lead as it runs from east to west.
When successful, he will suddenly strike into a
eavern in which the ore is deposited. As the dark
and hitherto unexplored cave is lighted up by the
rays of a lamp, and the miner beholds for the first
time the object of his toil stored away in these sub-
terranean vaults; wh9 can describe the thoughts
and feelings that fill mind and breast; perhaps he
has passed years in searching for the hidden treas-
ure. Now he has the realization of his fondest
hopes. “He has struck a cave,” is the cry all
over the mines.
Now the smelter is exceedingly obliging and
attentive to him; his associates flock together to
congratulate the friend so suddenly made rich,
for a mine in Dubuque, is a mine indeed.
The lode discovered by our friend Thomas
Levin, Esq., was one of the richest and most pro-
ductive of any, yielding, up to the present time
&bout four million pounds of ore. Besides this,
5:3
there are the Mc’Kenzie, Bartlett and Stewart
lodes, and Karrick mines; all of immense value ;
together with a great many others which have
ranged in value from five to twenty-five thousand
dollars. The lead lands will never be entirely ex-
hausted ; on the contrary when capital, science
and skill are at length embarked to develope them,
it will be found that not one half of their richness
has yet been ascertained. Mining may not be
justly compared to the chance throw of dice, but
much depends upon good judgment in the selec-
tion of ground to explore, and energy in the prose-
cution of the work; for it will be seen that as the
mineral all lies upon one general level, and
runs from east to west, that by crossing the direc-
tion of the veins one is sure, with the aid of capi-
tal and perseverance, to succeed, at least if in a
good mining district.
Some idea may be had of the mining operations
in this neighborhood from the fact that there were
five blast furnaces, each smelting upon an average
about seventy thousand pounds per week ; also
many log furnaces manufacturing lead to good ad-
vantage. During this period, a Lyceum, holding
regular weekly meetings, was established at which
ladies and gentlemen attended in Harge numbers,
thus showing, early in the settlement of the place,
a taste for literature.
54
The town was governed by a board of five
trustees, elected annually; who with a President,
made all needful rules and regulations.
Politics began to be the grand staple commo-
dity of the times. To be a good unterrified Jackson
Democrat, unchangeable as the leopard's skin,
was the best trade, and rather the surest road to
political preferment; but at the same time, to be
known as a tried clay whig “ dyed in the wool”
with the frosts of time circling the brow, was no
mean step on the ladder of fame. After a while,
however, the Democrats became the dominant par-
ty, and to add to their power, it was said that the
waters of the Mississippi itself contributed in a
most mysterious manner. In the fabled Lethe of
the ancients, one had to be completely immersed
in its waves, in order to produce forgetfulness,
but instances have occurred here, in which men
from the older States have become entirely chang-
ed in political sentiment just by passing over
Mississippi water.
As early as December, 1841, the citizens of
Dubuque began to look for a Rail Road connec-
tion with the Lakes. A public meeting being call-
ed, it was resolved to send a delegation to Madi-
son, in Order to secure the co-operation of the
Łegislature, by the incorporation of a company,
55
and to memoralize Congress for aid in opening a
cheap and easy communication between the Mis-
sissippi river and Take Michigan,
Timothy Davis, L. A. Thomas, Edward Lang-
worthy, and General James Wilson were appointed
as delegates. A charter was obtained for the
incorporation of a company for this object. Pre-
viously, a charter was had for a company to con-
struct a Rail Road from Belmont to Dubuque, but
owing to the newness of the country, nothing more
was done. Now, after many years, by the con-
struction of the Milwaukee and Mississippi Rail
Road we hope that this most desirable object will
be attained, and the early efforts of our people
consummated. In this noble enterprise, the Hon.
George W. Jones has ever borne a conspicuous
part ; and also as a delegate member in the House,
and Senator in Congress, he has proved faithful
and true to Dubuque.
Previously to this, however, in 1836, John
Plumbe, Jr. commenced in person, and at his own
cost the survey of a route for a national Rail Road
from Lake Michigan to the Pacific, and directed pub-
lic attention to its importance by several well written
articles in the newspapers of the day. Afterwards,
in 1838, he succeeded through the efforts of Gene-
ral Jones in procuring from Congress an appro-
56
priation to deſray the expenses of locating the first
divisiºn of the line ; devoting his entire attention,
and making constant exertions to promote this
great national object. As the most feasible mode
of actorhplishing the design he proposed that an
adequate grant of public lands be made to the
road, to consist of alternate section, to be convey-
ed no faster than the road progressed ; and the
remaining sections to be raised to double the pres-
ent minimum priee ; a joint stock Company, with
shares of ten dollars each to be offered to every
man, woman, and child in the United States before
möre than one share could be taken by any one
individual; fifty cents to be paid at the time of
Šubscribing on each share, and the Road to be
managed by a Board of Directors, one from each
State and Territory of the Union.
Thus was devised, by a citizen of Dubuque, the
first grand scheme of a great national highway be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and a portion
of the road surveyed by Government; It has since
been memorialized for by nearly every State in the
Union, its advantages fully appreciated by the peo-
ple, who are all anxious for the great work, as a
measure entirely practicable and highly conducive
10 the general Welfare, and the national renown,
and still; after eighteen years of delay, we fine!
57
Congress legislating on the subject of the Pacific
Rail Road by bills, motions, and debates, yet
really doing nothing. Mr. Asa Whitney, improv-
ing on Plumbe's plan, devoted his time and efforts
for years, in urging the subject on the attention of
Congress. His plans were approved by sevens
teen States, and the great mass of the American
people ; but the Government, deaf to every call of
patriotism still refuse to grasp the glittering prize
of a world's ambition,-the trade of China, Japan,
and the Oriental Islands. The United States might
be made the halfway station between Europe, and
Asia. Over her soil, in a direct line, the com-
merce of the world might be transported, and with-
in her wide domain, by this wise and judicious
policy, might be deposited the riches of every
clime. Such enterprises, sustained by men
against neglect or opposition, deserve the remem:
berance that history gives them, and should also
make us examine the merits of new inventions or
proposed improvements that we may not condemn
as useless innovations what may prove of the
greatest utility. Pioneer discoverers especially
deserve the fame of benefactors to Our race.
This reminds us of Marquette, who with his as-
sociate Joliet, and five French companions and two
Algonquin Indians for guides, when in 1678, they
carried their two canoes on their backs across the
8
5s
narrow portage that divides the waters of the great
lakes from those of the unexplored region of the
great father of waters. They reached the Wis-
consin, uttered a short prayer to the immaculate
Virgin, they embarked on the stream, the guides hav-
ing left them, alone in this unknown land in the
hands of Providence. France and Christianity
stood together in the valley of the Mississippi.
The discoverers, as they sailed, went down the
river between alternate prairies and hill sides, be-
holding neither man nor the wonted beasts of the
forests; no sound broke the appalling stillness,
but the ripple of their canoes and the lowing
of the buffalo. In seven days they enter the
great river with a joy that could not be express-
ed and the two birch bark canoes raising their
happy sails under new skies and to unknown
breezes.
Floating gently down the calm magnificence of
the ocean stream, over the broad clear sand bars,
the resort of innumerable water-fowl, gliding
past islands that swelled from the bosom of the
stream with their tufts of massive thickets, between
the wide plains of Illinois and Iowa all garlanded
as they were with majestic forests or checkered by
island groves and and the open vastness of the
prairiel The history of these early adventurers up-
on the great river of the west has a poculiar interes
§9
to the dwellers on our soil as they now look back
over the wilderness one hundred and eighty-twº
years. Where are now those hordes of savage
tribes that then held undisputed sway 2 They
have gone, together with the Missionary who first
brought the lights of christianity among them.
Some indeed still lingered on the western plains
and along the streams of the Rocky mountains
and among their passes and deep defiles; but
even these remnants of once mighty nations are
gradually dwindling away.
We must not omit to mention the intrepid La
Salle, as one of the early French voyageurs of the
order of Jesuits, who completed the discovery of
the Mississippi from the Falls of St. Anthony
to its mouth. He will be remembered through
all time as the father of colonization in the great
valley of the West, endeavoring at the same time
to convert the savage nations to christianity ; but
in the vigor of his days he was murdered by his
own servants. Thus fell the generous and gifted
La Salle who seemed to deserve a better fate.
