Representative Daniel Alexander La Force View All Years

HON. DANIEL ALEXANDER LA FORCE.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to draft suitable resolutions of respect to the memory of Hon. Daniel Alexander La Force respectfully submit the following:

The Hon. Daniel Alexander La Force, a member of the House of Representatives, during the Twenty-first General Assembly, departed this life on Sunday, the 10th day of March, 1912, at his home in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa.

The subject of this memorial was born in Lexington, Indiana, May 17, 1837. He was of French Huguenot descent, being a descendant of Duke De La Force, Grand Marshal of France. He came to Iowa in 1842 with his parents, settling in Van Buren County. He studied medicine and began the practice of this profession in Ashland, Wapello County, Iowa.

At the opening of the war in which the dissolution of this nation was threatened, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the United States Hospital at Keokuk, and the following year was commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the Fifty-sixth United States Cavalry Troops in the field, and early promoted to Surgeon and later made Medical Director of the eastern department of Arkansas, serving in this position until he was mustered out September 15, 1866.

In October, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Mehala Jane Dudley at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he practiced medicine three years.

Shortly after his removal to Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1884, he was elected to the State Legislature as Representative.

He was Mayor of Ottumwa from 1893 to 1897, and was always interested in the political and public welfare of his community and state, and gave of his time and experience for the physical and social betterment of the people, not only in the county of his residence, but throughout the state; and,

Whereas, The life and character of the deceased was such as to command the respect and esteem of all who knew him; therefore be it

Resolved, That in his death the state and county have suffered the loss of a worthy and influential citizen, and that we hereby extend to the bereaved relatives and friends our heartfelt sympathy; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk transmit an engrossed copy thereof to the family of the deceased.

E. R. MITCHELL,

J. A. BLISS,

A. J. COLE,

Committee.

Adopted April 5, 1913, by rising vote.