Nellie M. Dewey (1839-1910)

DEWEY, NORTON, SYKES, ADAMS, DEWOLF

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 10/16/2003 at 20:06:26

Nellie M. Norton was born in Richfield Springs, New York on May 2, 1839. She moved with her parents to Illinois when she was but a child. She was educated in the Rockford Seminary. She came to Fayette, Iowa in the spring of 1860. Made her home at N. N. Sykes and while there joined the Congregational Church in Fayette.

She taught several terms of school in Fayette county, her first term was held in the old log cabin on the Thomas J. Dewey farm, the family having moved out into the new stone house, with whom she boarded that summer of 1860. She had been orphaned before coming to Iowa. Her uncle and family, Decon Norton, was then living near the old stone school house, now known as Center Grove, where and with whom she lived until December 27, 1864 when she was united in marriage to Jasper Dewey.

To this union were born five children; Guy Norton, Bert Norton, Will, Lester D. and Vinnie Maude. Vinnie was married to to Clarence Adams and moved to Kansas where Mr. and Mrs. Dewey went later and lived expecting to spend the rest of life with her, their only daughter, but death robbed them of her and she was brought back here to Maynard for burial. The sorrow of this bereavement undoubtedly shortened her life. She died of heart failure May 17, 1910 at the age of 71 years and 15 days.

Of her father's family there were only two, herself and one sister, Mrs. Vinnie DeWolf, who resides on the Pacific coast.

Oelwein Register - May, 1910