Encyclopedia Dubuque
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CHEWNING, Vincent
CHEWNING, Vincent John. The son of Charles CHEWNING, Vincent was a graduate of LORAS ACADEMY, COLUMBIA COLLEGE, and BAYLESS BUSINESS COLLEGE. He worked for the Renier’s Music House and was an instructor in music.
Vincent was the Director of St. Mary's School Bands Dubuque Band Academy and played for the St. Mary's Casino Sunday evening on March 16, 1932. He was also the assistant director of the Cadet Band, reed instrument and harp specialist. He was a member of the Dubuque Traveling and Business Men's Association from 1930-1941 and was part of the Good Will Tour in June 1936 as the director of his own 16 piece band. This Good Will Tour sponsored by the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce lasted 2 days, traveled 410 miles and went to 32 towns and cities in Illinois and Iowa. He also directed the Vince Chewning's Accordion Orchestra that played at the Roma Cafe, 926 Main Street and they accompanied the Famous Blues Singer Marion Dale - direct from the Trionon Ball Room, Chicago, one October 5th.
Vincent was also part of Earl Woods Symphony Band in the autumn of 1931. Vincent, a big part of Dubuque music history, was pictured in the Telegraph-Herald on Jan.11th, 1963 with the Dubuque Band Academy - article “It Happened in Dubuqueland. He was also pictured in John Tigges' column "Remember When."
Chewning was married first to Dorothy A. Hogan who died giving birth to their infant son on Feb. 14, 1930. He was married a second time to Lucille Zahina on April 26, 1945. It was a military wedding as he was a sergeant in the army and they moved immediately after the wedding at Shaw Field in Sumter, S.C. He and Lucille had a son Charles. They lived in Illinois for most of their married life. Vincent was a musical instrument repairman at Norlin Industries. The couple retired to Dubuque where Vincent died on April 9, 1987 and Lucille died on Dec. 25th, 1993. They are buried at Mt. Calvary in Dubuque.
Vincent Chewning's uncle was Leslie Chewning, the musical director of the CHEWNING-STUBER ORCHESTRA. Charles, Vincent's father, and Leslie also had their own musical group called the CHEWNING BROS. ORCHESTRA.
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Source:
The genealogical information provided in this entry comes from the years of research done on the Chewning family by Dorothy Ufer Hlavacek, the eldest daughter of Marguerite CHEWNING and William Ufer.