Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-04-16
ANNALS OF DUBUQUE.
A Paper Thirty Years Oid-The Mines aud
Early Settlement OF Dubuque-sam
Lemons Foot Race from Ca
lena to Hard Scrabble.

Dubuque appeared in the Grant
County Herald of July ist, 1913, and
reappeared in the Dubuque Times OF
the 9th inst. The letter was written
by Mr. Lucius II. Langworthy, an
early settler in the mines and who
is we'll remembered by many of the
old residents of this county. We re.
publish it as valuable historic re-
cord worth preserving:
The Dubuque mines were discov-
cred by the Catholic Missionaries
and traders, who early explored the
mai Ell tic valley of the Mississippi
from the Gulf of Mexico to the lakes
and produced some of the first lead
ore (Galena) discovered upon the
continent of North America. The
Indians had been aware of the exis>
tence, perhaps from,time immemori-
al, and upon the Introduction of
fire arms amongst them, readily
manufactured such quantities oflead
as was requisite for their purposes of
hunting and war.
The existence of mineral in abun>
dance could scarcely have escaped
the notice of the early adventurers
in this country, from the numerous
specimens of float, or gravel mineral,
in the washed ravines and upon the
rocky points.
About fifty years ago, one Julian
Dubuque, "a Canadian trader, COM
menced mining upon number of
"leads," previously struck by the In
dams He acquired and preserved
throughout a friendly intercourse
with the natives, and was assisted
by a considerable capital and q num-
Der of Mexican miners. He first
found market for his lead ut ST.
Louis and New Orleans, and subse-
quently transporting it upon horses
and in canoes across TO the lakes,
sold it TO the different tribes and to
the several establishments of the
Northwestern Fur Company in that
quarter. About this time the Dodge
vile, Mineral Point and Galena mines
were also being worked but upon .
small scale
In June, 1890, the writer of this,
in company with many others, first
crossed the Mississippi for the pur-
pose Of mining upon these lands
those in Illinois and Wisconsin hav-
ing already been successfully worked,
to some extent, by miners principal
ly from Missouri. Poeynards or Fox
Indians had suddenly deserted this
for n country farther in the interior,
in consequence of recent hostilities
committed upon them by the Sioux,
thus leading the Dubuque mines,
which had long been q subject OF in
terest to Il settlers upon the east
side of the river, open to the peace
full occupation of the enterprising OPP
orator. 1t was at such time, and un-
der such auspices, that we landed up
on the Iowa shore. The tai grass,
which covered the extensive bottoms
bordering the river, was waving
like fields Of grain in western sum-
mer's breeze. The fields were check
cred here and there by patches Of
ancient diggings, nearly obscured by
weeds and bushes. The grave of
Julian Dubuque, marked by a stone
monument, slightly swelled the brow
of an adjoining bluff. The Indian
village, at The mouth of Catfish creek
was standing in lonely relief as the
lost relic Of the red mans face, and
everything seemed to invite and al
lure the "paIe faces" to this land of
promise
Mining was commenced by Dig
ging in range with, or directly
among, the old diggings. Success
not keeping pace with the high hopes
that had been entertained, many be-
came discouraged, and some left the
country. At length, however, the
writer and James Il. Langworthy
had the fortune to strike an exten
sive "lead." This raised the despond-
ing hopes Of all, and in short time
Messrs. Jordan, Amcs, Whitesdes,
Sleator, and others, not now recol-
ect d. made discoveries of consider
able value.
About this time, Col Tay Tor, Com
mandant at Fit. Crawford, notified
us, pursuant to orders from the War
Department that we were tresspass-
ing upon the terms of the treaty be-
tween the government and the In
dams, and that we must leave Iowa
at the end of two weeks. This orr
der was obeyed with SO much reluc-
lance, that, partly..deceived, too, by
the secret landing of the forces sent
TO remove us,two of our friends, Vos
burg and Lemon, were captured
The prisoners were taken to Galena,
on their way, as was alleged, to trial
at Fl Crawford. This, however,
was all pretense-as the sequel show
ed-got up to prevent miners, il pcs
sible, from repeating their encroach'
ments upon Indian lands. While at
Galena, the two prisoners were pur-
posely allowed to escape. One OF
them, Samuel Lemon, was really
fast on foot, add although very
corpulent man, was extremely hard
to beat. He was, moreover, a stand
ing champion at foot racing. In the
confusion of the moment, and beleiv-
ing himself hotly pursued, he took
the high prairie ridge in the direc'
ton of Hard Scrabble and the way
they say be ran with coat, hat and
boots of, was q caution to all com
petors forever afterwards. The race
will live in song, as long as miners
continue to be bards, and history
will no doubt chronicle its renown
A detachment of soldiers was now
stationed at Dubuque, with orders tC
prevent any further working of those
mines by the whites. Thus shielded
from the depredations OF their hostilt
neighbors, the Fox Indians ventnre'
to return, and were soon after in