Reuben Nevius

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.

Born in Ovid, New York, the Rev. Reuben Denton Nevius received in 1849 his D.D. from Union College in Schenectady, New York. In 1850, Nevius went to Columbus, Georgia for further religious study. After ordination, he served as an Episcopal priest in Wetumpka, Alabama.

In 1872, Nevius was given the ecclesiastical responsibility for a wide circuit in eastern Oregon, where he established seven new congregations. His circuit-riding responsibilities later included eastern Washington and Idaho. He directed the building of many new churches, some of which are still standing.

Asa Gray named the plant genus Neviusia in his honor. There has been a controversy over assigning credit for the discovery of this genus.