Aylesworth, Egbert E. (1838-1918)

AYLESWORTH

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Date: 3/29/2010 at 01:07:54

Egbert E. Aylesworth
Apr 22, 1838 - Oct 12, 1918

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.3, Council Bluffs)
AYLESWORTH, E. E.

Judge of Superior Court of city, came to Council Bluffs in October, 1866; opened a law office the same year; formed partnership with W. S. Williams in fall of 1867, and continued in that firm until the spring of 1872; he then formed partnership with James & Mynster, that being the time of the organization of the firm of James, Aylesworth & Mynster. Mr. Mynster withdrawing from the firm in 1879, James & Aylesworth continued in business together until the spring of 1882, when Mr. Aylesworth was elected Judge of Superior Court of Council Bluffs for a term of four years. He was born in Otego Couny, N. Y., in 1838; was educated in Hartwick Seminary, New York, and Delaware Literary Institute, Delaware County, N. Y., and commenced the study of law in January, 1861, in Portlandville, N. Y., with R. M. Townsend. He was admitted to the bar at Binghampton, N. Y., May 12, 1863; commenced the practice of law the same year, at Portlandville, N. Y., and continued there until 1866. He ran for Judge of Circuit Court on the Democratic ticket against C. F. Loofbourow (present incumbent) Republican, and was defeated by a small majority, running, however, 2,800 ahead of party ticket. In politics, he is a Democrat. He is of English and Scotch descent.

(source unknown)
Judge Egbert E. Aylesworth, for more than forty years a member of the bar of Council Bluffs, has throughout this period maintained a foremost place in the ranks of the legal profession, which has always had important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of a section or community and which has long been considered as conserving the public welfare by furthering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights. He is descended from one of the old New England families, his paternal grandfather, Benjamin Aylesworth, having been born in Pownal, Vermont. On leaving the Green Mountain state he removed to Milford, New York, in early manhood and was there married and spent his remaining days, his life being devoted to the occupation of farming. His son, John Aylesworth, was born in Milford, New York, November 30, 1800, also carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout the period of his manhood and died while on a visit to Batavia, New York, in 1870. He married Savina Adams and they were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters.
Egbert E. Aylesworth remained a resident of his native town until twenty-six years of age. He acquired his primary education in the schools of Milford and afterward attended Hartwick Seminary, at Otsego, New York, prior to entering Delaware Literary Institute in Franklin, New York. Completing his studies in the latter institution in 1860 he then returned to Milford, where he began reading law as a student in the office of R. N. Townsend. On the 12th of May, 1863, he was admitted to the bar at Binghamton, New York, and soon afterward located for practice in Milford, where he remained until 1866, continuing in the office of his preceptor up to that time. In the year mentioned he came to Council Bluffs, opened an office and has remained in active practice continuously since, save for the period of his service on the bep.ch. He is devotedly attached to his profession, systematic and methodical in habit, sober and discreet in judgment, diligent in research and conscientious in the discharge of every duty.
In his political views Judge Aylesworth has always been an earnest democrat and in 1884 he was made the nominee, of his party for the office of judge in the fifteenth judicial district, his opponent being C. F. Loofbourrow. The canvas of the votes gave Judge Aylesworth a majority of two but the election was contested and Judge Loofbourrow was declared elected by fourteen votes. Four years before he had run against Judge Aylesworth, on which occasion he was elected by only sixty-four votes, although the normal republican majority was about three thousand. In 1873 Judge Aylesworth was appointed by the city council to the office of city attorney of Council Bluffs, was elected to the position in 1874 and again in 1876, serving in all for four years. In March, 1882, he was elected judge of the superior court and remained upon the bench for twelve years, his service being highly satisfactory to all who give due regard to law and order. His decisions were strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case and in his application of legal principles he was always regarded as most sound. He retired from his position as he had entered it--with the confidence and trust of all concerned, and then resumed the private practice of law, in which he has since continued, being a member of the Council Bluffs bar for almost forty years.
Mr. Aylesworth was married on the 20th of September, 1864, in Milford, New York, to Miss Marcella R. Winsor, a native of Otsego county, New York, and a daughter of Isaac C. and Sarah (Brockway) Winsor. They now have four children, three sons and a daughter, namely: Paul C.; Ellen W., the wife of Bruce L. Beals, of New York city; Egbert D.; and Winsor S.
Judge Aylesworth aside from his service on the bench has filled the office of city councilman and a member of the board of education. During the long years of his residence here his co-operation has been given to every movement that he has deemed of advantage to the community and his influence is ever on the side of right, reform and improvement. Socially he is connected with the Elks and the Eagles and he is a communicant of the Episcopal church.

[From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.688]
JUDGE EGBERT E. AYLESWORTH is one of the earlier and well known members of the bar of Council Bluffs. Judge Aylesworth is a native of the Empire State, having been born in the town of Milford, Otsego county, New York in 1838. His father, now deceased, was also birn in the state of New York, as was his mother, Savina Adams. They were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters. The former in the order of their birth, are the subjects of this notice; Lorenne of Council Bluffs, and Freting, who is still a resident of the State of New York, as are the sisters of the family.
Judge Aylesworth was reared in his native town and was educated at Hartwick Academy, and at the Delaware Literary Institute, at Franklin in Delaware county, New York, and began the study of law in 1861, at Portlandville in his native county, with R. M. Townsend, Esq., a prominent lawyer of that place. He was admitted at Binghamton, New York, May 12, 1863, but continued in the office of his preceptor till he came west three years later.
Politically Judge Aylesworth is a Democrat. In 1884 Judge Aylesworth was the Democratic candidate for Judge in the Fifteenth Judicial District, his opponent being C.F. Loofbourrow. The canvass of the votes gave Judge Aylesworth a majority of two votes, but the election was contested and Loofbourrow was declared elected by fourteen votes. Four years before that election, he ran again the same gentleman for the same office, when the latter was elected by but sixty-four votes, though the Republican general ticket received a majority of about 3,000.
In 1873 Judge Aylesworth was appointed by the City council to the office of City Attorney of Council Bluffs, to succeed Judge J.R. Reed, and was elected to that place in 1874 and re-elected in 1876, serving in that position for four years. In march 1882, he was elected Judge of the Superior Court, a position that he filled in an able and satisfactory manner for the period of eight years. He has also been a member of the council and of the School Board of the city. Judge Aylesworth is a lawyer of fine legal attainments and is a progressive and popular citizen.
He was married in the state of New York to Miss Marcella Winsor, also a native of Otsego County. Their children are Paul Clark, Ellen Winsor, Egbert DeWitt and Seth Winsor.