USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 43
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The settlements made up to this year had seemed to follow the course of the river, but thence onward, the county became generally inhabited, and settle- ments tended into the interior. Men commenced to take up lands for farming, comparatively remote from the future city. John Bankson, Willis Thompson and others settled at Bankson's Prairie. Between Dubuque and Cascade sturdy farmers took up their abode, including Messrs. Wyatt and Lytton, whose farm is still known as the "Old Lytton place." Dougherty and McCabe also settled in that vicinity. Rockville was founded by Kibby, O. H. Olmstead and others.
Henry Hunter first made a settlement in Washington Township. He was born in Kentucky, but came quite early to Missouri, thence removing to Galena in 1828, and to the Dubuque mines in 1833. A Mr. Higgins and family, with others, made claims soon afterward, and remained for many years pros- perous cultivators of the soil.
All the remaining townships of the county began to be settled about this period by a substantial class of inhabitants, who have continued to occupy the grounds from the time their claims were made. Out of the almost impenetrable wilderness the rose has blossomed, and, where the wild beasts rested undisturbed, is now heard the song of the farmer and the hum of machinery.
Adam Sherrill and brother, Garry White and others, first located themselves at Sherrill's mound, so called in their honor. They discovered remunerative diggings near by, and the settlement established by them became a central point in Jefferson Township.
John Floyd came to Dubuque in 1833, and, in 1836, removed to Pin Oak, in Concord Township, where he kept a tavern for many years. Holy Cross, near by, is a place of note as the site of a Catholic church, around which soon clustered a large number of German and Irish settlers.
In 1835, John Sherman made a claim to the water-power and settled in Cascade Township. He associated Arthur Thomas with him and built a custom flouring-mill on the Maquoketa, on a section of land not surveyed, since laid out by Thomas Chew as an addition to the village. Cascade proper was first taken up by Mr. De Long, who laid claim to the ground, but afterward sold it to Caleb Buckman, who laid out the first village, called West Cascade.
Some time after this period, say in 1845, Thomas Chew rented the water- power, including the mill and adjacent improvements, valued at $8,000, at which rate he purchased the property subsequently, comprising the quarter- section upon which East Cascade now stands. The freshet of 1861 swept away the first mill, and he erected a valuable mill in its place.
Jacob Hamilton settled in Whitewater, and erected buildings at the place now known as Fillmore Post Office. Jacob Kitler located further south in the same township.
The first settler of Dodge Township was old Mr. Kibby, who established himself there this year (1836). He distinctly remembered Gen. Washington, and was a witness of the battle of Bunker Hill. A true frontiersman, he selected this spot because it seemed to be beyond any of the settlements in the
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county, and for many years officiated as the Boniface of a public house. His numerous descendants were of similar temperament and adventurous spirit. One of them, Lucius, emigrated to Kansas during the border troubles, where a party of ruffians attacked him on the plea that he was an Abolitionist. He killed one, dispersed the rest, and, fleeing, remained away until Kansas was rescued from the slave power.
Chauncey Swan made a valuable discovery of mineral near Catfish, about two miles southwest of Dubuque, and will long be remembered as the proprietor of a hotel at Iowa City, where the members of the Legislature were wont to pass their time during the session.
The population at this time was in many respects unlike that of most com- munities, and remains so even at the present day. Emigrants flowed in from all parts of the world-every petty European power and each of the States of the Union were duly represented. Meeting for the first time, they soon assimi- lated in feelings and opinions, for circumstances innumerable rendered mutual support indispensable. In a new country there will always be a necessity for the exercise of all the quiet virtues and pleasures of social life.
The next event of importance was the issue of the first number of the Dubuque Visitor, bearing date Wednesday, May 11, 1836.
After the first difficult struggles which every new community puts forth for its existence are accomplished, after its every-day necessities are satisfied and its physical requirements supplied, the mind craves nourishment. Its demands are at first modest and unheard among the stern realities of frontier life. But ere long its tones grow clamorous and compel attention. To supply this mental need, Mr. King put forth the Visitor, and a welcome visitor it proved, as the record of events of great import to the public almost daily transpiring.
Not long after the passage of the bill dividing Michigan Territory into separate governments, a citizen addressed a communication to the Visitor in which he treated of the "future of Iowa," which was the first time the name was ever used in connection with the title to the future State.
By an act of Congress, approved April 30, 1836, and taking effect July 3 following, the territory now comprising the States of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota was organized as Wisconsin Territory. The territory known as the Black Hawk purchase was divided into two counties, Dubuque and Des Moines, and at the first census, taken the same year, the population numbered 10,531.
