Representative John Watson Rowley View All Years

HON. JOHN W. ROWLEY

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character, and public services of the Honorable John W. Rowley, of Van Buren county, beg leave to submit the following report:

John Watson Rowley, son of T. B. and Emeline Rowley, was born July 23, 1846, at New Garden, Columbiana county, Ohio, and passed away in Keosauqua, Iowa, Wednesday evening, September 7, 1921, at 8:30 o’clock, aged 75 years, 1 month and 15 days. In the fall of 1854, Mr. Rowley emigrated with his parents to 1owa, settling near Utica, Van Buren county, where he resided until he reached manhood. In the year 1868, October 27, he was married to Amanda Melvina Thompson of near Bonaparte, Iowa. In the year 1879 Mr. Rowley moved to Keosauqua where he has lived since that time.

Mr. Rowley was one of the editors of the Keosauqua Republican for about forty-two years. He was elected county superintendent of Van Buren county in 1875 and served four years in that capacity. He also was appointed four different times as census supervisor of southeastern Iowa district. He was well informed on political questions and issues whether national, state, or county and being or an aggressive nature he instinctively took to politics and delighted in its accompanying excitement. For years be had been a conspicuous figure among the political leaders of the county, and none wielded more influence. Nor was his influence confined to the county, his campaign for nomination for governor in 1914, and his term as representative from Van Buren county in the Thirty-seventh General Assembly, gave him a statewide reputation as one who had convictions and courage to defend them. Conservatism was one of his marked characteristics and his motto was to cling to the tried and true. Mr. Rowley was a conspicuous figure in the legislature. He had the courage of his convictions, and although sometimes in the minority he commanded the respect of his colleagues for his sincerity of purpose. He was particularly interested in measures affecting the public schools and his work as chairman or the committee on schools and textbooks was a factor in enacting important school legislation in the Thirty-seventh General Assembly. The state would benefit by having more men of Mr. Rowley’s ideals in its legislature.

In the death of John W. Rowley the state has lost a useful citizen, his life and public services were of high character and he will be remembered as an ideal patriot, citizen, neighbor and friend.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That in the death of John W. Rowley the state has lost one of its most loyal citizens and that the House recognizes the high character of his services to the state and takes this occasion to express its appreciation of his character and public services and to extend to his family its sincere sympathy in their bereavement.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy or these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of this House and that the chief clerk transmit a copy to the family of the deceased.

W. J. DOOLEY,

FRANK C. LAKE,

OSCAR ULSTAD,

Committee.

Adopted April 12, 1923.