Butlet us return from this digression to the sub-
ject more immediately before us —The town of
Dubuque now began to be permanently improved
by the erection of many fine brick buildings, Rea-
ding rooms and Lyceums were established. Stores
were opened as high up Main street as where yor
60
how see the very appropriate sign of the “Good
Samaritan,” Doctor Mason's Drug store.
A. Thespian society was organized, where were
witnessed, if not in all their tragic power, Othello
and Macbeth, at least some comedies which
would make even a quaker laugh. In fact the
gentlemen who managed the entertainments were
adepts in the art of pleasing, among whom onr
friend George L. Nightingale was not the least
conspicuous and deserving. The year 1836
passed away, nothing occurring of importance.
Mining and smelting were continued with great
success In 1837 Governor Dodge was called to
hold a Treaty with the Sioux and Chippewa In-
dians for the purchase of their lands. The Repre-
sentatives of the two nations, met the Governor at
Fort Snelling in large numbers on the 20th day
of July. A great number of speeches were made
to the Indians and some of their replies have been
preserved. Ma-ghe-ga-bo, dressed in full Indian
costume, and highly painted in red, his hair hang-
ing loosely on his shoulders, a coronet of the
feathers of the bald eagle placed on his head by
the chiefs, and several medals around his neck, ad-
vanced toward the Governor with a map before
him and pointing to it with his finger, said :
“My father, this is the country which is the home
of your children. When we first met here we
$º .
31
smoked, and shook hands together. Four times we
have gone through the same ceremony. I stand
here to represent the chiefs of the different bands
of my nation? and to tell you that we agree to sell
you the land you want,
My father, in all the country we sell you,
we wish to hold on to that which gives us life;
the streams and lakes where we fish, and the tree
from which we make sugar. I have but a few words
to say, but they are the words of the chiefs, and
very important. & - .
The Being who created us made us naked.
He gave you and your people; knowledge and pow-
er to live well. Not so with us; we have to cover
ourselves with moss and rotten wood, and you
must show your generosity towards us The chiefs
will now show you the tree we wish to preserve;
here is a branch of it. Every time the leaf falls
from it, we will count it as one winter passed. If
you offer us money and goods we will take both.
You see me count my fingers (counting six.) Eve-
ry finger counts ten; for so many years we wish
you to pay us an annuity, after that, our grand
children, who will have grown up, can speak for
themselves. My father, take the lands you ask
from us. Our chiefs have good hearts. Our wo.
men have brought the half-breeds among us. They
are poor and we wish them provided for, they. alſº
62
their children. My father, we will hold firmly
what you give us, that no body may get it from us:
Once more we recommend our half-breeds to
your kindness. We wish you to select a place for
them, on this river, where they may live, and raise
their children, and have their joys of life.” &
Taking the Governor by the hand, he continued:
“I will not let go your hand until I have counted
the number of our villages. The Great Spirit first
made the earth thin and light, but it has now be-
come heavier. - -
We do not wish to disappoint you; and our
great father beyond the mountains in the object
you had in coming here. Wetherefore grant you
the land you want from us.” Aish-ke-bo-ko-ke, or
the flat mouth, said: “My father, your children are
willing to let you have their lands, but wish to
reserve the privilege of making Sugar from the
trees, and taking fish from the lakes and rivers as
they have done before, and of remaining in the
country. Is is hard to give up the land. It will
remain and cannot be destroyed. But you may
cut the trees and others will grow up.
My father, you know we cannot live deprived
of lakes and rivers. There is some game on the
land yet and for that we wish to remain. Some-
times we scrape the trees, and eat the bark. The
Great Spirit above made all the earth, and causes
63.
it to produce that which enables us to live. Yes,
the Great Spirit above placed us on this land and
we want some benefit from the sale of it. If we
can derive none we will not sellit; and we want
that benefit ourselves. What Isay is the language
of the chiefs. I have heard many things said;
that we were going to put out the fires of the
white man, to send the white traders away. I
know nothing about it, and when I speak, it is not
with honey in my mouth. My father, your children
are rejoiced to see the Agents here to-day, one of
whom is to live on Lake Superior and the other
on the Mississippi to keep peace in the country.
We are pleased that our young men, women, and
children may go home with their hearts glad.
We will wait to hear what you offer us for our
lands and then make you our answer.
