Representative Robert M. Finlayson View All Years

HONORABLE ROBERT M. FINLAYSON

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of the Honorable Robert M. Finlayson, late of Grundy county, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following brief memorial:

Robert M. Finlayson, who died February 11, 1935, at the home of his sister at Mt. Carroll, Illinois, was born October 7, 1844, in Carroll county, Illinois, the son of William and Jessie (Mackay) Finlayson. His father was a native of Scotland and his mother of Nova Scotia.

Robert Finlayson was reared on his father’s farm and educated in the rural schools and in the schools of Mt. Carroll, Illinois. In 1867, at the age of 23, he came to Iowa and worked on a farm in Tama county. The following year he bought 220 acres of wild land in Beaver township, Grundy county, and settled on this farm.

Mr. Finlayson was married December 23, 1875, to Miss Janetta DuBois, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin M. DuBois, who preceded Mr. Finlayson in death December 20, 1928.

Mr. and Mrs. Finlayson made their home on their farm in Beaver township for ten years, during part of which time Mr. Finlayson served on the board of supervisors. In 1885 he was elected auditor of Grundy county and moved to Grundy Center, and for five consecutive terms served as county auditor. In 1893 he was made cashier of the First National bank, and later served as president of the bank and continued in that position until 1920 when he retired.

Mr. Finlayson was a republican in politics and in 1910 was elected to represent Grundy county in the state legislature, and served in the 33rd and 34th sessions of the General Assembly.

Mr. Finlayson served the people of Grundy county in many other capacities. He was a member and president of the local school board for more than twenty years, during which time two school buildings were built. He was also a member of the committee in charge of the construction of the new courthouse, the First Presbyterian church and the public library.

Mr. Finlayson was a member of the First Presbyterian church and of the Royal Arch Masons.

In all his public service, as well as in personal and social relationship, Mr. Finlayson won the high regard and esteem of his fellowmen. His intellectual powers, his business ability, his character and ideals were of high order. He dealt squarely with his fellowmen, but with a considerate and kindly regard for the other fellow.

Almost to the end of his life, while physical weakness grew upon him, he retained his keen and vigorous and thoughtful mind, which had, during his years of strength, rendered constructive service to his community and to Grundy county, unexcelled, perhaps, in degree and extent by any of his contemporaries.

Mr. and Mrs. Finlayson were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living: Willis R. Finlayson of Indianapolis, Harold D. Finlayson of Piedmont, California, and Mrs. Edna Vasey of New Orleans.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-sixth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That in the passing of the Honorable Robert M. Finlayson, the state has lost a valued and honored citizen, a man of great character and worth, and the House of Representatives of Iowa, by this resolution, tenders its sympathy to the surviving family.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House of Representatives as an expression of the life and worth of Robert M. Finlayson, and that an enrolled copy be sent to the family of the deceased.

EDWARD N. OVE,

ARCH W. MCFARLANE,

J. P. GALLAGHER,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted, April 18, 1935.