OYLER, Samuel Pettit

DEATH OF SAMUEL P. OYLER.

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An Honored and Well Known
Citizen Passes Away.

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Colonel S. P. Oyler, who was stricken with paralysis Sunday, August 28, died Tuesday afternoon about three o’clock. Hopes had been entertained of his re­covery, but age and infirmities were against this, and the patient had to suc­cumb to the inevitable.

Samuel P. Oyler was born in Hawkhurst, England, August 26, 1819. His early years were spent in London. He attended school at Westminster for some time. In 1834 he came to Amer­ica and settled at Rochester, N. Y. In 1841 he came to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he farmed and studied theology until 1843, when he united with the Universalist church and preached for that church for eight years in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. In 1845 he married Miss Wooding who died two years later, and in December, 1849, he was married to Lucy Howe, who survives him. In 1850 he removed to Franklin and began the study of law relinquishing his calling in the ministry. In 1852–4 he served as prosecutor of this district.

He was one of the first to answer the call to arms in 1861 and by his own efforts raised the first company in this county which was the third in the state. He was made captain, later commis­sioned as major of the 7th Ind. Vol. Inf. and served in West Virginia. In 1862 he organized a second company, the 76th Vol. Inf., was commissioned lieutenant colonel and assigned to the army of the Cumberland. He was first with Buell and later with Rosecrans. In the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga his regiment suffered severely. He led the charge at Mission Ridge, and his re­giment, the 86th Ind, was the first to scale the ridge and capture the enemy’s works. He was with Sherman on his march to Atlanta.

He was twice elected to the state senate, and in 1868 was appointed judge of this circuit and served until 1870.

He was a member of the K of P., Masonic, I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. organ­izations.

The Johnson county bar at a meeting yesterday, reported the following reso­lutions:

Again death has invaded the ranks of this bar.

Our brother, Samuel P. Oyler, was born Aug 29, 1819, and departed this life Sept. 6, 1898. He became a member of this bar in 1851 and from that time until his health gave way in recent years, he was an active, influential and leading attorney, and we, realizing the high standing of the deceased as a citizen, soldier and lawyer, do hereby give the following expression of our esteem and regard for him. There be it

Resolved, First, That in Samuel P. Oyler we recognize a man of sterling character and courteous demeanor and that to associate with him both in busi­ness and socially was a pleasure.

Second, As a lawyer he was learned; as a counsellor, safe; as a practitioner, ready and skillful; and as an advocate, eloquent and effective.

His high sense of honor and absolute truthfulness was recognized by all; his word was accepted and relied upon by his fellow practitioners without ques­tion, and never was that trust betrayed.

Hypocrisy and deceit he utterly de­tested.

He had an exalted opinion of his chosen profession, and his respect for courts and judges and his deference to their opinions was marked; in nisi prius courts he took no offense and found no fault with the judges for their decisions, always recognizing that if he differed in opinion of the law, his remedy lay not in cavil but in appeal. Colonel Oyler was the judge of this court from 1868 until 1870.

As a jurist, he was recognized as being most fair, impartial and indus­trious, following at all times the dictates of his conscience in deter­mining the controversies brought before him, as to what was right between the litigants. He was a judge of sound judgment and fearless in the perform­ance of what he believed to be his duty.

Third, He twice represented this county in the senate of the state of Indiana, where his career was eminent, and distinguished by industry and zeal in advocating that which he believed to be to the best interests of his con­stituency and his state, serving his district with honor and distinction.

Fourth, We realize his departure from our midst with sincerest sorrow, and extend to his family warmest sympathy in this, their irreparable loss.

Fifth, Be it further resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be furnished the newspapers of this county for publication and to his family, and that the same be spread of record in the current Order Book of the present term of the Johnson circuit court.

Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the residence, conducted by Rev. T. G. Cocks, assisted by Rev. L. P. Marshall.

Burial at Greenlawn.

Link to Samuel P. Oyler’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry