BIOGRAPHIES:  Daniel C. DEWEY, Arcadia, Trempealeau Co., WI

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**Posted for informational purposes only -- the poster has no connection to 
this subject.

Daniel C. Dewey, the pioneer, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., April 16, 
1828, of English descent, the son of Aaron Dewey.  The original ancestor in 
this country was Thomas Dewey, who came from Sandwich, Kent County, England, 
and settled in Massachusetts, where he died April 27, 1648.  Daniel C. was 
but 4 years old when, in 1832, he removed with his parents to Cherry Valley, 
Ashtabula County, Ohio, where his boyhood was spent, and this early 
attachment made him always deeply interested in everything identified with 
the "Western Reserve."  He came to Wisconsin when that State was but a 
Territory, and a few years of his youth were spent in the vicinity of 
Horicon, Dodge County.  Later he went to Clarkson, Monroe County, N. Y., 
where he married.  In the fall of 1852, he settled in Martin, Allegan 
County, Mich., where for the next five years he labored clearing up and 
improving a homestead.  This was then a heavily-timbered country, and it is 
characteristic of the conditions consequent upon opening up such lands for 
cultivation, the felling and burning large quantities of timber, the 
decaying vegetation, and the steam arising from the drying of the soil 
heretorfore shaded, almost invariably produce a state of unhealthiness, and 
this young couple, although each possessed of robustness fitly typical of 
the hardy pioneer, escaped not these malarious conditions.  To avoid 
suffering longer, they sold their homestead and removed to Arcadia, 
Trempealeau County, Wis., where they arrived May 8, 1859.  His brother, 
George D., had settled there five years previously as one of the first in 
this, until then, uninhabited locality by civilized men.  The mother had 
come here in 1857, after the death of her second husband.   Henry W. Dewey 
and Walter D. Dewey came later.  Hence the Deweys must ever be regarded as 
among the earliest settlers of Arcadia, who made the early development of 
the place, promoted the welfare of the little communtiy, and assisted in the 
organization of the town, and its early government.  The nearest postoffice 
was at Fountain City, upon the Mississippi River, over 20 miles away.  It 
was also the market place, and where supplies were purchased and drawn to 
the little community with oxteams over roads of the crudest and most 
primitive construction.  The community grew, prospered and developed 
rapidly.  The Deweys were energetic, public spirited and, it is safe to say, 
were as potent factors in promoting the interests of the community as any 
therein.  Daniel Dewey was for a long time a school officer.  He solicited 
immigration, procured the establishment of mail routes, carried the mails, 
laid out and built roads, nearly swamped himself financially by contributing 
too liberally to the building of a church.  In the War of the Rebellion he 
enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, on Aug. 10, 
1862, and served as sergeant of his company.  One day when stationed at Camp 
Randall, while in charge of a squad of ment who had been assigned to duty in 
the removal of some stone, to encourage his men he took a hand with them 
and, in his enthusiasm, accidently overdid, the strain producing double 
hernia, and not long therafter was discharged for disability incurred.  He 
never fully recovered, and although his death did not occur until July 4, 
1889, it is thought that this army service accident may have been the remote 
cause of his disease, an operation for which at the hospital in St. Paul, 
whither he had gone for treatment, he did not survive.  Like his father, was 
a great reader and well informed on the political and other events of his 
day.  In politics a Republican, though not a strong partisan.  In religious 
matter his were the most progressive views, very genial in his nature, broad-
minded in his conception of humanity, kind as a friend, fearless as an 
enemy, charitable, public spirited, always entertaining a deep interest in t
hat which was deemed a benefit to the commonwealth.  He suffered much pain 
from his disease for the last five years of life, but bore it well and did 
not complain.  He married, June 5, 1852, at Clarkson, N. Y., Josephine M. 
Trumbull, daughter of William and Polly (Cropsey) Trumbull.  His father was 
born Oct. 4, 1836, in Rensselaer County, N. Y., and died Jan. 15, 1896.  
After her husband's death his mother lived with her son Jay on the old 
homestead, and with her daughter Ida on the farm adjoining.  She was of a 
quiet, sunny disposition, with a tendency to see only the bright side of 
everything of life.  Young and old confided in her, knowing that their 
secret troubles were safely lodged in the repository of a faithful breast 
whose heart throbs would beat in sympathy and pour oil of soothing influence 
upon the troubled waters.  There are three children: Ida, widow of D. L. 
Holcombe, of Arcadia; Ada, widow of H. C. Haigh, of Bismarck N. D., and Jay 
I., a leading citizen of Arcadia.

--Transcribed from "The History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, 1917," 
pages 716 & 717.