Lafayette Gregg

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]