During the Civil War, two Ohio brothers enlisted from Tama County Iowa into the Iowa Volunteer Infantry. ANDREW DEW joined the 24th Iowa Infantry, Company E. A few months later his brother JOHN DEW signed into Company G of the 14th iowa Infantry.
Andrew and John were sons of Thomas and Margaret Dew who lived in Defiance County, Ohio prior to moving to Tama County, Iowa where their father Thomas died in 1860. Their mother Margaret was the daughter of Hugh and Nancy Lennington.
Andrew went with his regiment from Helena Arkansas on expeditions up the White River, the Yazoo Pass and Milliken's Bend on their way to Vicksburg. They fought the battle of Fort Gibson. Andrew caught malaria in the swampy ground and had to be evacuated by riverboat to St. Louis were he died on May 13 1863. He was buried at the military cemetery there.
John's regiment fought in the Red River campaign in Louisiana, particpating in the taking of Fort deRussy, the fight at Sabine Crossroads, and in the hard fought battle of Pleasant Hill. Later they went on campaigns through Mississippi and Missouri. The record says John survived the war and mustered out with his company in November 1864.
Here is their information from the published rosters:
ANDREW DEW - 24th IOWA INFANTRY, COMPANY E: Dew, Andrew J. Age 25. Residence Howard Township, Tama County, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Aug. 21, 1862. Mustered Aug.28, 1862. Died of disease May 13, 1863, St. Louis, Mo. Buried in National Cemetery, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Mo. Section 5, Grave 40.
JOHN DEW - 14th IOWA INFANTRY, COMPANY G: Dew, John. Age 27. Residence Howard, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Dec. 18, 1862. Mustered Dec. 23, 1862. Promoted Sixth Corporal June 1, 1864. Mustered out Nov. 16, 1864, Davenport, Iowa.
What became of John after the war, for now, seems to be a complete mystery. No public records have yet been found showing him in the census, or marriage records or death records.
A brother Thomas Dew married Malinda Linn and moved to Norton County Kansas with a brother Amos Dew and his wife Lucinda. A third brother Hiram Dew married Julia DeFrance and they moved to Jewell County Kansas.
Their sister Lydia married William Wiltfong and they too moved to Norton County Kansas. Another sister Nancy married Judson Murray, and they stayed in Grundy County Iowa.
An unmarried brother Lew Dew and his unmarried sister Margaret Dew moved back and forth between Kansas and Iowa.
Perhaps someone in these families knows what became of the soldier John Dew. If his name is familiar and his fate his known, please post the information here.
Members of the Dew family may be interested in knowing that recently an excellent book has been published by the museum of Traer Iowa that tells (through a detailed first person diary and many letters) the day by day story of the experience of the men of Company G, 14th Iowa from Tama County. One diary entry mentions John Dew and one of the letters tells of the sadness John experienced when he received a letter from home telling of Andrew's untimely death.
(It makes one wonder if any of these letters or photographs from the Dew soldiers still survive kept by family members, surely Andrew was sorely missed and grieved by his family who never saw him again. Perhaps his war time photograph and letters have been kept and treasured)
The service and sacrifice of the Dew brothers should not be forgotten. If anyone has more information about these brothers please post it here. If anyone is interested in reading the diaries and letters that tell about the Dew brothers the book can be seen at www.traermuseum.com