Representative Hanson B. Watters View All Years

HON. HANSON B. WATTERS

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life and services of the Honorable Hanson B. Watters, late of Muscatine county, Iowa, beg leave to report the following memorial:

Honorable Hanson B. Watters, who represented Muscatine county in the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth and Twenty-sixth Extra, General Assemblies was born in Belmont county, Ohio, December 9th, 1840. He was the son of Dr. and Mrs. William W. Watters and early in the year 1851, when a boy of but eleven years of age, he came with his parents to Iowa and settled in Goshen township, Muscatine county. He grew to manhood’s estate and received his education in the public schools of that vicinity. Later he attended the Western college at Western, Iowa, taking a collegiate course in that institution.

At the breaking out of the civil war, like so many patriotic sons of America, promptly enlisted in Company B., Second Iowa Cavalry. This was in August of 1861 and for three years, the period of his enlistment, he served faithfully and well in the defense of his country. At the expiration of his period of three years enlistment he again enlisted in the same company and served in it until after the war was over, being mustered out of service in September, 1865, thus giving to his country four years out of the best years of his young manhood.

He fought in many engagements of the war and at the battle of Coffeeville, Mississippi, he was severely wounded but after recovering from this wound rejoined his regiment. Upon being mustered out of service in September he immediately returned to his home in Muscatine county and took up the duties of civil life engaging in the occupation of farming.

In December, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth H. Parker. To this union were born five sons, Allen P. Watters of Oakland, California; William L. Watters of West Liberty, Iowa; George Stanley Watters who lost his life by drowning at Ames, Iowa, in 1899; Henry Bertram Watters of Springfield, Ohio, and Vernon G. Watters of Savannah, Georgia.

Mr. and Mrs. Watters continued to reside on the farm until 1899 when they moved to West Liberty, Iowa, and made that place their home. Mr. Watters was a true American citizen and as such he took an active interest in public affairs and was affiliated with the Republican party and advocated the principles of that party giving conscientious support to these principles through the trying days of reconstruction and the placing of the nation on a sound financial basis that led to the marvelous prosperity of the years that followed.

In 1892 he was elected to the House of Representatives and served in this and the succeeding two General Assemblies. He represented his district with a large degree of fidelity giving to his duties that conscientious consideration that characterized his public services throughout life.

He was an active member of Silas Jackson Post, G. A. R. of West Liberty and a member of Mt. Calvary Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He passed from this life on June 15th, 1920, at the age of 79 years, 6 months and 6 days.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That the House of Representatives take this occasion to present this tribute to the memory of a faihful public servant and to express appreciation of his character and public service and to extend to his family and relatives most sincere sympathy.

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. VAN CAMP.

J. H. MAYNE.

JOHN BRADLEY.

Committee.

Adopted March 23, 1921.