USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 45
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This year the birthdays of American Independence and Wisconsin were celebrated in a manner befitting the occasion Dr. Stephen Langworthy was President, Patrick Quigley, Milo H. Prentice and John Parker were Vice Presidents : Col. Paul Cain and John B. Russell acted as Marshals, Stephen Hempstead read the Declaration, James Churchman orated, and Warner Lewis, Thomas Child and Charles Corkery drafted the toasts.
Although the day was stormy, a procession was formed at 1.30 o'clock in the afternoon, and marching to the Catholic Church listening to the exercises as provided by the committee. At their conclusion, those in attendance pro- ceeded to an arbor, under which a substantial dinner had been provided, where they feasted until evening, when they dispersed to their homes. The Iowa News expressed pleasure at its ability to report that the immoral practice of drinking spirits to excess was not indulged on that occasion.
About this time, or a few days previous, a party of wandering, dissipated Winnebago Indians came down the river, and encamped on the island opposite the lower end of town. One Sunday night, a number of disreputable characters visited the Indian lodges, for equally disreputable purposes. Being resisted by the camp, and determined on effecting their object, a conflict ensued, resulting in the infliction of wounds upon the person of a squaw, which caused her death on the following Tuesday. One of those engaged in the out- rage, named Singleton, escaped; but a Frenchman identified with S. was arrested and arraigned before Justice J. T. Fales, by whom he was committed for trial.
The dead squaw was coffined and buried by the citizens of Dubuque, the missing and wounded were restored to health-through the same humanitarian agency, and, after a season of fruitless search for Singleton and the rest, the subject was placed to the record of crimes for which no adequate punishment could be administered.
The creation of the new Territory carried with it many responsibilities and obligations peculiar to the times, the country and the executive branch of the Government. The necessity for a land office in Dubuque County was a question upon which there was no debate among the citizens. It was one of the wants that manifested its absence almost daily. The efforts of Gen. Jones, in Congress, to procure the location of the land office at this point, were finally rewarded by its establishment on September 24, and among the first appoint- ments made were Thomas McKnight, Receiver, and Joseph W. Worthington, Register thereof.
" Few individuals are aware," says Eliphalet Price in his " Annals of Early Iowa," "of the many ludicrous and amusing scenes that were wont to transpire almost daily in the land office at Dubuque, during the early period of its location at that place. They are to be attributed to a want of knowledge of the laws of Congress regulating the disposal of the public domains, and prescribing the metes and bounds of its subdivisions by ranges, townships and sections. There perhaps has been no person who ever acted in the fiduciary capacity of Receiver of that office, who was more highly esteemed or extensively acquainted with the settlers than Col. Thomas McKnight, one of the early pioneers of Dubuque, who realized many of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. His
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sympathies and friendship in consequence were always warmly enlisted upon the side of the settler, whenever the entry of his home was threatened by a speculator, or endangered by the grasping desire of a neighbor to extend the area of his possessions. His social qualities, politeness and good humor always secured for him a visit from the farmer whenever business brought him to town.
" One day he was interrupted by a rap at the door of his office, and, in obedi- ence to his direction to 'walk in,' the door opened sufficiently to admit the exact and entire physical proportions of Larry McDermot, a native of the Emerald Isle, who for the first time in his life found himself standing bolt upright in a land office, grasping with both hands a small sealskin cap, tlie rim of which glided through his fingers, leaving the profuse locks of sandy hair swinging from the eaves of his forehead.
" ' Your sarvant, sir, an' is this the land office ?'
" ' Yes, sir,' said the Colonel.
" ' Well, then, it's Larry McDermot I am, an' will yez be telling me if the thray acres is intered, down in the big ravane, where Dinnis O'Drisdel an' meself mowed hay last year for the Widdy McCormick's cow, jist forninst Bryon O'Shay's claim, that is before he parted with it to Billy McGrath for a bit of a hoorse ? '
" Where are the numbers of your claims ? ' observed the Colonel, turning over his township plats.
"' Och, an' isn't yerself that shud be knowin' the numbers better than I, when yez kape the land office, an' have the rading of the books an' the maps, and the loikes of that; an' do yez think it's the loikes of Larry McDermot that's a big fool to be tilling the numbers of his land to every chap that wud be wanten to inter a dacent place ?' Mr. McDermot was informed that the " thray acres in the big ravane ' were unentered.
" ' Will, thin, it's plased I am to be knowing the same, an' if it's a drap of the craytur that ye'd be taking this morning, it's Larry McDermot that 'll be payin' for the same.'
" His offer was politely declined, when McDermot departed, humming to himself as he descended the stairs-
" 'I earn my money where I can, And spend it like an Irishman.'
"Scarcely had the Colonel resumed the consideration of matters of grave import, when another rap at the door was answered by an invitation to 'walk in.' Immediately the door opened, and in stepped Mr. Billy Grassbottom, fresh from the country, with market baskets strung on each arm. His business was regarding the regulations of the land office, which having been satisfactorily adjusted, he departed to give place to a miner, and so on; the cares of office in those days were of a character calculated to render the occupant solicitous for the expiration of his official term."
During the fall, Congress, at the solicitation of Gen. Jones, made an appropriation to defray the expenses of locating the first division of the road from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi. In this enterprise, John Plumbe, Jr., originated and advocated, for the first time in the history of internal improve- ments in America, the construction of a road to the Pacific Coast. To accom- plish this design, he proposed that an adequate grant of public lands be made to the road, consisting of alternate sections, to be conveyed no faster than the road progressed, the remaining sections to be raised to double the then minimum price. A joint-stock company, with shares at $10 each, to be offered to every
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
man, woman and child in the United States, before more than one share could be taken by any one individual, 50 cents to be paid at the time of subscribing, and the road to be managed by a Board of Directors composed of one from each State and Territory in the Union.
In this scheme, Mr. Plumbe was assisted by L. H. Langworthy, who visited Washington for the purpose of procuring the grant, and whose arguments in that behalf were submitted to the consideration of the United States Senate by Gov. Dodge.
This great enterprise, replete with so many advantages, has been completed, and the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean have been knit together under one common flag and one common destiny.
On the 25th of August, Gov. Lucas issued his proclamation, establishing electoral districts, apportioning the representation in the Legislature among them and appointing the second Monday in September for holding elections ; the order of the Sheriff and Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, for the election of county officers, was also published on that date.
The county of Dubuque was made part of an election district composed of Dubuque, Jackson, Delaware, Buchanan, Fayette and Clayton Counties, and precincts were established as follows: Dubuque, at the house of Lorimier & Gratiot ; Peru, at the house of M. W. Power ; Durango, at the house of A. J. Devin ; Pauls, at the house of John Paul; Regans, at the house of John Regan; Whitewater, at the house of Jacob Hamilton ; Huetts, at the house of Joseph Huett ; Dribblebis, at the house of Jacob Dribblebis.
Previous to the election, people in all parts of the Territory appeared to be alive to the importance of the occasion, and the selection of men who would so arrange public affairs that the onward march to steady government would not be delayed. Yet the vote on September 12 was unusually small, owing, as was claimed, to the fact that at this season of the year many, even in the immediate vicinity of the polls, were prevented from attending; also to the strict adher- ence to the letter of the naturalization laws, by which many foreigners, long residents of the county, and who had voted at previous elections, were thereby prohibited.
The result showed the election of Wm. W. Chapman, as the Congressional Del- egate; Warner Lewis and Stephen Hempstead as members of the Council, with Chauncey Swan, Andrew Bankston, Thomas Cox and Hardin Nowlin, members of the House; J. R. Ewing, G. W. Ames and W. Smith, County Commission- ers ; George W. Cummins, Sheriff; George W. Harris, Recorder; J. M. Emer- son, Treasurer, and John W. Finley, Coroner.
The Legislature convened on November 12, at Burlington, the Council being called to order in the basement of the Methodist Church, while the House held its sessions in the upper story of the sacred edifice. Among the laws passed at this session was an act providing for the location of a Territorial road between Dubuque and Keosauqua.
