My Genealogy Hound

HON. JOHN H. HEWES, the efficient and popular Mayor of Holden, has been seven times elected to this responsible position, first in April, 1885, and the last time in April, 1895. In the first-mentioned year he also qualified as a Justice of the Peace, and by continuous re-elections has held the office ever since. Though he has rendered decisions on numerous cases, very few have been reversed on being appealed. An active Republican, he has often served his party as a delegate to county and district conventions. David Hewes, father of the above gentleman, was born in Maine, as was also his wife, who before her marriage bore the name of Mary Sawyer. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and was also a successful farmer. About 1851 he moved to Beaver Dam, Wis., where he purchased an eighty-acre farm, on which he made his home for a short time. Later, however, he moved to the town just mentioned, and worked at blacksmithing.

John H. Hewes was born in Hampden, Me., July 13, 1838, and was thirteen years of age when the family moved West. He attended school in his native state, and for three years was a student in the high school of Beaver Dam, Wis. When in his seventeenth year he returned to Maine, and there spent two or three years. While still a youth, he was made Deputy Recorder of Buffalo County, Wis., and also Clerk in the post-office at Montello. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Iuka. During this time he was in Grant's command, and subsequently participated in the siege of Vicksburg and in the engagement at Milliken's Bend. At first he was a musician in the band, and did not carry a musket until after the battle of Shiloh, when, the members of the band being scattered (only three being left), he volunteered to enter the regular service. He was elected Orderly-Sergeant, serving as such until he resigned. Returning to the band, he continued in that department until he was discharged, in the fall of 1864.

For a year Mr. Hewes carried on a hotel in Beaver Dam, and then went to Jefferson, Iowa. Soon afterward he was employed in the Recorder's office as Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, holding the same office for about a year. Later, going to Washington County, Neb., he made a set of abstract books, and was soon appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court, under Judge Crounce, which office he held until resigning, in 1869, when he came to Holden. During the next ten years he was employed as a clerk in a dry-goods store, but, becoming interested in the insurance business, he opened the office which he has since conducted for the transaction of that branch of work.

February 25, 1868, Mr. Hewes was married, at Jefferson, Iowa, to Frances L. Little, who died in February, 1883. She was on her way home from prayer-meeting, but before she reached it died suddenly from heart disease. She was the mother of five children, all of whom survive, and are as follows: Cora F., wife of R. L. James, of Kansas City; Fred B., Bessie F., Louie B. and May A. August 19, 1885, Mr. Hughes married Hattie B. McClelan, of Holden, but whose birth occurred in Springfield, Ohio.

Socially Mr. Hewes was for years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but the lodge to which he belonged surrendered its charter, and he has not joined any other lodge since. In the latter order he filled a number of positions in the local lodge, and has served as an official in the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic fraternity, which he joined at Ft. Calhoun, Neb. While a resident of Jefferson, Iowa, he helped to organize the Grand Army post there, of which he was one of the charter members, and is now a member of Winfield Scott Post, G. A. R., of Holden. Several times he has served as Adjutant, and at present is Post Commander. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Holden, and are active workers in the congregation.