Representative Charles Barthalomew Murtagh View All Years

CHARLES B. MURTAGH

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Charles B. Murtagh, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Charles B. Murtagh was born at Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa, on November 11, 1881, the son of James X. and Mercy B. Murtagh. He moved to Shell Rock, Butler County, Iowa, in April, 1884, and graduated from high school there in 1898. He moved to Kossuth County in April, 1899, where for one year he was bookkeeper and assistant in Fenton State Bank. Mr. Murtagh moved to Ringsted, in Emmet County, in 1900, where he was first cashier and later president of the Ringsted State Bank for many years. While at Ringsted, he served on the town council and as mayor. He was elected state representative from Emmet County and served in the Thirty-fourth General Assembly. Mr. Murtagh was a Democrat.

He moved to Algona, in Kossuth County, in March, 1912, and for more than fifteen years was cashier of the County Savings Bank. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Buena Vista College.

Mr. Murtagh was the first State Comptroller of Iowa. He was appointed by Governor Clyde Herring in 1933 to this position and served in this capacity through 1938.

Upon his return to Algona he became president of the Security State Bank and remained as president until his retirement several years ago.

Mr. Murtagh was married in 1904 to Edna R. Cratty, and they had five children. Mrs. Murtagh predeceased her husband.

Mr. Murtagh passed away on October 12, 1964, and is survived by four daughters, Helen (Mrs. T. C.) Hutchison of Algona; Anna (Mrs. M. A.) Peterson of Los Angeles; Elizabeth (Mrs. Tom) Kruse of Korea; Jean (Mrs. Sterling) Goff of Louisville, Kentucky; and one son, James, of Tucson, Arizona.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-first General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Charles B. Murtagh the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful servant, and the House by this resolution would express its appreciation of his service and tender its sympathy to the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

NIELS J. NIELSEN,

LAMAR FOSTER,

CASEY LOSS,

Committee.