Dubuque in Dubuque County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Julien Dubuque and the Mines of Spain

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 23, 2019

1. Julien Dubuque and the Mines of Spain Marker

Inscription.

Julien Dubuque was born on January 10, 1762 at Trios Rivieres near Quebec, Canada. In 1788, he established a trading post and lead mining smelter at the mouth of Catfish Creek. He was active in fur trading and lead mining with the Mesquakie (Sac & Fox) tribe who lived nearby. According to the legend, Dubuque married Potosa, daughter of Chief Peosta. Julien Dubuque died on March 24, 1810 and was buried by the Mesquakie (or Meskwaki) with tribal honors overlooking Catfish Creek and the Mines of Spain. In 1897, the Old Settlers Association erected the 25 foot tall limestone monument that exists today known as the Julien Dubuque Monument.

Dubuque's right to the land was originally obtained from the Mesquakie in an agreement dated September 22, 1788 and singed at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. On November 10, 1796, Julien Dubuque obtained an official land grant from the Spanish Governor, Baron de Carondelet in St. Louis. The Spanish grant included 73,324 acres of land. It stretched for eleven miles notrh and south of Catfish Creek and nine miles west. This area shown on early 18th Century maps as "Lead Mines" (mine de plomb)

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became known as the "Mines of Spain".

MESQUAKIE TREATY WITH JULIEN DUBUQUE

Copy of the council held by the Foxes (Mesquakie), that is to say, the chiefs and the braves of five villages, with the approbation of the rest of their people, explained to them by Mr. Quinantotaye, their agent, in their presence and in ours, we the undersigned - To wit: - That the Foxes (Mesquakie) permit Mr. Julien Dubuque, called by them the Little Night to work the mine until it shall please him to withdraw from it, without specifying to him any further limit of time, who sell and abandon to him the hole ridge and content of the lode found by the wife of Peosta (Pesota?), so that no white man or Indian may be able to lay claim (to it?_ without the consent of Jr. Julien Dubuque, and if in case (he) finds nothing it, he shall undertake to search where it shall seem good to him, and to work peacefully, without anyone being able to disturb him, or bringing any prejudice to his workings. Thus we, chiefs and braves by the voice of all out villages, we have agreed with Julien Dubuque, selling and delivering to him from this day as mentioned above, in the

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 23, 2019

2. Julien Dubuque and the Mines of Spain Marker

presence of the Frenchmen who are here present, who are the witness of this instrument, at Prairie Du Chien in full council, the 22nd of September 1788.

Blondau . Bazil + Teser(?) witness - Ala + Austin . Blondeau
Of + Quisneau His signet - Anloque (Antaya??) - Joseph Fontigny witness

JULIEN DUBUQUE'S PETITION TO THE SPANISH GOVERNOR
To his Excellency the Baron De Carondelet, Your Excellency's very humble petitioner named Julien Dubuque, having made a settlement on the frontier of your Government, in the midst of the Indian Nations, who are inhabitants of the country, has bought a tract of land from these Indians with the mines it contains, and by his perseverance, has surmounted obstacles, as expensive as they were dangerous and, after many voyages, Has come to be the peaceable possessor of a tract of land on the west bank of the Mississippi, to which he has given the name "Mines of Spain", in memory of the Government to which he belongs, and, as the place of settlement is but a point, and the different mines which he works are apart and a distance of more than three leagues from each other, the very humble petitioner

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prays your Excellency to have the goodness to assure him the quiet enjoyment of his mines and lands, that is to say: from the hills above the little river Maquantuitois (Little Maquoketa) to the hills of the river Mesqualbysnonques "Tete de Morts", which forms about seven leagues on the west bank of the Mississippi by three leagues in depth, and to grant him the peaceable possession thereof. Which the very humble petitioner ventures to hope that your goodness will be pleased to grant him his request.

Picture Captions

Dubuque with Mesquakie, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Captain William D. Bowell Sr. River Library.

Remains of original Dubuque burial site, Photo contributed by Center for Dubuque History, Loras College.

An artist's depiction of Julien Dubuque and Potosa; burial vault possibly erected by the Mesquakie; and the monument built in 1897 by the Old Settlers' Association. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Captain William D. Bowell Sr. River library.

Erected by Friends of the Mines of Spain, City of Dubuque.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is January 10, 1762.

Location. 42° 28.133′ N, 90° 38.797′ W. Marker is in Dubuque, Iowa, in Dubuque County. It is on Monument Drive. Located at the end of Monument Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dubuque IA 52003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Julien Dubuque (a few steps from this marker); The Native Americans at the Mines of Spain (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Dubuque (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Canoe (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dubuque's Mines of Spain / New Melleray Abbey (approx. 0.6 miles away); Dubuque's Mines of Spain / Historic Dubuque (approx. 1.1 miles away); East Dubuque Veterans' Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away in Illinois); Eleazor and Diadamia Frentress (approx. 1.6 miles away in Illinois). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dubuque.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 656 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 4, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.