LANGWORTHY, Solon

Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=huppe&id=I57364

Solon Langworthy

LANGWORTHY, Solon. (Rutland, NY, Jan. 29, 1814--Dubuque, IA, June 7,1886). The fourth Langworthy brother to come to Dubuque, Solon arrived in 1834. He is believed to be the first man to plow land in Iowa ... sixty acres. His purchase of two mineral lots, one in 1834 and another in 1835, also proved profitable.

In 1836 Langworthy entered into a partnership with Orrin Smith. Profits from MINING were invested in the steamer "Brazil," built in 1837 and believed to be one of the first to enter the Upper Mississippi. Unfortunately this boat made very few successful trips between Dubuque and Cincinnati before it crashed into a rock and sank, a totally uninsured wreck.

Langworthy then entered into partnership with Henry L. Massey to supply clothing to miners at Snake Diggings, near Potosi, Wisconsin. Langworthy assumed charge of this business in 1838. He and his family settled in Dubuque in 1848.

James LANGWORTHY and Edward LANGWORTHY, and Solon M. Langworthy did a large banking business in Dubuque in 1855 under the name of "J. L. Langworthy & Brothers, Exchange Bankers." The firm offered to enter land for anyone in the Dubuque, Decorah, Brownsville and Winona land offices on time. They also received deposits and sold exchange on the East. (1) In 1864 the brothers divided 120 acres purchased in 1830 for $500. The tract extended from Tenth to Eighteenth streets and from Iowa to the river. (2) It was afterward divided between the four Langworthy brothers. This partnership continued until their retirements in 1862.

Dubuque Herald, January 13, 1863. Image courtesy: Diane Harris

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Source:

1. Oldt, Franklin T., History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1911, p. 112

2. Ibid., p. 163

Hudson, David; Bergman, Marvin; Horton, Loren. The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2008