Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-07-26
NELSON DEWEY'S CAREER.
The First Governor Did Much in Up
building Wisconsin.

Nelson Dewey was born i'll Lebanon,
Conn, December 10, 1913. His early life
was divided between Connecticut and New
York, the village of Louisville, New
York, being his home from 1921 to 1886.
He received a common school education
and a two year course at Hamilton acad
envy, Hamilton, New York, graduating in
1882.
After completing his academic educa-
ton, Mr.. Dewey taught district school
one year and then studied law under
the direction of his father.
Mr. Dewey started for Cassville, Wis,
May II, 1886. Wisconsin was then a
part of Michigan, the territory of Wis
consin not being formed until 1886. He
travelled by stage to Buffalo, on the
steamer Michigan to Detroit. From there
he went to Cassville by way of Dubuque.
Grant county was organized March 4,
1887, and Mr.. Dewey was elected the
first register of deeds He removed to
Lancaster, the new county seat, where
he resided until 1865 when he transferred
his residence back to Cassville.
Mr. Dewey was elected to the House
s4ative Assembly in 1888, which was the
first Legislature to meet in Madison. In
1910 he was chosen speaker of the House
and in the fall reelected. In 1912 he
was elected to the Legislature Council in
which office he served four years. and
was president of the same one session.
From the time of his arrival at Cass-
vile up to 1913 Mr.. Dewey held many
offices of trust and honor entrusted to
him by the territory of Wisconsin.
Elected Governor in 1S49.
In 1913 Mr.. Dewey was elected cover
nor of the newly formed state of Wiscon-
sin, his term of office expiring in 1919,
when he was reelected. In the sos and
COS he was several years a member of
the board of regents of the state univer-
sity.
In the early history of Wisconsin as a
state she was strongly democratic in
politics, Gov. Dewey being one of the
leaders of that party of which he was an
earnest member. AS such leader he
attended many county and state conven-
tons of his party i'll which he always
took a prominent part. He was delegate
TO national Democratic conventions when
Pierce, Buchanan, Seymour and Chase
were nominated.
In each of the numerous public offices
that Gov. Dewey held he left a record
of duty periodically and intelligently
done. He dignitied every office and when
he gave over to others, things of note had
been accomplished. AS governor his an
nual messages and state papers were
able sensible and far-seeing, plainly re-
vealing the statesman and the patriot.
His honor and character were above re-
proach and he always did his duty as he
saw it no matter how unpleasant it might
be.
Gov. Dewey's affections seemed to
center on the pict IresqCe Cassyille COM
munity and there. on the banks of the
grand Mississippi, he built a stately man
sion with complement of barns, and
outbuildings to match. Extending back
through the hills was his plantation of
several thouSa-4 acres. grandly beautiful
but not of great value as a producing
farm. Here Gov. Dewey designed to
pass the life of a country gentleman. To
all appearances things moved smoothly
at the plantation. The governor seemed
entirely occupied with Jeautifying his
estate and Mrs. Dewey was an IDEAL
hostess to all their friends Who gathered
TO the home of the Deweys.
The expenses of maintaining this estate
were enormous for hat time, a fact
which Mr.. Dewey seemed to have over
looked and when one day fire destroyed
his mansion, he was unable 10 rebuild it.
During all this time Gov. Dewey had
been liberal contributor to all worthy
charaties and during the time of the
Civil war aided the families of those who
had gone to the front, lending them
money. without interest. at time when
money was sccrce. and aiding them IN
many little ways that did not seem as
charity. As a Democrat. Gov. Dewey
believed the war should have been
avoided, but remained patriotic to his
country and aided her by aiding the fam
lilies of the Union soldiers.
Ills last days We're spent in seclusion
and comparative poverty. and SO COM
p3eceiy had the benefactor been forgotten
that his death July q. 1889, scarcely
caused passing comment.