Biographical Sketch of

Corydon P. Hewett

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 403 - 404

Corydon P. Hewett, son of Charles Hewett, one of the honored pioneers of Green Lake County, 
was born in Geauga County, Ohio, Nov. 23, 1828, at the age of seventeen years came to 
Kingston, Wisconsin, where he has since resided. He received his education in the district 
schools of Ohio and Wisconsin and was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes of frontier 
life. After attaining his majority he wedded Miss Sarah Graham, the wedding being celebrated 
on the 4th of January, 1852. The parents of Mrs. Hewett were Eber and Betsy (Bancroft) Graham,
both of whom were natives of New York. In an early day they came to Kingston, where they spent 
their declining years.

In 1852, Mr. Hewett received the appointment as foreman of a construction company on the 
Chicago & Galena Union Railroad, now the Galena Division of the Chicago & Northwestern. 
Shortly afterward, however, he was employed in the same capacity on the Illinois Central 
Railroad between Freeport and Galena. He retained that position until 1859 and was one of 
the trusted employees of the road. When the late war broke out, he bade good-by to his 
little family and on the 30th of September, 1861, offered his services to the Government, 
becoming a member of the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry. He was mustered in at Janesville and was 
engaged in border warfare until the following February, when he was injured by a runaway 
team. He then went to Leavenworth and declining to go into a hospital, he secured board and 
treatment at a private boarding-house, defraying his own expenses. When he had sufficiently 
recovered he was detailed as a private detective by the provost-marshal, for some months. 
As he did not regain his health and was unfit for duty, he was discharged from the service 
at Leavenworth, Nov. 27, 1862. His injuries have made him a cripple for life and for sometime 
his health was so badly shattered that he could not engage in any business. He receives a 
pension, which is meager compensation for the injuries received while in the service. He 
helped to enlist the first colored regiment that was put in the service.

In 1865 Mr. Hewett rendered valuable services to the community in being instrumental in 
breaking up a gang of counterfeiters, thieves and robbers, who at the time had made this 
place their headquarters and scenes of their principal operations. Knowing the existence of 
such a gang, he determined to break (it) up. Acting under Government authority and assisted 
by Mr. F. G. Knight he succeeded in bringing to justice one of its leaders, and putting the 
rest to flight. This circumstance is too well known to our citizens to need more than the 
passing notice that our limited space will allow.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hewett have been born three children who are yet living--Darius L., the 
eldest son, is now engaged in carpentering in Des Moines, Iowa; Corydon D. is employed as 
an engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, with headquarters at Burlington, 
Iowa; and Jessie M. is a teacher and yet makes her home with her parents.

For the past thirteen years Mr. hewett has been engaged in the culture of bees and has been 
very successful in that line of business. He keeps on hand from seventy-five to 150 colonies 
and is constantly adding to the number as the demand for the honey increases. He has one of 
the most extensive apiaries in the State. In political sentiment, Mr. Hewett was formerly a 
Republican. He cast his first ballot for Fremont and supported that party for a number of 
years until joining the Greenback party. He is now liberal in political affairs, supporting 
the man whom he thinks will best fill the office. He is a representative of one of the pioneer 
families of the county and none stand higher in the estimation of the people of the community 
than he and his excellent wife.  
  





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