P. L. Sharp and wife, W. H. Robbins, C. D. Townsend, W. Weigle, C. W. Cannon, Tim Davis, N. V. De Cellus, J. Glew, Sr., the Rev. J. Crelin, J. H. Bartlett and others were among the prominent arrivals this year.
But little occurred, during the year 1839, to exert an influence over the future of Dubuque, either in the city or country. The business, which had theretofore been generally distributed about the county, notably at Peru, Durango and other points, gravitated to the city, where it assumed the position of an established fact.
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The citizens, though not particularly interested in the threatened collision between the Executive and Legislature, the latter remaining in session at Bur- lington, were exercised at the location of the Territorial capital, and, when that question had been decided adversely to Dubuque, representatives, merchants, miners and the profession were not inconsiderably disappointed.
The spring did not open with increased arrivals of permanent settlers ; those who were in the county, except miners and merchants, had exhausted the supplies of money and produce they brought with them, and were poor. They had begun to realize the difficulties to be encountered in building up a new country, especially if title to the land was in question. The Board of Trustees failed to collect taxes, hence repairs and improvements needed and projected were not accomplished.
The bill authorizing the President of the United States to cause mineral lands, in the several States and Territories, to be sold as other public lands, to the passage of which the people looked with much solicitude, failed to become a law. It was believed that its provisions would have benefited the miner, and revived business. The vesting of the titles in individuals would have ren- dered their possession safe and avoided constant litigation.
The difficulties that hampered miners in the possession of their claims, retarded mining operations to a degree previously not experienced ; for, so soon as mineral land had been taken up and valuable discoveries made thereon, the claimant would be liable to trouble arising from the resurrection of old claims, abandoned and forgotten. The passage of the bill, it was well known, would remedy this evil; troubles would cease, and mining be prosecuted with security. For these reasons, and others germain thereto, the neglect of Con- gress to pass the bill quoted was severely commented upon and deprecated. One encouraging feature connected with mining during this spring, was an advance in the price of lead, which was quoted in New York at $6.25 a hun- dred.
To add to the embarrassments with which the people were surrounded, instructions were issued from the General Land Office, prohibiting the issue of certificates of pre-emption to lots on the Dubuque claim until the question of Dubuque's title under the Spanish authority had been determined. This contributed to cripple enterprise, prevent the expenditure of money in improve- ments, and restrain capital from investment. The prosperity of Dubuque was thereby checked, by an unwarranted intervention, it is claimed, and materially prevented a development of the county, which the resources and ability of the inhabitants fully warranted.
Such were a few of the annoyances to which citizens were subjected. They produced an effect on every department of trade, etc. Two churches only remained open-the Methodist and Catholic. Work on the Presbyterian Church was suspended, and the absence of a minister of that denomination precluded preaching in the unfinished structure. The Catholic Church was so far completed as to be comfortable, and a large congregation attended each Sabbath, composed of members and laymen, to listen to the sermons of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Loras, who had but recently arrived, and for many years subsequent officiated in the diocese, aided by Father Mazzuchelli, with very distinguished results. The Bishop visited Europe after his appointment to the charge, and returned with aid sufficient to complete the church, which was done during his bishopric ; and though practically rebuilt under subsequent administrations, it is to-day one of the most imposing religious edifices west of the Mississippi.
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The season, as if to compensate for the lack of material advantages, was one of the most delightful experienced since the country was first settled by the whites. Previously agricultural interests had not kept pace with mining interests, and the settlers were dependent upon neighboring producing districts for the necessaries of life. This season the prospect held out encouragement, not only for an abundance for home consumption, but also to export.
High tragedy, by the theatrical combination of Messrs. Mckenzie & Jef- ferson, diverted public attention for ten days in February, and, as a test of merit, the criticism in the News is quoted : "Withi but few exceptions, the actors are well suited to their respective parts, some of which were played admirably. In the leading character of Othello, Leicester played his part well, to all appearances ; while in Germon, as Iago, one could see in his laugh- ing eye the capacity to carry out his well-laid plans. In comedy Jefferson has a wild and ruffled look that sets all on the grin at once." On Monday even- ing following this lucubration, " Richard the Third " was announced as the play that would be presented.
