Senator Marion Floyd Stookey View All Years

MARION F. STOOKEY.

Senator Stephenson, from a special committee, submitted the following report and moved its adoption:

MR. PRESIDENT—Your committee appointed to draft resolutions commemorative of the life, character and services of Honorable Marion F. Stookey, beg leave to submit the following report:

Honorable Marion Floyd Stookey was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, March 19, 1846, and died at his home in Leon, Iowa, April 2, 1919, aged 73 years and 13 days.

With his parents he moved from Indiana to Linn county, Iowa, in the fall of 1857, and settled on a farm. His education was acquired in the district, supplemented by a term in the high school at Cedar Rapids and a year at Western College. He followed the occupation of teaching for several years, teaching during the winter months and working on a farm during the summer. He enlisted in Company C. Forty-seventh Iowa, during the Civil War and served until that regiment was discharged. He graduated from the law department of the State University in 1877, and immediately settled in Leon, Iowa, where he has since continued the practice of law. Shortly after his location in Leon he formed a partnership with E. W. Haskett which terminated several years later, when Mr. Haskett was appointed U. S. District Attorney for Alaska. As a lawyer, the deceased was known throughout the county as a safe counselor and he soon developed a broad and deep comprehension of the fundamental principles of the law. He always enjoyed a lucrative practice which furnished evidence of his integrity and ability. He has served as mayor and city attorney of Leon and also county attorney of Decatur county. He was elected to the Senate in 1903 and served during the Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second General Assemblies.

On September 1, 1881, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Brooks, at Leon, Iowa, who with their their daughter, Mrs. M. E. Wasson, of Des Moines, and his brothers, Nelson of Palo, and Charles of Shellsburg, and his sister, Mrs. Margaret Lightfoot, of Palo, survive him.

For over forty years Mr. Stookey has been an honored resident of Leon, during which time he has served both the city, county and state in honored positions. He was a man of exemplary character, marked for his quiet and even tempered disposition. His life speaks louder than any words that could be spoken in his praise.

For many years he was one of the owners of the Decatur County Journal. Under his influence and management the paper prospered and its sphere of usefulness was greatly extended. The editorials were widely quoted and it became one of the ablest and strongest defenders of the principles of the republican party in the eighth congressional district. The deceased believed in the fundamental principles of Christianity. He believed that religion is essential and indispensable to the welfare of men and governments. To one who has known him for many years he once remarked. “The greatest message ever delivered to mankind is contained in the words of the Master, ‘I am the resurection and the Life’.”

Marion F. Stookey was a patriotic American and loved his country. He was devoted to his party, but that devotion to party was superinduced by his love of his country. He was always prominent in the councils of his party and “We shall meet but we shall miss him”.

Resolved, That in the death of Marion Floyd Stookey, the state and county in which he resided, lose a worthy and upright citizen, a valiant soldier, and an honored statesman, and we hereby extend to the bereaved family and friends our sincere sympathy; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be printed in the journal of the Senate, and that the Secretary of the Senate, be directed to forward an engrossed copy to the family of the deceased.

J. A. STEPHENSON,

T. A. KINGLAND,

JNO. R. PRICE.

The resolutions were adopted unanimously by a rising vote.