EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE)

EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE COUNTY (THE).

On June 10, 1865, a meeting was held at Globe Hall to organize a society of the early settlers of Dubuque city and county. P. A. Lorimier, chairman of a former meeting led the meeting. Timothy MASON, of the Committee on Constitution, remarked on the appearance of the City of Dubuque and Dubuque County thirty years previously. He believed an organization of those pioneers would "temd to find the remaining early settlers in stronger ties of friendship and...soothe the cares of the evening of their lives.

The time would be fixed to limit the membership and when all had joined who chose to do so the number would no doubt annually decrease. Upon the death of the last member, the society would cease.

After the constitution was read, the date of membership was fixed at July 4, 1840 and would include those residing within the lead mining region at that date on either side of the (Mississippi) river in the vicinity of Dubuque.

Since Edward LANGWORTHY had already died, it was agreed that he be remembered. There was also a subscription fund established for the purchase of a cane to be presented to the President of the Association and to be handed down to his last successor. The President was instructed to call a meeting of the Association on the death of any member. Thomas S. WILSON, George O. Karrick, J. R. Goodrich, Alexander LEVI, J. D. Graffort and John KING were appointed to a committee to report to the next meeting on the interests of the Association and a view to a celebration or festival by the Early Settlers.

The organization was later replaced by the EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

OFFICERS:

President, Edward LANGWORTHY

Secretary, Chandler Childs

Treasurer, Alexander SIMPLOT

CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION

PREAMBLE.

      Whereas, In the Providence of God we became pioneers 
      in the settlement of the rich and fertile County of 
      Dubuque, in the State of Iowa; and

      Whereas, The number of Early Settlers is fast decreasing, 
      and many of us will soon go to that bourne from whence 
      no traveler returns; and

      Whereas, We desire to gather and preserve the memory 
      of a settlement that has grown so rapidly and has been 
      so abundantly prospered; and believing that recollections 
      of the past, the happiness of the present, and the hopes 
      of the future, should unite us as a band of brothers, 
      we have formed an Association and now adopt this 
      Constitution:

CONSTITUTION.

      Article 1. This Association shall be known and 
                 designated as The Early Settlers' Association 
                 of Dubuque County.
      Article 2. The officers shall be a President, five Vice-Presidents, a 
      Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be chosen annually at a meeting in 
      June. Special Meetings may be held by adjournment, by call of the President, 
      or on the request of five members.
      Article 3. All persons who are now residents of Dubuque County, and who 
      were in the Upper Mississippi Lead Region for the last twenty-five years 
      are eligible to membership, and shall be considered members after signing 
      the Constitution, or authorizing the enrolling of their names.
      Article 4. The membership fee shall be one dollar. Ladies may become members
      without cost.
      Article 5. The funds of the Association shall be used for defraying 
      incidental expenses, for biographies, and for such other purposes as the
      Association may direct.

      Among the objects of this Association are the following: To collect data,
      memoranda and historical facts, referring to the early history of Dubuque 
      City and County.
      To attend funerals of deceased members in a body, and by occasional social 
      meetings to revive the recollections and preserve the memory of the scenes, 
      events and incidents for the last sixty-one years.
      To encourage the publication of a proper history of Dubuque.
      To collect the photographs and portraits, as far as possible, of all the 
      members of the Association.
      To have a room where the early settlers of Dubuque and their visiting 
      friends may meet at any time and amuse themselves by examining the files 
      of old newspapers of Dubuque, the relics collected, a historical library 
      referring to the Northwestern states, and give such information to the 
      Secretary as will enable him to perfect the records of the early history 
      of Dubuque County, for publication.
      The donation of a photograph is at the option of the member.  The 
      Association will thank any member, or other person, for any relics, 
      curiosities, old books, papers, or letters, which may be of interest 
      to the collection or add to the history of early settlements.
      All members of the Association, and others interested in the objects 
      stated, are invited to call and receive a copy of the Constitution and 
      also to sign their names to the list of members, if entitled to do so, 
      at the office of the Secretary.

FORM OF CERTIFICATE.

DUBUQUE COUNTY EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION, Organized June 10, 1865.

Certificate of Membership

This Certifies, That ________is a Life Member of this Association from the date of ________________

Attest : ____________Secretary.

_________________ President.

_________________ Treasurer.