The treaty was concluded, by which a large
purchase was made, comprising the pine lands of
Wisconsin and Minnesota from whence we derive
our abundant supplies of lumber,
The year 1838 was marked by a degree of
prosperity unequalled by any since the settlement
of Dubuque. Farms in the vicinity began to be
improved; the mines yielded their richest treas-
ures, immigration continued to swell the popula-
tion, and ſlie broad Mississippi, bore away on its
current more than six million pounds of lead.
64
The Misssissippi! Its very name is associated
with all our ideas of wostern grandeur and sub-
limity. One of its historical recollections will ev-
er be, that somewhere in its winding tide are de-
posited the bones of Fernando De Soto, its first
discoverer. Here, the Governor of Cuba, the suc-
cessful associate and compeer of Pizarro, bowed
down by disappointment and wasting melancholy,
was buried by his faithful followers. Those
rough soldiers pronounced, his eulogy, while
priests chanted over his body the first re-
quiems that were ever heard on the waters of
the Mississippi. To conceal his death, his body
was wrapped in a mantle, and in the stillness
of midnight, as Mr. Bancroft says, was silently
sunk in the middle of the stream. The dis-
coverer of the Mississippi slept beneath its
waters. No man to this day can tell of his
resting place. We know only this, that the
mighty stream is at once his monument and
sepulcher.
In June the Legislative Assembly of our terri-
tory was convened at Burlington. It continued
in session until the third day of July, when the act
dividing Wisconsin took effect, and we entered in-
to a separate territorial organization. About this
time a few wandering and dissipated Winnebago
Indians, perhaps two hundred in number, were
65
encamped on the island opposite the town. In
the night a few loafers went to the Indian lodges
for base purposes. But being resisted by the In-
dians and Squaws, a conflict arose in which one
squaw was killed and some of the rowdy white
men wounded. The ringleader, a Mr. Singleton,
who was supposed to be the one who committed
the deed, fled the country, and thus evaded the
law and the punishment of his crime. But the
Indians were not so easily appeased. They de-
manded satisfaction for the outrage, and for a long
time kept the citizens in great alarm ; fearing the
vengeance of the Indians whose custom is blood
for blood. They were finally appeased by pres-
ents and departed on their western way. About
this time a young dissolute fellow by the name of
Washington Hyde murdered one Patrick Murray by
striking him to the heart with a large bowie knife.
The scene took place in Mr. Simplot's grocery
store on Main street, in open day light; the parties
being both somewhat intoxicated, harsh words
passed between them, Hyde drew the knife and in
ten seconds, poor Murray was no more. After
committing the deed, Hyde fled to the river with
the view of crossing the ferry, with the bloody
instrument of death still reeking in his hand. He
was overtaken, after a desperate resistance, and cap-
9
66
tured by the infuriated populace. He would have
then and there paid the forfeit of his life but for
the prompt and timely interference of the officers
of the law. His trial came on however, in due
time. He was found guilty by the jury, and
Judge Wilson pronounced the sentence of death.
But before the day of execution, the clemency of
Governor Chambers was interposed and his sen-
tence commuted to seven years hard labor in the
penitentiary of Fort Madison, and he was subse-
quently pardoned before the time expired.
Nearly half the lands of Dubuque County hav-
ing been reserved from sale as mineral lands, one
Mr. John Flanegan sought and finally obtained in
1842, an appointment as Superintendent of the
lead mines in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Un-
der his control the obsolete system of leasing
the mines to miners and smelters was sought to be
revived. But the citizens generally refused to
recognize any right on the part of the Govern-
ment to lease them, and thus endeavor to raise a
revenue from the hard earnings of the new settlers.
Fublic meetings were held to memorialize Con-
gress to bring these lands into market the Same as
other land, but for a long time our efforts were
unavailing. The Government agents continued to
harrass the people and finally to bring some of the
67
oldest and most favored miners and smelters before
the courts of the country as trespassers. But five
cents damage being the award of the Jury who
tried the cases, and a heavy bill of costs to Gov-
ernment being the consequence ; the lands were
finally in 1846, offered at public sale, and by aid
of claim societies, secured to the inhabitants.
