Julien Dubuque

Julien Dubuque ( born January 1, 1762, Champlain, New France, now Quebec, † March 24 1810 in the area around the present town of Dubuque, Iowa today ) was a French Canadian who the first known white settlers in the area around today was named after him at the upper Mississippi town.

Dubuque received in 1788 by the Mesquakie Indians permission to reduce the presence of lead in the area. 1796 this authorization was confirmed by the then Spanish administration of the region. He spent his entire remaining life of the region at the interface of the present U.S. states of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. He became friends with the Mesquakie Chief Peosta, after today's City of Peosta was named. It is generally believed that Dubuque 's daughter called Potosí married, evidence is not available, however.

After his death, the Mesquakie erected a wooden mausoleum at his tomb, which was replaced in the late 19th century by a stone monument. It is in today's Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and EB Lyons Nature Center, where once lay the mines.

On his wife's name Potosí probably goes back to the place name Potosi Wisconsin, founded in the 1830s as a mining settlement.

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