Representative Lewis Albert Reiley View All Years

HON. LEWIS ALBERT REILEY.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to draft and present resolutions commemorating the life, character, and services of the Hon. Lewis Albert Reiley, late of the House of Representatives in the twenty-first and twenty-second general assemblies, beg leave to report the following:

Among the leading lawyers of Louisa county, of whom the future generations of the neighborhood in which he lived and worked, will learn, was Lewis Albert Reiley. His mighty stature, his commanding countenance, his singular hat, his impressive style of carrying himself, and his cherished cane will all be vividly and interestingly described by relators commenting upon his life and work. Always, as he entered the court room, an added dignity exalted the legal profession.

His father, James Riley, was born in Pennsylvania, of Irish parentage; his mother Ann Hague, was of Scotch and French Hugenot descent. They were married in the year 1826, and Lewis A. was born March 1, 1845 in Nashville, Ohio. When only eight years old his parents moved to a farm near Columbus City, Louisa county, Iowa. Two years later his father died, and he, while yet a mere boy, began to help his mother in assuming the duties and responsibilities of the farm.

His early life was very ordinary but the various activities in which he was engaged gave him a wide experience. When sixteen years of age, he started to high school at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Six months after he had enrolled he quit, against the wishes of his mother, and entered the Union Army. It was not long, however, until he was taken sick, honorably discharged, and returned to his home. After recovering from his illness, he spent one year in school at Poughkeepsie, New York, and another year at Knox college, at Galesburg, Illinois. In his nineteenth year he began teaching in the public schools of Louisa county and continued this vocation for five years, when he was elected county superintendent of schools. In this capacity his services to the people and the schools were of exceptional value. He declined re-election, having decided to continue the study and practice of law.

Mr. Reiley acquired his legal education by studying in the office of Hon. D. N. Sprague of Wapello, then the able prosecuting attorney of the old First District of Iowa. In April 1871, he was admitted to the bar in the District Court of Louisa county, Hon. Joshua Tracy, of Burlington presiding, and upon his admission, at once formed a partnership with Mr. Sprague. This partnership lasted for a num- of years and the firm had a large business, most of the work being done by Mr. Reilly, as Mr. Sprague was busy with his official duties.

While county superintendent of schools, he made the acquaintance of Miss Carrie L. Newell, a daughter of Robert F. Newell, of Concord township, Louisa county, Iowa, whom he married April 24, 1872, one year after he had started to practice law. To them was born one son, Robert Leroy, who now continues the law business established by his father.

In politics, Mr. Reiley was a republican, always active, and an able advocate of the principles of his party. His first entry into the political arena as a candidate, was not until 1885 when he was brought out for representative from Louisa county and elected to the twenty-first general assembly over a very strong opponent, Mr. Arthur Springer. During this session he became very prominent among the leading politicians, and his influence spread throughout the state. He entered into the work immediately, and with the firm determination that always governed his procedure, devoted much of his time to devising the judiciary system of the state, more especially the grand jury, which he succeeded in reducing to less than one-half the original number.

Perhaps the most prominent feature of this session with which he was connected, was the impeachment trial of John L. Brown, auditor of state. He, with judge S. M. Weaver, then a member of the House, were chosen on the first ballot to be two of the seven managers of the trial. His ability as a lawyer and a leader is plainly shown by his work on this committee. Toward the close of the session it became evident that something must be done to reduce the probable cost of the trial. Mr. Reiley prepared a bill under which the legislature would adjourn as a legislative body and the Senate convene as a court of impeachment to hear the charges preferred by the House against the auditor of state. The measure was introduced on Wednesday, reported favorably on Thursday morning, passed the House Thursday afternoon and the Senate the same afternoon, was enrolled in the evening, signed by the officers of the two Houses and the Governor signed it and it became a law Friday morning.

He was re-elected to the twenty-second general assembly, during which session he took an active part in behalf of the blind of the state. Governor Larrabee appointed him on a committee of three to investigate the various institutions throughout the United States and Canada devoted to the education and industrial improvement of the blind. The committee in its report recommended the establishment of an industrial home for the blind, and the next legislature established a home at Knoxville.

Though, not a member of many organizations, he was an enthusiastic leader of those with whom he was connected. In the Masonic lodge he worked hard, being the first one in Louisa county to advance to the thirty-second degree. He took an active part in the bar association of the county and was its president at the time of his death.

During the latter years of his life one of his growing ambitions was to travel through Ireland. Business, however, delayed his visit. In the spring of 1914 the settlement of an estate, part of which was to be distributed in Ireland, presented his opportunity. Taking his grandson, Richard D. Reiley, he spent the summer of 1914 in the British Isles and continent of Europe. He had just returned from his trip abroad and had only begun to tell his many friends of his experiences and the numerous places of interest, which he always enjoyed, when he was suddenly taken ill and died December 26, 1914, at his home in Wapello, Iowa.

As a lawyer, Mr. Reiley was considered among the best in his section of the state, where he continued to practice actively and industriously for over forty-three years up to only a few hours before his death. During this long period he was engaged in many of the most important causes tried in the district. Everyone thought of him as a willing, indefatigable worker, one who took a deep interest in his cases, never overlooking the minutest details, and always tenacious to prove his convictions regardless of personal sacrifice. He had no aspiration for political power and wealth but found pleasure in working steadily at his profession. As written in the tribute by the Louisa county bar association and spread upon the records of the county—“He did his full share of the work of his profession and achieved his full share of its honors.”

C. B. WILSON,

GEO. W. CROZIER,

HOWARD W. BENN,

Committee.

Adopted January 25, 1917.