Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-07-26
DEATH OF GOV DEWEY
WiscOnsin's Tiret Chief Executive
Passes Over the River.
A Sketch of His CaIeer-A Busy and
Eyentful Life.

A Sketch of His CaIeer-A Busy and
Eventful Life.
E1-Gov. Nelson Dewey, Wisconsin's
first governor, died at Cassville, Grant
county, at midnight, July 20, after long
illness. He came to this state from
Hamilton, n. Y, at the age of 81, an
ambitious, enterprisirg young man edu-
Gated ct college and having received :
legal education afterward. In the sum
mer of 1886 he arrived at CassvilIe and
began his brilliant but chequered career
as clerk for the Dennison j. Brunson
company, which was composed of a num-
Der of New York capitalists who intended
building up a large city at the Cassville
site. Cassville, on the eastern bank of
the Mississippi river, centrally located in
the territory of Wisconsin, promised to
be the capital of the future state. The
buildings were put up with g
view to Cassvilie becoming the largest
city in Wisconsin. The Dennison and
Brunson company, however, failed the
following year; and young Nelson Dewey
removed to Lancaster and became a part
ner in the law and real estate business of
the late J. Allen Barber. Owing to their sue
cessful speculstions in mineral lands
and lucrative practice of law, the firm
of Barber d Dewey became strong and
wealthy, and had a wide reputation. Wis
coDsin was the home of democracy at
that time, and N elson Dewey was an en-
thusiastic democrat. When Grant
county WAS organized, in
1887 he was elected register of deeds.
He represented Grant county in the seq
ond Legislative assembly of the territory
i'll 1888, and was speaker of the house in
184O and 1S41. In 1912 he beoames
member of the territorial council, and
presided over It's delibera tions during
the fourth session OF thirty days. When
was elected first governor of the state, on
May 8, 1S48, was sworn into office on
June z, serving the four years from
January l, 1850, to January 5, 1854
He was an hGnorab!e, conscientious
and strong govero0c, conducting
the affairs of the new state with great
prudence and sagacity, and his example
as we'll as his basIuess manageme ent of
state affairs has In many respects never
been improved upon, aud much of the
success of the state may be attributed to
its beginning under SO excellent an exc
cutive. His marriage to Miss Catherine
d unn the beautiful and brilliant daughter
of Chief Justice Dunn; was consummated
during his term as governor. In 1854,
Gov. Dewey still cherishing the Cassville
project, bought the ipteres of the
Dennlson and Brunson COM pam, in that
site, and undertook to boom the
village. On large aud beautiful farm,
in tho vicinity, he built suberb home,
which, as residence building, surpassed
anything then; yet seen in Wisconsin.
The appointments of the mansion were
In keeping with its appearance; and its
walks ard dives were laid out inside of
solid stone walls. The amount of money
spent on this home was oue hundred
thousand dollars, fortune which would
have insured comfort and luxury to his
declining years. He invested largely in
lead mining interests and work
ed faithfully 10 make Cassyille
the city of mis- dreams. Bot CasvilIe was
destined 10 be the ruin of his hopes
instead. Its effort at growth was spas
modic, and soon ceased entirely. Lead
mining declined, and his interests greatly
decreased in value. The debt against his
property was growing larger all the time,
and IN 1877 he relinquiseed his claim
upon it. His magnificent home WAS laid
in ruin by the flames, domestic troubles
also added bitterness to his later years,
His later years were desolate, aid
his financial reverses hard TO
bear, but he still retained the
respect and honor of those who kuew
him. He died at the age of seventy-five
years. He leaves two children, Mrs. Cole
of st. Louis, with whom Mrs. Dewey now
lives, and son who lives in the far
West. His brother, ". A. Dewey,
prominent citizen of Yarkton, OAK, was,
with him for some time before his death
Gov. Hoard issued a proclamation, in
reference to the death of the ex-governor,
in which the following occurs:
l do hereby designate and appoint the follow
ing citizens of the state as committee to attend
the funeral services: Ex-Governors James T.
Lewis, Lucus Fairchld William R. Taylor Har-
rison Ludington, and jeremiah NJ. RuSk; Chief
Justice Orsamus Cole; Associate Justice Harlow
s, Orton; Lieutenant Governor George W. Ry-
land; Hon. Theo. Rodolf; Col. George P. Della
plaine; Gen David Atwood; Hon. Moses NJ
Strong: and Hon. Milo Jones'
also direct as further token of respect, that
the national flag be displayed at half-staff on
the capitol building until sunset on the day of
the funeral and that the building be draped
with emblems of mourning for 30 DAYS