Representative George P. Christianson View All Years

Memorial to the Honorable George P. Christianson of Hamilton County

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable George P. Christianson, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

The Honorable George P. Christianson, the son of Christian P. and Elsie Christianson, was born in Vejle, Denmark, December 2, 1863.

He came to the United States with his parents and sisters in 1868, where they purchased and settled on a farm one mile east of Randall. Here he received his early education, and later was graduated from the Battle Creek College of Business and Law, Battle Creek, Michigan.

In 1885 the family moved to the present site of Randall where he and his father were active in establishing a business center—his interests including grain, farm implements, lumber, banking and general merchandise.

He was a member of the House of Representatives of the Iowa legislature, serving in the Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth and Thirty-first sessions of the General Assembly. Here he helped compile and introduced the first Iowa law controlling automotive vehicles. He was issued one of the first Iowa automobile licenses.

For many years he was a member of the Masonic lodge of Jewell and the Knights Templar of Webster City.

Since retiring he has interested himself in his extensive land holdings.

Mr. Christianson died January 8, 1950, and is survived by one sister, Mrs. C. P. Peterson, Mankato, Minnesota; and fifteen nieces and nephews.

Upon his death Mr. Christianson left $20,000 to the Randall Consolidated School District for a new gymnasium-auditorium, to be matched by an equal amount from the district; a farm to local organizations: two-fifths to Elim Church, one-fifth to North St. Petri Church, one-fifth to Bethany Church and one-fifth to the Randall School library; and bequests of $1,000 each to the Masonic lodge at Jewell and the Consistory at Webster City.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-fourth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable George P. Christianson the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful, useful public servant, and the House by this resolution, would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sympathy to the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

JOHN A. WALKER,

PAUL M. WALTER,

CARL H. RINGGENBERG,

Committee.