Senator James E. Bruce View All Years

JAMES E. BRUCE

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee which was appointed to report resolutions commemorating the life, character and service of the late James E. Bruce, beg leave to submit the following report, and move its adoption:

James E. Bruce, a self-made man, was born at Brooklyn, Iowa, on April 14, 1860, being educated in the public schools of that town and then attending the University of Iowa, graduating from the law department in 1881.

He started practicing law in Anita, Iowa, shortly after his graduation. Taking insurance and real estate as sidelines, he began to make his influence felt in the business of the community. In 1894, he organized the Citizens Bank of Anita, which later became the Citizens Savings Bank of Anita in July of 1903. That same year he organized the Farmers Supply Company of Anita with a capital of $25,000.00 and eighty stockholders. Also, in 1903, he purchased the old Commercial Bank in Atlantic, Iowa, and as its successor organized the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank of Atlantic with a capital of $125,000.00. Subsequently Mr. Bruce operated a chain of banks in Cass and adjoining counties which were successful for many years. At one time he maintained a law practice with the late T. B. Swan at Atlantic and one at Anita with the late A. H. F. Zeigler. For many years he was county attorney of Cass County. He was a lifelong republican in politics and belonged to many fraternal orders during his life, at one time being an officer of the Iowa Masonic Grand Lodge.

Mr. Bruce represented the Cass-Shelby district in the Iowa State Senate in the Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second General Assemblies, defeating the late Dr. J. M. Emmert, democratic candidate.

After the World War, Mr. Bruce located in Tampa, Florida, and was affiliated in the land business with his son, the late C. W. Bruce. Six years ago he moved to California, where he resided until his death February 26, 1931.

James E. Bruce has been called to his reward, and in his death the State of Iowa loses one of its distinguished sons who did much in his lifetime to bring honor and distinction to the commonwealth and to promote its welfare in countless ways. His service and counsel as a member of the Iowa State Senate were such as to mark him as one of the outstanding members of this body.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That in the passing of Senator James E. Bruce, his state and nation have incurred a keen loss, and that we recognize in him one who contributed much to the deliberations of this body and who gave to his day and generation valuable service, leaving a monument to his memory of accomplishment for the people. The Iowa State Senate express the sorrow and regret of its membership and the people of Iowa generally in the passing of Mr. Bruce and we hereby extend to his bereaved family our sincere condolence. We revere his memory as a splendid citizen of the state of Iowa, and one who at all times gave the best he had to her service.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the Senate as an expression of the life and worth of the deceased and an engrossed copy hereof be transmitted to his family.

CHAS. D. BOOTH,

W. S. BAIRD,

J. N. LANGFITT,

Committee.

The resolution was unanimously adopted by a rising vote.