One case under the old fugitive slave laws oc-
curred, which may be of interest now. It ap-
pears that a negro, by the name of Ralph,
came to Dubuque from Missouri by consent of his
master to work in the mines. After residing here
for several years until 1839, his former owner
came and claimed him as a slave, alleging that
Ralph had not fulfilled an agreement to pay for
himself. By precept from a Justice of the Peace,
he was delivered to the claimant, who was about
taking him on board of a boat, when some of our
liberty-loving citizens, not having the fear of be-
ing called abolitionists before their eyes, applied to
Judge Wilson for a writ of habeas corpus. Judge
Wilson referred the case, by consent of parties, to
Judge Mason presiding in the Federal District
Court, then recently organized for our territory.
As it was proved that Ralph came to Dubuque by
consent of his master, it was decided that he was
entitled to his fregdom. A report of this case, in
§§
which the Court referred to the Ordinance of 1787
and the act of Congress of 1820, prohibiting slavery
north of thirty six degrees thirty minutes may be
found in Morris' Reports. It was the first case
tried in that court.
There lived in Dubuque, in 1839, a negro by the
name of Nathaniel, or Nat, as he was generally
called, together with his family, free people of col-
or, and of ordinary good behavior. But it chanc-
ed that Nat was suspected of stealing some trifling
articles about the house in which he was em-
ployed. Col. Paul Cain, James Campton, and
Some others of our citizens seized upon Nat, and
took him out to a secluded place, tied him, and
commenced whipping him with raw hides in order
to make him confess the theft, and disclose where
the stolen property was secreted. This the negro
could not, or would not do. They continued to
flog the poor man, first One of them, and then ano-
ther, while he, all the time was pleading for mer-
cy, and asservating his innocence. Under a mista-
ken zeal, and with entire ignorance, perhaps, of the
injury they were inflicting, or, with reason blinded
by prejudice, they actually continued the flogging
until fainting ensued; this even they took to be a
pretense, until at length the negro became entirely
exhausted, and shortly afterwards expired. He
69
was was brought back a corpse to his own cabin
and left with his children and weeping wife
Charlotte. No doubt the men who inflicted this
wrong, regretted their rashness and folly when too
late. They were tried in our courts for murder,
but acquitted on the ground of not intending so
great an outrage. But the case furnishes ample
proof, if any were wanted, that the story in Uncle
Tom’s Cabin is not all a fiction, that some men
consider negroes, oxen, women and mules of like
endurance and fit subjects for the cruel master's
lash.
In 1843 a most ludicrous affair occurred. A
villainous fellow palmed himself upon the people
of Buchanan County as the renowned patriot and
celebrated hero of the thousand isles, Bill Johnson,
This man, with his daughter Miss Kate Johnson,
was suspected, it seems, of being any other than
the far-famed Canadian patriot, by the citizens of
Buchanan County, who thought fit to take John-
son out in the night, tie him to a tree and whip
him severely with fifty lashes on his naked back.
The offenders were arraigned before Judge Wil-
son. The court house was crowded by hundreds
of eager spectators who listened with intense in-
terest to the proceedings; all anxious to see the
laws of our country administered ſailliſully. The
7()
prisoners names were Evans, Spencer, Parrish,
and Rowley, charged with burglary and riot. It
appeared that these defendants accompanied by
several other white men and five or six Indians
after lynching Johnson, ordered him and his
daughter to pack up their goods and be offin two
hours, and not to return at the peril of their lives.
Great sympathy was felt for this Johnson and the
two tender females of his household, who were
thrown out in the depth of winter and obliged to
travel twenty-five miles over a cold and bleak
prairie; so cold that it froze one of the lynchers
themselves to death, another lost his feet, and sev-
eral others were severely frozen. The citizens
here, declared that Johnson looked as if he was
born to command, and betokened in every action
that he was the same old Bill Johnson, the hero
of the thousand isles, the Canadian patriot, and
the great friend of human liberty and republican
institutions; while all the young bloods of the
town declared that Miss Kate Johnson was a very
intelligent and interesting young lady, with rare ac-
complishments, agreeable manners and the wor-
thy daughter of a gallant sire. The case was
conducted on the part of the prosecution by
James Crawford, and General James Wilson ; on
the part of the defense by James Churchman, and
7 I
J. M. Proston; the counsel on both sides in their
speeches were truly eloquent, they were fine ef-
forts of legal talent and so great was the interest
taken in this trial that the ladies attended in good-
ly numbers until a late hour at night, determined
to hear all the proceedings and speeches to which
the occasion gave rise. Miss Kate Johnson re-
received great attention and unequalled ad-
miration as the celebrated heroine and daughter
of the renowned patriot of the thousand isles.
