MYRON EDWIN DEWING 1832-1874
Myron Edwin Dewing, sixth child of Dexter and Deidamia, was born at French Creek, New York, March 27, 1832. At two years old. having Stumbled with hands reaching forward, and fallen into the embers of an outdoor chip-fire, all his fingers were so burned as to maim him for life. When his forearms rolled outwardly the baby fingers were seen folded upon the palms, under a new covering skin. The more usual appearance was that of amputation at the wrists, the effect of longer cuffs to shirt and coat. This mishap was of advantage to his brother, born a few weeks later; for the younger became to the elder a bodyguard in their childhood and a close companion in study in their youth. Both were thus taken from the trowel and builder’s scaffold for other usefulness. He qualified himself at common schools for teaching, and thus earned means for more liberal self-education. He was a fair Latinist, and between himself and Ely some graceful translations were made from such scraps of French and German literature as fell in their way.
He made himself a good marksman, a bold and graceful horseman, and taught his stumps to move his pen freely and with clerkly neatness over papers and record books. He could deal skillfully from a pack of cards, open his mail and his pocket-book, and shift for himself in most ways.
His tongue was witty, keen, caustic, and made for him friends and unharming enemies. He was most annoyed by impertinent curiosity. In 1856 he was elected clerk of the county board over Charles Daniel Handy, and served till his death, March 26, 1874. He had lived with his parents until their death, and with Ely until his own. He left to his brother and his sister, Miss Melvina, his small property interests and his library of one thousand volumes, bought mostly by himself and well read by all three. In 1901 these heirs gave six hundred and fifty volumes to the new free library, still held together as the Dewing Collection, and these unusually well chosen books give some distinction to the whole array of shelving.
Myron E. Dewing died March 26, 1874
From: Beckwith, A.C. (1912). History of Walworth County Wisconsin