Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 685
JAMES S. DEWELL

James S. DEWELL, an attorney at law at Missouri Valley, has been identified with the interest of Harrison County since the month of September, 1883. He is a native of the Hawkeye State, and was born at Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa, June 16, 1857. He is the son of Nathaniel and Winnie (MCCOMB) DEWELL.

John DEWELL came to America from France in 1766, having been born in 1743. He was engaged in the Revolutionary struggle, and after its close settled near Annapolis, Md. This person was our subject's great-great-grandfather, who laid down the burden of life about 1803. His son Benjamin was a farmer in Maryland, and in stature was six feet and a half high. Solomon DEWELL, the son of Benjamin, was a carpenter by trade, and moved to Ohio in the early part of the present century, settling in Jefferson County, and was among the early pioneers of that region. Our subject's father, Nathaniel DEWELL, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 13, 1830, and followed farming for a livelihood. He died at Clarence, Cedar County, Iowa, March 13, 1890; having moved to Indiana in 1833, and to Iowa in 1855.

Winnie MCCOMB, the mother of our subject, the daughter of John MCCOMB, was born in Kosiusko County, Ind. The mother died March 21, 1865. Their family consisted of six children, of whom our subject was the fourth in number, five living. William DEWELL, brother of our subject, was drowned July 4, 1868, at Logan, Iowa; Hiram lives in Cedar County, Iowa on a farm; a sister, the wife of Silas SILSBY, lives in Cedar County, Iowa; Frank is a farmer in Ida County, Iowa and George lives in Woodbury County.

Our subject received his education in the common-schools of Cedar County; at the High Schools at Clarence, Iowa, and later took a regular course at the Iowa Agricultural College, graduating with the Class of '81. In 1882 he began the study of law at the State University at Iowa City, completing his course in June, 1883, shortly after which he came to Missouri Valley, where he has since practiced his chosen profession. >br<>br> Politically, Mr. DEWELL is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, believing its fundamental principles to be just and true. Since living in Missouri Valley he has been Secretary of the School Board for seven years; was Mayor of the city in 1885; City Clerk in 1884; City Attorney four years, and County Attorney for the years 1889 and 1890. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and in conclusion it may be added no man stands higher in the community than the man for whom this notice has been written.

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