Fifteenth Generation

206. Aurelius Ephraim DEWEY was born on 11 August 1843 in Ohio.^{14,61,66,81,124,125} He was known as "Uncle Relius." (This picture is believed to be him in his Civil War uniform, but that has not been confirmed. The picture is identified only as "Grandfather Dewey.") He appeared in the census in 1850 in Lafayette Township, Walworth County, WI.⁸² He appeared in the census in 1855 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸⁵ Aurelius appeared in the census in 1860 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁷ He was listed as "Anselma," age 16, and his occupation was listed as a "Farm Laborer." He served in the military in 1865 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.^77,126,127 He enlisted on 3 February 1865 in company B, 47th Infantry Regiment, Wisconsin Voluntary Infantry, in La Crosse for one year. He was described as age 21, single, hazel eyes, brown hair, dark complxion, 5' 10", from Tomah Township. His enlistment was credited to Troy, Sauk County, WI, and he served as a Private.

He was mustered out on 29 August 1865 at Madison, WI. His pension number was Invalid's Application #640404 from WI, 16 Feb 188x and #437671. (Source: "Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebellion" published in 1886.) He appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸⁰ An 1877 plat map of Tomah Township shows that Aurelius owned a 40-acre parcel of land in the northeast corner of Section 7 and a 40-acre parcel in the west portion of Section 5. Aurelius appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸⁶ His household consisted of 3 males and 1 female. Between 1875 and October 1897 he was a farmer in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^66,128,129 He owned an 80-acre farm in the northeast portion of Section 7 that he had inherited (or purchased) from his parents.

The following article about the area appeared in the 20 June 1995 issue of the Tomah Journal: "One might travel far and look over many rural scenes before he would see the equal of the view which we obtained a few days ago from on the picturesque bluffs near Jacksonville.

Upon reaching the top of the bluff and gazing for a moment upon nature's beautiful panorama spread out before us, our first thought was that it must have been while contemplating this scene of thrift and prosperity that certain citizens of Sparta first conceived the idea of an equalizing committee to take some of the taxes off from their sand patch and put upon the inhabitants of this garden spot.

The view from this bluff is not of great extent, but is one where nature has distributed her favors with lavish hand. Previous to the arrival of the pioneer settlers in 1854, it was a wilderness. Its streams well stocked with fish, its marshes and swamps where all kinds of game fowl abounded, and the surrounding forest-covered ridges made it a favorite camping ground for the Indians.

Now within a short radius of our point of observation we looked upon the possessions of such substantial and prosperous farmers as Thos. Anderson, J. E. Broadwell, Joe Graham, O. M. Hill, A. E. Dewey, W. H. Jennings, A. L. Scherer, L. D. Wyatt, Jap Beardsley, H. J. Lamberton, J. H. McCurdy, W. W. Jackson, Web. Kenyon, Wm. Bell and others. Farther to the north we could see the farms of the Woodards, Chas. Reynolds, Wm. Sullivan, Mrs. Barber and Wm. Farnum bringing us around to the city of which we obtain a fine view.

On the south, in the distance were visible the places belonging to Polifka, Dan Sullivan, W. N. Austin, James Sheahan, John Sexton, Geo. Stevens, Al Stevens, the Deckers and many others. After taking this view of Tomah and some of her tributary country, nobody can fail to be convinced that there is a substantial basis for the hopes of her most sanguine citizens. Crops look splendid and a bountiful harvest is promised the toiling granger."

An article in the October 16, 1897, Tomah Journal noted: "Some of their friends gave Mr. and Mrs. Dewey a good bye party before their departure from the neighborhood. We are sorry to lose them from here, but are very glad they have gone no farther than Tomah, as we can enjoy their company occasionally now." He appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁶ His occupation was listed as "Farmer." Aurelius appeared in the census in 1890 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁰ He was listed on the 1890 Veteran's Census record. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷¹ He, his wife, and their daughter Hattie lived at 1223 McLean Avenue, next door to their son Jason. He appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁸ His occupation was "Farmer." Aurelius appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁸ He and his wife "Jennie" lived on "Fair Grounds Road." He appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁹ He and his wife lived in the Second Ward. He died on 18 August 1928 at the age of 85 in Hankinson, Richland County, ND.^14,92,125 Aurelius was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^14,92,127 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Aurelius Ephraim DEWEY and Jane Cordelia "Jennie" ROOT were married on 22 August 1868 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{71,96,102,125,131,132,133} The Root Family Bible contains an entry following those for their three children, recording the birth of "Baby Dewey, born Dec 1891." It is not believed to have been their child, because the 1900 Census indicates that they had 3 children, of whom all were living at the time of the census. The parents of the baby are not known. Jane Cordelia "Jennie" ROOT¹²⁵, daughter of Thomas Arthur ROOT and Harriett KNAPP, was born on 8 May 1849 in Springboro, Spring Township, Crawford County, PA.^{14,66,77,81,92,131,132,134,135,136,137} (She was probably named after a sister of her mother. In the Root Family Bible, she was listed as "Cordelia J." In the 1900 Census, she was listed as "Cordelia J.," but she was listed as "Jane C." in the 1880 Census and on her gravestone marker. In the 1910 Census, she was listed as "Jennie;" she was also listed as "Jennie" in the autobiography written by a niece, Blanche Loretta Griggs.)

(The Root Family Bible indicates that she was born in 1849. The 1900 Census listed May 1849. Her gravestone lists her birth year as 1851; it is probably in error.) She appeared in the census in 1850 in Springboro, Spring Township, Crawford County, PA.¹³⁶ She appeared in the census in 1860 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁷ Jennie appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸⁰ She appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁸⁶ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁶ Jennie appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷¹ She appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁸ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁸ (She was listed as "Jennie.") Jennie appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁹ She lived at her home in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI in September 1923.⁸⁹ She died on 16 March 1924 at the age of 74 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{14,125,132,135} She died of Exhaustion and Organic Heart Disease. Jennie was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^14,138 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Aurelius Ephraim DEWEY and Jane Cordelia "Jennie" ROOT had the following children: