Representative George L. Dobson View All Years

GEORGE L. DOBSON.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life of public service of the Hon. Geo. L. Dobson, a member of this House of Representatives in the Twenty-first, Twenty-second and Twenty-third General Assembly and submit the following report:

Geo. L. Dobson, the subject of this memorial, was born in Westmoreland County, England, September 24, 1851. In March, 1864, he came to the United States with his parents, John and Jane (Rudd) Dobson, who in April, 1869, removed to Iowa. After six years devoted to agricultural pursuits in Webster County, Iowa, Geo. L. Dobson moved to Sac City, Iowa, where he was married October 9, 1876, to Sidney A. Watt. Later he established his home in Iowa City, where he took up the study of law in the State Universiay, and was graduated in 1878. He practiced law in Newell, Buena Vista County, Iowa. He was mayor of that city for five years. He served on the school board for nine years. He served three years as a member of the State Legislature in the Twenty-first, twenty-second and Twenty-third General Assemblies, and resigned his position to become registrar of the government land office at Beaver, Oklahoma. Since 1892 he has been a resident of Des Moines, and was for four years vice-president of the Des Moines Life Insurance Company. The Republican party made its candidate for secretary of state for the state of Iowa, which position he filled from 1896 until 1900. He then turned his attention to farming, and managing his other properties until appointed in 1905 as American consul to Hang-Chau, China, by President Roosevelt, but one year later ill health forced him to return to America. In the fall of 1908 he was elected county treasurer of Polk County, which office he filled with eminent success. He was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church at Des Moines. He was the father of five children: Millard Craig, who died in infancy in Sac County, Iowa; Guy E., who was born in Newell, Iowa, and a graduate of Cornell College, and now president of the Bank of Commerce of Redmond, Oregon; Geo. D., of 1032 22nd St., Des Moines, Iowa; Vernon C., born at Newell, Iowa, a civil engineer now with the inter-allied railroad commision at Coblenz, Germany; Philip M., of Redmond, Oregon. His brothers, W. A. Dobson, of Sioux City, Iowa; J. O. Dobson, of Los Angeles, California; and a sister, Mrs. Jennie Cannon, of Boise City, Idaho. After a long life of active public service, Geo. L. Dobson died at Redmond, Oregon, on Sunday, February 16, 1919. In politics he was a life-long republican, and one of the leaders of his party in many of the great political struggles of the time in which he was actively engaged in politics, and

Whereas, The life and character of the deceased, and his long and exemplary service calls for such as to place his memory among those highly respected and esteemed in the state of Iowa.

Therefore, Be it resolved that the House of Representatives, of the State of Iowa, take this occasion to express its appreciation of the splendid character, and the public services of the deceased, and at this time extend to the surviving members of his family our sincere sympathy in their sorrow.

And Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of the resolution be spread upon the journal; that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an engrossed copy of the same to the widow of the deceased.

M. C. EDSON,

J. B. WEAVER,

GEO. B. PERKINS,

Committee.