My Genealogy Hound

BURGETTE L. DEWEY. In all Cass County there is no business establishment that, in quality of stock and facilities for the prompt supply of goods of every description, surpasses or even equals the flourishing enterprise conducted by the well-known firm of Dewey & Defendorf, of Dowagiac. Their store contains a complete stock of dry goods and carpets, and is without exception the largest in the county. The firm occupies two storerooms, with the upper floors and basement, and employs a force of five clerks and a cashier. Their building has a frontage of forty-four feet, with a depth of eighty feet, and the large plate-glass windows add to the attractiveness of the store, as well as furnish a splendid place for the display of goods.

The senior member of this firm was born in Oneida County, N. Y., on the 13th of October, 1845. A brief mention of his ancestors will be of interest to our readers. His grandfather, Harry Dewey, was born in Connecticut, but removed from that State to New York, where he settled in Oneida County and purchased a farm. Of his union with Miss Harriet Bliss two sons and two daughters were born, namely: Lambert B., father of our subject; Henry, a resident of New York Mills, Oneida County, N. Y., and now (1893) eighty-one years old; Mrs. Fannie Sturtevant, who resides in Delavan, Wis.; and Maria, who died at the age of twenty years. Grandfather Dewey followed the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred in Oneida County, N. Y.

Lambert B. Dewey, father of our subject, was born in Oneida County, and upon attaining to manhood married Miss Delia A. Storey, the daughter of Alvin Storey, a prominent and extensive farmer of Oneida County. Her grandfather, Capt. Enoch Storey, served as a Captain during the Revolutionary War, and died when over ninety-five years of age. After his marriage Mr. Dewey located in Walesville, Oneida County, where he engaged in tilling the soil. A prominent man in public affairs, he served as Justice of the Peace, Collector of the county, and Postmaster at Walesville. In 1859 he came to Marcellus Township, Cass County, Mich., and, purchasing some unimproved land, devoted his attention to its cultivation. In 1864 he removed to Porter Township, Van Buren County, Mich., and made his home upon an improved farm there for ten years, when he came to Wayne Township, Cass County and located on a farm. After having resided there for ten or more years, he came to Dowagiac, where he now lives retired, having attained to the advanced age of seventy-seven years. Since the organization of the Republican party, he has been one of its most devoted champions and has served his party with loyalty and zeal. Religiously, he is an active member of the Christian Church.

At the age of fourteen years, the subject of this biographical notice accompanied his father to Michigan, where he conducted his studies for some time. In 1864-65 he attended Eastman’s Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., graduating from that institution in 1865. Upon his return to Dowagiac he accepted a clerkship in the general store of Jones & Gibbs and remained with that firm until 1873, a period of eight years. He then formed a partnership with Marvin Defendorf and Daniel Lyle, the title of the firm being Dewey, Defendof & Lyle. Upon the death of Mr. Lyle in 1887, his place in the firm was assumed by Eugene Lyle, who retired one year later, and since that time the business has been conducted under the name of Dewey & Defendorf.

October 13, 1867, occurred the marriage of B. L. Dewey to Miss Sarah E. Green, who was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., but removed thence at the age of nine years and located with her father, William H. Green, in Battle Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey are the parents of three children, namely: Harry B., who is engaged in the hardware business at Elreno, Okla.; Hattie Free and Fred L., who are at home. The elder son married Miss Lizzie Pettee, of Osage City, Kan., the daughter of S. B. Pettee, a business man residing in Elreno, Okla. One child has been born to bless this union, a son named Marshall Burgette.

A man of strong convictions and decided opinions, Mr. Dewey believes that the principles of the Republican party are best calculated to promote the progress of the nation, and he accordingly gives his unwavering support to the party of his choice. For one term he served as Mayor of the city and he is at the present time a member of the Board of Education, with which he has been connected for twenty years. Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason and has been Secretary of the lodge at Dowagiac. In his religious belief he is a Congregationalist and is a Trustee of the church here.