Nelson Dewey

Nelson Dewey
Portrait from Wisconsin Historical Society
1st Governor of Wisconsin
In office June 7, 1848 – January 5, 1852
Lieutenant	John E. Holmes Samuel W. Beall
Preceded by	Henry Dodge (as Territorial Governor)
Succeeded by	Leonard J. Farwell
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 16th district
In office January 2, 1854 – January 7, 1856
Preceded by	James Wilson Seaton
Succeeded by	J. Allen Barber
12th President of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory
In office January 5, 1846 – January 4, 1847
Preceded by	Moses M. Strong
Succeeded by	Horatio Wells
7th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory
In office August 3, 1840 – December 7, 1840
Preceded by	Edward V. Whiton
Succeeded by	David 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 by	James Russell Vineyard
Succeeded by	Orris 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 by	Position established
Succeeded by	Franklin Z. Hicks, Alonzo Platt, & Glendower M. Price
Personal details
Born	Nelson Webster Dewey (1813-12-19)December 19, 1813 Lebanon, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	July 21, 1889(1889-07-21) (aged 75) Cassville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Dewey Cemetery Lancaster, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
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	William Dewey (brother) Orin Dewey (brother) John J. Dewey (brother) Charles Dunn (father-in-law) Felix Cole (grandson)
Profession	lawyer

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.