Lewis Albert Reiley 1845-1914

REILEY, HAGUE, SPRAGUE, NEWELL

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 2/23/2023 at 15:44:39

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, December 31, 1914
page 1

Lewis Albert Reiley, of Wapello, Iowa, passed away of erysipelas at 12:40 a. m., December 26, 1914 at the age of sixty nine years, after an illness of but two weeks duration. Mr. Reiley who was a leading lawyer of Wapello, had been a resident of this county since 1853 and had lived in the city of Wapello for more than thirty years. He was born in Nashville, Ohio, March 1, 1845. His father, James Reiley, was of Irish descent, born in Pennsylvania and died in 1855, two years after removing from Louisa county. Mr. Reiley's mother was Anna Hague, of Scotch and French Huguenot descent. She was married to James Reiley in the year 1836 and died in 1868. Their son, Lewis, attended the common school in Louisa county and in 1861 was a student in the High school in Mt. Pleasant. When the civil war broke out young Reiley ran away from the High school, entered the army and remained south about six months, when he was discharged. Afterwards he spent a year attending school in New York and tool a years work in Knox college at Galesburg, Illinois.

In his early youth Mr. Reiley worked on the home farm, near Columbus city, and in his nineteenth year began teaching in the public schools. He continued in this occupation until five years later, when he was elected county superintendent of schools. He declined re-election, to continue the study and practice of law which he had commenced. He studied for admission to the bar with Honorable D. N. Sprague of Wapello. Upon his admission to the bar Mr. Reiley at once formed a partnership with Mr. Sprague, which partnership continued for a number of years. Mr. Reiley had for many years been a republican of statewide prominence and influence and an able advocate of the principles of his party.

On the 24th day of April, 1872, Mr. Reiley was married to Miss Carrie L. Newell, of Louisa county. They had one son, who survived them, Robert Leroy, born February 23, 1873, who was until recently engaged with his father in the practice of law but who has been elected auditor of Louisa county. Mr. Reiley was a member of the masonic organization and had advanced to the thirty-second degree, being the first one in Louisa county to attain to that degree. This summer he took a trip to Europe, spending several months visiting historical places abroad. The funeral was held at Wapello Monday afternoon. Interment in the Wapello cemetery.