Representative Lewis Fordyce View All Years

HON. LEWIS FORDYCE.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to draft and present resolutions commemorating the life, character, and services of the Honorable Lewis Fordyce, late a member of the House of Representatives in the Fourth and Twentieth General Assemblies, beg leave to submit the following report:

Lewis Fordyce was born in Wabash county, Illinois, November 5, 1820. At the age of seventeen he came with his parents to Lee county, Iowa, and two years later to Van Buren county. In 1845 he returned to Lee county where he was united in marriage to Miss Maisy Newby on March 27, 1846. Had Mr. Fordyce lived only three days longer, he and the bride of his young manhood would have celebrated their sixty-sixth anniversary. Eight sons were born to them, five of whom together with the wife and mother still survive. The family moved to Jefferson county in 1872 and resided on the farm near Libertyville until the time of Mr. Fordyce's death.

Mr. Fordyce was chosen to represent Van Buren county in the Fourth General Assembly. He was again chosen to represent the county of Jefferson in the Twentieth General Assembly. He was a broad-minded man and believed that the christian citizen (as he was) should interest himself in whatever concerned the state and so as a member of the General Assembly he was faithful and devoted in his services to the state and the people of his county.

He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of twenty-seven and remained a faithful member of the same until called to join the church triumphant. In 1857 he was ordained a minister and became a member of the Iowa conference, which he served as secretary for thirty years. As a pioneer preacher he had much to do with the organization of many church societies and while some have passed into history, many others still live and bless his memory. In the hearts of his neighbors and acquaintances his memory is revered as a faithful Christian, a true friend, and an inspiration to a purer and nobler life.

March 24, 1912, Mr. Fordyce passed away, having passed the ninety-second “mile stone”, which marks the years along life’s journey. There was left to mourn his departure the wife who has shared all his joys and burdens, and from whom he is separated for only a little while, and five sons. Therefore, be it

Resolved, That in his death the state has lost a most worthy citizen, a conscientious and an honorable man, and we hereby extend our sympathy to the surviving family who have lost a devoted husband and father, and be it further

Resolved, That the chief clerk is instructed to send an engrossed copy of these resolutions to the surviving wife and family, and that the same be spread upon the Journal of the House.

S. A. POWER,

FRED W. JONES,

C. C. CANNON,

Committee.

Adopted April 10, 1913.