Representative Monias E. Bitterman View All Years

HON. MONIAS E. BITTERMAN

MR. SPEAKER Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life and work of the Hon. Monias E. Bitterman, late of Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, beg leave to report the following memorial:

Hon. Monias E. Bitterman who represented Cerro Gordo county in the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth General Assemblies, was born in Canton, Ohio, August 16th, 1843, and died at Nora Springs, Iowa, December 23, 1919, aged seventy six years. He was left fatherless when quite young. After some years his mother married Samuel Spotts and when he was sixteen years of age the family moved to the vicinity of Joliet, Illinois. Here he worked on the farm until he became of age and here he was married January 14, 1866, to Sarah Heintzleman with whom he lived almost fifty-four years.

To them were born six children; J. C. of Madison, Wisconsin; E. L. and Mrs. Jennie Allen of Nora Springs; Mrs. Truly Schulte of New Hampton; Mrs. Mamie Forbes of North Platte, Nebraska, and M. C., who lives on the old homestead in Portland township. There are also ten grandchildren, a great grandchild, little Bonnie Bell Brim, a half brother, A. L. Spotts and a half sister, Mrs. Mary Hendrickson, survive him. One brother Calvin died in infancy.

Shortly after his marriage he made a trip to this part of Iowa and was so favorably impressed with the country that he moved here with his wife and two sons, J. C. and E. L., in 1870, locating on a piece of land three miles west of Nora Springs and living on it continuously for almost fifty years, until his retirement from active farming, when he moved to Nora Springs, where he died.

The span of Mr. Bittermans’ life covers a period of the development of the middle west, and for more than fifty years that he lived in this neighborhood witnessed the change from an almost unbroken expanse of prairie sod to the present condition of thoroughly cultivated and improved farms.

From the first he took active part in the public affairs of Portland township and Cerro Gordo county. He was treasurer of the school board for more than thirty years and a director for many years. As township trustee and as road superintendent he helped to develop his home neighborhood. In all his public work he stood for progress and good government and a careful and wise expenditure of public money. He had an extensive acquaintance over the county and among public men in the state. He was a good citizen. As a neighbor he was helpful, kind, considerate and just and his word was good. In time of trouble he could be depended upon to help generously. His home life was pure and he had the love and affection of his family.

Therefore, Be it Resolved, That in the death of Monias E. Bitterman the state has lost one of its sturdy pioneers who contributed his best endeavors in helping to lay the foundation of this great commonwealth; the county among whose people he lived and wrought so many years has lost a conspicuous exponent of the higher concepts of life and character, and his home community is bereft of a safe counselor and advisor.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be printed in the journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward to the family of the deceased an engrossed copy.

J. H. MCGHEE,

J. H. ANDERSON,

W. C. EDSON,

Committee.

Adopted March 23, 1921.