The distinction of being one of the oldest pioneers of Jo Daviess County, is an honor worthy of consideration. To this Mr. Dean is amply entitled, he having come to this section in the fall of 1835. He for a time employed himself as a journeyman wagon-maker at Galena, a trade which he began to learn when a youth of seventeen years. A year after coming here he established in business on his own account, carrying on the manufacture of wagons and other vehicles at Galena until his removal to Hanover in the fall of 1839. The village was then called Wapello, and Mr. Dean conducted a wagon manufactory here until 1856. In the meantime he received the appointment of Postmaster at Wapello. In the fall of the year above mentioned he returned to his native State, where he sojourned until 1859, then came back to this county and resumed wagon-making, prosecuting this until 1865. He then moved to a farm on Sand Prairie, where he lived a number of years, but finally returned to Hanover, and here has since been contented to remain.

Our subject was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1815, and is the son of Harvey and Phoebe (Kellogg) Dean, who were natives of Massachusetts. Both his grandfathers served as soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Walter was the second son of the family, and was reared on a farm in his native county, receiving such education as could be secured by attendance at the district school. He has from that time on employed his leisure hours in the perusal of instructive books or newspapers, and is a man with whom it is both pleasant and profitable to converse.

The 10th of March, 1840, witnessed one of the most interesting events in the life of our subject, namely: his marriage with Miss Susan Schrambling. This lady was born in 1815, in New York State, and of her union with our subject there were born four children, only one of whom survives, Edna, the wife of Charles Hammond, of Jackson, Tenn. William H. H. joined the Union army during the Civil War and was killed by a ball from the rifle of a sharp-shooter before Atlanta. The other children died young. The mother died in Hanover in 1849.

The second marriage of our subject was celebrated June 5, 1850, with Miss Sarah Weir, who was born in Mercer County, Pa., July 15, 1830. Mrs. Sarah Dean is the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Hill) Weir, who were of Irish descent, natives of Pennsylvania, and came to this county in 1849. They settled in Woodbine Township, where the father secured land, upon which he labored until building up a good homestead, where his death took place in the year of 1887. The mother is still living there, and is now in the eighty-seventh year of her age. They too were among the pioneers of this county, and in the death of the father it lost one of its best citizens. He had been prominent in local affairs, serving as Township Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, and in other positions of trust and responsibility. The mother bore her part bravely as the wife of a pioneer, and has been for many years a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Their family included seven children, six of whom are living. Julia A. is the wife of James Reed, of Pleasant Valley Township, this county; Esther is the wife of Robert McGrath, of Carroll County; Amos H. is farming in Woodbine Township; Jennie is the wife of Arthur Stewart, of Carroll County; Emilia, Mrs. John Rankin, lives in Woodbine Township; Mrs. Dean is the youngest of the family.

The children of our subject and his estimable wife are named respectively, Clara B., who is now the wife of Lucius Benton, of Stockton, this county; Wilbur D., a resident, of Dodge City, Kan., and John, who lives at home with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Dean are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are widely and favorably known by a large proportion of the residents along the southern line of the county.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889) Pg. 669