The jury after being out a short time returned a
verdict of guilty; one was sentenced to the peni-
tentiary for two years and the others to a fine of
two hundred dollars which imprisonment and
fines however were afterwards remitted; for.
lo! and behold ! the next thing we hear of the he-
ro of the isles, is that he has grossly imposed
himself upon the citizens of the place, he being
a different man altogether from the Bill
Johnson whom he represented, of a different name
and style of character, a great thief and scoundrel.
Letters were received showing these facts. The
next news received from him by our crest fallen
beaux of Dubuque, was that a Mr. Peck, a re-
spectable man in in Mahaska county, the place to
which the family had removed, fell in love with
Johnson's daughter, the heroic Kate, who return-
73
ed his love. But old Bill would not give his con
sent to the marriage. So the two turtles fled to an
adjoining county where they were united in bonds
matrimonial. It was some time before the reputed
father knew where his reputed daughter had gone.
But as soonas he did, he pursued her and enter-
ed the house of Peck with pistol in hand took
her away unmolested. But a few days after-
wards while Johnson was sitting in his own house
he was shot through the heart with a rifle ball
from between the chinks of the logs. Peck was
arrested, but on trial acquitted. The lineage of
the heroine was traced back to an obscure family
in Ohio, her history and romance closing alike
in contempt and infamy.
The young swains, and especially the editorial
gallants, who were so greatly enamored with the
charms of Miss Katharina Johnson, while in our
city often rallied each other afterwards on the
subject; and some who appeared from their news-
paper eulogies to be the most moon-struck while
the romance lasted, and had written the largest
amount of very soft poetry on the lovely daughter
of the hero of the thousand Isles, were the first to
forget the object of their adoration, Alas for the
fickleness of man's affection and the mutability of
his attachments.
73
In the winter of 1843, the charter of the
Miners' Bank was repealed by the Legislature.
Thomas Rogers, Esq., had the honor-and renown
of killing the little giant; thus putting an end to
the exciting question which had been continued in
regard to this Bank. The institution was char-
tered by the Legislature of Wisconsin, and might
have been useful, if its affairs had been conducted
with honest prudence. But from its first exis-
tence up to the time of its final overthrow, there
seems to have been bad management. There was
an alleged violation of its privileges soon after its
first Organization; afterwards it suspended specie
payments; then it fell into the hands of the Illi-
mois State Bank, under the control of Major Mob-
ley, who might have succeeded in making its
credit good again, but for the failure of the owners
themselves in Illinois, and the consequent inter-
ference of the Legislative authority. The case has
since been litigated in the courts of the country, and
decided against the validity of the charter. Many
amusing anecdotes might be given of matters
transpiring within the Bank during the first years
of its operation, but I forbear.
The Indians on our border settlements, west of
Dubuque, committed many depredations during
this winter, by stealing and robbing. They also
murdered Mr. Tegardner and his partner Mr.
lſ) - “ : 2:
& y tº .
* : * * * * *
* > *
"- º
74
*Atwood, and severely wounded a son of the for-
mer. This was done at might, at their trading-house.
which was set on fire, and with the bodies of the
dead men, was consumed. Three Indians charg—
ed with the crime were captured, and remained in:
our jail a long time before their trial. Wah-con-
chaw-kaw (big Indian,) was convicted and sentenc-
ed to imprisonment for life. Haw-ka-he-kaw was
killed by the former in the jail, the only reason
given by the self-appointed executioner being that
“so great a liar ought not to live.” The third, by the
name of George, was acquitted. It is a singular fact
that several Indians who escaped from our jail,
voluntarily returned, probably, because they had
been given up as criminals and outlaws by their
native tribes.
On Christmas Day, 1843, Mrs. Butterworth,
aged one hundred and seventeen years attended
the Catholic Church, accompanied by the Mayor of
the city as a mark of respect to her. She seemed
remarkably active and conversed upon the events
which transpired more than a hundred years
before, in her native land. She remembered dis-
tinctly the battle of Culloden, and the time when
the Pretender escaped into Ireland for a refuge
from his pursuers. A few years before, she
danced quite briskly at the wedding of her son,
in the green old age of more than a century,
75
This is a remarkable case of longevity, the ſun
period of her life reaching to one hundred and
twenty years.
At this time a young man by the name of Ast
Downs, who had improved a farm near wher.
Matthew McNair's diggings are, had prepared tº
make a visit to his parents in his native place, ii.
the State of New York, and had by hard work.
and strict economy accumulated money sufficient
for the expenses of the journey. A day was fixed
upon to leave, he disappeared from the community,
but after some time letters were received from his
friends in New York, stating that he had not
arrived, and asking also for information concern-
ing him. This led to the suspicion that he had
been murdered by the man whom he left in
charge of his house and farm, which undoubtedly
was the case, no trace of him having ever since
been found. Diligent search was made about
the premises by Sheriff Stewart, and the suspected
man examined, but no satisfactory information was
obtained.
In 1841, our belligerent governor, Robert Lu-
cas, became embroiled in a desperate affair with
the Governor of Missouri, about the jurisdiction of
of their respective powers, and as our old Ohio
war-horse could brook no curb or rule incompati
ble with the dignity of Iowa, he called upon th9.
; :-
X- ...]”
* *
76
the militia by a proclamation something like the
grand eloquent appeals made to the people of N ew
Amsterdam by the renowned Sir Wouter Van
Twiller, of Knickerbocker motoriety, and partak-
ing somewhat of the character of another Dutch
Governor, Peter Stuyvesant, surnamed Peter the
Headstrong, with his sturdy trumpeter Anthony
Van Corlear. In the language of another “Like
as awar worn charger, while sporting in peaceful
plains, if by chance he hears the strains of mar-
tial music, pricks up his ears, and snorts, and
paws, and kindles at the sound, so did the heroic
soul of the testy governor joy to hear the clangor
of the trumpet. There was nothing in all the
world that more rejoiced his heart than to hear the
pleasant sound of war, and see the soldiers bran-
dish forth their steel weapons.” So our governor
on all proper occasions delighted to rejoice the
people with warlike melody, thereby keeping alive
a noble and martial spirit. -
As I said, the old Governor put forth a call
upon all the hardy sons of Fowa with their brave
Generals and leading men, to muster and march
to the border. The Missourians had invaded our
rights, trampled upon our laws, and disturbed
our hitherto undisputed jurisdiction over all the
soil to Mason and Dixon's line. Brigadier
General Warner Lewis, the chief officer in com.
*-
77
mand of the military forces of Dubuque, together
with Col. Paul Cain, second in rank, Major
David Slater and Captain George Shannon were
not slow to obey the summons to the field of
honor. They, as well as the inferior officers,
soon aroused the martial ardor of the militia,
who instantly flocked under the standard of their
country. Here they were drilled, marched, and
countermarched until their evolutions became
complete. Armed with pickaxes, guns, fence
stakes, and shovels, they could not fail to make
an imposing show. The officers on horse back
in full uniform, galloped along the lines cheering
and animating their men for the coming encounters,
while their orders were given with that coolness
and precision which marks the truly heroic soul
when about to try the fortunes of war; the sol-
diers in the mean time obeying with alacrity, and
ready at a moment's call to march to the field of
fame. Fair ladies lent their most bewitching
smiles, and when the advance moved forward
under-the General-in-Chief, composed of a captain,
an orderly and one private by the name of James
Churchman, they waved their handkerchiefs from
many a balcony in our proud city, and the whole
community, with one accord, cheered them onward,
and offered up forvent ejaculations that they might
return victorious from the war, that their names.
*8
'might be covered with renown, and that the fame
and honor of young Iowa might be triumphantly
vindicated. The army reached the lines in safe-
ty, after tiresome marches, when entering a gro-
cery upon the disputed territory he met the oppo-
sing host, a great raw-boned, long-armed Missour-
ian in the middle of the floor, and demanded at
once a treat of whiskey, or an unconditional sur-
render in the name of Iowa, which just and equit-
able terms being refused, forthwith our gallant
army pitched into the ranks of the enemy with
headlong impetuosity. The charge was so
vigorous, and he was so well supported with arms
and whiskey ammunition, conveyed plentifully
to the field of action, that the enemy after a
desperate resistance gave way;
They tug, they strain, down, down they go,
The “Puke" above, “our James".below.