About this time the birth of a babe in the family of a miner, residing in Heeb's bottom, not only appreciated the population beyond the number returned by the census, but occasioned the greatest excitement among his colaborers. The advent of the child having been promulgated, miners to the number of about two hundred formed in a body, and, marching to the house wherein the new-comer was being entertained, received a hospitable welcome, but refused to depart until the young child and its mother were personally congratulated, which being conceded, the crowd withdrew.
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
The first public observance of the Declaration of American Independence by celebration occurred on July 4 of this year.
The officers of the day were: Dr. S. Langworthy, President ; P. Quig- ley, J. M. Harrison, Dr. T. Mason and W. C. Jones, Vice Presidents ; Rev. S. Mazzuchelli, Chaplain ; Hon M. H. Prentice, Reader; William W. Coriell, Orator, and E. Lockwood and D. Gillilan, Marshals. At 11 o'clock in the morning a procession was formed, under the direction of the Marshals, and
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marched to the Catholic Church, where, after divine service and the reading of the Declaration of Independence, Mr. Coriell delivered an eloquent and impres- sive address. At its conclusion, the procession was again formed and marched to the green in front of the town, where a dinner was discussed and toasts drank. Among the volunteer toasts were the subjoined :
By Dr. Langworthy-" The young and rising Territory of Wisconsin- her perfect organization a sure guarantee for our future prosperity and happi- ness.'
By the Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli-" May the American Republic be last- ing and glorious and powerful, and may Wisconsin Territory, whose birthday we celebrate, be shortly not inferior to any of the States."
By W. W. Coriell-" Dubuque, the future capital of Wisconsin."
By Patrick Quigley-" The Territory of Wisconsin-a new and beautiful barque this day launched upon the ocean of self-government; her crew intrepid and patriotic sons of freemen, her officers vigorous and efficient. May her voyage be short and prosperous until she is moored in the constitutional harbor of unity and sovereignty."
By James McCabe-" May the veins of mineral in the bowels of Wiscon- sin last as long as the Government of the United States, and the Government forever."
By J. King-" The Miners and Smelters of the Upper Mississippi Lead Mines-may Dame Fortune shower upon them her favors according to their enterprise, virtue and intelligence."
By A. Coriell-" The Miners and Mines of Wisconsin."
By Leroy Jackson-" The Fair of Wisconsin-not excelled in beauty, may they ere long not be surpassed in numbers."
By J. M. Harrison-" Gen. Samuel Houston."
By David Sleator-" The Liberality of Americans to Emigrants.
By William Blake-" Irish Emigrants."
By Judge Prentice-" Dubuque.'
By Samuel W. Masters-" May the Eagle of America never lose a feather."
By W. B. Green, William Cardiff, Charles Corkery and Stephen Hemp- stead-" Wisconsin."
By Eli Chittenden-Gov. Dodge and the people of Wisconsin."
By B. F. Davis, of Peru-" May the mills, be dammed, the iron blasted and the manufactures of America be consumed."
By William Hutton-" Henry Clay, of Kentucky."
By E. Lockwood-"The Orator of the Day."
By Dr. Mason-" Our Fellow-citizen, Stephen Hempstead."
By Michael Norton-" The United States of America."
By William Allen and W. Lewis-"George W. Jones."
By H. W. Sanford-" The Heroes of Texas."
By Davis Gillilan-" Washington."
By W. C. Jones-"The Squatters on Black Hawk Purchase."
By Peter Davis-" Daniel O'Connell."
By D. F. Blythe-" The Pioneers of the West."
By T. C. Fassitt-" The Land we Live in and the Homes we Left." By Capt. F. Gehon-" The Fourth Day of July."
By Judge King-" Woman-were it not for woman our infancy would be without succor, our age without relief, our manhood without enjoyment, and Dubuque without an inhabitant."
7
I Me, Langmethy
DUBUQUE.
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
This closed the day's ceremonies, which are remembered by the numbered few who still live to recall them to mind.
But this was not the only celebration on that day in what is now the city of Dubuque. An enthusiastic meeting of citizens convened for a similar object near a spring of clear water in the valley of Bee Branch. These, with that held on the same day at Mineral Point, were probably the first of the kind held in Wisconsin Territory.