The second Board of Trustees for the town of Dubuque, elected on the first day of April of this year, were as follows: Samuel D. Dixon, Edward Langworthy, Patrick Quigley, Lorin Wheeler and Thomas C. Fassitt. Mr. Quigley was appointed President; Benjamin Rupert, Clerk; George A. Shannon, Treasurer, but, failing to qualify, J. M. Emerson succeeded; and William Hall, Collector and Marshal, vice John McKenzie, declined.
The report of J. T. Fales, Acting Treasurer for the year, was submitted, showing the receipts to have been $64, and the expenditures $211.542, with a balance of $147.543 on the loss side of his account. The report was printed.
The Trustees entered upon the discharge of their duties with an evident determination to improve on the career of all predecessors. A system of public improvement was proposed, and referred to a committee; "corpora- tion certificates bearing 8 per cent interest" were first issued ; a fire-engine was purchased ; improvements of the levee and slough commenced ; some drain- age effected ; the grade of a number of streets established, upon the recom- mendation of S. B. Brophy, Town Engineer; embankments raised along the levee by contracts with Charles Miller, L. H. Langworthy, F. Guerin, etc., and other measures proposed which were afterward consummated.
In the year 1839, a case under the old fugitive slave law occurred in Dubuque, which stirred the current of popular opinion to its uttermost depths, and was the cause of intense excitement. Within a few years previous, a negro named Ralplı had come to Dubuque from Missouri, to work in the mines. He was a slave, but had procured the consent of his master previous to so doing. While quietly at work, his master and another man made their appearance in Dubuque and claimed the chattel, on the ground that he had violated the terms of the contract by which his temporary liberty was accordcd him. One story is that he was delivered to claimant, in obedience to the com- mands of a Justice of the Peace, and, while being taken on board of a boat, was rescued by some liberty-loving citizens, and released on a writ of habeas corpus issued by the Federal courts.
Another story is that the master and an assistant seized "Ralph" and escaped with him to Belleview. While there, Patrick Quigley and Alexander Butterworth overtook the kidnapers, and, taking possession of the disputed possession, returned with him to Dubuque. The question of title was first sub- mitted to Judge T. S. Wilson, James Crawford appearing for relator, but trans- ferred from the tribunal over which he presided to the United States Court,
Gron Jones
DUBUQUE.
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and disposed of as above, by the decision of Judge Mason, which was to the effect that the freedom of Ralph was perfected when he came to Dubuque with the consent of his master.
Another case, involving more serious consequences, occurred in Dubuque during the same year, wherein the head-center was also a Senegambian.
At this time, a negro "boy," known as Nat, lived in the immediate vicinity of the city. He, with his family, were free people of color, and of ordinary good behavior. No charge of felony or misdemeanor had ever been alleged against himself or household, and they pursued the even tenor of their way without the tinge of suspicion attaching that the lives they led were not free from guile. But, one day, it so happened that Nat was charged with theft, and, despite his plea of not guilty, Col. Paul Cain, with James Campton and others, placed him under arrest, and proceeded to extort a confession by means which resulted fatally. He either could not or would not yield to the demands of his captors, and, conveying him to a secluded locality, he was strung up and beaten unmercifully. When one tired of flogging the prisoner, he was afforded temporary relief, in the hope that lie would relent, and by admissions not only confirm the verdict but justify the punishment inflicted. His repeated refusal to accede to this proposition was followed by a repetition of the castigation, until, overcome by faintness, he succumbed to the effects of the brutality inflicted. An effort was made to restore him to consciousness, without success, however, and he died upon the ground where his martyrdom was experienced.
The parties were arrested and tried for murder, but acquitted on the tech- nical ground that their intention to commit murder had not been proven, and the tragedy was soon committed to oblivion and forgetfulness.