330th armies tumbled to the ground; but the forees
of Iowa recovering, at length, succeeded in turning
the flank of the enemy, when the rout became
general, and the victory complete. Peace soon
followed this decisive engagement, and like most
wars of the world, the affairs of the two belligerent
powers remained just as they were before the war
began. For further particulars concerning this
memorable campaign I refer you to my learned
friend, Dr. Timothy Mason, who published a full
79.
account of this first and only military campaign
ordered by any of the Governors of Iowa. If I
only had this celebrated work I would delight to
give the story in his own eloquent and beautiful
style. But this work is lost I presume, at least
there is no records to be found in our city his—
tory. tº
In 1846, the war with Mexico having been
commenced by our government, the voluntees:
forces of Iowa, were called upon by their respec-
tive officers. Dubuque, as well as most other por-
tions of the State, offered her full share of citizen
soldiery, and the whole country was warmed up
with an unusual glow of patriotism. Two fine
companies of men, here, held themselves ready
upon the call of their country, to march to the
plains of Mexico. News had reached us of the
brilliant exploits of the American army at Palo
Alto and Resaca De La Palma, and our soldiers
waited with eagerness for the summons.
On the fourth day of July, the usual celebra-
tion was had, and the ladies of Dubuque having
prepared beautiful banners, presented them to the
military companies who formed for the occasion.
One banner was presented to the “Guards,” by Miss
Rachel Coriell who delivered a beautiful address;
another flag was presented to the “Rangers” by
80
Mrs. Glenat, accompanied by remarks equally
appropriate. Eloquent responses were made by
Col. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., in behalf of the
Guards, and by Captain Doughterty on the part
of the Rangers. The editorial comments in the
newspaper of the time, indicated correctly the in-
terest manifested on the occasion.
We have omitted many interesting details of
events, which are now among the things that
were ; for in the compass of only two lec-
tures, it is impossible to recite them without en-
croaching on other themes. We have seen Du-
buque as it was at first, with no white settlers
Rupon Our soil, at the time when the aboriginal
inhabitants gave way before the invading force
Anglo-Saxon enterprise, and leaving behind them
only a few rude memorials of their race and history.
We have traced the progress of our settlement
down to a time when our city may justly take its
place among the first of western cities, with a po-
pulation of nine or ten thousand thronging its
streets. Our prosperity seems to point to a glori-
ous future. Our progress has been steady, and
the importance of our location is now settled be-
yond a question. Some future historian will col-
lect the facts we have referred to, notice our pro-
gress in the present, and record the history of
8i
fubuque as a part of our national greatness.
Perhaps some of our legends will be sung in
poetic lays, and help to swell the anthems of a na-
tion's melody.
In relation to our commerce and institutions,
we have not time to give statistics; it is sufficient
to say, fbat, with a rapidly increasing population,
Our city possesses all the main elements of civili-
zation and refinement. The fact, that eleven
churches and a number of schools, besides literary
and scientific societies, are sustained by our citi-
zens, indicates we can already offer to immigrants
the advantages of older cities, and that we have
all the social and intellectual resources of the
Atlantic States. Let us, then, feel a pride in
building up our Literary institutions. Let us lay
their foundation broad and deep in the affections of
our people, that Dubuque may become as justly
celebrated for her seminaries of learning, as for
her mineral wealth; and by diffusing the riches of
knowledge, and the light of science become the
very Athens of the West. Yes, Ladies and Gen-
tlemen, let us foster every means of culture for
our youth, as the richest gift we can bestow on
them now, or the dearest legacy we can leave
them. Who knows but the embryo blossoms of
genius equal to those distinguishing the names of
Mrs. Hemans, or Mrs. Stowe may not now be
Illiſ. II
8:3
expanding within the walls of that beautiful ed
fice, the Female College of Dubuque; or who can
tell whether there may not be lads now pursu-
ing studies under the guardian care of learned
professors in Alexander College, and whose fu-
ture career may reflect honor upon their native
city. and even fame upon our nation. Let us
cherish the educational interests of our city, and
remember that good schools are inseparably con-
nected with our civil and religious liberty. We
shall thus leave in the means of culture of the
head and the heart, living monuments to perpe-
tuate our memory, of greater value than our mines
of ore, more enduring than the bluffs that surround
us, and which, in the history of the future, will
make Dubuque remain the pride of the Mississippi
valley.
s'
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