Representative Thomas Azariah Thornburg View All Years

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Thomas Azariah Thornburg

Dallas County

HON. THOMAS A. THORNBURG.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to draft resolutions commemorating the life, character and public services of the Honorable Thomas A. Thornburg, of Linden, Iowa, a late member of the House of Representative, begs leave to report the following memorial:

Thomas A. Thornburg was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 9, 1847, and died at his home in Linden, Dallas county, Iowa, July 1, 1912, at the age of sixty-five.

In 1856 he came with his parents to the county of Dallas where he was reared on a farm. He attended the local district school, also afterward entered the state university, while attending that institution he entered the forty-sixth Iowa volunteers, serving until the close of the regiment’s term of service.

At the age of nineteen years, because of his father’s impaired health, he took charge of the home farm, and for more than a third of a century he was an extensive buyer and shipper of live stock.

In 1887 and 1889 he was elected to the General Assembly, as a member of the House of Representatives; while occupying a seat in this body he was chairman of the committees on agriculture and the agricultural college, and a member of several other important committees including railroads and transporation, and roads and highways.

He was a man of enterprise and public spirit and was exceptionally successful in business, which diffused itself throughout the community of his home. He was also active in church work and fraternal circles.

It was well said of him, while he was yet in life, “He is the same honorable gentleman, whose well worth merits the high regard which is uniformly given him.”

In 1871 he was married to Miss Jennie, daughter of Simon H. Vestal, and to them were born six children.

Mr. Thornburg was a high-minded statesman. Enduring public good was his aim. Things temporary had little attraction for him. Therefore, be it

Resolved, That in the death of Thomas A. Thornburg, the state and nation has been called upon to mourn the departure of a worthy, upright citizen, a great statesman, and an honorable man; and, be it further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be printed in the Journal of the House.

HENRY BRADY,

F. S. SHANKLAND,

J. W. JACOBS,

Committee.

Adopted April 16, 1913.

House District 36