Representative William Sherman Hart View All Years

HON. WILLIAM S. HART

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare a resolution commemorating the life, character and public service to the state and nation of the Honorable William S. Hart, late of Waukon, Iowa, and formerly a member of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first General Assemblies from Allamakee county, Iowa, respectfully submit the following:

William S. Hart was born in a log house in Paint Creek township, Allamakee county, Iowa, March 30, 1866. As a youth, William S. Hart attended a country school about six months each year, in a log schoolhouse near his father’s home, until he was sixteen years old. He then went to Minnesota where by working on a farm he earned enough to pay his board and tuition for a few short winter terms at the old Breckenridge Institute in Decorah, Iowa.

With this limited elementary preparation, he by his own efforts fitted himself to render distinguished service to his state and country as a citizen, soldier, legislator and lawyer. It may truly be said of Mr. Hart that he graduated from the practical school of experience, his only capital being his unfaltering courage, energy, ambition and ability and of these virtues he had abundance and to spare.

At the age of twenty-two he was elected clerk of the courts of Allamakee county. Served two years, was reelected and soon after was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-four. He then resigned the office of clerk of courts and opened a law office in Waukon, Iowa. With no college or university training this remarkable man in a few years became a leader in his chosen profession. Possessed of a wonderful retentive memory and keen resourceful mind, he was one of the ablest lawyers in northeastern Iowa, and no matter what the odds and regardless of the amounts involved, he at all times and under all circumstances ably and fearlessly advocated his client’s cause, often without hope of reward or fee of any kind. It can be truly said of William S. Hart that he never deserted a friend or client and never turned his back on either a friend or enemy.

He taught several successful terms of school in the country schools of Allamakee county before he attained his majority and was a popular leader in debates and all social activities in his community.

On June 19, 1894, Mr. Hart was married to Nellie Holahan, the talented and accomplished daughter of James and Kate Holahan, prominent pioneers of northeastern Iowa. To them were born seven children, James, William, Malcolm, Nellie, Catherine, Alicia and Ivan, six of whom together with the beloved wife and mother survive the loss of a kind, generous, loving husband and father.

The following record furnished by the Adjutant General’s office in Des Moines, Iowa, shows William S. Hart rendered faithful and distinguished service in the Iowa National Guard and also as a volunteer in the Spanish American War.

“William S. Hart, age 24; nativity, Iowa. Residence, Waukon, Iowa. Enlisted July 2, 1890, Company “I,” First Regiment, Iowa National Guard as a private. Appointed Second Lieutenant March 4, 1892. Appointed First Lieutenant September 23, 1893. Appointed Captain July 15, 1895.”

When war with Spain was declared he at once volunteered and enlisted as a private April 26, 1898, in the Forty-ninth Iowa Vounteer Infantry. He was made Second Lieutenant of the Forty-ninth Iowa and was mustered into the United States service June 2, 1898. This regiment was assigned to the Seventh Army Corps at Jacksonville, Florida, and arrived there June 14, 1898. Lieutenant Hart moved with the regiment from Jacksonville to Savannah, Georgia.

He then returned to Waukon and resumed the practice of his profession.

He served in the Thirtieth and Thirty-first General Assemblies as Representative from Allamakee county, and brought to the office the same energy and ability that characterized his work in all other walks of life. While a member of the legislature he introduced bills to regulate child labor and to provide for the enforcement of child labor laws, and in his death the children of this state and nation have lost a true friend. He also introduced several bills to provide for indigent soldiers and sailors, to admit them to homes, to compile rosters and to provide monuments and markers. He also introduced several measures to protect laboring men and laboring people generally.

A staunch Republican, Mr. Hart was vitally interested in all political questions and problems that affected his city, county, state and country and was a recognized leader of his party in northeastern Iowa.

Owing to his eloquence and superior oratorical ability, he was in constant demand to deliver patriotic, political and memorial addresses in his own and adjoining states.

In his forty years of practice as a criminal lawyer, he prosecuted in but two cases, was retained by and ably defended hundreds of unfortunates in this and other states. He at all times gave freely of his time and talents to lift up the fallen and defend the weak.

He owned thousands of acres of land in Allamakee county and elsewhere. We have heard it said that regardless of its intrinsic value or of what it would produce, William S. Hart would purchase it if it contained some rugged natural beauty spots and beautiful trees, flowers, plants and ferns which he loved so well.

At the time of his death Mr. Hart was Commander of the Albert M. Stewart Post Spanish-American War Veterans of Waukon Iowa.

Mr. Hart was a member of the Modern Woodman of America, also member of the Brotherhood of American Yeoman and served on the National Judicial Committee of both orders and when internal dissensions arose as to changing assessments, Mr. Hart’s eloquent appeals and legal advice brought the opposing factions together and saved both orders from impending ruin. He was also a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America and the Knights of Columbus.

On January 25, 1929, his great kind heart forever ceased to beat. He sleeps peacefully beneath the bluegrass of his native land in beautiful Mt. Olivet where he was laid to rest with military honors by his comrades, neighbors and friends, including veterans of three wars. There amid the first sweet blossoms and opening leaves of spring, the feathered songsters he loved so well will sing sweet requiems o’er his tomb.

He will be sadly missed in his community by both young and old. By the untimely death of William S. Hart, his country has lost a patriotic, public spirited citizen. In recognition of his distinguished service to his country and as an expression of our appreciation of his unfaltering courage and devotion to duty and as an example and inspiration to the youth of our land,

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-third General Assembly, That in the death of the Honorable William S. Hart, this state and nation have lost a talented, public spirited, patriotic citizen, and his family a generous, loving husband and father, and this House by this resolution tenders its sympathy to the relatives who survive him.

Be It Further Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the Journal and an enrolled copy be sent to the surviving relatives.

J. E. O’BRIEN,

C. J. ORR,

A. T. ISTAD,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted April 8, 1929.