Reuben Denton Nevius (1827 – 14 December 1913) was an American botanist and Episcopal priest, missionary, and the first registrar of the Diocese of Olympia, Washington.
His interest in botanical science intensified, and he began four decades of correspondence with Asa Gray at Harvard University, sending him samples of plants and searching out examples at Gray’s request.
Following the war, in 1866 he accepted an invitation to become rector of All Saints’ Church in Oil City, Pennsylvania.
In 1869, the couple relocated to Mobile, Alabama, where Nevius had been appointed rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, but Margaret died from yellow fever the following year.
[2]In 1872, Nevius was given the ecclesiastical responsibility for a wide circuit in eastern Oregon, where he established seven new congregations.