Senator William Gustavus Kent View All Years

Senator Young of Lee from the committee appointed to draft suitable resolutions respecting the death of William G. Kent, submitted the following report and moved its adoption:

MR. PRESIDENT—The committee appointed to draft resolutions on the death of William G. Kent, beg leave to report:

William G. Kent was born August 10, 1837, at Belle Fonte, Pennsylvania, and while very young removed with his parents to Fort Madison, Iowa. He received his education at Denmark Academy, Denmark, Iowa. In 1867 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools of Lee county, serving two terms and declining the renomination for a third term. He was a life long member of the democratic party and was elected a member of the Iowa House of Representatives of the Twenty-first General Assembly in 1885, resigning in 1886 to accept the democratic nomination for State Senator to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the late Judge J. M. Casey. He was elected, and in the fall of 1889 was reelected for a full term, serving as Senator in the Twenty-second, Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth General Assemblies. Mr. Kent took high rank both in the Senate and in the House. Naturally a genial and clever gentleman. Senator Kent made many friends and was very influential in serving the passage of the measures which he championed.

He performed his duties on committees wisely and faithfully, Lee county has never been better represented in the State Legislature than by him. In 1892 he was nominated for railroad commissioner and was defeated with the rest of the ticket.

In 1894 he was appointed by Gov. Jackson as member of the commission to plan, locate and erect a hospital for the insane in North-western Iowa. On the death of General Ed. Wright he was chosen Secretary of the commission which erected the magnificent hospital at Cherokee. He held commissions from Governors Larabee, Boies and Jackson, as delegate to the National Farmers Congress, Commerical Congress and Commerical Convention and Trans-Mississippi Convention. Since 1888 Senator Kent occupied the position of Vice President of the Lee County Savings Bank. He was married in Dec. 1863, to Miss Sarah E. Shepherd, of Lee county who survives him. He was a man of deep thought and conservative action and impressed himself deeply on his county and state.

In his death the district which he so ably and faithfully represented, has lost one of its most respected and influential men, and the state one of its most honored and esteemed citizens. The life and character of William G. Kent will be an inspiration to the youth who knew him, for it was pure and spotless, with high ideals and lofty ambition. The impress he made upon all who came in contact with him, will live and linger in their memory, cherished by them as a remembrance of one who was a man in the fullest sense of the word, honored and respected by all.

Resolved, That we extend to his family our most sincere sympathy in the loss of a devoted husband.

Resolved, That these resolutions be entered on the journals of the House and Senate and that an engrossed copy be presented to the widow of the deceased, by the Secretary of the Senate.

D. A. YOUNG,

R. A. HASSELQUIST,

L. L. TAYLOR.

On the part of the Senate.

C. A. KENNEDY,

L. S. SUMMERS,

HENRY RITTER.

On the part of the House.

Adopted unanimously by a rising vote.