Representative Norman Densmore View All Years

HON. NORMAN DENSMORE

MR. SPEAKER Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life and services of the Honorable Norman Densmore, late of Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, beg leave to report the following memorial:

Honorable Norman Densmore, who represented Cerro Gordo county, in the Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies, was born at Riga, New York, on the 19th day of September, 1829, and died April 11th, 1920, at Des Moines, Iowa, having lived through the most wonderful period of American history and rounded out a useful life whose span reached nearly across a century.

He received a high school education in the state of New York; took a year of college work after he came to Wisconsin at Beloit College.

In 1845 he worked on a farm in Rock county, Wisconsin, attending college the following year. He taught school for several terms and in 1877 followed the westward trend of civilization and came to the prairies of Iowa, settling in Cerro Gordo county.

Here he farmed and widened his acquaintance, and it was not long until his ability led to his being chosen as a representative to the state legislature. He was an active Republican, but the party never blinded him to the rights of man.

He became deeply interested in the Farmers Co-operative movement about this time, 1886-7 and fought the good fight of co-operation when almost standing alone and finally led the co-operative forces to victory. He was the promoter of the first successful co-operative elevator insurance company in Iowa.

Mr. Densmore was an officer for many years in the Cerro Gordo County Mutual and later became a director in the great Iowa Mutual Tornado Insurance Association in which capacity he acted until 1905, when he was elected as president of that company and moved to Des Moines, to occupy this responsible position, which position he acceptably filled to within a few months of his death.

He was a man to be loved. Of that fibre of manhood which lays its course on the line of right and having laid its course goes forward with a steadfast purpose though the heavens fall. This was the spirit of Norman Densmore.

In 1857 he was married to Miss Delia Webster of Palestine, Illinois. To this union were born three children, Ray D., son, of Pensacola, Florida; Mrs. Elsie Jones of St. Paul, Minnesota; Ora D., son, of Des Moines, Iowa.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That the House of Representatives take this occasion to present this tribute to the memory of a faithful public servant, and to express appreciation of his character and public service, and at the same time extend to widow and relatives most sincere sympathy.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be printed in the journal of the House and that the chief clerk be directed to forward to the family of the deceased an engrossed copy.

J. H. MCGHEE,

J. S. GARBER,

I. E. BEEMAN,

Committee.

Adopted March 23, 1921.