GREGG, Lafayette - (from The Sentinel) After but a few hours painfulsuffering Judge Lafayette Gregg passed away at his residence a little after midnight Sunday morning. Judge Gregg has not been in good health for several months but was able to be about as late as Wednesday last when he was attending to his usual business and visited the court room. Thursday he was confined to his residence but felt better on Friday and Saturday morning he suddenly grew worse and medical assistance was summoned. It became evident during the day that his condition was critical but everything that medical skill could suggest proved unavailing and his life went out as stated above. The immediate cause of his death was ulceration of the bowels and his age about 67 years. Judge Gregg has filled so large a space in the public eye that the brief time permitted us before the paper goes to press compels us to postpone a more extended notice until next week. Suffice it to say he performed every duty in life in such a way as to disarm death of its terrors and a sorrowing community extends the deepest sympathy to the bereaved family. ... The following biography of Judge Gregg is taken from Hempstead’s History of Arkansas: Judge Lafayette Gregg became a resident of Washington County in 1835 and Fayetteville in 1849 and has resided there continuously since. He was born near Moulton, Lawrence County, Ala. February 6, 1825, son of Henry and Mary Gregg, who was Mary Murrill, a native of Virginia but who grew up in East Tennessee. In October 1835 he came to Arkansas with his parents, they settling in Washington County. In December 1849 he located in Fayetteville. He received education in the country schools in Washington County and at the Ozark Academy. Studied law in the office of W.D. Reagen in Washington. Was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice there in which he has been continuously engaged, with the exception of the time he served on the bench, enjoying a good practice. He also conducted a finely improved farm of 400 acres and was engaged in banking as president of the Bank of Fayetteville. He was a member of representatives of the sessions of 1854- 5, served as prosecuting attorney of the fourth circuit from 1856 to 1861, chancellor of the Pulaski chancery circuit, 1867 to 1868 and associate justice of the supreme court 1868 to 1874. During the civil war he commanded the Fourth Arkansas Federal Cavalry. On the 22d of December 1852, near Fayetteville, he was married to Miss Mary A. Shrave, then lately from Kentucky. By this marriage there are four children - three sons and a daughter. [The Springdale News 11/6/1891] It is but feeble expression to say that the death of Judge Lafayette Gregg, which occurred at twenty minutes past midnight Sunday morning, was an occurrence of profound grief to this entire community where he was best known and most highly esteemed. It is a splendid tribute to his memory that the sorrow was not confined to circles or classes. In him the people had a friend and the pathos of his death touched all hearts. The stricken home circle lost a tender and devoted husband and father, the church a faithful member, yet the best epitaph of Judge Gregg is that written by his useful and gracious life upon the memory of universal friendship. We can add nothing to the eloquent tribute paid him in this issue of the Review by Rev. N.M. Ragland of the Christian Church. [Washington County Review At last Fayetteville is called to mourn the death of her most useful and distinguished citizen, It is no disparagement to others to assign to Judge Gregg this high place in the esteem of his friends and neighbors. For high Christian character, long and useful services to the people he had in this county few equals and no superiors. There are lessons in his career which should not be lost to the rising generation. His life should furnish inspiration to the young men of this State for years and years to come. He came to this county with his parents from the place of his birth in Alabama away back in 1835 when Arkansas was only a territory. He was then only a lad ten years old. His father located on a farm a few miles north of Fayetteville where the son grew to manhood and where he learned the important principles of industry, integrity and economy, which were so conspicuous in his after life. He was educated in Ozark Institute, then one of the best schools in the State. After completing his education he began the study of law; and by his own unaided efforts he won his way to the front in his profession. While reading law he would teach at intervals in the schools of the county in order to secure means to continue his studies. Such energy and industry are certain of reward and hence it is not strange that his success was marked from the beginning. He began to practice in the early fifties and a few years later represented his county in the legislature. For some years previous to 1860 he served the State in the capacity of prosecuting attorney. During the late war he was a gallant soldier and rendered distinguished service in the cause of the Union. Later he served the State on the supreme bench. When his term expired he refused to become a candidate again and returned to his home in Fayetteville and resumed his practice which he prosecuted with an ability and an industry that was the admiration of all thoughtful people. In 1886 he was the Republican candidate for governor against Judge Hughes. He made a most active and in many respects a brilliant canvass in which he made many friends and no enemies and the result was he ran far ahead of his ticket. Had he been elected there is not the slightest doubt that he would have made as good a governor as Arkansas ever had. A few years later he was again the candidate of his party and this time for supreme judge. Again he ran ahead of his ticket, showing his great popularity with the masses. In addition to his professional duties he gave a great deal of attention to his farm and to all matters of public interest. In everything that involved the general good we looked to Judge Gregg to take the lead. Perhaps his greatest and most imperishable monument is his work in behalf of the State University. It was largely through his influence that the institution was located in Fayetteville. He gave his personal attention to the construction of the magnificent building which has been fitly termed one of the wonders of the modern world in that it was built at a time when Fayetteville had no railroad. For many years he was one of the most active and efficient trustees; in a word it may be truly said that Judge Gregg was the best friend the University ever had. His last service to the State he rendered on the Columbian Commission in the interest of the World‘s Fair. His heart was deeply interested in seeing his State correctly represented in this great enterprise. Even when in delicate health he would endure all the fatigue incident to a journey to Chicago and other cities in order to be present at every meeting of the Commission. As a lawyer he stood high both with the bench and the bar. In his practice he was most laborious and painstaking even to the minutest details of a case. For this reason his services were sought in almost every case of great importance which came before the courts. In him was exemplified the proverb that “good counselors lack no clients.” He was winning in his manner; clear and concise in his statements; fluent in speech; convincing in argument and had great influence with the court and wonderful power over a jury. If at any time in his practice he showed feeling it was never in malice. Judge Gregg was too well versed in the principles and practices of the New Testament to intentionally do a discourteous or unkind deed. He was not only the soul of honor but one of the most courteous of cultivated Christian men and one who always respected the rights, feelings and opinions of others. He was a man of great activity, both of body and of mind. It was the constant wonder of his friends that one with such a frail body could dispatch so much work in so short a time. The secret of this is found in the fact that he was systematic in every thing he did and was constantly engaged in his appointed work. Outside of his own home there is no other place where his death is so deeply felt or so sadly deplored as in the First Christian Church where for forty years he was a consistent member and for the past six years a most useful and respected elder. For a long time he had been in declining health yet no one supposed that the end was so near. He was actively engaged in arranging his business almost to the very hour of his death. On Wednesday he was in his office and at the court room attending to professional duties. The announcement on Saturday that he was in a dying condition was like a thunderbolt from a cloudless sky. He continued to sink till twenty minutes after midnight when death in lasting slumber sealed his eyes. N.M.R. Fayetteville, Ark., Nov. 3,1891. [Washington County Review 11/5/1891]