Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/178



In his report Todd stated that he saw no reason why the land claimed by Dubuque should not be granted to him, provided Dubuque should be prohibited form trading with the Indians, unless with the written consent of Mr. Todd upon such terms as he should require. Governor Carondelet, on the 10th of November, 1796, made the grant to Dubuque as requested in his petition and indorsed upon it these words: “Granted as asked for under the restrictions mentioned by the merchant, Don Andrew Todd, in his report.”  Monuments were erected by the Fox chiefs and Dubuque to mark the boundaries on the three sides from the river front, soon after the grant was made.

The right of the Indians to sell their lands had always been recognized by Spain and Dubuque now considered his title secure. The right of the Indians to sell their lands had always been recognized by Spain and Dubuque now considered his title secure. As the years passed he carried on a large trade with Auguste Chouteau of St. Louis and became heavily indebted to him. In October, 1804, he conveyed to Chouteau in settlement of his indebtedness, an undivided seven-sixteenths interest of his land, estimated to consist of seventy-three thousand three hundred and twenty-four acres. It was also provided that at the death of Dubuque all of the remainder of his interest in the lands should belong to Chouteau or his heirs. In 1807 Chouteau sold one-half of his interest in the lands to John Mullanphy, of St. Louis, for $15,000.

Dubuque and his little white colony lived among the Indians, worked the mines, carried on trade for twenty-two years, in the limits of the future State of Iowa. many of the French Canadians married Indian wives and in a measure adopted the Indian mode of living. Families of half-breed children were growing up and the place became widely known and the “Mines of Spain.”

On the 24th of March, 1810, Dubuque was attacked with pneumonia and died after a short illness. The highest honors were bestowed by the Indians upon their dead friend. The entire population followed him to the grave and his virtues were eloquently set forth by the Indian