The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-04-14
From the North West.
Julien DUBUQUE and his Grave.

l
| Mr.. Editor some correspondent Of one
of or city papers proposed last year, that a
monument be erected 10 the memory Of Julien
Dubuque, on the spot where he was buried
We were reminded Of this public duty. 40 we
considered it, on visiting, last week the bluff,
two miles below the city, where rest the re-
mains of the fist white man who lived and
died within the present limits of the State of
Iowa. One hundred and fifteen years after the
French Missionary, Marquette, and his com.
panions. descended the Mississippi on voy-
age of discovery, D; buque, in l779, obtained
permission Of the Fox Indians. in a council
assembled at lrai!ie du Chien, to work the
lead mines in this vicinity. A reference to the
historical records on this subject dissipates the
the romance about "the Indi IN maiden,
Peosta. presenting the lead ore 10 Dubuque
The original "p.rmit now del osited in the
archives Of our State capitol, in referring to
the grant of the Indians, states sshat. more.
over, they sell and abandon to him all the coast
and contents OF the mine discovered by the
wife of Peosta. so that no white man or Indian
shall make any p,etension to it without the
consent Of Mr.. Julien Dubuque"
Dubuque lived here twenty two years. trad
ing with The Indians and exchanging lead at
st. Louis for the necessaries of life. and those
articles OF Indian luxury, the SUPP lying of
which enabled him to exert a powerful infiu.
ence over them, He lived like patriarch,
the governor Of his French followers from Ca
NADIA and his Indian subjects whom he had at.
tlched to his interest. At the time ofhis
death, forty eight y ears ago this month. he was
living at the mouth of Catfish Creek. though he
had resided for some years nearer his mines,
not far from the present northern limits Of the
city. The remains of his furnace can still be
seen in Langworthy Hollow. 1t was near the
latter spot that one of his dwelling houses had
been erected. He was buried it is said, in cof-
fin lined with lead, on the top of the narrow
bluff north of the mouth ofCatfsh Creek. The
grave is now unmarked, except by the remains
OF the low stone wall that once enclosed il, and
is but few rods from the extreme point OF
the perpendicular rock, and nearly two humid
red feet above the river. After tho death of
Dubuque, the Indians having complied with the
contract. in securing to him peaceable posses.
sion of the mines during his life time, refused
10 permit his followers TO occupy the mines any
longer, or even to remain in the ncighborhood.
So bitter at last became their i'll feeling toward
the whites. simulated no doubt by their persis-
lance in claiming the privileges that had been
granted to Cub, que, that the Indians finally
destroyed all bis buildings, cut down his ORCH
ard, and even threw the foundation of his
house in the river.
Whether Indian hatred on the rart of tho
o.
of q century before, made Q, buoue thier T. lend,
or some marauding white men, desecrated lis
grave, it is not certain. bnt upon visiting thu
spot by some Of the early pioneers still living
among 70, they found. in 1889, that the grave
had been opened, and destructive hand had
partially destroyed the walls and the cedar
post that had been placed there to commemor.
ate the spot. The following inscription In
French was; however. still legible: IA.
JULIEN DUBUQUE,
MlxEa OF THE MIN.s OF SsArS
lDied this twenty fourth day nf March, 1910.
AGED IS YEARS AND 6 MONTHS.
"The mines Of Spain" was q name given to
this region by Dubuque, in compliment to his
Majesty The King of Spain, of whose dominion
the terit'ry wet Of the Mississippi remained
. part until the louisiana Prrchase" was made
by our Governor in 1902 He had peti,iuned
the King to confirm his grant from the Indians.
md received permission from Baron Caronde.
let Governor Of Louisiana, in 1896. 70 trade
with the Indians and TO the mines for a space
Of about fifteen miles long land three leagues"
vide. This grant was never confirmed by the |
King.
The early settlers In "Duhuoue's Mines" as |
the place continued 10 be designated, bonored |
his memury in 1883, by naming the village |
DUSUcuE. ut rublic meeting held for that pur. |
pose. Our citizens have since named some of |
BUR best buildings and streets in honor of the
memory Of the first pioneer. But his grave
till remains neglected. and we recommend to |
Dur citizens to revive the historical associations
IF the progress of civilization west of our
great river by erecting the monument propos-
ID. We would suggest that it be composed
entirely of Dubuque limestone, and If practica.
Dle, that it be wrought fiom the rock Of the
Very bluff ON which it should be erected. Let
part OF its inscription be the words that were
carved upon the cedar post, no vestige Of which
8 now 10 be found. In doing this we shall
honor the memory Of one, who, though not
Known to fame, has vet given US reason for
he name of a fiouishing city, whose inhabi-
ants do not forget the honor due to the pio-
,eerS in Western civilization. o.
Dubuque March ~ ,'ssS.