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Submitted: 1/18/11 • Approved: 5/25/16 • Last Updated: 5/28/16 • R449314-G449314-S3
COLONEL US Army
4 Regiment Arkansas Federal Cavalry Volunteers
Civil War Union
February 6, 1825 - November 1, 1891
Lafayette Gregg
February 6, 1925-November 1, 1891
Banker Attorney State Representative Civil War Veteran Arkansas Supreme Court Judge Pioneer
Lafayette Gregg is an obscure and almost unknown figure in Arkansas history. Although, he was involved in some way, with almost every major historical event in Arkansas history, that occurred during his lifetime.
Gregg was born in Moulton, Alabama one of six children of Henry and Mary Gregg. His father was a Veteran of the War of 1812 and a very early pioneer in Washington County, Arkansas. Lafayette, came with his family to Washington County , when he was 10 years old. He attended, for a short time, the Ozark Academy and then secured a place with the law offices of W D Reagan in Fayetteville, giving him the opportunity to gain admission to the bar. He married Mary Shrave, December 1852. From this union were born three sons and a daughter.
Gregg served a term as a state representative in 1854. Then became the prosecuting attorney for the Fourth Circuit until 1861. Gregg was a Southern Unionist and served as a commander in the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry (Federal) but was not known to be involved in any major military action. After the war he continued his law practice and served in 1864 as chancellor of the chancery circuit court for Pulaski County.
When the subject came up about the location of the Arkansas Industrial University, Gregg was instrumental in locating it in Fayetteville. With William McIlroy, they secured $100,000 in bonds for the establishment of the school. He then served on the board of trustees from 1874-1883 for the university. He then personally oversaw the construction of the architectural centerpiece of the Fayetteville campus, “Old Main”, known then as University Hall.
After the Civil War and a term as chancellor of Pulaski County, Gregg served as an associate justice for the state Supreme Court, remaining in that position until 1874. Gregg was touted as the Republican candidate for governor in 1889, but lost to the then incumbent, Simon P. Hughes Jr. Then returning to his private life became the president of the Bank of Fayetteville. He was named chair of the state banking association on October 21, 1891. Gregg was appointed to serve as a state commissioner to the “World’s Columbian Exposition” (the World’s Fair of Chicago) in 1893, representing Arkansas. However, he became ill and died two years before the fair.
The circuit court adjourned, the university and banks and businesses closed on November 3, the day of Gregg’s funeral. His home, Gregg House and the monument to the Gregg family in Evergreen, where he is interred, remain popular landmarks in Fayetteville.
For additional information:
“Judge Gregg Dying.” Arkansas Gazette. November 1, 1891, p.1.
“Judge Lafayette Gregg (Nov. 1, 1891).” Arkansas Democrat. November 2, 1891, p. 1.
Gregg Family Papers. Special Collections. University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Stafford, L. Scott. “Supreme Court Justice Lafayette Gregg.” Arkansas Lawyer 43 (Fall 2008): 24.
James N. Wilhelm
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Contributed on 1/18/11 by nailgal123
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Record #: 449314