Representative Elbert Wright Weeks View All Years

HONORABLE ELBERT WRIGHT WEEKS

MR. SPEAKER: I esteem it a privilege to speak a few words in commemoration of the life and works of my good friend, Elbert Wright Weeks, late of Guthrie county, Iowa.

Elbert Wright Weeks, son of Henry and Sarah Weeks, was born near Painsville, Ohio, October 7, 1850, and passed away in the Masonic Sanitarium at Bettendorf, Iowa, on December 17, 1932, at the age of 82 years, 2 months and 10 days.

In 1855, Mr. Weeks, with his father, mother, sister, Amelia, and brother, Milford, came to Iowa, locating in the county of Iowa. Later three other sisters joined the family circle: Nettie, Jessie and Mary.

Mr. Weeks received his education in the rural schools of Iowa county and from the State University of Iowa from which institution he received his law degree in 1873.

In the spring of 1876 he selected Guthrie Center as the location in which he chose to continue his law practice and make his home. He married on June 2, 1878, Lorena Bower of Guthrie Center, to which union two children were born: Lena and Henry J. Mrs. Weeks died March 13, 1884.

In 1887 Mr. Weeks again married, his second union being with Jennie Biggs. To this union were born two children: Seth B. and E. Wright. In 1910 he was again called upon to surrender his companion to death.

The members of his immediate family who are left to mourn his death are his daughter, Lena Till of Des Moines, and son, E. Wright of Hollywood, California; Seth and Henry both preceded him in death several years ago; also six grandchildren: Polly Marie Weeks of Washington, D. C.; Margaret Jane Burson of Des Moines, Iowa; Elbert Wright, Jr., Henry John and Nancy Bell Weeks of Hollywood, California; Lorena Haggerty and Marguerite Haggerty, a great grandchild, all of Des Moines, Iowa, and his sisters, Mrs. Jessie Ferree of Des Moines, and Mrs. Nettie Talbot of Pasadena, California, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Weeks was an enthusiastic member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at times filling the pulpit in the absence of the pastor. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. for more than fifty years and affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. for nearly fifty years, in which brotherhood he attained the Knights Templar. He was also a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the Guthrie Center Lions Club.

Honorable E. W. Weeks was a member of the Thirtieth, Thirty-first, Thirty-second, Thirty-second Extra General Assemblies from Guthrie county of the House of Representatives in the State of Iowa. Concerning his activities in the political life of the county and state the following excerpt is taken from “Past and Present of Guthrie County, Iowa,” published in 1907 by the S. J. Clark Publishing Company of Chicago, which contains biographical sketches of prominent and leading citizens:

“Elbert Wright Weeks may well be called one of the commanders of the Republican party of Iowa. He has done much effective work in planning campaigns and in executing the actual routine service of office, which is so necessary in the conduct of campaigns. For six years he was secretary of the National Republican League, in connection with his political work he became acquainted with many men of national prominence and was entertained at Washington by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1903 he was elected to represent the district in the state legislature. During his term in office he served as chairman of the judiciary committee and was connected with much valuable legislation.”

The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. John R. Rex and Rev. Alexander Wimberly, assisted by the Masonic Order. Interment was made in the Union Cemetery near Guthrie Center.

Thus we chronicle the ending of a beautiful life that is gone from our midst. He established a pioneer home and did much to build up our County and state. During his fifty-five years’ experience in law practice he made many acquaintances all over the land, from north to south and from east to west, who deeply appreciated his friendship and judgment. At the time of his death the sun was just sinking in the west, the week had drawn to its close, his book commemorating the lives and works of prominent citizens of Guthrie county had just been completed and his earthly life ended almost at the close of the year.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-fifth General Assembly, That in the passing of the Honorable Elbert Wright Weeks the state has lost a valuable citizen, and this House by this resolution tenders its sympathy to the family surviving him; and

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House and the Chief Clerk of the House be instructed to have an enrolled copy sent to the family.

R. ARNO PEET,

BLAKE WILLIS,

T. G. JENSEN,

Committee

Unanimously adopted April 11, 1933.