The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-07-27


region. He had good legal educa-
ton and formed q partnership with j.
Allen Barber, of Lancaster. Every
lead struck in those days involved
more or less fighting, legal and other
wise. Dewey & Barber were in the
swim and wealth came to them. Bar
ber died few years ago worth $3.50,
900, the greater part of which was
gathered in the days when Southeast
ern Wisconsin was in its glory and lead
Was king.
Mr.. Dewey went into politics, was
elected the first governor of the state
when it came into the federation, was
reelected, and then slowly faded from
public view. In 1854 he began the task
OF creating a city on the banks Of the
Mississippi at Cassville. In the enter
prise he sunk all his fortune. Just out
side the village he erected country
home that eclipsed in splendor the
homes of Eastern millionaires along tbe
Hudson. The outbuildlngs were in
keeping with the residence. Seven
miles OF heWn-ston1 fence shut IN the
land Immediately about the house,
while hundreds of acres stretched far
away over the hlutis into the wilderness
almost unmarked. From the windows
and lawn of the res dence the Mississip-
pl River, then the main artery OF West
ern commerce, could be viewed for
miles. Here Gov. Dewey lived in q
style in keeping with the home he had
prepared. His dreams went up in
smoke. One night the residence caught
fire from an unknown cause and burned
to the ground. The ruins remain.
From this point financial difficulties
began 10 accumulate, ending in Gov.
Dewey turning the great domain over
to the Northwestern Mutual Insurance
Company of Milwaukee, which had a
mortgage on the place. Since that time
Gov. Dewey has lived quietly at Cass-
vile trying to secure what he could from
the wreck. Occasionally he would re-
appear, generally at political gatherings.
The old Governor was always Demo-
crat. Being a man OF shrewd intelle ct,
keen insight, and answering purpose,
his councils were listened to with the
closest attention. With advancing veare
be went less and less from home, though
enjoying the best of health. His last
public appearance VAS at the Madison
convention last summer, to which he
was delegate. He desired to be del
egate to the national convention, but
this could not be arranged, and he waS
placed on the electoral ticket.
In 1850 Gov. Dewey, then in his prime
and at the height of power, was married
to Miss Catherine Dunn, the brilliant
and beautiful daughter of Chief-Justice
Charles Dunn of Wisconsin Territory.
Two children were born and the we'd
ded life of the couple apparently ran
smoothly until the destruction of the
Cassyiile home. From that time On
they lived but little together. Mrs.
Dewey and her daughter made Madi
ytrhn thpU EaI
social leaders and entertained luxuri-
ously. Afterward Mrs. Dewey made
trip TO Europe with her daughter. Up
to that time Mrs. Dewey was unaware
of the financial embarra assment that
had overta AIKEN her husband. After her
return she went to CassyIile, where she
learned from her husbands lips the eX
tent OF his reverses. Naturally OF an
excitable temperament the news prayed
upon Mrs. Dewey's mind. On her way
back to Madison she communicated the
startling news to her mother, Mrs.
Dunn, who resided at Muscoda. Mrs.
Dunn was said to have intrusted con-
siderable money to Gov. Dewey for in
vestment, and this, it was said, was
lost in the wreck The statement
was borne out by Mrs. Dunn's action
after learning that she was left
crippled in resources. One morning
she arose, dressed herself with unusual
care, as if preparing for party, and
walked down to the Wisconsin River, a
mile away. A few hours later she was
found drowned in slough, where the
water was barely two feet deep. This
elimination of her troubles rendered
Mrs. Dewey temporarily insane. On
the return of her reason Mrs. Dewey
continued to reside in Madison until a
few wears ago, when she went to Mil
waukee, where she lives with her
dauphtar