Representative James Newberry View All Years

JAMES NEWBERRY.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of James Newberry, beg leave to submit the following report:

Whereas, The Honorable James Newberry, who was heretofore a member of the House of Representatives from Clayton County, Iowa, during the Twelfth General Assembly, departed this life at his home in Strawberry Point, Iowa, on September 22nd, 1917, and

Whereas, His record as a man, a legislator, a public official and a citizen, has been of the highest character, and

Whereas, It is fitting that we should recognize in some fitting manner, the passing of this distinguished citizen. Therefore be it

Resolved By The House of Representatives Of The State Of Iowa, That in the death of James Newberry the state of Iowa has suffered a distinct loss.

James Newberry was born in Orange County, New York, May 26th, 1827, and died at Strawberry Point, Iowa, September 22nd, 1917. When two years of age his father and family moved to Ohio, locating in Browhelm Township, Lorain County, where he was reared on a timbered Ohio farm. He was educated in the common school and attended Norwalk Academy, Norwalk, Ohio. He taught school several winters in Ohio and engaged in farming the balance of the year. He followed the same course for a number of years after his removal to Iowa.

On November 25th he was married to Miss Maria H. Westfall, a native of New York, at Browhelm, Ohio. Five children were born to them, all of whom are living, viz.—Byron W. Newberry, Charles W. Newberry, Mrs. Mary E. Kingsley and Kate G. Newberry, all of Strawberry Point, and Dr. Frank J. Newberry of Los Angeles, California.

In March, 1855, he moved with his family from Ohio to Iowa and settled on a farm in Clayton County, four miles southeast of Strawberry Point, which he had purchased the previous autumn and which he owned at the time of his death, and where he engaged in active farm work till 1876, when he rented the farm and moved to the town of Strawberry Point, where he has since resided. In 1877 and several following years he engaged in the newspaper business at this place. He assisted in organizing the successful Strawberry Point Farmers Creamery and was secretary and manager for three years. He was always deeply interested in the advancement of agriculture and educational interests and was a thorough and successful farmer and dairyman. He took as much interest in the farm and its management in his last days as he did when he settled here more than sixty years ago. He was a great reader and a forceful writer. He was a public spirited man and did all he could to advance the welfare of the community and the public at large.

He served as representative from Clayton County in 1868-9 in the 12th assembly and at the time of his death was one of five surviving members of that legislature. For several years he represented the township on the county board of supervisors and filled many other positions of trust and responsibility with credit. He was a plain, genial, kind hearted man, one who had the courage of his convictions. On November 25th, 1902, he and Mrs. Newberry celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. His beloved wife died February 3rd, 1905, a bereavement to him that time did not lesson.

Be It Resolved, That the life of James Newberry, as a citizen, as a legislator, and in every other walk of life, has been such as to commend his example as an inspiration to those who follow after. His unswerving fidelity to duty, his faithfulness in every public and private trust, and his character as a citizen should inspire all with whom he came in contact to a higher ideal of life and living, and be it further

Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this House of Representatives and engrossed copy thereof be sent to his son, Byron W. Newberry.

WILLIAM BECKER,

ARTHUR SPRINGER,

S. W. KLAUS.