At the barbecue held in the valley of Bee Hollow on that day, Paul Cain acted as President ; L. H. Langworthy as Vice President, and A. N. Mills, G. W. Cummins, Antoine Loire and Sylvester Saucier as Marshals. John G. Hewlitt delivered the oration, Simeon Clark officiated as Chaplain, and L. H. Langworthy read the Declaration. After the exercises, the dinner, which was furnished by Hayden Gilbert, Lucius H. Langworthy, William Carter and Paul Cain, was enjoyed in true barbecue style. The usual thirteen toasts were drank, and thirty volunteer sentiments offered by H. T. Camp, Thomas Child, R. Estes, H. H. Reas, John Parker, Calvin Roberts, John Davis, Sam- uel Johnson, John Morrison, L. H. Langworthy, John S. Lorain, Paul Cain, Simeon Clark, S. Saucier, Daniel Carson, John A. Streight, L. Dillon, Risdon Smith, Edward McArin and L. De Celles. Some of these still live ; many have gone to distant points, and not a few sleep beneath the shade of the trees that line the beautiful river.
July of this year was a month of events rather out of the ordinary channel in which the lives of citizens had theretofore drifted. These included the celebrations quoted, the laying of the corner-stone of the First Presbyterian Church, the entertainment to Gov. Dodge, the cowhiding of Dr. John B. Stoddard the younger by J. M. Harrison, etc. The dinner was given on the 16th of the month, largely attended, and many toasts given, to one of which the Governor responded most happily. The day following, Gen. George W. Jones returned from Washington, and, on July 21, declined the tender of a similar compliment.
The corner-stone was laid on Wednesday, July 13, in the presence of Chief Justice Dunn, and, while it lacked much of the pomp and circumstance which would have marked a similar occurrence in older communities, it was solemn, impressive and instructive from its simplicity.
A procession was formed about 4 o'clock, and, preceded by a band of music, proceeded to the site of the church. After the assembly had been called to order, a hymn was sung, prayer by Mr. Benjamin Rupert was offered, followed with an eloquent address by Dr. T. Mason, when the corner-stone was placed in position. Among the articles deposited previous to being sealed, were a copy of the Visitor, a memorandum recording the current events of the day, and a copy of the church subscription list. The edifice was built of stone, completed in 1837, and cost upward of $3,000. It was built by Rupert & Jones and Abram Kline, and still stands on its original site on Locust street, between Sixth and Seventh, now furnishing a place of worship for African Methodists.
On the 23d of the same month, a meeting of the stockholders of the Wisconsin Hotel Company was held at the Tontine House for the purpose of selecting a site and plans for the building. E. Lockwood, T. C. Fassitt, Augustus Coriell, John King, William Myers, J. L. Langworthy, Hiram Loomis and James Cox participated in the proceedings, but the enterprise failed.
D
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
One afternoon in the latter part of the month, Dr. Stoddard met J. M. Harrison at the corner of Locust and Third streets, and, becoming involved in a dispute, raised a cowhide he carried when making his visits on horseback, and attempted to castigate the latter. But Mr. Harrison felled the Esculapian with a blow, and, securing possession of the "gad," inflicted a punishment as severe as it was humiliating.
Between 1833 and 1836, the graveyard selected by the committee at the time of the cholera epidemic, except that portion afterward and now called Jackson Square, became the property of individuals and the Catholic Church. These private claims on lands laid out for public uses were the causes of many troubles and much contention during the latter year.
For the purpose of putting a period to these exciting causes, a public meeting of the citizens was held at the Methodist Church, on Saturday, August 13, 1836, at which James Smith presided, L. H. Langworthy acted as Secretary, and it was resolved to fence in the original burial place as selected by James Langworthy, Thomas McCraney, and H. T. Camp. Messrs. John Ewing, H. T. Camp and James Smith were appointed to solicit subscriptions, and P. A. Lorimier, E. Lockwood and William Myers, a committee to locate a cemetery in some convenient place, to remain the property of the community. The cemetery was finally located at the present site of Jackson Square, whither the bodies interred in the mooted ground were removed, and reposed undisturbed until Linwood was chosen as Dubuque's necropolis.
Another feature of the experiences of 1836 was the number and vastness of veins of ore discovered. These included one by the O'Mara boys, two miles northwest of Dubuque ; one by David Sleater, fifty yards south of his old lode ; the Sleater diggings, which were thought to have become exhausted, were again discovered east of the original opening, by O'Ferrall, Cox & Co., and west by the Messrs. Gilliam.
