Senator Ansel Kinne Bailey View All Years

Mr. President: Your committee appointed to prepare and present memmorial resolutions commemorative of the life, character and public services of the Hon. Ansel Kinne Bailey, late a member of this body and a long time resident of Winneshiek County, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following report:

On November 18, 1835, in Wales, Erie County, New York, there was born to Wesley and Eunice Kinne Bailey a son, the subject of this sketch, who was christened Ansel Kinne Bailey. This son was educated in the public schools of Utica, New York, and in early manhood became identified with journalistic work in the publication of a newspaper owned by his father.

In 1860, the family, obeying the lure of the age, came west and settled in Decorah, Iowa, which was to be his permanent abiding place.

In a partnership between himself and his father they began the publication of a newspaper, the Decorah Republic, which afterwards became and still remains the Decorah Republican.

In 1863, he was elected treasurer and recorder of Winneshiek County, and in 1869 received the appointment of postmaster at Decorah, and was continued in said office by succeeding administrations for sixteen consecutive years.

In 1889 he was elected by the people of Winneshiek and Howard Counties, a member of this body for the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth General Assemblies, and served his constituents with honor and distinction. In the Twenty-third General Assembly he was made chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations whose chief accomplishment was its part in providing representation of Iowa at the Columbian Exposition.

In the Twenty-fourth General Assembly Senator Bailey was prominently identified in the Senate with the drafting of the Australian Ballot bill, which became and still remains, with but slight modification, the law.

The public opinion and the policies of the northeast portion of the state were influenced to a greater or less degree by the public services and writings of Senator Bailey.

In the Decorah Republican and under the heading “Editorial Comments,” his great ability and genius as a writer on public policies and fallacies were conspicuously in evidence. These comments were continued with unfailing regularity, when health permitted, up to the time of his death.

On September 20, 1909, at his home in Decorah, Senator A. K. Bailey passed to his reward, and a few days later, during the obsequies attendant thereon, and out of respect and in honor of his life, character and public services, all places of business in the city were closed.

Whereas, it is but meet and proper, that we set apart a portion of time, dedicating it especially to the service of paying due respect, and honor to the memory of those who have served as members of this body and as such and in other ways have rendered able and distinguished service to the state and have passed to their bourne from which no traveler e’er returns.

Therefore be it resolved, That the Senate of this Thirty-fourth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, has heard with profound sorrow and regret the announcement of the death of the Hon. Ansel Kinne Bailey, late a member of this body and deplore the loss of his wise counsel to the state and community in which he lived;

Be it further resolved, That these resolutions be entered in the Journal of the Senate and that an engrossed copy be furnished to each of the three living members of the family by the Secretary of the Senate.

P.M. JEWELL,

HENRY ADAMS,

FREDERIC LARRABEE,

Committee.