Representative Levi M. Hubbell View All Years

HON. LEVI HUBBELL.

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of Hon. Levi Hubbell, an honored member of this House, beg leave to submit the following report:

Levi Hubbell was born in Sherman, Fairfield County, .Connecticut, July 14, 1821. His father was Levi Hubbell, son of David Hubbell, who with his brother were pioneer settlers in Fairfield county, Connecticut, and descendants of the original Hubbell family, tracing their lineage directly back to the kingdom of Wales. For a number of years he lived on a farm, getting his early education in the public schools. At the age of nineteen years he entered Oneide Institute at Whitesboro, N. Y., of which Beriah Green, the noted abolitionist, was president, and where Mr. Hubbell imbibed those political principles which characterized all his later life. Leaving Whitesboro he taught school for five years in Dutchess county, N. Y., and then returned to Connecticut and established a school at Gaylor’s Bridge, in the famed Housatonic Valley. In 1857 he came to Iowa, locating at Bradford, Chickasaw county, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. On the 12th of September, 1860 Mr. Hubbell was united in marriage with Miss Jane E. Witted, and immediately after that event settled upon the farm in Winneshiek county which he had entered and which is known today as the Hubbell farm. In 1897 the family moved to Waukon, where Mr. Hubbell engaged in the creamery business, and which business he conducted for a number of years. Mr. Hubbell served in the 18th and 19th General Assemblies in the Iowa State Legislature as Representative from Winneshiek county. In his early life he was a member of the Episcopal church, but later on became an adherent of the Presbyterian church; he was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and later in life became an active member of the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of Bayard Lodge, No. 121 of that order. In politics he was always a consistent republican, but he admired all public men of high ideas, regardless of their political faith. He was a man of great ability, a student of nature, loving flowers, trees and shrubbery, not only endeavoring to help his fellow workers, but endeavoring to show them the goodness and kindness of God in everything. Naturally, his religion was broad and sympathetic, embracing a love for God and for mankind which brought him the love and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He was always courteous and unaffected, never arrogant, vain or conceited, but lived a straight forward life, believing that he helped make his own destiny. Ripe in experience, sound in judgment, he was a guardian and advisor of all the noble young men of his acquaintance, taking them into his confidence, and there never was a time in which they could not trust him, and never as a friend, or a private citizen, or as a man holding public office, could the integrity of his conduct or the purity of his motive be brought into question. For the young man without other means than a clean conscience, a pure mind and a definite purpose to win, he was a good living example. Faithful to every obligation, loyal to his friends, contributing to the happiness of others, he was accorded the gratitude of a wide circle of friends, who were his friends until death. His home life was commendable to a degree, he was a good husband and a kind and indulgent father, ever on the alert for the welfare of his family.

On the evening of December 23, 1910, Mr. Hubbell passed away, at the advanced age of 89 years, 5 months and 9 days, and he leaves to mourn his loss the widow, two sons, William W., of Winneshiek county, and George L., of St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as a brother, Jackson D., four years his junior and residing at the birth place in Connecticut. His life, character and services to the state were such as to entitle him to the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens and to command the confidence and gratitude of his fellow citizens.

Therefore be it Resolved, that in his death the state and county in which he resided lost a worthy and upright citizen and a conscientious and honorable man, and we hereby extend to his bereaved wife and family our heartfelt sympathy in their sorrow, and

Be it further resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

E. H. FOURT,

W. M. LARRABEE, JR.,

L. M. ENGER,

Committee.

Adopted.