Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Dewey, Chester G 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 4:45 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

CHESTER G. DEWEY.

An investigation into the history of Grundy county will disclose the fact that 
the Dewey family has been prominent in connection with the advancement and 
progress of this section of the state, so that their history forms an 
essential part of the annals of the county. Chester G. Dewey was born in 
Leyden, New York, February 2, 1831, his parents being Harvey and Jerusha 
(Jencks) Dewey. In his youth he obtained a good common-school education and 
through the summer months worked on the farm. When young he also learned the 
carpenter's trade and was employed as a journey¬man for some time.

At the age of twenty-four years he was married in Boonville, Oneida county, 
New York, to Maria K. Hall, the wedding being celebrated November 16, 1855. 
The lady was born in Leyden, New York, and is a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah 
(Jencks) Hall. When this country was still numbered among the colonial 
possessions of Great Britain, her ancestors took up their abode in the New 
World. Dr. Isaac Hall, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Dewey, was a prominent 
physician of Connecticut, and his son Isaac was born in that state. The 
grandfather was twice married, and after the death of his first wife removed 
to Leyden, Lewis county, New York, where he was again married. The children of 
his first union were Isaac, Jonathan, Abijah, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, and 
Phoebe; and by his second wife one son, named Joseph. Jonathan Hall, the 
father of Mrs. Dewey, was born in Connecticut, about 1776, and became one of 
the founders of the town of Leyden. He was married, in Connecticut, to Miss 
Hawley, by whom he had two children—Jehiel and Daniel. The mother died and Mr. 
Hall was again married, in Leyden, New York, to Sarah Jencks, a native of New 
England, whose birth occurred about 1790. He was a farmer by occupation and 
cleared a tract of land in Lewis county, developing there a good farm of three 
hundred acres. He was one of the substantial and respected citizens of the 
community and for some time served as a member of the board of selectmen. His 
death occurred in February, 1841, when he had reached the age of sixty-five 
years. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. In their 
family were the following children: Mary, Abigail, Jonathan, Sarah, Isaac, 
Julia, William, Phoebe, Eunice, Newton and Maria.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dewey took up their abode in Leyden, where 
he owned a good farm. He afterward sold that property, however, and removed to 
Mexico, Oswego county, where he owned a valuable dairy farm of one hundred and 
four acres, and where he remained until his emigration to the west. His home 
was blessed with the presence of the following children: Harvey N., born 
December 6, 1856; Estella S., born September 8, 1858; Robert H., born May 8, 
1862, and died May 21, 1899; Helen E., born August 4, 1864; Fred H. and Frank 
H., twins, born February 10, 1869, but the latter died June 2, 1876; Charles 
H., born May 28, 1871, and died November 16, 1879; Jessie M., born July 31, 
1877, and died in March, 1880. The second child, Estella, is now the wife of 
E. W. Walworth, a farmer in Mazon township, and their children are Lena, Roy, 
Mae, Jessie, Edward, Ralph and Stanton. Robert H., also a farmer, married Ida 
Burleigh, and their children are Chester, Carrie and Marion.

In 1897 Mr. and Mrs. Dewey removed to Mazon, Illinois, where they are now 
living a retired life. They are members of the Baptist church, and while in 
Mexico, New York, Mr. Dewey held office in the church for a number of years. 
He cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont and was a Republican 
for some time, afterward became a Prohibitionist, and in 1896 gave his support 
to William J. Bryan. His life has been one of industry, and his close 
application to business and his capable management have brought to him 
creditable success.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p649-651

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