Representative Sumner Barstow Hewett View All Years

SUMNER B. HEWETT was born in Northbridge, Mass., June 22, 1833; he died at Los Angeles, Cal., June 12, 1906. He was educated at the High School in East Douglas. At the age of 17 he taught a common school, and a year or two later became a clerk in one of the large furniture establishments of the city of Boston. In October, 1854, he was married to Miss Abbie S. Parker, of Blue Hill, Maine, and soon thereafter migrated to Iowa, in company with his father and mother and settled upon a farm just west of the present city of Eagle Grove. His wife became the Eagle Grove postmistress as soon as they could get an office opened, and held the place until the city was established and incorporated. During all of the pioneer years, before the advent of the railroad, no home in northwestern Iowa was better known than that of the Hewetts. Generous hospitality awaited all who journeyed that way. Blizzards or high water often delayed those who came for their mails, but they always found “rest and shelter, food and fire,” in the great two-story log house which was long the most imposing edifice in Wright county. Mr. Hewett served as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives in 1872, and had served several years as a collector of internal revenue. He received this appointment from Abraham Lincoln, mainly through the influence of U. S. Senator James Harlan. His commission with the signature of the great martyr President now belongs to the State Historical Department. He was elected county judge some time later than 1860, but this was after the office was shorn of most of its powers and duties by the advent of the supervisor system. Mr. Hewett was a most useful citizen, intelligent, public-spirited, exemplary in all the relations of life, charitable, just in his dealings, a man of mark in the communities where he resided, and one whose influence was ever on the side of education, temperance and good morals. The writer knew him for nearly fifty years as an abiding friend, concerning whom he is glad to place these words of appreciation on record. Mr. Hewett was the real founder of the city of Eagle Grove, where his name will long be held in grateful remembrance.