Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/256

 DEWEY

DEWEY

DEWEY, Hiram Todd, viticulturist. was born in roultiuv. Vt. July I'-i. 1816; son of Jeremiali, 3(1, anil Oriuda frudd) Dewi-y ; and a descendant in the eighth generation through Jeremiah, 2d, Jeremiah. 1st. S;imuel, Nathaniel, and Josiah, from Thonuis Dewey, who came from Sandwich, Kent, England, l)ecame a freeman of Dorchester, Mass., in 1034, and died in Windsor, Conn., April 27, 1648. Jeremiali Dewey the third removed with Ills family to Eliziilx'thtown. N.Y., in 1828, and to Detroit. Mich., in 1830, where he carried on his trade as a jeweller and clcK^kmaker. He removed to S;indusky, Ohio, in 1841, where he died of cholera in 1849. Hiram Todd Dewey, his second son, learned the trade with his father. He began business at Perrysburg, Ohio, in 1832, and in 1834 removed to Fort Wayne, where he was married, Nov. 23, 1838, to Susan Lauffley Stapleford, who was lx)rn at Newcastle, Del., Dec. 28, 1818. He returned in 1843 to Sandusky. Ohio, where in addition to the jewelry business he manufactured and put up town clocks. In 1857 he purchased a farm, one mile from Sand'osky, on which he planted the first vineyard on the lake shore of northern Ohio, and in 1860 he had so far suc- ceeded that his vineyard was visited by hundreds interested in viticulture. Land along the lake shore advanced from §75 to $200 per acre, and thousands of acres were planted in grapes. In 1862 he began the manufacture of wine, making 4000 gallons, and the following year 10,000 gallons. In 1865 he began selling his wines in New York city, but found it extremely difficult to introduce American wines for general use. His progress in this line was slow, but he finally won his way to success and with his sons, George Eugene and Hiram Stapleford. built up what in 1899 was the largest native wine business in the city of New York.

DEWEY, Israel Otis, soldier, was born in Berlin, Vt., March 9, 1824; son of Israel and Nancy (Hovey) Dewey; grandson of William and Rebecca (Carrier) Dewey, and of Roger and Martlia (Freeman) Hovey; and a direct descend- ant in the eighth generation from Thomas r>ewey, a freeman of Dorchester, Mass., in 1634. His mother was .seventh in descent from Daniel Hovey, who settled in Ipiswich, Ma,ss., in 1637. Lsrael Otis was fitted for college, but deciding on a mercantile life engaged in btusiness in Concord, N.H.. 1849-52, and in Hanover, 1852-64. He was an aide with the rank of colonel on the staff of Governor Haile, 1857, was a .state legislator in I860. postma.ster of Hanover. 1861-64, additional jjayma.ster of volunteers, 1864-66, and jkiymaster in the U.S. army with rank of major, 1867-88, serving the last three years in the office of the payma.ster-general at Washington. He was re- tired in 1868, on reaching the age limit. He was

married in 1851 to Su.san Augusta, daughter of Gen. Henry and Sus;in (West) Sweetser. He died in Boston, Mass.. May 12. 1888.

DEWEY, Jedediah, patriot, was born in West- field, Mass., April 11, 1714; son of Jedediah and Rebecca (Williams) Dewey. He was an imcle of Elizabeth (Dewey) FoUett, the heroine of the massacre of Wyoming, July 5, 1778, and it was at his house in Bennington, Vt., that she found shelter with her six children after tliat terrible experience. He was called to the pastorate of the Bennington church. May 24, 1763. In 1770 he was indicted at Albany, N.Y''., as a leader in the land controversy with the state of New Y^'ork, and his influence with Governor Tryon brought about a temporary cessation of the trouble in 1772. On the Sunday preceding the battle of Bennington he urged his people to fight for their country and after the capture of Ticonderoga he conducted a service of thanksgiving which was attended by the officers of the victorious army. He was married, Aug. 4, 1736, to Miudwell Hay- den of Windsor, Conn., and they had eight chil- dren. She died, June 29, 1792. His son, Capt. Elijah Dewey, commanded an infantry company at Bennington and served at Fort Independence, 1776, Ticonderoga, 1776-77, and at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered. He was counted the wealthiest man in Bennington, excepting Gov. Moses Robinson. The Rev. Jedediah Dewey died in Bennington. Vt., Dec. 21, 1778.

DEWEY, Joel Allen, soldier, was born in Georgia, Vt., Sept. 20, 1840; son of Horace Moseley and Harriet M. (Peck) Dewey. He studied at Oberlin college, 1858-61, leaving in his senior year to serve in the Union army, having received a commission as 1st lieutenant. He was assigned to the army of Gen. John Pope and was afterward with Gen. W. T. Sherman. He was promoted captain and served on the staff of General Rosecrans. In 1863 he was promoted colonel and commanded the 111th U.S. colored regiment. He led a brigade in the operation of the army in Alabama and was captured near Athens. Ala., in 1864. while engaging Forrest's cavalry. After his exchange he served in Ten- nessee and Alabama till the close of the war. He received his commission as brigadier-general of volunteers. Dec. 13, 1865. declined a captain's commission in the regular army, and was mus- tered out of the volunteer service. Jan. 31, 1866. He then studied in the AUiany (N.\^.) law school, was graduated in 1867, and removed to Dan- dridge, Tenn., where he practised law. He was attorney-general of the state. 1869-73, and died in Knoxville. Tenn.. June 17, 1873.

DEWEY, John, educator, was Ixjrn in Bur- lington, Vt., Oct. 20, 1859; son of Archibald S. and Lucina (Rich) Dewey. His ancestor on the