Representative William R. Blake View All Years

Memorial to the Honorable William R. Blake of Fayette County

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

William R. Blake, better known as “Bill,” was born on a farm in Jo Daviess County near Elizabeth, Illinois, October 1, 1878, coming to Iowa in 1900. He was a graduate of Elizabeth High School, Danville Normal and Chicago Park Business College. While in high school, he began to learn the printing trade. He taught school, however, before he acquired his first newspaper at Eau Claire, Michigan. In 1905, he started publishing a weekly newspaper “Enterprise” at Clermont, Iowa, and this he continued to edit and publish for twenty years.

In 1904, he was united in marriage to Bessie B. Morgan. They are the parents of two children, William Burdette and Anna Lolita.

Mr. Blake was mayor of Clermont from 1918 to 1922. He was a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen fraternal orders.

In politics, Mr. Blake was a Republican and was Representative from Fayette County in the Thirty-ninth, Fortieth and Forty-first General Assemblies. Later, he became an agent of the State Bureau of Investigation and, in 1927, was appointed deputy fire marshal. He was always vitally concerned with county politics and, for a number of years, served as county chairman.

During 1929, Mr. Blake started lobbying as a “special representative” for the Interstate Power Company, Dubuque, and, while identified with this firm, represented all public utility companies. Mr. Blake’s lobbying activities continued after September, 1942, when he was elected secretary­manager of the Iowa Utilities Association. This position he resigned in September, 1948.

Mr. Blake, in failing health for almost a year, passed away at the Postville hospital, Sunday, November 13, 1949. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on November 15 at the Clermont Presbyterian Church. The esteem in which he was held was evidenced by the large number of people, many from great distances, who came to pay their last respects to “Bill.” His love for the people of Iowa, his interest in their welfare, and the readiness with which he gave himself for the arduous tasks with which he was often faced, will long be remembered. “Bill,” in one sense, has erected for himself his own memorial; it rests in the hearts of those who were privileged to know him and to work with him. Besides his wife and two children, he leaves four grandchildren to mourn his passing.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-fourth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable William R. Blake, the state has lost a valued and honored citizen, and the House would tender its sincere sympathy to the surviving members of his family in their sorrow.

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.

J. C. DAVIS,

ARCH W. MCFARLANE,

ELMER PIEPER,

Committee.