The new arrivals, from 1839 to 1841, were J. Graham, Jr., P. W. Craw- ford, F. Weigel, F. Mangold and wife, Mrs. J. Austin, N. Simpson, J. Simp- son, J. Houps, Mrs. J. W. Finley, Mrs. John Fern, A. Cain, A. L. Brown, R. C. Waples, T. Crawford, P. Kiene, E. D. Turner and others.
As has been stated, the effects of the crisis of 1836-37 were sensibly felt in Dubuque County. The impression was still apparent in 1840, and, though the growth of the same was checked, it had not ceased. This was also true of the city. Improvements from 1839 until the State was admitted into the Union were few, especially so in the country. Business was dull, and it was an effort for the people to make both ends meet. Emigration was limited. In fact, from 1833 to 1846, except lands comprehended in the territory set apart for town purposes, there was comparatively little land sold. The settlements made were principally by emigrants from the Western States of Illinois, Indi- ana and Ohio. They, too, were poor, and came to Iowa in wagons and on foot to take fortune at the flood. These settled as a rule some distance from the city, on streams fringed with timber, living in log cabins and making improve- ments slowly. The rich prairies, which have since been resolved into veritable gardens, were neglected-regarded as unproductive. The Fifth Principal Meridian divides the county in the center, and the land east thereof was reserved by the Government as mineral land. Other portions were avoided until the defeat of Dubuque's claim furnished a perfect title to their purchaser. In 1842, John Flanagan was appointed Superintendent of the lead mines. Under his control the obsolete system of leasing the mines was sought to be revived. But citizens refused to recognize any right on the part of the Government to enforce tribute from the hard earnings of the new settlers. Public meetings were held to memorialize Congress to offer these lands the same as other lands, but for many years these efforts were unsuccessful. The Government agents continued
E
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to harass the people and finally to indict miners and smelters as trespassers. But a heavy bill of costs, to be paid by the Government, resulted, and at last, in 1846, the lands were offered at public sale.
In 1841, Robert Lucas, "the belligerent Governor," became embroiled in a desperate affair with the Governor of Missouri, concerning the extent of their respective powers, and, as the Ohio war-horse could brook no curb or rule in- compatible with the dignity of Iowa, he called upon the militia by a proclama- tion something like the eloquent appeals made to the people of New Amsterdam by the renowned Sir Wouter Van Twiller, and partaking somewhat of the character of another Dutch Governor, Peter Stuyvesant, surnamed Peter the Headstrong, with his sturdy trumpeter, Anthony Van Corlear.
Like as a war-worn charger, while sporting in peaceful plains, hears the strains of martial music, and pricks up his ears, and snorts, and paws and kin- dles at the sound, so did the heroic soul of the testy Governor joy to hear the clangor of the trumpet. Brig. Gen. Warner Lewis, chief in command of the military forces at Dubuque; Col. Paul Cain, second in rank; Maj. David Sleater, and Capt. George Shannon flew to arms, and aroused the militia, who flocked under the standard of their country. After being drilled, marched and countermarched until their evolutions were perfect, armed with pick-axes, shovels, fence stakes and guns, they made a most imposing appearance, and attracted universal attention by their warlike and bloodthirsty mien. The officers, on prancing horses, galloped along the line, cheering and encouraging 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. Fair ladies lent their most bewitching smiles, and when the advance, composed of a captain, an orderly and one private by the name of James Churchman, moved forward under the general-in-chief, they waved their handkerchiefs, offered up many an earnest prayer that they might re- turn victorious from the war, and that the fame and honor of Iowa might be triumphantly vindicated. The army reached the lines in safety, after tiresome marches, and, entering a grocery upon the disputed territory, met the opposing host, a great raw-boned, long-armed, lank and hungry-looking Missourian, in the middle of the floor, and at once demanded a treat of whisky, or an uncon- ditional surrender, whichi just and equitable terms being refused, the army pitched into the enemy with headlong impetuosity. The charge was so vigor- ous, and so well supported with whisky ammunition conveyed 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."
Both armies tumbled to the ground, but the forces of Iowa, recovering first, succeeded in turning the enemy's flank, whereby 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 belligerents remained as they were previous to the commencement of hostilities.
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