Representative Mahlon Head View All Years

HON. MAHLON HEAD

MR. SPEAKER--Your committee appointed to draft a resolution concerning the life and public service of Honorable Mahlon Head of Greene county, Iowa, a member of the House of Representatives in the Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth and Thirty-first General Assemblies, beg to report as follows:

A great and good man passed from labor to reward when Mahlon Head, former member of this House, breathed his last on the 17th day of January, 1920. A pioneer lawmaker, a successful man of affairs, a keen observer of events, he retained throughout his eventful life a simple and kindly spirit which endeared him to all, and which caused the tears of the poor and lowly to mingle with those of the prominent and influential at his grave.

Mahlon Head was born in Highland county, Ohio, July 12, 1835, the son of William M. and Margaret Fernau Head. When twenty years of age he came with his parents and six brothers and sisters to Poweshiek county, Iowa. Here he farmed for one year, and then became a clerk in the office of the county treasurer of Poweshiek county, where he worked until the civil war broke out. In June 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Tenth Iowa Infantry, and served with gallantry for five years, participating in some of the notable engagements of the war. Among them were the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Iuka, Corinth, Vicksburg and Missionary Ridge. He was wounded in the battle last named. He also marched with Sherman to the sea, and was commissioned as lieutenant and later as staff officer with General John E. Smith. His military record was one of exceptional distinction and honor.

Coming home from the war in 1865, Mr. Head engaged in the banking business at Montezuma, Iowa, as a member of the firm of Mickel and Head. In 1866 he came to Jefferson, Iowa, where he made his home for more than fifty-four years to the day of his death, being engaged in the banking business nearly all that time, first under the firm name of Head Brothers with his brother, Albert Head, who was also a former member and speaker of this House. Later, the banking house was changed to the Greene County State Bank, and still later, to the First National Bank of Jefferson. In 1865, Mr. Head was married to Mary L. Mullikin, of Poweshiek county, and to them, thirteen children were born, eight of whom, with the wife and mother, survive him. They are Mrs. F. M. Dean, Jefferson; Mrs. Z. K. Funk, Fort Dodge; Mrs. T. R. Watts, Grand Junction; Mrs. Merle Oblinger, Grand Junction; Mrs. W. G. Howard, Jefferson; Mahlon, Jr., Denver, Colo.; Mrs. John Stevenson, Mountain Lake Park, Maryland; Charles D., Grand Junction.

Mr. Head was a charter member of the Methodist church of Jefferson, and a loyal and generous supporter of that organization in all its activities. In politics he was a republican, becoming identified with that party on its organization in 1856, and being honored by it with many positions of trust and responsibility. He was a member of George H. Thomas Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and none mourn him more deeply and sincerely than the comrades of this organization with whom he was so long and so closely associated. Mr. Head was also a member of the Masonic Orders; and now

Whereas, In the death of Mahlon Head the state of Iowa has lost a citizen of distinguished worth who took prominent part in the forming and sustaining of the commonwealth in the pioneer days;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That the House of Representatives take this occasion to express its high appreciation of his lofty character and faithful public service, and adopt this memorial in the name of the people of Iowa as a tribute to his name and memory; and

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the journal of the House, and that the chief clerk transmit an engrossed copy thereof to the family of the deceased.

A. K. WESTERVELT,

CHAS. GILMORE,

JOHN BRADY,

Committee.

Adopted March 23, 1921.