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History

obtained from the Indians at Prairie du Chien a grant of land extending seven leagues on the Mississippi and three leagues deep. This grant was recognized by the Spanish Government in 1796 but was not confirmed by our own. For several years the mining operations were quite limited, as may well be supposed; and in 1805 Mr. Dubuque informed Lieut. Pike that he raised from twenty to forty thousand pounds annually.

Schoolcraft informs us that the settlement of Prairie du Chien was first begun in 1783, by Mr. Giard, Mr. Antaya and Mr. Dubuque, but that there had formerly been an old settlement about a mile below the site of the present village, which existed during the time the French had possession of the country.