Henry M. Nevius(January 30, 1841 – January 28, 1911) was an American officer in theCivil War,New Jersey state senator,lawyer and jurist.

Henry M. Nevius
Nevius in 1902 publication
Member of theNew Jersey Senate
In office
1887–1890
Personal details
Born
Henry Martin Nevius

(1841-01-30)January 30, 1841
Freehold Township, New Jersey,U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 1911(1911-01-28)(aged 69)
Red Bank, New Jersey,U.S.
Resting placeFair View Cemetery
Monmouth County, New Jersey,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Matilda Holmes Herbert
(m.1871)
Children1
Occupation
  • Soldier
  • lawyer
  • jurist
  • politician
Signature
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnion Army
Years of service1861–1865
RankMajor
Unit1st New York Cavalry Regiment(1861–1862)
7th Michigan Cavalry Regiment(1862–1864)
25th New York Cavalry Regiment(1864–1865)
Battles/wars

Early life

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Henry Martin Nevius was born on January 30, 1841, inFreehold Township, New Jerseyto Hannah (née Browne or Bowne) and James Schureman Nevius. He was educated at Freehold Public School and Institute, graduating from the Institute in 1858. In 1859, he moved toGrand Rapids, Michigan,and took post-graduate courses atGrand Rapids High Schoolfor two years.[1][2][3]

Career

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Nevius joined the law office of futureU.S. Secretary of WarRussell A. Algerin Spring 1861.[1][3]On August 12, 1861, Nevius enlisted as aprivatein Company K,1st New York Cavalry Regiment( "Lincoln Cavalry" ) of theUnion Army.He served as a Regimental Commissary Sergeant. On December 31, 1862, he was appointed as asecond lieutenantto Company D,7th Michigan Cavalry Regiment,under the command ofGeorge A. Custer.[1]He resigned in 1864 to join a regiment out ofTrenton, New Jersey,but the organization did not form. He instead re-enlisted in March 1864 as a private in Company D,25th New York Cavalry Regiment( "Sickles Cavalry" ). He was promoted for bravery to second lieutenant, and was later promoted tocaptain.[1][3]On July 11, 1864, he commanded the center of a small band and led a charge duringEarly's raidsnearFort Stevensin Washington, D.C. He was shot in his left arm, forcing amputation.[1][3][4]PresidentAbraham Lincolnpromoted him to major.[1]In May 1865, he was discharged.[3]He was also present at theBattle of Antietam,Battle of Gettysburgand theShenandoah Valley campaign.[1]

In 1866, Nevius became a Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue forMonmouth County, New Jerseyand then worked as an insurance agent inMarlboro.In 1868, he resumed studying law with GeneralCharles Haight.[1][3]He was admitted to the bar in Monmouth County in February 1873 and as a counselor in 1876.[3]In 1875, he moved toRed Bank, New Jersey.He joinedJohn Stilwell Applegatein a partnership from 1879 to 1880.[1][5]In 1888, he formed Nevius & Wilson, a partnership withEdmund Wilson Sr.They remained partners until 1896. In 1896, Nevius was appointed by GovernorGriggsas Judge of the Circuit Court ofHudson County.[1][3]He remained in that role until 1903.[6]

In 1881, Nevius helped organize and served as the commander of theGrand Army of the Republicchapter in Red Bank. He was elected Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic of New Jersey in 1884. In 1887, he was elected as aRepublicanto theNew Jersey Senate.He remained in that role until 1890, and served as president of the Senate.[1][3]In 1904, Nevius became Prosecutor of the Pleas for Monmouth County. He retired in October 1908 when he was elected the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, beating former Minnesota governorSamuel Van Sant.[1][7]After serving one year as Commander-in-Chief, he returned to his private practice as a counselor-in-law and also worked in a chancery.[3]

Personal life and death

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Nevius married Matilda Holmes Herbert on December 27, 1871. Together, they had a daughter, Kate. Nevius died on January 28, 1911, of a stroke at his home in Red Bank. He was interred at Fair View Cemetery in Monmouth County.[1][2][3][8]

References

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  1. ^abcdefghijklm"Grand Army of the Republic – Henry Martin Nevius".suvcw.org.RetrievedJanuary 23,2022.
  2. ^ab"Henry M. Nevius".The New York Times.January 30, 1911. p. 9.RetrievedJanuary 23,2022.
  3. ^abcdefghijkKeasbey, Edward Quinton (1912).The Courts and Lawyers of New Jersey 1661–1912.pp. 90–92.
  4. ^Cox, William V. (1901)."The Defenses of Washington: General Early's Advance on the Capital and the Battle of Fort Stevens, July 11 and 12, 1864".Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C.4.Columbia Historical Society: 164.JSTOR40066778.RetrievedJanuary 24,2022– viaJSTOR.
  5. ^Mary Depue Ogden, ed. (1917)."Applegate, John Stilwell 1837 – 1916".usgwarchives.net.RetrievedJanuary 23,2022.
  6. ^"A Gift of a Loving Cup".The Daily Register.Red Bank, New Jersey.March 4, 1903.RetrievedJanuary 23,2022– viaNewspapers.com.
  7. ^"G.A.R. Elects Nevius".The New York Times.September 4, 1918. p. 6.RetrievedJanuary 23,2022.
  8. ^American Historical Society (1923).Cyclopedia of New Jersey Biography.pp. 41–44.
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