NEGUS, Hon. Charles - 1890 Bio (1816-1877)

NEGUS, SMITH, GRIFFITH, DRYSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/20/2007 at 16:00:51

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 611-613

Hon. Charles NEGUS, deceased, the pioneer lawyer of Fairfield, Iowa, who at his death was the oldest member of the Jefferson County bar, was born in Webster, Mass., in 1816. He lost his father in childhood, passed his early years in hardships, and at the age of fourteen chose a guardian for himself, and passed from under the care of a step-father. When seventeen years of age he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was an active member the greater part of his life. He was ambitious to acquire a good education, and was an industrious student, making good use of his leisure hours. Through the kindly assistance of a female relative, in 1834 he became a student in the Wesleyan University of Middleton, Conn., and while pursuing his studies in college, he sustained himself by teaching and other employements as opportunity afforded. In 1838 he was graduated, and with the desire to enter upon a legal profession, turned his attention to the study of law. During the year 1839, he went to Petersburg and Richland, Va., and was engaged in teaching in that State until the autumn of 1840, when he bade good-by to his old hime, and started for the far West. After several months spent in traveling and prospecting, he finally located, in the spring of 1841, in Fairfield, Iowa, where he entered upon the practice of his profession. Three years later he returned to Richmond, Va., and was joined in wedlock with Miss Martha Eleanor SMITH, who comes of an old Virginian family, and is a native of Richmond, that State.

Immediately after their marriage, Judge NEGUS returned with his bride to Fairfield, where he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred on the 4th of May, 1877, leaving his wife and three children to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father. The eldest child, Lyman Smith, is an only son. He studied law with his father, was admitted to the bar, and for several years was his father's law partner. He is now a resident of Red Oak, Iowa. The eldest daughter, Mary Cary Ambler, is the wife of Thomas GRIFFITH, of Red Oak; Susan Ella, the youngest, wedded Isaac DRYSON, and is living with her husband in Los Angeles, Cal. Mrs. NEGUS removed to Red Oak, in 1881, and has since made that city her place of residence.

The Judge was a life-long Democrat, honest in his convictions, and fearless in defense of his principles through the dark days of the late Civil War, when to be a Democrat in Iowa, during the high state of political feeling then existing, was to be subjected to coldness and suspicion by over-zealous supporters of the administration. Judge NEGUS rose above the petty annoyances of the times, and commanded and enjoyed the respect of his fellow-citizens in a marked degree. His energy, enterprise and public spirit brought him into prominence even in the early days of his residence in Fairfield. He was chosen to many public positions of honor and trust, the duties of which he discharged with ability and fidelity. He was elected Judge of the Probate Court in 1843, and served until 1846. In 1850 he was elected a Representative of the General Assembly of Iowa, in 1856 was appointed Probate Judge, and the following year was elected Prosecuting Attorney. He ws one of the original projectors of the Iowa Railroad Company, was very energetic and influential in support of that enterprise, and was elected President of the company. He twice served as President of the School Board, and also as Director. He took an active part in securing the establishment of the branch of the State University of Fairfield, which for years was the important institution of learning here, and in other ways did much to advance the educational interests of the city.

At the holding of the first quarterly meeting in Fairfield, held in 1841, Judge NEGUS was admitted to membership, and gave liberally toward the building of the first church of that denomination in Fairfield. Mrs. NEGUS is an Episcopalian, and we find by the records that the Judge was chosen a member of the First Vestry of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, which was elected March 24, 1856. He continued his connection with the Episcopal Church during the remainder of his life. As a citizen, he was always public-spirited, and was prominent in every enterprise calculated to benefit the community in which he lived. To his efforts and influence the people of Fairfield are more indebted than to the labors of any other for the building of the Southwestern Railroad through this city. The high esteem in which he was held, is best shown by the action of his brethren of the bar at the time of his death.

On Saturday evening, May 5, 1877, a meeting of the Jefferson County bar was held, to take appropriate action upon the death of Judge NEGUS. George Acheson, then the oldest surviving member of the bar, was called to the chair; Charles B. Leggett, now Judge of the District Court, was made Secretary. Those present in addition to the two above named, were C.W. Slagle, James F. Wilson, now United States Senator; D. P. Stubbs, W. B. Culbertson, J. J. Cummings, M. A, McCoid, late member of Congress; David Heron, J. R. McCracken; W. A. Frush, R. H. Knight, J. D. Mount, and George H. Case. The following resolutions were adopted:

Whereas, Hon. Charles NEGUS, a member of the bar of Fairfield, Iowa, after a successful practice in his profession, for a period exceeding one-third of a century, has been stricken down by the hand of death; We, his associates in the profession, who have long and intimately known him, do hereby place on record, this minute to his memory.

The deceased was the oldest practicing attorney at our bar, and as such was entitled to, and had our esteem and reverence.

As a lawyer, he was courteous and honorable; ever indefatigable in the preparation of his cases, and in his efforts to secure the legal rights of his clients.

As a citizen, he was public spirited and interested himself in each and every project for the benefit of our city and county.

As a member of the Iowa Legislature, Probate Judge of this county, President of the Iowa Railway Company, Director of our public schools, and in many other prominent public positions, he faithfully discharged his duties, and has left his mark upon the times in which he lived and upon the State of his adoption.

We have unfeigned sorrow in the death of our brother, by which our ranks are broken for the first time in many years, and we accept our personal and professional loss only with great sadness. Our hearts go out in tenderest sympathy to the widow and children of our deceased brother in their bereavement, and we tender them our sincere condolence."

Remarks were made by the chairman and others present, expressing their high opinion of their late brother, of his ability, his faithfulness and energy, his high standard of professional conduct, his public spirit and leadership in all the enterprises which have enriched our county and beautified our city; and of the beauty and integrity of his character, and testifying to the shock caused by the death of one who was friend to each of us, the oldest of all, the first to be called away. The minute was adopted by the vote of all present.

George Acheson, Chairman.
Charles D. Leggett, Secretary.

Judge NEGUS took a warm interest in all that pertained to the history of his adopted State, gathered much interesting data on that subject, and wrote industriously and ably in that cause. Many interesting sketches pertaining to pioneer times in Iowa, from his pen, were published in the Annals of Iowa, a historical periodical issued by authority of the State Historical Society. For several years just prior to his death, he devoted much labor to the preparation of a history of Iowa, which he contemplated publishing, but death came before his work was completed. Judge NEGUS was a man of marked individuality, brave, self reliant, dignified in manner, yet genial and courteous to all; never covetous or given to selfish desire of personal gain, but earnest in a broad spirit of devotion for the public welfare, and best enjoyed that which benefited his fellow-men through the prosperity of the commonwealth wherein he lived.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.