Along the Cave, Bee and Langworthy Valleys, valuable mines were operated by Orrin Smith, and Emory, Suttrell & Co., McCabe & Brophy, the Messrs. Langworthy and Kilbourn & Co.
George Ames, Fred Dixon, Myers & Co., Morrison & Co., Ragan & Co., and James Fanning worked mines on the Catfish.
A mine on the Maquoketa, called " The Cave," Sherman, Bowen & Co.'s and Hogan's mines, in the same locality, were also labored in with gratifying results. In fact, the mining interests had increased from 1833, and the leads found proved more extensive and valuable than any others in the entire mining district of the Upper Mississippi.
The Catholic Church, built by subscription, was completed for worship this year, and was at that time the largest in the country.
At the first election of members of the Council and Representatives, held on the 10th of October in the same year, Dubuque County embraced all the northern half of the State, and was by the estimate of population entitled to five members in the House of Representatives, with three in the Council.
The following election precincts were declared as polls by the Governor in his proclamation :
All the town of Dubuque, at the house of Robert Bourne ; on the head- waters of the Catfish, at the house of Col. Camp; on Turkey River, at the house of Robert Hatfield ; at Prairie La Porte, Durango, Belleview, and on the North Fork of the Maquoketa, at the house of Mr. Hamilton ; at Higgins' Port at the upper end of the Rapids, at Brophy's Ferry, and on Cedar River,
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
where voters resided, provision was made for their exercise of the elective franchise.
Dubuque Town polled 621 votes out of 1,031 recorded in the county, and the election resulted as follows; G. W. Jones, Delegate to Congress ; John Foley, Thomas McCraney and Thomas McKnight, Members of the Council ; Loring Wheeler, Hardin Nowlin, H. T. Camp, P. H. Engle and Patrick Quigley, of the House of Representatives ; and George W. Cummins, Sheriff.
The total vote of the several counties included in Wisconsin Territory was stated at 3,476, which indicated a population of 5,155 in Dubuque County, there being a large proportion of voters to the non-voting population, including females, children, etc. As the General Government paid the Territorial ex- penses, neither were assessments made nor taxes gathered from the people who were but partially enumerated, and that for purposes of equalization in appor- tioning the representation. Judicial districts were created by law about this time, and Dubuque, with other counties, composed the Third District.
It was confidently believed that Dubuque would be selected as the seat of government, to which it was entitled by reason of its central position and other advantages. But the speculators of Belmont and Madison controlled the decis- ion, and on October 25, 1836, the Legislature convened at the former place, in obedience to the Governor's proclamation in that behalf, issued on the 9th of the previous September. The residents of Dubuque County condemned this decision most earnestly, and the Governor's actions were caustically criticised in the columns of the Visitor. The Executive visited Dubuque, however, on the 4th of November, accompanied by Councilmen Smith, Ingraham, Teas, Knapp, Sweet, Foley, McCraney and McKnight, and Representatives Reynolds, Teas, Quigley, Chance, Jenkins, Wheeler, Sheldon, Child, Smith, Byles, Shanley, Engle, Camp and Nolan. They were met at the ferry landing by a committee of citizens, and escorted to Graffort's Hotel, where they sat down to a dinner, being detained the entire day in the discussion of the menu, and by other attractive solicitations. On the succeeding Sunday, Representative Reynolds officiated in the pulpit of the Methodist Church in the evening, his colleague, Mr. Teas, preaching in the morning. Accounts of these circum- stances published at the time furnish a warrant for the conclusion that the discourses were eloquent and thrilling, and listened to with rapt attention by an immense congregation.
On Monday morning, the 21st of November, great excitement prevailed in Dubuque, consequent upon the report that Capt. Edward White, residing out- side the town limits, had been shot and mortally wounded by Dr. John B. Stoddard, the younger. Deceased lived on the hill, near the present residence of John Simplot, whither Dr. Stoddard rode for the purpose of looking at some land he had taken up. He found a negro upon the property, who also claimed title by virtue of a previous occupancy. On the approach of Stoddard, the negro retreated to the house, and procuring the presence of Capt. White, returned to the field to dispute its possession. A dispute arose between the latter and Stoddard, as a result of which Capt. White received a load of buck-shot in the thigh, from the effects of which he died on the following Wednesday, leaving a wife and family to mourn his un- timely fate. Dr. Stoddard was immediately arrested, and arraigned before Justice T. Mason, who, after investigating the facts, admitted him to bail, but before the cause came to trial the accused left the country. He, as was subse- quently learned, took his wife (who was the Widow Peck previous to marrying the Doctor, and a daughter of Dr. John Stoddard) and emigrated to Texas.
