Representative Martin L. Henderson View All Years

HONORABLE MARTIN L. HENDERSON

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character, and public service of the late Honorable Martin L. Henderson of Hamilton county, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following report:

Martin L. Henderson was born on a farm in Scott Township, Hamilton county, Iowa, on January 19, 1864, and died on February 1, 1936. He was the oldest son of Lars and Sarah Henderson and lived his entire lifetime in the immediate vicinity of Randall, Hamilton county.

He was married on June 4, 1889, to Josephine Johnson of Norway, Benton county, Iowa. To this union were born eight children, of whom four, with the widow, survive to mourn his passing. The surviving children are Mrs. E. M. Erickson of Randall; Mrs. A. E. Kalsiem of Jewell; Walter of Marshall, Minnesota; and Porter of Atlanta, Georgia.

He also left at the time of his death three sisters, four brothers, fifteen grand children, and a host of friends who learned to love him for his rugged honesty and sterling worth.

In the mid-eighties he purchased part of the old original homestead of his father and there he and his bride started housekeeping shortly after their marriage and made it their continuous residence until the time of his death.

Mr. Henderson was always active in everything pertaining to agriculture and the betterment of the community in which he lived. He was baptized and confirmed in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Story City. For a time he was connected with mercantile establishments in Randall, and during the war served as County Agent in Ida county for one year.

He was a staunch supporter of every Farmers’ Cooperative movement. At the time of his death, he was President of the Farmers’ Grain Co. of Randall, Iowa; also a director of the Iowa Co-operative Grain Co.; and a member of the Board of Directors of the Farmers’ National Grain Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

Mr. Henderson was a member of the republican party, liberal and progressive in his thinking, and served Hamilton county in the 40th and 40th extra session of the General Assembly as a member of the House with credit and distinction not only to his county, but the entire state.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That in the passing of the Honorable Martin L. Henderson of Hamilton county, the state of Iowa has lost a valuable and honored citizen, a good statesman; the family, a loving husband and father; and the House would tender by this resolution, its sincere sympathy to the surviving members of his family 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.

G. W. GROVES,

C. E. LOOKINGBILL,

C. G. GOOD,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted, April 19, 1937.