Richard Dewhurst (1826 - 1895)
Born May 12,1826 - Lancashire England
Died October 13, 1895 - Atlanta, Georgia
Buried City of Neillsville Cemetery Section 1890 # 66
Richard Dewhurst, one of the notable pioneers of Clark County, founder of the Neillsville Bank, and a lawyer,
judge and business man of high repute, now passed away, was born near the city of Manchester, England, May
12, 1826, son of Miles and Mary Dewhurst. His residence in his native land was short, as in the year following
his birth his parents-he being then their only child-emigrated to the United States, settling in Bristol, Mass.
From that place they subsequently removed to Lorraine County, Ohio, where they passed the remainder of their
lives, and where three more sons were born to them-George, Joseph and Edmund. Richard Dewhurst spent a
part of his boyhood and youth on his parents' farm, but his ambition lay in the direction of the law, which he
studied at Oberlin, Ohio, under the direction of P. Bliss. He was admitted to the bar of Ohio, but in 1850 went to
Jo Daviess County, Ill., where for awhile he worked, in the lead mines. Then for a year or two he taught private
school in Scales Mound, Ill., from which place, about 1852, he removed to Potosi, Grant County, Wis.
In 1854 he was teaching school in Platteville, Wis., and in 1856 was admitted to the bar of Wisconsin at White
Oak Springs, locating at Weston Rapids, Clark County, on May first of that year. He had now found the place
which was to be the scene of his future activities, and so short a time did it take him to make his personality felt
that in 1858 he was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly on the Democratic ticket. In the following year he
became registrar of deeds of Clark County. It was in this year, on March 29, that he married Maria S. Curtis,
who was born in Ohio, April 9, 1840, daughter of Caleb and Mary Ann (Hurd) Curtis. Her parents, both natives of
Connecticut, were married in Ohio and settled at Cottage Grove, near Madison, Dane County, Wis., where Mr.
Curtis spent the rest of his life, following the occupation of contractor and builder.
During the Civil War he served in a Wisconsin regiment. The children in the Curtis family were: Maria S.
Wheeler, who also served in the Civil War Francis, Catherine, and Robert, who went to the war as a member of
a Wisconsin cavalry regiment and died in a hospital at the front.
After his marriage Richard Dewhurst came to Neillsville, settling on the ban of the creek below the mill. The
nearest markets were then at Sparta and La Crosse, and the roads were merely trails through the wilderness
Mr. Dewhurst erected a frame dwelling, which stood on the present site of the Emery Bruley home and here he
and his wife began domestic life. There were plenty of Indians in the vicinity who often came to the house
begging and they were always given something.
Mr. Dewhurst engaged somewhat extensively in logging, which was a wide-spread occupation in those days. He
had already, in 1856, held the position of county judge of Clark County, and in 1864 he was elected to the
legislature again, serving during the session of 1865, and being again a member in 1875, in which year he was
also county superintendent of schools. On the death of William Hutchinson he :filled the latter's unexpired term
as county treasurer and in the year 1877 was again county judge, serving on the latter occasion until 1879. Mr.
Dewhurst built the fine colonial residence on Hewett in which his widow now resides, and also the block on Main
street bearing his name.
He was a member of the Masonic order, which he joined at Sparta, while his religious affiliations were with the
Universalist Church.
Judge Dewhurst and his wife were the parents of three children: Frank, who died, at the age of two years Mary,
wife of W. L. Hemphill, and Lillian who died young. In 1874 Mr. Dewhurst, in company with Daniel, visited
Oregon, Washington and California, and in 1876, with John Reed, visited England, Scotland, Ireland and the
French Exposition at His death, which took place Oct. 13, 1895, removed from life's scenes one of Clark
County's most useful and distinguished citizens, and an event deeply regretted in the community in which he
lived.
Mrs. Dewhurst, who for so many years has been one of the foremost ladies Neillsville, is interested in
philanthropic and patriotic work, and is now interested in the work of the American Red Cross.
Self-Guided Cemetery Tour
R. Dewhurst and G. W. King came to Neillsville together, in 1856. Dewhurst had read law in Ohio, at Illyria, with Philoem Bliss,
afterward Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri. They started a law office soon after their arrival, their office being
situated in a building which stood near the gate in front of the present residence of James O’Neill.
Dewhurst taught the first winter school ever taught at Weston, during the winter of 1856-57. King was elected Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors, in the fall of 1858, and the same election Dewhurst was elected Register of Deeds and member of Assembly. He
had previously been chosen County Judge, in which capacity, the writer is informed, the most important act he ever performed,
was to walk from Neillsville to Loyal, a distance of twenty miles, to unite tow loving hearts in the bonds of matrimony.
Dewhurst was again elected to the Assembly in 1874, which position he now holds. He has been extensively engaged in
lumbering, and owns much valuable pine and agricultural lands in Clark county. All who know him regard him as an honest and
excellent gentleman, and although from the prominent position he has taken in politics, he has, naturally, incurred some enmity,
yet his political enemies concede his many sterling qualities. Mr. King removed, some years ago, to Humbird, Wisconsin, where
he now lives. He is extensively engaged in lumbering, owning what is known as King’s Mill, on the direct road from Neillsville
to Humbird, and being also interested in a large mill on the Mississippi.
----Source:
An American Sketchbook - Neillsville and Claire (Clark Co) Wisconsin
by: Bella French - 1875
Obituary
Dewhurst, Richard (12 May 1826 - 13 Oct 1895)
