Representative Richard Albert Hasselquist View All Years

HONORABLE R. A. HASSELQUIST

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life and service of the Honorable R. A. Hasselquist, late of Chariton, Lucas county, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following brief memorial.

R. A. Hasselquist was a native of Sweden, born December 4, 1850, and lived there until about eighteen years of age when he came to America, landing in the city of New York on the 17th day of April, 1869.

His first employment was found at Princeton, Illinois, when he entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company as a bridge carpenter.

In 1872 he came to Lucas county, Iowa, and assisted his father with the farm work, and later on he entered the employment of the firm of J. Braden & Company of Chariton as a salesman and a few years later he opened a store in the town of Russell where he did a thriving business for sixteen years, then sold his stock of merchandise, moved to Chariton where he entered business pursuits again, retiring from the same a few years later.

He was married to Laura Davis of Russell, Iowa, February 26, 1873. To this union two children were born, Lawrence A., a resident of Omaha, and Elmer H. of Chariton. The former is a traveling salesman and the latter is the assistant postmaster at Chariton, Iowa. Mrs. Hasselquist died a few years prior to his demise and his two sons are his sole survivors.

Mr. Hasselquist always took a deep interest in politics, was an ardent republican and it was no surprise to his many friends when he received the nomination and was elected to the legislature, serving with distinction in the House of Representatives during the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth General Assemblies, and at the expiration of his last term was elected to serve the people in the Senate where he took an important part in shaping legislation in that body.

Before the expiration of his senatorial term he was appointed postmaster at Chariton and held this position during the Roosevelt and Taft administrations, retiring when relieved by the election of Woodrow Wilson.

It can be truthfully said of Mr. Hasselquist, that, by reason of his splendid abilities, his fine disposition, his training and love of hard work he made a splendid official no difference what position of trust that he held.

He took an active part in all public affairs, was strictly honest and had the good will and confidence of all, and had a good record in his community for rendering assistance in all worthy civic matters.

Mr. Hasselquist was naturally a religious man. In his homeland he was brought up in the Lutheran faith, but after his marriage be and his wife united with the Presbyterian church and was a faithful worker in all the activities of that church until a short time prior to his death.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty­fifth General Assembly, That in the death of the Honorable R. A. Hasselquist the state has lost an honored and valued citizen, and a man of high ideals.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to send an enrolled copy to the two sons of the deceased.

G. J. GITTINGER,

ALVA HUMESTON,

E. H. FABRITZ,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted April 11, 1933.