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
During the summer of 1848 he returned to Dubuque, which coming to thie knowledge of a son of the deceased White (then employed by William Carter), the latter sought him out, threatening to shoot Stoddard on sight. But Stod- dard, warned of the threatenings by A. H. Harrison and others, again left Dubuque, and, returning to Texas, became a permanent resident of that State.
During this year, John Plumbe, Jr., commenced in person, and at his own expense, a survey of the route for a railroad from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean, directing the public attention to its importance by several well-written articles in the newspapers of the day. In 1838, he succeeded-through the influence of the Hon. George W. Jones-in procuring from Congress an appro- priation to defray the expenses of locating the first division of the line; devoting his entire attention, and making constant exertions to promote this great national object.
Thus was devised, by a citizen of Dubuque, the first grand scheme of a great national highway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and a portion of the road surveyed by the Government. Asa Whitney proposed a plan superior to that submitted by Mr. Plumbe, and devoted his time and efforts for years, in urging the subject upon the attention of Congress. His plan was approved by seventeen States, and the great mass of the American people, but the Government, deaf to every call of patriotism, still refused to grasp the glit- tering prize of a world's ambition-the trade of China, Japan and the Oriental islands.
The population of Dubuque in the fall of 1836 was estimated at 1,300; there were then 4 principal streets, 7 cross streets, 50 stores and groceries, 55 dwellings, and the Miners' Bank, then chartered. The population was a mixed mass of English, French, German, Irish, Scotch and Americans, each steadily pursuing his own business, independent of his neighbor, and laying the founda- tion for a prosperity that is the most prominent factor in Dubuque County to-day.
The city calaboose was completed this year, and proposals for the building of the County Court House directed to be advertised for. John Johnson also built the first two-story brick house in town, being a part of the present Ger- mania House, on Main street, to the rear of which Loomis & Wheeler built a brick smoke-house.
In addition to those already mentioned as having settled in Dubuque during 1836, the following also claim recognition as coming in that year: Mrs. L. Litten, S. Hempstead, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Booth, E. and C. Brady, P. Will- iamson, C. F. Guerin, Mr. and Mrs. John Kries, Jr., William Newman, G. W. Goldthorpe, G. W. Starr, A. Kline, Dr. J. W. Finley, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Morheiser, Mrs. John Floyd, V. de Lorimier, Mrs. A. Mann, Mr. and Mrs. M. McNair, John Blake, Mrs. T. Davis, Mrs. J. W. Markle, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gregoire, J. Kreis, T. S. Wilson, C. J. Leist, M. McNamara, T. Mason, G. Karrick, William Wilde, John Burton, I. N. Higbee.
In the year 1835, a company was organized in Philadelphia for removal to the young Territory of Iowa, or what was then known at the East as Michigan Terri- tory, intending to build up a town of their own. They were governed by a consti- tution and by-laws, and those who united and left the East were assured by the persons who had charge of the same, that funds would be supplied to render these plans successful. In the spring of 1836, mill-buhrs were purchased and shipped to Dubuque, and, in the month of April, nineteen members of the company left Philadelphia for the West, landing at Dubuque on the 15th of May following. A number began exploring the country for a location, but
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
before any was selected the company backing them failed. The company property was then sold, its proceeds divided among the members, and all returned to Philadelphia, except the following persons, who were known as the Philadelphia colony and gave the first decided impetus to Dubuque : R. Rit- tenhouse and wife, R. Rogers and wife and wife's sister, Elizabeth Reed, now Mrs. Joseph Ogilby, J. T. Fales and wife, S. Blackwell and wife, H. L. Stout, Joseph Ogilby, B. F. Davis and wife, E. S. E. Davis and wife ; Amos Mathews, Abel Mathews and Benjamin Rupert, whose wife and family came in the spring of 1837. Mr. Peter A. Lorimier, in the summer of 1836, deeded all his ground north of Tenth, from Main to Bluff streets, to the Philadelphia colony for $200.
Among the announcements made in the Dubuque Visitor of January 17, 1837, was one promulgating new mineral discoveries. A large lead had been found a few days previous within one mile of town, by Mr. O'Farrell ; also a rich vein by Saucier & Morrison, about half a mile from town ; another by Taylor, Nix & Co., near Center Grove, while at Van Buren, ten miles north, a profitable mine was opened. In all of these, the veins ran east and west, and the ore was found in blocks.
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