Representative John Hereford King View All Years

HON. JOHN H. KING

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare and present suitable resolutions commemorative of the life, character and public service of the Honorable John H. King, an honored member of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth General Assemblies, beg leave to submit the following report:

John Hereford King was born of Quaker parents, at Salem, Henry county, Iowa, October 3, 1845, and was reared on the homestead entered by his father where the town of West Branch now stands. The common schools of the locality furnished the source of his early education, which was supplemented by a short course in a private academy. At the age of twenty-one years, on the 20th of September, 1866, he was married to Miss Permelia A. Andrews, and began farming on his own responsibility locating on a tract of land in Hardin county. He taught school during the winter months and began the study of law in 1869 under the direction of Hon. H. L. Huff, of Eldora, and was admitted to the bar in 1870, opening an office for the practice of law in Hampton in 1872. He was elected Representative from Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties in 1877 and reelected in 1879, serving his district and state with distinction and was active in shaping legislation during this period. His work as a legislator was invaluable and in some respects, at least, he held views in advance of his fellows. The Board of Control idea originated with him for in the year 1880 he prepared and introduced House File No. 73, in which was incorporated practically the same ideas that were enacted into law eighteen years later. In 1881 he removed to Chamberlain, Dakota, and soon became a prominent figure in the development and upbuilding of this splendid new empire. He was a leader among the pioneers and a most public-spirited citizen. In 1899 he removed to Huron, South Dakota, and made that place his home until the time of his death, April 4, 1906. He was chosen Railroad Commissioner in 1889, and served four years in that capacity. He was greatly interested in the development of the agricultural interests of the state and was president of the State Board of Agriculture for two years previous and at the time of his death. He always opposed strife and contention but could not be diverted from his purpose when a principle was at stake regardless of consequences to himself. In the words of a close friend, “He was unselfish to a degree that was measureless. He loved his home, the home circle and his friends. Now that he has gone from us, his many kind acts, and his great usefulness to the city in which he made his home, and to the state, whose praises he never tired of singing, will never be forgotten. He was a good man measured from every standpoint and his like we shall not soon meet again.”

Resolved: That the foregoing memorial be recorded in the Journal of the House and the Chief Clerk be instructed to send an engrossed copy to the family of the deceased.

N. W. BEEBE,

CHAS. L. MARSTON,

CHAS. W. MILLER,

Committee.