Honorable Egbert Eugene Aylesworth

Genealogy: Egbert (7), John (6), Benjamin (5), Philip (4), Philip (3), Arthur (2), Arthur (1).

     Judge Aylesworth was the grandson of Benjamin Aylesworth, born Aug. 2, 1774, Pownal, VT, died Feb. 2, 1861,Milford, Otsego Co., NY, married Aug. 2, 1798, Elizabeth Mumford, born Aug. 22, 1772, died Jun. 11, 1836. His father, John Aylesworth, was born Nov. 29, 1800 in Milford, NY, died Oct. 9, 1870 while on a visit to Batavia, NY, married Nov. 29, 1825, Savina Adams, born Oct. 29, 1800, died Nov. 7, 1866, the daughter of Ezra & Eunice (Spencer) Adams of Milford, NY. Ezra is buried in the Wilcox Farm burial plot, Milford, Otsego Co., NY.

     Egbert, the fifth of seven children, was born Apr. 22,. 1838, Milford, NY, died _____, married, Sep. 20, 1864, Milford, NY, Marcella R. Windsor of Milford, NY, the daughter of Isaac C. and Sarah (Brockway) Windsor. They had four children: Paul C., Ellen W. (Mrs. Bruce L. Beals), Egbert D. & Winsor S.

     His primary education was in the schools of Milford and then attending Hartwick Seminary in Otsego, NY. He completed his education at the Delaware Literary Institute in Franklin, NY in 1860. His first position was as a student reading law in the office of R>N> Townsend.  Egbert was admitted to the bar at Binghamton, NY and located his practice in Milford. He remained in Milford until 1866 when he relocated his practice to Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., IA. For over forty years Egbert was a member of the bar of Council Bluffs, IA.  He was 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.

     As a politician, he was always an earnest Democrat and in 1884 became the nominee of his party for the office of judge of the fifteenth judicial district but because of questionable voting procedures he did not quite win the election. The City Council of Council Bluffs appointed him to the office of City Attorney in 1873, elected to the office in 1874 and again in 1876. In March of 1882 he was elected Judge of the Superior Court remaining on the bench for twelve years. His decisions were strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case and his application of legal principles he was always regarded as most sound. He retired from the bench and resumed his private law practice. Being a member of the Council Bluffs bar for over forty years, he had an outstanding career.

     Aside from his service on the bench he has filled the office of City Councilman and a member of the Board of Education, Socially, Judge Aylesworth was a member of the Elks and Eagles lodges and attended the Episcopal church.

Ref:  Arthur Aylsworth and His Descendents in America, pages 113, 232 & 377; History of Pottawattamie Co. IA 1907, Vol II , pages 607 & 607.