Nelson Dewey

Nelson Dewey
1st Governor of Wisconsin
In office
June 7, 1848 – January 5, 1852
LieutenantJohn E. Holmes
Samuel W. Beall
Preceded byHenry Dodge
(as Territorial Governor)
Succeeded byLeonard J. Farwell
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 16th district
In office
January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856
Preceded byJames Wilson Seaton
Succeeded byJ. Allen Barber
12th President of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory
In office
January 5, 1846 – January 4, 1847
Preceded byMoses M. Strong
Succeeded byHoratio Wells
7th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory
In office
August 3, 1840 – December 7, 1840
Preceded byEdward V. Whiton
Succeeded byDavid Newland
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory from Grant County
In office
December 5, 1842 – January 4, 1847
Serving with John H. Rountree
Preceded byJames Russell Vineyard
Succeeded byOrris McCartney
Member of the House of Representatives of the Wisconsin Territory for Grant County
In office
November 26, 1838 – December 5, 1842
Serving with Daniel Raymond Burt (1840-42) & Neely Gray (1840-42)
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byFranklin Z. Hicks, Alonzo Platt, & Glendower M. Price
Personal details
Born
Nelson Webster Dewey

(1813-12-19)December 19, 1813
Lebanon, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedJuly 21, 1889(1889-07-21) (aged 75)
Cassville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeDewey Cemetery
Lancaster, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Catherine D. Dunn
(m. 1849⁠–⁠1889)
Children
  • Charles "Charlie" Dunn Dewey
  • (b. 1851; died 1859)
  • Catherine "Katie" (Cole)
  • (b. 1854; died 1922)
  • Nelson "Nettie" Dunn Dewey
  • (b. 1857; died 1929)
Parents
  • Ebenezer Dewey (father)
  • Lucy Dewey (mother)
Relatives
Professionlawyer

Nelson Webster Dewey (December 19, 1813 – July 21, 1889) was an American lawyer, land speculator, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the first Governor of Wisconsin, and also served in the Wisconsin Senate and served several years in the Wisconsin Territory government before Wisconsin achieved statehood. He was also particularly important in the development of Cassville, Wisconsin, which he had at one time hoped to make the state capitol.