Representative Henry Lusk Wilson View All Years

HONORABLE HENRY LUSK WILSON

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare memorial resolutions commemorating the life, character and public services of the Honorable Henry Lusk Wilson, a former member of the General Assembly of Iowa, begs leave to submit the following:

Henry Lusk Wilson was born July 12, 1858, in Crystal township, Tama county, Iowa. He was the son of West and Margaret Drynam Wilson.

Mr. Wilson received his education in the district schools in Crystal township and in the public schools and private academy in Traer. He entered the livestock business, first in Beaman, Gladbrook and Manly, then in January of 1883 he located permanently in Osage, Iowa, fifty years ago.

He was married April 30, 1895, to Ethel Lovejoy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Lovejoy of Rock township. Besides his wife be is survived by four children, Mary Young of Waukee, Margaret DeLaney of Stacyville, Katherine Twomey of Osage, and Henry Lovejoy Wilson of West Lafayette, Indiana. There are three grandchildren, Elizabeth and Frank Wilson Young and Richard DeLaney.

Mr. Wilson had twelve brothers and sisters. Those living are Jane Whannel and Margaret Brown of Traer; Agnes Galloway and Dalton K. Wilson of Waterloo; Catherine Creswell of Reinbeck; William D. Wilson of Grundy Center; John Wilson of San Francisco, California, and Sara Wilson, who lives in Scotland.

Mr. Wilson was a man among the foremost in the development of Mitchell county and was for half a century one of the foremost citizens of the county.

Mr. Wilson was reared in Tama county, near the boyhood home of Billy Sunday, world-famed evangelist. Both were members of the Marshalltown hose team in the early ’80’s and were noted for their speed as runners. It was always a boast among “Tug’s” boyhood friends that he could equal the famous Sunday on the running paths. As a matter of fact, it was his athletic ability that first focused public attention on young Wilson when he came to Mitchell county. Tremendously strong and unusually swift, he was an outstanding figure in the athletic events of his day, and stories of his performances have become traditions.

Mr. Wilson was always prominent in civic and political affairs. He came to Mitchell county a democrat, and was elected to the office of sheriff on that ticket in 1890, holding it for three terms. Disagreeing with his party on the “free silver” issue in 1896 he became affiliated with the republican party, and rose high in its councils. For a long term of years there was none in Mitchell county who wielded so great an influence politically.

Early in the 1900’s he served on the city council of Osage, and from 1914 to 1918 he represented Mitchell county in the state legislature. This was the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh General Assemblies.

His business career has embraced a number of projects. Always his main business was that of buying and raising livestock, and he was regarded as an expert judge of stock. In the ’80’s he operated a meat market, from 1903 to 1907 be was associated with T. M. Atherton, Jr., in the publication of the Mitchell County Press. For a number of years he was engaged in the quarrying and sale of stone with the late Dr. M. A. Hansen.

Few men in Mitchell county were as well read as Mr. Wilson. None exceeded him as a student of economics, history and government and his knowledge of classic and scientific literature frequently surprised those interested in those lines.

Mr. Wilson had been actively engaged in farming and livestock raising up until the time of his last illness. For years he was also engaged in the livestock buying business in this community.

Mr. Wilson passed away on October 12, 1932, at the age of 74 years and 3 months. His death has been keenly felt by all the citizens of Mitchell county.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty­fifth General Assembly, That in the passing of Hon. Henry Lusk Wilson, this assembly take this occasion to express its appreciation of his character and public services and tender to his surviving wife and children its sincere sympathy in their sorrow, and

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

JAS. G. CASEY,

WM. SHERIDAN,

SAM SWIFT,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted April 11, 1933.