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Permanent LinkRepresentative Edward H. Cunningham View All Years
HONORABLE EDWARD H. CUNNINGHAM
MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life and services of the Honorable Edward H. Cunningham, former member of the House of Representatives from Buena Vista County, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following memorial:
Edward H. Cunningham was born December 19, 1869, at Burlington, Wisconsin. He came to Iowa as a young man, locating in Buena Vista county. While living at Newell, Iowa, he served as mayor from 1902 until 1907. He served as Representative of Buena Vista county in the General Assembly of Iowa during the Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth sessions and as Speaker of the House in the Thirty-fifth General Assembly.
Perhaps Mr. Cunningham’s outstanding piece of public work was the active part he took in the Farm Bureau movement from the time of its origin in 1917. He first served as Secretary of the Iowa Farm Bureau for many years, maintaining headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1919 he conducted a membership drive for his organization which resulted in a paid up membership of one hundred and ten thousand members. He is well characterized by his famous remark, “Don’t sell Iowa short,” which typified his love of the farm and his great interest in everything relating to agriculture.
In 1923 he was appointed by President Coolidge as a member of the Federal Banking Reserve Board in Washington, D. C., the appointment in which both the late Senator Cummins and Senator Brookhart were very influential. This position he held with great honor, enjoying the fullest confidence and trust of the people of Iowa until the time of his death, November 28, 1930.
Mr. Cunningham is survived by his wife, one son, Glen Cunningham of Cresco, Iowa, and a brother of Des Moines, Iowa, W. R. Cunningham.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-fourth General Assembly, That in the death of the Honorable Edward H. Cunningham both the state and nation lost a distinguished citizen, endeared for his life of splendid, patriotic service and the House of Representatives take this occasion to express its appreciation of his life and work and extend to the members of his family sincere sympathy in their sorrow and bereavement.
Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of this House and that enrolled copies thereof be sent to the surviving members of his family.
J. PARK BAIR,
MARION R. MCCAULLEY,
BYRON G. ALLEN,
Committee.
Unanimously adopted April 13, 1931.