Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Dewey, Elijah J. May 1, 1837 - 
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 January 25, 2009, 12:55 am

Author: 1883 Mecosta Co. Portrait & Bio Album

ELIJAH F. DEWEY, attorney at law and justice of the peace, Big Rapids, was 
born at Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y., 

May 1, 1837.  His father was a millwright and carpenter.  Mr. Dewey was 
brought up on a farm and attended 

the common schools until he was 19 years of age, when he became a student at 
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 

his unlce being a proffesor at that institution.  He he pursued a full 
literary and classical course of 

study, graduating in June, 1860.

His first engagement was as Assistant Principal of the High School at Pontiac, 
Oakland Co., Mich.  Upon the 

expiration of this engagement he went to Chicago as reporter on the Times.  A 
year after, in company with A. 

C. Wheeler, he started a literary paper in Chicago, - The Spirit of the West, -
 which he ran a few months, 

and subsequently accepted an engagement in the office of the Provost Marshal 
at Pontiac, Mich., meanwhile 

studying law with his brother Judge J. S. Dewey.  He was admitted to the bar 
in 1866 and engaged in 

practice.

He came to Big Rapids in the winter of 1868 and at once entered upon the 
practice of his profession.  He 

served as Circuit Court Commissioner in 1870 - '71.  During the year 1970 he 
was Recoder at Big Rapids.  He 

was first elected Justice of the Peace in 1869, and has occupied the position 
most of the time since.  His 

business as attorney and magistrate is successful and steady.  He also 
operates to some extent in real 

estate.

Mr. Dewey was married at Pontiac in December, 1867, to Sarah L., daughter of 
the late Hon. Rufus and Sarah 

(Chamberlain) Hosmer.  Her father was a prominent politician, and was for some 
years the editor of the Old 

Detroit Advertiser, and was afterward editor and one of the proprietors of the 
Lansing Republican.  In 1861 

he was appointed by President Lincoln Counsel General to Frankfort-on-the-
Main, Germany, and died while 

making preparations to assume the duties of the appointment.  Mrs. Dewey was 
born in Pontiac, Mich.  The 

family includes four children - Harry S., Josephine H., Mary L. and Rufus H.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/dewey134nbs.txt

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