Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 766 - 767 

NORMAN H. DEWING, a leading and influential grocery merchant of Valley Center, first drew the breath of life Sept. 16, 1836, beneath the roof of Elihu and Orpha (Brown) Dewing, his parents, in Chautauqua County, N. Y. His father was reared a farmer and followed that vocation through life. In 1872 he came to Sedgwick County, and settled on a farm in Kechi Township, where he remained until his death, which took place Aug. 6, 1882. This sad event was the result of his falling from a load of hay while in pursuance of his calling. He had a large and extensive place at the time of his death, which he left to his natural heirs. The first twenty-five years of his life, after attaining his majority, were passed in Chautauqua County, N. Y., from which place he removed to Michigan. Three years later he removed to Walworth County, Wis., but after a residence in that place of about the same length of time, removed to Kane County, Ill., about forty-four miles from the city of Chicago. Two years later he came to Sedgwick County as mentioned above.

            Elihu Dewing was always an earnest worker in the interests of the community among which he lived, and occupied a very prominent place in the opinions of his neighbors. He was a strong Republican in politics, seeking in that party the principles which he believed to be for the best preservation of our National life. With his estimable wife, he was a member of the United Brethren Church, both of them having connected themselves with that denomination in early life. A consistent Christian in all things, he ruled his life by the teachings of the Scriptures. His wife is still numbered among the living, and makes her home with one of her sons in Valley Center. She has already attained some six years beyond the allotted threescore and ten, and is peacefully awaiting the end that comes to us all.

            After boyhood and youth passed beneath his parents' roof, assisting in farm labor and in receiving his education, at the age of nineteen years the subject of this sketch began the battle of life as a lumberman in the woods of Michigan. After two seasons passed there, he went to Elkhorn, Wis., where he was engaged in the hotel business for about two years, and then removed to Milwaukee. In the latter city he was employed for about two years as weigher in the packing-house of Plankinton & Armour. Succeeding this he spent two seasons upon the lakes, after which he came to Sedgwick County, in 1876, and settled in Kechi Township, buying eighty acres of land, on which he pursued the avocation of a farmer for about three years. Trading this place for an 80-acre tract in Grant Township, he removed there, and for two years more followed farming. He then sold out and entered into the dry-goods and grocery business at Sunnydale, where he remained about two years and then sold out to his brother, M. W. Dewing, and removed to Greenwich, where he engaged in the same line of trade. He erected the first building that was built of frame in that place, and carried on trade for about two years and then removed to Valley Center. On first coming to the latter place he engaged in the butcher business, but two years later disposed of it to T. J. Worthington, and opened his present store, where he carries on an extensive business in the grocery line.

            In the spring of 1862, on leaving the firm of Plankinton & Armour, the subject of this sketch enlisted in Company A, 4th Wisconsin Infantry, being the first man in Walworth County to place his name upon the roll. At the expiration of his term of service, in July, 1862, he re-enlisted, in the 13th Light Artillery of Wisconsin, for three years. The regiment was organized about that time and placed under the command of Col. H. E. Payne. He remained with this body of men until February, 1863, when, having been seized with a fever at Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, Mr. Dewing received his honorable discharge for disability. He returned to Milwaukee, but soon recovering his health, again re-enlisted in the 13th Wisconsin Light Artillery, entering the service as private and being discharged in July, 1865, as Sergeant. During his term of service he was engaged in most of the battles in which the Army of the Southwest participated, the principal of which were those at Baton Rouge, La., Clinton and Mt. Hope.

            After receiving his discharge from the service, Mr. Dewing came directly to Sedgwick County, as mentioned above. On the death of his father in 1882, the family homestead passed into the possession of H. L. Dewing. Our subject was engaged in the mercantile trade at that time. While he was a resident of Kechi Township he held the office of Justice of the Peace for two terms, and was a member of the School Board the whole time that he made his residence in that portion of the county. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellow fraternity, and of the Encampment, in which he has filled all the chairs. He is also a member of Charles E. Warner Post No. 335, G. A. R.

            On the 18th of November, 1875, the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with Miss Anna Booher, who was born in Mendota, LaSalle Co., Ill., in May, 1855. She is a daughter of Banks and Sarah Booher, who came to Sedgwick County about the year 1872. Her father is a very prominent citizen of Payne Township, and is the father of nine children, of whom Mrs. Dewing was the fourth in point of age. There have been born to our subject five children, as follows: Clarence, Jasper, Norman (deceased), Earl and Elva.

            In politics, Mr. Dewing is a Republican, and at the village election, in 1886, was chosen Constable, to which office he was re-elected in 1887, and is still the incumbent of that position.

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